CX650 Specifications, Features, History and Regional Variants

The CX650 was released in 1983, and came in three flavours – the CX650C, C650ED and CX650 Turbo.

Features

The CX650 variants were significant upgrades from most of their 500 brethren. The CX650ED Eurosport shares much with the previous year’s CX500EC; notable improvements as compared to other CX500 variants include the tubular frame, dual twin-piston caliper brakes, monoshock rear and a new tank with fuel gauge. The CX650C was a cruiser-oriented bike aimed at the US market, and had it’s own frame with a lower seat, teardrop tank and shorter exhaust giving it quite a different look to the other CX650s in 1983’s lineup.

The CX650 Turbo was an improvement on the CX500 turbo; changes were made to the compression ratio and boost pressure to make for a less abrupt transition to being on-boost. The fuel injection system was also updated, and the rear monoshock gained a manual damping control mechanism.

CX650 and CX650 Turbo History

The entire CX650 lineup was for a single year only – 1983. Apparently only 1,777 examples of the CX650 Turbo were ever made. We don’t have solid numbers on the CX650C and CX650ED.

The 650 variants were the final iterations of the twisted twin – and Honda has not revisited the design since.

Regional Variants

Australia

The CX650C was not sold in Australia, but the CX650ED was. You can find CX650Cs for sale from time to time as imported bikes. There were two Honda motorcycle importers to Australia in ’83, each servicing different states (Bennett did NSW and QLD, MPE did VIC, TAS, SA and WA) – one brought in red and white bikes, the other black and white bikes.

Canada

The CX650ED was sold here.

Europe

The CX650E was sold in Europe. Germany had a restricted version available, which had 37kW of power – essentially restricting it to the kW of the CX500.

North America

The CX650C was sold here, but the CX650E was not. The CX650T was sold here!

CX650 Performance

CX650EDCX650CCX650 Turbo
Power45kW (60hp) @ ?45kW (60hp) @ ?75kW (100hp) @ 8,000rpm

CX650 Dimensions

CX650EDCX650CCX650 Turbo
Length2,250mm (88.6″)2,180mm (85.8″)2,220mm (87.4″)
Width760mm (29.9″)790mm (31.1″)775mm (30.5″)
Height1,190mm (46.9″)1,165mm (45.9″)1,325mm (52.2″)
Wheelbase1,500mm (59.1″)1,515mm (59.7″)1,495mm (58.9″)
Seat Height795mm (31.3″)780mm (30.7″)790mm (31.1″)
Foot Peg Height320mm (12.6″)?
Ground Clearance150mm (5.9″)155mm (6.1″)145mm (5.7″)
Dry Weight210kg (463lb)196kg (432lb)235kg (518lb)
Wet Weight230kg (507lb)210kg (463lb)256kg (564lb)

CX650 Frame, Wheels and Tyre Specifications

CX650E EurosportCX650C CustomCX650 Turbo
Type
Diamond Type
Rake28 degrees32 degrees27 degrees
Trail105mm (4.1″)126mm (5.0″)109mm (4.3″)
Front axle typeIn-lineLeadingIn-line
Front suspensionTelescopic fork with anti-diveTelescopic forkTelescopic fork with anti-dive
Front fork diameter37mm39mm37mm
Front fork oil capacity290cc left, 275cc right480cc per leg, after disassembly310cc per leg, after disassembly
Front suspension travel150mm (5.9″)160mm (6.3″)130mm (5.1″)
Front suspension air pressure
0-6psi
Rear suspensionPro-Link Monoshock, SwingarmDual shocks, swingarmPro-Link Monoshock, Swingarm
Rear suspension travel110mm (4.3″)120mm (4.7″)105mm (4.13″)
Rear suspension oil capacity270cc??
Rear suspension air capacity180ccN/A260cc
Rear suspension air pressure0-71psiN/A28-85psi
Front wheel typeBoomerang ComstarCast alloyBoomerang Comstar, silver
Front tyre size100/90, 18 56 H100/90, 19 57 H100/90, V18
Front tyre pressure
32psi, any load
36psi, any load
Rear wheelBoomerang Comstar, ?”Cast alloyBoomerang Comstar, silver
Rear tyre120/80, 18 62 H140/90, 15 70 H120/90, V17
Rear tyre pressure
32psi <90kg load, 40psi >90kg
36psi <90kg load, 41psi >90kg

CX650 Brake Specifications

CX650E EurosportCX650C CustomCX650 Turbo
Front Brake TypeDual disc, twin pistonSingle disc, twin pistonDual disc, ?
Front Brake Diameter276mm (10.9″)??
Swept Area952cm²516cm²952cm²
Rear Brake TypeSingle discDrumSingle disc
Rear Brake Diameter276mm (10.9″)??
Swept Area476cm²201cm²476cm²

CX650 Engine Specifications

CX650EDCX650CCX650 Turbo
Type
4 stroke, OHV, liquid cooled
Engine Weight
74.5kg (164lb)
78kg (172lb)
Bore
82.5mm (3.25″)
Stroke
63mm (2.48″)
Displacement
674cc (41.1cu)
Compression ratio
9.8:1
7.8:1
Cylinder compression
171psi
100-142psi
Lubrication system
Forced pressure, wet sump
Oil Capacity
After draining
3.0L (3.2 US qt)
After disassembly
3.6L (3.8 US qt)
Cooling system
Electric fan, radiator
Cooling system capacity
After draining1.7L (1.8 US qt)1.5L (1.6 US qt)
After disassembly2.08L (2.2 US qt)2.1L (2.2 US qt)
Radiator Cap Release Pressure10.7-14.8psi?

CX650 Valvetrain Specifications

CX650EDCX650CCX650 Turbo
Valvetrain
Chain driven camshaft + pushrod
At 0mm lift:
Intake valve opens87°50′ BTDC84° BTDC
Intake valve closes121°04′ ABDC108° ABDC
Exhaust valve opens107°26 BBDC80° BBDC
Exhaust valve closes82°26 ATDC104° ATDC
At 1mm lift:
Intake valve opens
7° BTDC
5° BTDC
Intake valve closes
53° ABDC
30° ABDC
Exhaust valve opens
40° BBDC
30° BBDC
Exhaust valve closes
15° ATDC
5° ATDC
Intake valve clearance, cold
0.10mm (0.004″)
Exhaust valve clearance, cold
0.12mm (0.005″)

CX650 Fuel System Specifications

CX650EDCX650CCX650 Turbo
Fuel Tank Size12.4L (3.28 US gal)20L (5.3 US gal)
Fuel Tank Reserve Level2.2L (0.58 US gal)5L (1.3 US gal)
Type
Twin carburetors
Fuel Injection
Carburetor type
Constant vacuum piston valve
N/A
Carburetor IDsVB2BA, VB2BB (G1), VB2BC (G2)VB2ACN/A
Pilot screw initial opening2-3/8N/A
Float level
15.5mm (0.61″)
N/A
Fuel pressure
N/A
36.3psi
Minimum RON94 RON

CX650 Drive Train Specifications

CX650EDCX650CCX650 Turbo
Clutch
Wet, multi-plate
Transmission
5-speed, constant mesh
Drive Method
Shaft
Primary reduction ratio
2.114 (74/13)
1.725 (69/40)
1st gear ratio
2.5 (40/16)
2nd gear ratio
1.714 (36/21)
3rd gear ratio
1.280 (32/25)
4th gear ratio
1.035 (29/28)
5th gear ratio
0.838 (26/31)
Final drive ratio
3.090 (34/11)
3.400 (34/10)
Final drive oil capacity170cc (5.7 US oz)160-180cc (5.4-6.1 US oz)

CX650 Electrical Specifications

CX650EDCX650CCX650 Turbo
Ignition type
Transistorised
Ignition timing “F” mark
15° BTDC @ 1,100rpm
10° BTDC @ 1,100rpm
Full advance40 +/- 1.5° BTDC @ 3,500rpm
Starter
Electric only
AlternatorAC generator, 12V, 252W @ 5000rpmAC generator, 12V, 252W @ 5000rpmAC generator, 12V, 350W @ 5000rpm
Battery capacity
12V – 14ah
Spark Plugs – standard
NGK DPR8EA-9
NGK DPR8EV-9
NGK DPR7EV-9 below 0°C
Spark Plugs – extended high speed riding
NGK DPR9EA-9
NGK DPR9EV-9
Spark Plugs – Iridium
Spark Plug Gap
0.8-0.9mm (0.031-0.035″)
Fuses30A main fuse, 15A sub-fuses30A main fuse, 15A and 10A sub-fuses30A main fuse, 15A sub-fuses, 10A fan motor fuse

CX650 Light Bulb Specifications

CX650EDCX650CCX650 Turbo
Voltage
All 12V. CP = candlepower # – SAE no.
Headlight – high/low60/55W
60/55W (Phillips 12342/99 or equiv.)
Tail/brake light21/5W, 23/8W (U)
8/27W, 3/32cp, #1157
Turn signal or indicator, front21W, 23W (U)32cp, #103423W, 32cp, #1073
Turn signal or indicator, rear21W, 23W (U)
23W, 32cp, #1073

2 thoughts on “CX650 Specifications, Features, History and Regional Variants”

  1. james francis knight

    gday,
    really great to have expert knowledge on my 40 year old machine CX650 1983 RC11 version or the ‘Yank’ as its so rare and yet a real and absolute beautiful machine,
    nbest regards and a big thankyou
    regards
    J F Knight
    (LIthuania)

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