CB650F Headlight modification

[jfgarro]

Because I'm a nostalgic guy, I really like the style of the 70's Honda motorcycles. But also, I'm a practical guy, so I like the extended service intervals of modern bikes, the fuel injection, ABS, LED lights, better suspension, wider tires and so on. Since the CB650F launch, I have had mixed feelings for the headlights: this second generation CB650F seems to me more like a Decepticon face than a bike proper front. And my fear is the looks 10 - 20 years from now: every time I see rectangular headlights in motorcycles, the only thing I can think is the 80's (don't judge me yet, many 80's bikes have aged really well, but most don't). I believe there are many good looking modern bikes (like the new Africa Twin, I love the twin headlights look), but I believe the Decepticon face will be put underground with a new trend sooner than later (I don't know, Autobot face anyone?).
So, with my basic Photoshop skills and a little free time, I create this 2 models, based in the 2018 CB650F, the first with the CB1100RS classic headlight, and the second with the CB1000R LED headlight (note also the rear fender delete). I really love the looks of a round headlight, and every time I see a new Suzuki SV650 on the road I remember the hard times this bike give me when I needed to make a decision about my new next bike. What do you think of this models?
When I have my CB650F, hope in december this year, my first mod will be this: try to adapt a round headlight (you don't see this coming, will you?), but trying to look as OEM as possible.

 

[GPJake]

Nice work.

Honesty, both look good. I think most nakeds look better with round headlights.

Non-round headlights on nakeds always give me the impression that the fairings that are supposed to be around it fell off...

 

[Jerry]

I expected something that looks real dumb but wow, those headlights actually looks very good on there. Nice job!

 

[tandi_1984]

Nice work.

Honesty, both look good. I think most nakeds look better with round headlights.

Non-round headlights on nakeds always give me the impression that the fairings that are supposed to be around it fell off...

That's how the life of naked bikes started though, haha.

 

[ADIOS600]

Looks good and not out of place. One of the reasons I bought my 15 plate cb was the transformer look. I am not a fan of round headlamps especially two side by side, but your single set-up wouldn't put me off.

 

[Roland]

Looks very good. Have you seen the new CB1000r? That's got what you need!

 

[jfgarro]

In Costa Rica, the marketplace for premium bikes is small. The company that is the Honda dealer doesn't care for this, because it only sells the cheaper models, like the CB160, CB190R and the CB250, and also many 125 and 150cc bikes. The only premium bikes it sells are the Africa Twin, the NC750X, the CB650F and the CB500F, and I can tell you it sells like 2 or 3 per year of each of this models. When the new CB300R was ready for sell in others markets, I wrote many emails to this company requesting this bike, but the answer was something like "we don't know if Honda headquarters in Japan is interested in sell this bike in Central America", so if they can't import the CB300R, the CB1000R will be almost imposible to see here. And because heavy taxes and difficult procedures, I basically can't import one bike unless I'm willing to pay more than double the money of his USA or European price. The local price for a 650F is like US $9.500, and for me this is like a bargain because the Yamaha MT07 sells for $10.800, and Suzuki SV650 is like $12.000. And yes, I know in USA $12.000 is BMW NineT territory, but here this bike sells for more than $22.000.
Then, my conclusion was: if I can't have the bike I like, then I'll buy a very good one and start to customize it to my taste!

 

[Roland]

Wow, I didn't realise this happens.

You have a good strategy!

 

[FogDucker]

but is it possible to swap these with stock headlight? looks pretty good !

 

[ItsDirtyDan]

Did you ever figure out if this modification is possible?

 

[Cláudio Nogueira]

I must admit I didn´t undertood the point.
The models are better looking than the original F. But we already have the CB650R, that has a round headlight and better looking than the F. So, Honda already invented what you are trying to reach LOL