Post Sale Update: This CX Turbo sold for $7,500 after 3 bids on eBay.
In 1982, Honda introduced its first production turbocharged motorcycle, the CX500T. The next year, they bumped up displacement to form the Honda CX650 Turbo. While Kawasaki, and Suzuki also offered turbo’d competition, Yamaha and Honda were the most successful from a commercial standpoint. With that said, turbocharged production bikes never caught on, and only approximately 1,200 of these bikes ever came to the United States.
“Off boost, the CX650T chuffs its way down the road like a mildly tuned 650 twin. On boost, it accelerates like an F-4 being blasted off the flight deck of the USS Enterprise by a steam catapult.” Rider Magazine, October 1983
The Honda CX650T produced 100 horsepower and was capable of hitting 140 mph. It was surprisingly portly, at over 570 pounds, but it could still return 45 miles per gallon. On paper, it wasn’t bad at all. Unfortunately, turbo lag proved to be a difficult challenge, and insurance companies charged nearly-prohibitive rates for those brave enough to regularly dip into boost. These factors were major contributors to why this bike only lasted in the market for one year.
This example (VIN: 4077212812) has nearly 23,000 miles on the odometer, and the seller says it’s a 9 out of 10 as a rider, not a show bike. It was restored by Greg Goss, a well-known turbo Honda expert in Southern California. It has new tires, a new battery, and 3 sets of keys. The only non-original parts are the windshield decal and an easily-removable digital voltmeter. Find this CX650 Turbo for sale in Daytona Beach, Florida with bidding up to $6,000 and the reserve not yet met