My First Bike: 1979 Honda CB650

[HDinWA]

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My First Bike: 1979 Honda CB650

After riding a friend's CM250 Custom in 1985, I new I had to have a motorcycle. I started looking around at bike shops and really didn't find much in the 400 to 500cc range, which I knew I wanted to have for the sake of my inexperience. And while I was drawn to a hot new bike called the Ninja that Tom Cruise rode in Top Gun, I knew my skill level was just not right for something like that. When I was talking with a coworker about my search, he said, "You know a friend of mine is selling his bike; he doesn't ride it anymore and it only has 9000 miles." We set up a time to go look at his friend's bike, a 1979 Honda CB650K.
Granted, the bike was a bit bigger than I felt comfortable with. But thankfully the 650 for that year was a single OHC four-cylinder design putting out 36HP, so it was smooth and not too powerful. It was a decent looking machine, with only a minor rip in the seat and very clean brown/black two-tone paint. It had what I believe are called 'Comstar Wheels,' a five-spoke design akin to the wheel on a 400 Hawk Hondamatic - only trimmed in black instead. The owner had picked the 650 up before college in 1982 brand new out of a crate (it was titled as an `82 despite the manufacturing year of 1979). He installed a hardcase over the rear fender and generally kept it nice. The price - $1200 - was a decent deal at the time and we even worked out an arrangement that kept him as the legal owner of the bike while I was the registered owner and making payments to him. It was paid off and all mine by February 1986. It took about two months of regular riding to be comfortable with its power, size, and height (a bit tall for my short legs). Still, after two months, I respected the 650 motor and didn't overextend my skill.
I rode that Honda everywhere - work, play, Canada - year `round. Washington didn't require helmets then, so I got accustomed to riding without it (something I would never do now). The bike got a consistent 55mpg and was very forgiving. I dropped it at a stop sign one day and busted the rear turn signal, an easy fix. By that time all of my friends - save one - had quit riding motorcycles, so most of my rides were solo. In a span of 2 1/2 years I put nearly 10,000 miles on the 650, which may not seem like a lot to the Iron Butt crowd; but for a guy in his early twenties making a meager service-industry wage it was a lot. In 1988 I moved to Eastern Washington to attend Washington State University, and sold the bike before I went. The guy who bought promptly changed out a bunch of parts for cheesy aftermarket junk; it looked awful within a week. I regretted selling it almost immediately after arriving in Pullman, because the town was small and there were motorcycles everywhere. Within 9 months I would have another one, but that story is for another blog.
BTW - In 1997 I saw that actual CB650K at the Bent Bike salvage yard in Lynnwood WA; I recognized the license plate number and the rear hardcase. It was in very sorry shape and showing about 37,000 miles. In a way I kick myself for not picking it up then. Had I picked it up, I would probably still have it today in some form as the first motorcycle I ever bought.

[CrusherTx3]

[HDinWA]

Originally Posted by CrusherTx3

Sorry...photos of that bike are buried in my archives somewhere!

It was like this one here, only not quite as nice:

http://www.warpfactor7.com/Readers_B..._CB650Kbig.JPG

[Renegade]

Got my 1st street bike in 79
like HDinWA this is not the original pic
but this is what my first bike looked like
First time on it I popped the clutch
and was running behind it.
6 months later I was trading up for more cc's

[WOLFHOUND]

HOLY CRAP,THAT PIC OF RENAGADES LOOKS JUST LIKE MY 1ST BIKE.SAME COLORS AND ALL.MINE WAS A 78 HAWK, 400CC.HEAVY AND JUST FAST ENOUGH TO BE FUN W/ OUT ME FLYIN OFF MY OWN MACHINE. THANKS FOR THE FLASHBACK GUYS.THOSE WERE WILD AND FREE DAYS FOR ME.STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL THEN. D.

[HDinWA]

Nice to know there are a few others who cut their teeth on rice