The Honda Owners Club

Hello Team,
I have a A Reg Honda CX650 Turbo, which has been laid up, untouched, for over 20 years!!
She has become a restoration project now as, although she has been garaged all that time, some damp and lack of ANY attention over that period, would mean that even just starting her up will require a major over haul first.
My question, before I embark on this restoration journey, is what is her likely value?
I don't mind spend a significant amount, but I don't want to go over the top.
Any ideas, as all the valuation sites stop well short of a 1985 bike!
Thanks for your help.

The fact that it has be laid up, untouched for 20 years, should give you a clue!
As a labour of love - priceless. As a commercial proposition - bankruptcy!

Aye Up Barry,
Thanks Barry. Unfortunately you're backing up my fears!!
Nevertheless, she is in fair order, and with just under 13,000 miles under her wheels, I'm still more than inclined to have a go, especially as she's a bit of a rarity too!
Would be nice to know a value, for a target budget ... ... otherwise, as you say, she could become a money pit!!
Thanks again.

Hello All,
Just thought I'd add a picture of the bike in question.
Not the greatest picture, but it gives you all an idea.
All the best,
Rosco.
PS. She is minus her rear foot pegs and mounts, as I hadn't put them back on at the time.
PPS. The tax disc reads 30.10.87 ... ... a long time to be off the road, but still looking good!!!

I would be interested to know why the bike has been off the road for 20 years? Have you owned it all that time, or have you aquired it recently?

Hi there,

Like any "collectable Item" your bike is in reality worth only what someone is prepared to pay for it ..!! thus making it dificult to say exactly.

From the photo the bike looks good but photos can lie or not show all the bad points at least
It looks as though it doesn't need too much doing to it to get it running again and as far as the engine is concerened the main bits to look for and change are oil seals as they are probably perished this won't cost you an arm and a leg. Then the carbs will need a good clean as they will be gummed up and the bike will need a tyre change and a new battery.
Check the inside of the petrol tank for rust, get rid of the petrol and give the tank a good clean out

So for a couple of hundred pounds you should have the bike running again....as to its worth well .... it could be worth anything up to around 2000 but unfortunately at present due to the finacial crisis in which we find ourselves at present the bottom has fallen out of the market and offers coul be as low as 500 should you wish to sell.

Cheers Witch

Hello Barry,
Sorry for the slow reply, but I've been away.
I've actually owned her for longer than that, as I bought her (I think), when I was 25 ... ... 23 years ago!!
The reason she has been off the road for so long is because I met and married my present wife. She had an accident whilst on the back of her brothers bike (that put her off them), so I moth balled her (the bike, not my wife!!).
It's a storey heard time and time again I guess, but fortunately I've kept hold of the bike, rather than dithing her for "something useful", as the wife would say
All the best.

Hello Witch,
Again, as with Barry above, appologies for the delayed reply, and thank you very much for your advice.
You're right about the photo ... ... it does flatter the bike a little. The blacking to the alloy exhausts tail pipes is badly pitted, and there is lesser pitting to the gold wheels and gold forks. Remarkably the blacking to the engine is in pretty good nick though.
Entirely agree about the oil seals ... ... in fact various hoses and other rubber items, including the tyres, will need close inspection!
According to the garage that is looking at the bike, the small amount of petrol left in the engine (I drained the tank), was a brown gunge. The engine oil has now been flushed and replaced ready for a tentative start up (after other items have been checked: turbo impellor, water cooling system, etc). Atleast the pistons move freely in the cylinders
Very much looking forward to that first "stab of the starter button"!!
As for value, you are absolutely right about having the right buyer at the time, without which she could have a nil value! After some more research, it would appear a similar turbo (laid up for quite a while without being started, feeling a little sorry for its self), went recently for £3,300.00, with a pristine example fetching over £5,000.00!!! It really does depend on who is out there at the time, and what they are really looking for ... ... quirky project, or a restored example of a rare bike.
I'll keep you posted, and thank you once again.
Rosco