Honda CB value

**SamNich** · 7th April 2016, 20:47

Looking at buying a bike to restore. In terms of the Honda CB series I have been looking at the standard CB650. Are these of any value when they are in good condition? Also if modifying a bike, would it be worth keeping original or making a nice cafe or scrambler out of it? Thanks everyone

**AllanB** · 7th April 2016, 21:20

Ah - the what is it worth question.

Correct answer it is worth what you are willing to pay and what the selling is willing to pass it on for. Everything else is another persons opinion.

BUT

CB650 - I don't see them as being particularly collectible - nice rides but the 750 range and earlier 550, 400, 350 fours are the biz.

So if I am correct - the 650 will be a cheaper purchase and you can modify it to your hearts content without feeling guilty. Give it heaps.

I have fond memories of a mates older brothers black and gold stripe CB650/4, Nice ride.

**russd7** · 7th April 2016, 21:25

Originally Posted by SamNich

Looking at buying a bike to restore. In terms of the Honda CB series I have been looking at the standard CB650. Are these of any value when they are in good condition? Also if modifying a bike, would it be worth keeping original or making a nice cafe or scrambler out of it? Thanks everyone

as allan said the 650 and i will add 900 don't seem as collectable, as for value if you are doing it to on sell then it will be worth what someone else is prepared to pay when you decide to sell.
as for the second part of your question, look on tardme and see all the modded bikes on there that people are asking silly money for, doesn't mean they get it, so really depends on what you are wanting to do

**HenryDorsetCase** · 7th April 2016, 21:31

Don't go there girlfriend.

You buy for say $3k: more likely $6k. You spend minimum four grand, maximum the sky is the limit. You sell you get back a third of what it owes you. You regret it instantly. You see it on tardme a year later and try and buy it back.. but its sold already.

you will never, ever get your money back. Particularly if it is custom.

Do it because you like to get away from your wife and into the shed, tot up the cost. Buy a TV and a fridge and install it in said shed. Buy something already done. Best of both worlds

Save yourself a world of pain. Buy a DN-01 or something.

Oh yeah, if I was going down the rabbithole again, I would be looking at SOHC 750's. The undervalued ones are the last ones. The very last one (the F2) has Comstar wheels, triple discs and kind of later looking instruments. Or maybe an F1 - they have minimally more horsepowers and you will pick up a good one for ~$5k.

If you are serious: buy this. You would maybe get it for $12k. Ride it. Have a happy life. You will thank me later.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...1059676893.htm

**SamNich** · 7th April 2016, 21:31

Being slightly newer then the other older Cb's, almost a generation ahead could you call it? Would they be more reliable and better bikes in general. For example the CB650 vs the Cb550 besides the slight differences cc related Hoping for a bike that will be adaquate for commuting. thanks. helped a lot

**HenryDorsetCase** · 7th April 2016, 21:32

Originally Posted by SamNich

Looking at buying a bike to restore. In terms of the Honda CB series I have been looking at the standard CB650. Are these of any value when they are in good condition? Also if modifying a bike, would it be worth keeping original or making a nice cafe or scrambler out of it? Thanks everyone

Better value: DOHC 750 and 900's. People seem to think every piece of shit 750 K2, K4, K6 is worth ten grand. Yeah Nah.

**HenryDorsetCase** · 7th April 2016, 21:36

Originally Posted by SamNich

Being slightly newer then the other older Cb's, almost a generation ahead could you call it? Would they be more reliable and better bikes in general. For example the CB650 vs the Cb550 besides the slight differences cc related Hoping for a bike that will be adaquate for commuting. thanks. helped a lot

Did the CB650 come with EI or points still? I've never worked on one. If you do wind up with a 650 you can get rid of the breaker points and put in a Boyer Brandsen ignition. That saves you one set of hassle.

Are you talking SOHC CB550? (dont forget they did a CB500 four too). or the later CBX550?

all of those bikes are reliable - people used to do what you are doing all day everyday. My first CB750F1 I rode everywhere - had no car. communting to work, racing to Martinborough at the weekends, two up touring in the North and South islands.

I loved that bike.

**AllanB** · 7th April 2016, 21:44

Couple 750's on TM worth a look

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...1064398260.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...1061041760.htm

CB650 was very reliable. To be fair the entire range of IL4 Hondas of the 70-80's were as reliable as hammers provided they had fresh oil at regular intervals.

**T.W.R** · 7th April 2016, 22:26

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

Better value: DOHC 750 and 900's. People seem to think every piece of shit 750 K2, K4, K6 is worth ten grand. Yeah Nah.

Just like this one

https://touch.trademe.co.nz/motors/l...iew/1063865280

**granstar** · 8th April 2016, 06:35

Be lucky to find one that isn't rusted to pieces or original and not boshed about with. Cut my teeth on a CD 175, then a CB 175. Also owned a 550, and currently a 919. All good reliable bikes but they eventually die. Some parts are like rockinghorse poos to find. Motorcycle shop in Dunedin has nabbed a lot of the CB's in the country for parts and restoration, another Ash King had parts.

If you can find a restored one and maintain it, that would be the best practice, the money injected into restoring is massive, but if that is what you want to do... buy something worthy of restoring like an old T140 Triumph, parts are easy to get, simple to work on, and fetch rediculous hay when restored.

**pritch** · 8th April 2016, 07:46

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

Don't go there girlfriend.

You buy for say $3k: more likely $6k. You spend minimum four grand, maximum the sky is the limit. You sell you get back a third of what it owes you. You regret it instantly. You see it on tardme a year later and try and buy it back.. but its sold already.

you will never, ever get your money back. Particularly if it is custom.

Do it because you like to get away from your wife and into the shed, tot up the cost. Buy a TV and a fridge and install it in said shed. Buy something already done. Best of both worlds

Save yourself a world of pain. Buy a DN-01 or something.

Oh yeah, if I was going down the rabbithole again, I would be looking at SOHC 750's. The undervalued ones are the last ones. The very last one (the F2) has Comstar wheels, triple discs and kind of later looking instruments. Or maybe an F1 - they have minimally more horsepowers and you will pick up a good one for ~$5k.

This is very good advice. The only thing I'd add is that I recently read an item in a Brit mag extolling the virtues of the CB500. They said the 500s can be had for less than the 750 and they're a nicer bike. I agree with that, but I'm biased 'cause I used to own a 500.

**ellipsis** · 8th April 2016, 07:47

Originally Posted by granstar

... buy something worthy of restoring like an old T140 Triumph,

...older CB's are not worthy of restoring?...someone should have told me earlier...

**HenryDorsetCase** · 8th April 2016, 09:26

Originally Posted by granstar

Be lucky to find one that isn't rusted to pieces or original and not boshed about with. Cut my teeth on a CD 175, then a CB 175. Also owned a 550, and currently a 919. All good reliable bikes but they eventually die. Some parts are like rockinghorse poos to find. Motorcycle shop in Dunedin has nabbed a lot of the CB's in the country for parts and restoration, another Ash King had parts.

If you can find a restored one and maintain it, that would be the best practice, the money injected into restoring is massive, but if that is what you want to do... buy something worthy of restoring like an old T140 Triumph, parts are easy to get, simple to work on, and fetch rediculous hay when restored.

You're wrong. My sense is that the old Jap stuff is where the money is and the old Brit stuff has plateaued or declined in value.

Also old Honda parts are RIDICULOUSLY easy to get: you just have to be prepared to pay. Have a look at the CB400F link I posted last night. You will see the name David Silver mentioned. David Silver's business is to buy up old Honda dealer stock. Now that that is harder to get, they are having stuff remanufactured. Want a NOS CB750 full exhaust? What model Sir? the earlly (CB750) CM300 one? Certainly. Oh, you need the later, quieter CM303? No problem Sir.

They did a run of I think 30 of those CB400's: they bought old shitters, set up a production line, started at the crankshaft and went from there. They represent very good value: like I say, that guy paid effectively round $13k for that bike (he swapped a restored some brit POS) for it but that was the agreed value. If you showed up waving $10k in folding money and were prepared to pay a bit more I reckon you'd own it. Only reason I havent is because I have all my money tied up in a project.

Anyway: the reason that old Brit stuff is plateaued? The enthusiasts are all old(er) dead(er) or on fixed incomes. Pricks like me who grew up on Jap stuff want what we had when young and trashed it, or couldnt afford then. We're in our peak earning years, our kids have left home, we've paid off our houses and we are looking down the barrell of death. So we want to recreate our yoof. Hence the spiralling prices of Jap bikes. The next stuff to go through the roof will be the late 80's early 90's stuff. Mint early GSXR's, CB900RR's, stuff like that.

IMO of course.

**HenryDorsetCase** · 8th April 2016, 09:34

Hey OP, check out some links for parts:

www.davidsilver.co.uk

www.cmsnl.com

www.econohonda.co.nz

http://forums.sohc4.net/ forum is very good. Its a bit Mrkn, but great info there.

**HenryDorsetCase** · 8th April 2016, 09:35

Originally Posted by pritch

This is very good advice. The only thing I'd add is that I recently read an item in a Brit mag extolling the virtues of the CB500. They said the 500s can be had for less than the 750 and they're a nicer bike. I agree with that, but I'm biased 'cause I used to own a 500.

my pick would be a CB550F.
http://www.bikeexif.com/wp-content/u...onda-cb550.jpg