1983 Honda CX650 Turbo

1983 Honda CX650 Turbo
Miles: 8
Clean Wisconsin Title
Bid at post: $10,000
Auction ends in 5 days

Straight from BaT
This 1983 Honda CX650 Turbo is said to have been donated by Honda North America to a technical college in Appleton, Wisconsin. It was acquired by the selling dealer in 2019 from a former technical instructor at the school who was gifted the bike upon retirement. Finished in white with blue and red graphics, the motorcycle is powered by a turbocharged 674cc V-twin linked with a five-speed transmission and an enclosed driveshaft. Features include ComStar aluminum wheels, electronic fuel injection, a two-up seat, a TRAC anti-dive fork, a Pro-Link swingarm, a tinted windscreen, a digital boost gauge, and triple disc brakes. Recommissioning work in 2024 included replacing the tires, fuel pump, air filter, battery, and spark plugs in addition to overhauling the fork and fuel petcock and changing the oil and coolant. This CX650 Turbo shows eight miles and is now offered by the selling dealer with a period brochure and a clean Wisconsin title.

Listing Details

• Chassis: JH2RC1604DM000679
• Eight Miles Shown
• Turbocharged 674cc V-Twin
• Electronic Fuel Injection & Ignition
• Five-Speed Transmission
• Enclosed Driveshaft
• White Paint w/Blue & Red Graphics
• ComStar Aluminum Wheels
• Triple Disc Brakes
• Showa Fork w/TRAC Anti-Dive Control
• Pro-Link Swingarm w/Showa Monoshock
• Black Vinyl-Upholstered Seat
• Tinted Windscreen

RSBFS
We have seen these turbos on the market over the years. Mike reported on one in 2022. “Straight out of Tron came an interesting offramp in the history of motorcycle performance development. The early 1980s were highlighted by many advances and technological achievements, but few were as glorious as the turbo. All four Japanese motorcycle manufacturers jumped on the boosted bandwagon, certain that this was the Next Big Thing. Marketing and graphics were all about the Turbo (or TURBO, or Turbo!, or even obruT in Suzuki’s case), with the race not necessarily being who could build the better or faster bike, but rather who could cram more Turbo badges on their vehicle. Honda, in their race to over-engineering everything, definitely won the battle of the badges. But this offramp turned out to be a mere cul-de-sac, and with a whoosh the Turbo era was over before most of the bikes were even sold.

Of the era, the 1983 Honda CX650 was perhaps the most refined of the Turbo machines. The only bike to enjoy a 2nd generation, the 1983 model differed substantially from the previous year’s CX500, and was overall more rideable and predictable. But the CX650 highlighted much of what was wrong with this direction in boosted power; it was big, heavy, complex and frightfully expensive in comparison to normally aspirated machines of similar (or better) performance. And while the CX650 Turbo is still known as the roll-on-king – showcasing its ability to produce substantial power at lower RPMs for highway-friendly acceleration – the market has yet to appreciate what these bikes are all about. They are rare because they did not sell. They did not sell because they were odd, and the tradeoff in oddity did not equate to performance. Despite the rarity in numbers, these bikes fizzle on the collector side. Market value is part rarity (supply), and a large part irrational lust. The heart wants what the heart wants, and at the moment the buying hearts want RC30s, OW-01s, Gammas, RZs and early Ducati superbikes. But not Turbos.”

the bidding is at $10k with 5 days to go. Last year one sold on BaT for $11,650 with 13k miles.

Good luck to the buyer and seller.