Two nearly new '83 Honda CX650T Turbos

Steve Carlton · 11-28-2006, 07:44 PM

A friend mine (Pete) has a friend selling a couple of 1983 Honda CX650T Turbos, both virtually in the wrapper. My understanding is this guy is prepping a couple of immaculate CBXs for sale as well...

Hi Pete,

I'm taking you up on the offer to distribute info to your contacts/friends regarding my bike for sale...

One of the bikes that I would like to sell is a 1983 Honda CX650T Turbo. It has 340 original miles on the clock. CA Title. Runs and drives excellent. The bike does need a right front turn signal, and it is missing some plastic covers that fill the gap between the front fairing and the fuel tank. All original down to the tires from the factory. The bike has always been garaged.

Please see attached pictures. I also have a second 1983 CX650T Turbo with just 500 miles. Both bikes run well. They each have some minor cosmetic scratches, but they are quite a rare find for the Honda collector, turbo aficionado, etc. The bike produces nearly 100 hp, smooth and comfortable, factory turbo-charged twin, fuel injection, and triple disk brakes. I'm looking to get $4,750 each.

Thanks, Mark

JavaBrewer · JavaBrewer's Garage

I still remember seeing them in the showroom. Have you ever ridden a CX turbo? I'm curious to know how they ran vs. a NA bike. Looks like it would be comfy commuter bike but ~ $5K buys alot of used bikes.

BlueSkyJaunte · 11-28-2006, 08:57 PM

Man, I'd love one (or two!) of those, but every time I buy a new (to me) bike and call my insurance agent, the only question she asks me is: "Is it a turbo?"

David · David's Garage

If he can't find a buyer at that price in the US, he might try Japan. I used to work for a company that shipped many of these back to Japan.

motion · 11-29-2006, 06:30 AM

Prices are a little high for bikes with scratches. As David says, you can buy a really nice used VF800 these days for $5k. I used to own a CX500T. It was a really, really nice bike with good smooth power. Great torque and minimal driveshaft rise (at least compared to other bikes back then). But, they are extremely heavy bikes. I'm guessing those 650s weigh close to 600 pounds.

Rot 911 · 11-29-2006, 06:46 AM

Anyone else notice the trip meter has more mileage on it than the speedometer?

motion · 11-29-2006, 06:59 AM

I'm guessing that the top one is actually the tripmeter?

BlueSkyJaunte · 11-29-2006, 07:10 AM

Doubtful...the top one will go to 99999.9 and the bottom one will go to 999.9.

That *is* strange...

Steve Carlton · 11-29-2006, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by motion
Prices are a little high for bikes with scratches. As David says, you can buy a really nice used VF800 these days for $5k. I used to own a CX500T. It was a really, really nice bike with good smooth power. Great torque and minimal driveshaft rise (at least compared to other bikes back then). But, they are extremely heavy bikes. I'm guessing those 650s weigh close to 600 pounds.

I don't think a used VF800 is apples to apples with a basically unused bike. Not even close. And I have no idea what these are worth, either.

I seriously doubt there's anything fishy with the trip odometer. Many cycle through to 999 before they go back to zero. Perhaps the knob was turned some.

stomachmonkey · 11-29-2006, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kurt V
Anyone else notice the trip meter has more mileage on it than the speedometer?

That's bizarre. Only explanation i can come up with is that you turn the knob to get it to zero instead of pushing a reset button.

hmmm

fingpilot · 11-29-2006, 09:23 AM

I have three CX500T's. The ones pictured are in obviously good shape. Those are eBay high prices, but those bikes are pretty much unobtainium there days, so who knows? There have been two matching touring CBX's in the Orange County Craigslist for several months as well, priced in the $11K range for both of them.

The CX Turbos run really well, there is a very definate hit when the turbo comes on, and pulls strongly all the way to redline. They are pretty robust, the two I have both run and are registered, and I have a complete parts bike for parts sources. I am trying to get all the parts rebuilt so as to have hot spares. I would guess they are worth $2-3k each as everyday bikes.

It IS possible to get the tripmeter to advance strangely when resetting it, I am surprised he didn't just reset it to zero when it got out of sequence. Or the other possibility is just as possible too. It would be a lot of work to get to the main spools, and would be difficult to hide.

Someone will pick these up.

motion · 11-29-2006, 09:43 AM

Three CX500Ts!!! Geez, Mike. Hoarding them Hondas eh?

I'd love to own a couple of 80s bikes someday. When I have a lot of garage space. I'm partial to the RZ500 Yamaha and the Suzuki 1100 Katana.

fingpilot · 11-29-2006, 10:05 AM

You know, there is a lot of value in those 80's bikes. They may not have all the whizbang technology of the modern bikes, for for everyday riding, and commuting, a thou buys a lot of bike.

I had to get sensible about the number of bikes being insured / registered, and now just keep my favourite 12 in that mode. The rest are insured for loss from the hangar. The total number hovers around 20-ish.

On any given day, you'll see me on one of these in SoCal......
1980 BMW R65.
1985 BMW K100RT.
1985 Honda VF700F Interceptor.
1983 Honda VF750S Sabre w/Hondaline Fairing.
1982 Honda CX500 Turbo.
1978 Honda CB750K.
1975 Honda CB500T.
1973 Honda CB350F.
1984 Honda VT500FT Ascot.
1984 Honda GL1200I Gold Wing.
1987 Honda VT1100C Shadow.
1984 Honda VF1100C Magna.

motion · 11-29-2006, 10:15 AM

Wheres the FT500? Dang, I love those things. So much character. V65 Magnas are a hoot, too!

mikeferg75 · mikeferg75's Garage

Steve,
I tried to send you a PM, but you can't recieve one... I have a Honda collector friend who may be interested, Please pm me your friend Pete's contact info.

Ferg

fingpilot · 11-29-2006, 11:06 AM

Steve!

I do have 2 FT500's. Both run. One (black) has a small Vetter Windjammer on it, with a rear rack. The other (Red) is box stock with a new NOS tank and plastics. Another Honda ahead of it's time. They are not happy in the heat, so they have been 'parked'. They get ridden around the ramp.

motion · 11-29-2006, 11:12 AM

Very cool... I think the most fun I've ever had riding a bike on Ortega Hwy was my old black FT500 back in '86. It even had a bit of a valve rattling around in the head. Didn't slow it down one bit. It had a small oil leak from the cases, though. I used to keep my right shoe bungeed to the back seat and wore an oil shoe while riding.

fingpilot · 11-29-2006, 11:20 AM

An OIL SHOE!

I thought I was the only person that had one of those...... too funny... I have no need for one at the moment (have gotten good at fixing oil leaks) but went thru high school and college with an oil shoe in that garage at all times!

That's great...

gaijindabe · 11-29-2006, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fingpilot

1973 Honda CB350F.

Too cool.

fingpilot · 11-29-2006, 03:24 PM

It runs like a sewing machine. So smooth it is scary. Red line is 10K, and it pulls all the way there. Is like 35HP, but I ride it thru Sepulveda Pass on the 405 all the time. It won't do much more than 90 or so, but will keep 75 up the hill no prob (that being the normal speed thru there).

You can tell people that remember them, because they'll toot the horn and give a thumbs up alongside.

Either that or my lilly white butt is showing, and that's not necessarily a bad thing, in their view.

Is a fun bike.