HONDA CB650 (1980-1981) Specs, Performance & Photos

The Honda CB650 was a standard motorcycle part of the Cb series in Honda's range manufactured from 1979 until 1985, powered by a four-cylinder SOHC air-cooled engine with two valves per cylinder.

In 1980, the CB650 machine featured a few visual improvements without any significant mechanical changes, while in 1981, the CB650 featured a modified cylinder head and new CV vacuum carburetors.

Also, the 1981 CB650 machine came in two versions, such as custom and standard. The custom motorcycle packed a cruiser style, with a teardrop fuel tank, chromed airbox, smaller side covers, a four-into-four exhaust system, Comstar wheels, a chromed headlight, dual front disc brakes, and an air-assisted front fork.

The standard CB650 model, which was manufactured from 1980 to 1982, packed a four-into-two exhaust system, a black plastic headlight nacelle, and wire-spoked wheels that enhanced its classic style.

For suspension, the bike packed a center axle coil spring fork on the front and dual Showa shock absorbers with spring preload adjustability on the rear, while the braking performance was handled by a 275 mm disc squeezed by a single-piston caliper on the front wheel and a 180 mm drum unit on the rear wheel.

In the power department, the 1981 Honda CB650 had at its core a 627cc four-stroke four-cylinder air-cooled engine fed by four Keihin carburetors that helped deliver an output power of 63 hp with a peak at 9,000 rpm and 52 Nm (38 lb-ft) of torque available at 8,000 rpm.