[cvard4]

New CX650c owner/resuscitator here. On the downhill side of this one. My friend's dad had one of these when new. We used to take it out on summer evenings when we were 15. Thought it was a blast back then and as so many of us do "a few years later", we look to retireve just a little piece of that.

This one had good bones, only 7400 documented miles, but had some real issues too, the least of which was having sat for many years, but fortunately inside I would imagine.

But now, the sound of the engine is unique and fantastic...As is the side torque when you blip the throttle just like I remembered. Funny how someone with Harley Streetglide, a 1400 Ninja and a 1978 KZ1000ltd needs an old 650 to fill a need....But it does! I did want to mention something about those carbs though, but will do that under separate entry.

 

[Sidecar Bob]

Welcome to the forum. Please add your location to your profile and your bike's model and model year to your signature so that you don't have to remember to tell us every time and we don't have to keep asking when you forget (see Forum Settings link in my signature).

And welcome to the world of antique vehicle ownership (they own us, not the other way around). Your bike is about 4 decades old and the Previous Owners may or may not have done the maintenance necessary to keep it safe & reliable so it is highly recommended to download the Factory Shop Manual for your model (available through the CX Wiki - link in my signature) and go through all of the service procedures, regardless of whether your bike has reached the specified mileage.
I also recommend looking on all rubber parts with suspicion because rubber does not age gracefully. Check the date codes on your tires and replace them if they are over 5 years old no matter how good they look & feel (old rubber simply cannot flow around the irregularities in the asphalt well enough to grip, especially if it is cool or wet). If your bike still has the original rubber brake line(s) (should be replaced every 2 or 3 fluid changes = 5 or 6 years) I recommend shopping for modern stainless braided ones (they last practically forever and double the life of the fluid). And don't forget things like the rad hoses and the boot between the engine and swingarm (they can crack on the bottom where you don't see it).

The best advice anyone can give you about customizing any vehicle is to get it safe & reliable in more or less original condition and use it for a while before you start making any changes so it can tell you what changes it needs to make it do what you want/need better. That approach almost always results in something you actually want to keep and use but making changes based on style or on what someone else (who may or may not really understand how the changes affect the way it works) has done often results in a piece of expensive yard art that you can't stand sitting on for more than a few minutes and might even be dangerous.

 

[bwill166]

Welcome! I am in KC area myself. Currently building a cafe racer out of a 78 CX500.

 

[cvard4]

Good luck with your build. Gotta wonder what's wrong with guys like you and me. 1 bike is not enough! How many is too many? I have not come to an answer yet....Same thing I tell my wife

 

[bwill166]