I was in the Army. When I got back from Korea in 1986, I bought a 1984 Honda Nighthawk S. Watching this video literally gets my adrenaline pumping. I loved that bike. I sold it in 1991 when I had a kid and thought I had to settle down. I regret selling it. I would love to find one in that condition. You are very lucky to have found it. Enjoy!!
Yes, I had a used one back in 80s, it was one of the BEST looking bike at the time! Great tool to pick up hot girls! I had to sell my beloved nighthawk S. It gave me memory of the good old time....
It is amazing how this bike looks absolutely gorgeous after all these years. I would dare to say it is the prettiest air-cooled 4 cylinder UJM to date.
In my opinion, the 700S was the best looking bike of that era. That's why I got myself an '84 700S in blue. Watching this video makes me regret my decision to sell it...
My father bought his 1984 Honda Nighthawk S brand new. It was the blue and black color scheme. I still remember the day that he brought it home. I was 7 years old, and it was the bike that got me started into motorcycling. The look and sound of that 700 screaming while riding on the back of it, are imprinted in my brain. Yes, you have to rev it to get the most out of it. But, it is such a rewarding experience. For 1984, it was a fast bike. It topped out right about 125 mph, which was fast for a 7 year old. My father kept the bike until around 2000. My brother took possession of it and kept it until last year. The bike remained stock the entire time we had it. It did develop an oil leak that we couldn’t figure out. We are in the Cleveland area, and we couldn’t find a shop to work on it. None of the Honda dealerships wanted to work on such an old bike. It was in mint condition cosmetically, and ran great up until the day we sold it. Thanks for the video! It was a trip down memory lane!
I had a 1985 blue 700S -- my first motorcycle. I bought it in 1999 after it was neglected and abused, allowing me to snag it for $300. I rebuilt the carbs and cleaned the rust from the tank and the bike was amazing. I did "trade up" to a 1995 Honda CB1000 about 5 years later, but I have to say I really miss the Nighthawk. Thanks for the video, it really reminded me of how much I adored the motorcycle. That frantic pull to redline and the sound those stock twin pipes make... along with all those amazing features that made it such a hassle free and reliable bike.
Owned 2 of these back in the day. Best sounding bike especially at the time imo. They are sneaky little beasts. At 7000 RPM it found a new life. Awesome video.
Back in 85’ I put a header and jet kit on an Alpine white one, boy she was sweet and really ripped after that. My buddy had a pearl white CBX 82’ hard bags and all for dirt cheap, this was 84’ it was a leftover from 82’ probably gave $4000 or so for it LOL
An ‘85 (blue, the border was silver, actually) was my first bike! Bought it new. I think it was $3050 from the Honda dealer. I put 75k miles on that bike! Rode it for 3 years, rain or shine, during college. Also rode it cross-country and back (CA to VA, and then back to CA) one summer. LOVED that bike! Other than a pipe and jetting, best thing you can do to that motor is re-time the cams. The lobe centers were set crazy-high (like 114-118, can’t truly remember) for that peak power. I literally took out the cams, ground slots where the bolt holes hold the cam chain wheels to the cams, and re-timed the lobe centers down to ~108 degrees. Made that motor fantastic! Hearing you start it up, even with the stock pipes, brought back so many memories!!! I am crazy-jealous!!
Back in 86 my girlfriend had an 86. I got to ride it a lot and loved it. I wish Honda would make a modern version of this today, hydraulic valves and all. My girlfriend and I broke up. I was sad to see the bike go.
I just bought my first Nighthawk last night 700SC. I've been riding newer sportbikes my whole life but what a joy when I rode my new nighthawk home she definitely Suprised me.
I had an 84 Nighthawk S in blue and black. I loved that bike. So much fun to ride. It handled really well and had comfortable seating position. Your video brought back awesome memories! I rode that bike from Chicago to California with no issues. Wish I still had that bike.
I have the exact same bike. Had it since 1985. Put a Kerker K2 4 into 1 exhaust on it, K&N air filter and installed larger main jets in the carbs. Sounds incredible accelerating through tunnels. I'll never sell it.
Bought a new one of those back in 1984. Exactly like that. What a great bike that was. Really enjoyed it in all aspects. Fun to ride, sounded good, fast enough and very stylish. Would love to find on in that condition.
I had an 84 , and then a 85 2nd one was tricked out pretty good. At one time like 7 of us friends had them. So fun. Them they came out with the new nighthawk hated it. Be sweet if they brought this back with like a 900 cc engine and new tech.
Super nice condition. Looks great! I’ve got a 1984 Nighthawk S CB750SC here in BC, Canada. Owned it since 1988 and was parked for 15 years in garage. I changed the battery and gas. It fired up on the 3rd crank and was I impressed. Gotta love those Honda motors. I’m looking for a left muffler due to road rash from previous owner. I’d like to get “Collector’s Plates” for 25 year or older motor vehicles. Has to be in like new condition. Yours looks like it would qualify. Here’s a story for you: I was on a ride with 15 other riders. Mine was the oldest (and cheapest). There were mostly Harley’s, a couple of Triumphs, a Yamaha and a couple of Ducati’s. We were all at a gas station and a lady from another group of riders (lots of riders where we were), came up to me and asked, “what year is you bike?” After I replied, she said, “You have a beautiful bike!”. I thanked her and we continued our different paths. That made me feel proud of my bike when all these other rider’s bikes were $15K - $40K. Just to let you know, these vintage bikes do have a certain look that no others have.
my 1985 blew the engine after a rough 20,000 miles, I rebuilt it and screwed up boring it out, not one time but 2 times in college so I had it done professionally, 1mm, and found out it was making tooooo much HP for the transmission and started ripping out 1st and 2nd gears on the driven shafts, I had to abandon this because I was tired of removing engine and splitting cases......was a really quick bike after I made it I think a 823CC, It would stay with my brothers V65 up to a 100.....lol
Bought a Blue 84 brand new after owning my 81 Honda CB400T Hawk. Man I loved that Nighthawk. It was really cool looking back in the day and you could catch bigger bikes off guard as to how quick the Nighthawk was. Was a good wheelie bike, but super comfortable to ride. And yes, the dash was awesome, especially at night. Now I have a 2014 CB1100, but I'll always have a sweet spot for the 84 Nighthawk S.
It’s crazy how similar your bike choices have been to mine. First real bike was this exact bike with a V&H 2-1 exhaust, then a 1999 VFR800 with D&D exhaust, then a 2003 Cbr1100xx Super Blackbird. I sold all these over time unfortunately but recently got another 1999 VFR800 and came across your videos. I was strongly considering getting a Kawasaki Z900 RS but an amazing deal popped up for this VFR and I couldn’t be happier. Great taste in bikes, keep it up!
Back in 1984 Motorcyclist magazine review said it required as much maintenance as a shovel. I had a 84. Loved ridin that bike. It was black and blue when I got it but painted it all black. Had Dennis Kirk slip-on aluminum can mufflers which sounded great. Thanks for the ride. Ahhh memories.
My first bike was an 84 in red and black just like this. It had the Kerker 4 into 1 and carbs jetted. I absolutely loved that bike, I only sold it after the timing chain let go. This makes me want to find another one.
When I was a teenager I fell in love with this bike. Read every article in all the motorcycle magazines. I'm now 51 and own a 2002 Harley V-Rod. Good luck with your bike and as always be safe.
Just bought 750 S. Cod version. It was my dream bike as a kid. Needs some work, but love all things you mentioned. The retro movement for 70’s bikes is happening now. The 80’s retro scene will be coming soon imo
How much did you buy it for? I'm looking at picking one up. I found a 1985 nighthawk 700 with 20k miles for $1k. Carbs were rebuilt. Wondering if that's a good deal or not? It's the only nighthawk that I could find for sale locally online
I have a beautiful black and blue 700s. 1984. I just had a local shop in Belvidere nj get it going after 2 years. These bike are still hot looking after 36 years !
Juste bought a 1984 Honda Nighthawk 750 s for 800$, needs a New paint job and i gave a brand new set of complete Nice Blue decalls that the seller gave me , cant Wait to go for a ride...Nice video by the way.
I had an '82 Nighthawk 750 that I really liked and had a friend crash it just before my vacation and planned trip to the east coast Canada. I walked into the bike store and purchase the '84 Nighthawk S that I had been eye balling for awhile. I road it from Ontario to P.E.I. and back and just loved it! Although it was a smaller than the '82 it held it's own on the highway. Everything you said about the bike is spot on! I really miss it as I had to give it up through a marriage breakup and after watching you ride this on UA-cam, I have a renewed desire to get another. Mine was like yours, the black and red. The only thing I had to do was a valve guide replacement as they became leaky. Great bike! Thanks for showing us this.
Awesome video and a fabulous bike. I owned a black 1984 Nighthawk 650 which was very similar. Best bike I ever owned, never had a problem and ran just great. Wish I had kept it. Always loved the Nighthawk S of 84 and 85.
@@ws6man96 They sure were! I had it for 19 years and put about 30k on it. It was very fast and took it everywhere all over New Hampshire. It was bullet proof and I maintained it very well. Never had any issues with it. Those bikes that came out during that era made quantum leaps in motorcycle tech from the earlier bikes from the 70 s and early 80's, Honda at that time was leading the way I always thought amongst the big Japanese 4 manufacturers , but the stuff that they were coming out at that time was awesome too. It was a great time in motorcycle history.
I've got the fever for a ZX14R and I'm 56 years old. I ride a sweet custom Harley Davidson Road King now but miss the excitement and adrenaline from the old days.:)
@@tlc8865 I'd love a ZX14 too but I've heard full coverage insurance is ridiculous. Its a deceptively comfortable bike from what I've heard too. Always wanted to ride one. I believe the 2008 and up are the most desirable years.
I bought one of these as my 2nd bike, it was the blue and black edition. this was cirica 2014 and I was young and dumb, I spent a lot of time on that bike over summer and spring and crashed it pretty bad in july of that year and broke my ankle. I was trying to keep up and show off to my friends on modern sports bikes. I really miss the sound of it, lol just hearing it run made me remember all the good times I had on it. best $800 I ever spent
I am a very proud owner of a 1985 HONDA NIGHTHAWK S750! Yes, I own the 750 version of the NIGHTHAWK S as my bike was sold in Canada. When the Nighhawk S came out there was a govt tariff on any bikes over 700 CC's so Honda in their infinite wisdom destroked the engine by 3.6 millimeters but kept the bore the same and the US version was 696 cc's and the Europe and Canadian version was 747 cc's and also had 33 millimeter carbs vs 31 millimeter carbs for the US bikes. My side cover even says Nighthawk S 750 I remember when these bikes were brand new and I wanted one so bad. I so wish Honda would make a modern version of the Nighthawk S My 36 year old bike still looks great today. Motor cyclist called it the California Hot Rod!
Good video thank you! So to be clear, in 6th gear, 55 mph the engine revs were a bit above 4500 rpm? SO 65 mph would have it revving much higher? Thanks!
I bought a new 1986 Nighthawk S as my second bike. It was the blue and white with a red striping. Loved that bike I would still have it today if it had not been stolen. I never liked the 86 blue and orange versions, but the RWB was gorgeous to me. Enjoy the ride.
Hi from the UK, I first watched your Video about 6 months ago, and was really impressed, I came back to biking 4 years ago, and I am 81 yrs old now, and have had several new bikes since returning , I now have a 2022 Yamaha XSR 700cc twin, which I am very happy with, but I am really in love with a 4 in line and wanted one like yours, as a second bike with minuium maintainance, I have found one for sale which has been painted yellow , but I will change the colours when I buy it, as I said I am now retired, and feel that I could try and bring it back to some origional colours it is a 1983 model and since you have one and I was hoping that you may pass on the colours that it should be, you have certainly made up my mind about the Honda Night Hawk, thanks to you and I will do a deal this weekend, please can you tell me what questions I should be asking the seller, in regard to the state of the mechanics, and what the weekness are to this model if there are any, you have certainly helped me to pick the right model, and Iam very excited about fixing up any thing that may be required to do!. I thank you again for your Video, and keep making them, you are good at it, Happy Riding from "Born again Biker Bryan"
Picked a red 86 700 nhk s up a few years back put 6k super fun miles on it. always turned heads when I took it out. one of the coolest bikes made, loven the retro!! Didn't have time or space to keep it so I gave it to my nephew so a new generation can apreciate what the awsome 80s had.
My heart was beating away watching this video :D The 84 Nighthawk 700s was the bike that started my love of motorcycling. It wasn't my first new bike, I purchased a Honda Ascot FT500 before the Nighthawk. The Ascot was a good bike I used for around town and back & forth to school. But the Nighthawk I actually rode, on it I discovered what motorcycling was all about. I started exploring and seeking fun roads, took my first tour(well, it was a day trip, but felt like a tour too me....lol ) and even had my first wreck on(or is it off??) my 700s. Me and the bike survived and were good as new with a little fixing up. I do remember how damn comfortable it was, that seat was just right and it never bothered me to ride all day. I also remember laying down on the tank, with my feet on the back pegs, head tucked down in that little fairing and holding the throttle wide open, ripping down the MA Turnpike, with speedo bouncing off "full right"(you know where it cuts off...lol ) What can I say? I was 17 when I bought that Nighthawk I liked speed even more then...That was the fastest I've ever gone on a motorcycle and I wont be pushing that limit ever again. Anyway, great video and review, I think you're pretty much spot on and its a testament to how good of a motorcycle they were that you're enjoying one today. Ride-on!! You forgot to mention one of the bike's most unique features....The Nighthawk 700s is sport bike with a shaft primary drive..... 8-O
@@ws6man96 ..No, I didn't hang on to it. :( I wish I did, but at that time in my life I didn't realize what I had. Sold it after a couple years and moved on to something else.
The Honda nighthawk S was my very first motorcycle as well. I bought one in 1986, it was a 1984 model still in the box cost me $2600. I just bought one two weeks ago in Ohio that cost me $2900, but I love it. I also bought a few weeks ago a 2024 Honda rebel 1100 DCT. I have not had to do much to my Nighthawk S for a bike that is 40 years old. I’m going to replace the valve cover gasket as it is seeping, and then I had to replace the clutch and brake reservoir as you cannot see through the glass. I do have a question for you, the track system on the left front fork has a little play, about a 16th of an inch movement back-and-forth. Does yours? I don’t remember my original Nighthawk S doing that. I loved your video and the pretty scenery.
I owned a 1986 RWB in 1989-1992... I bought a red 1984 in 2010.. but I also thought the RWB 1986 needed polished side covers. So I repainted a 1985 RWB. Painted the wheels and valve covers gold. Looks awesome. I had a Maier chin spoiler painted to match the RWB scheme. I spoke to Maier and they no longer makes the chin spoiler, If you own a 700S you need to reach out to Maier to bring the chin spoiler back.. it really adds a lot to the café racer look.
I’m picking up mine from a fella up the road. So excited about it. It will be my 5th machine. All previous bikes were super sport 600cc. Really looking forward to a different riding experience
That's really clean, you found a nice one and took good care of it. It's really cool you're a long term owner. White 55 mph indicator because 55 was the national maximum speed limit. The >700cc engine because of the tariffs that Harley lobbied Congress for. It's also a big reason why Honda transferred Goldwing production to Ohio. My cousin had a Nighthawk 650 which also had shaft drive.
Great video of the Nighthawk S, Thanks......I have owned three of these prior to purchasing the fourth just a few weeks ago. The first 3 bikes all 1984 blue and black, this one I just purchased is a blue 1985 blue and black only 40,000 kms. Also bought another for my son which someone painted metallic green, but I'm putting it back black and blue. I love these bikes and if you look on Facebook marketplace in Texas there is a guy with blue bike for sale and has that 4 into one exhaust in picture not installed on it, you possibly could buy it. New tires just mounted on my rims and cleaning waxing rims before putting back on bike, then wait for spring warm weather to get it out. Ride safe 👍😎
You took your ride on my birthday. My 1st motorcycle was an '86 Nighthawk S 700, red, and I loved it. I don't remember why I sold it. My 2nd bike was a Yamaha Radian 600 (pretty sure it was a 600), it was totaled Halloween eve 1996. My third bike was a 2002 (I think) 250 Ninja, way too much buzz in the grips. Came into some money recently and saw a Nighthawk S on Facebook Marketplace and that got me looking. Bought an '84 Nighthawk S about a month ago now. Red, of course, with 17,000 miles on it. It was dropped once so it needs a right front turn signal replaced and some touch up painting. I'm seriously considering replacing the red decals with the white scheme because you don't see many like that, it really stands out and it looks really good. Thanks for the video and hang onto that bike, I think their value will only increase. Edit As I said at the top my 1st bike was an '86 and that's what I really wanted. The '86 models were too far or too much $ when I bought the '84. About 6 weeks after buying the '84 I found an '86 in Red White and Blue with 17k miles and a 4 into 1 exhaust. I snapped it up the day I saw it listed. About 2 weeks ago I put the '84 up for sale and it was gone within a week. There's definitely a loyal following for the Nighthawk S. That should be no surprise to anyone whose ridden or owned one, they are really awesome bikes!
Thanks for posting. I had the 750cc canadian model for a couple years in the early 90s. Sold it, got a 1254cc bancit 20 years later. Liked the honda way more.
Nice video and nice bike. I got my '85 700S this year. Drove 5 hours to pick her up but it was worth it. I remember drooling over this bike in high school. I'm working on restoring her back to stock. Have to get the steering stem bearings and fork seals replaced soon.
I own the same model in stoke on trent in england. It was left to me in a mates will. I will never sell black betty. ( her name) my daughter has put her name on betty and will be hers when she is old enough. An absolutely beautiful ride and gets more looks than my bandit 1200 street fighter or zx9r when out.
Super nice story about your bike. I happen to have a zx9r as well, and am considering buying one of these nighthawks for easier rides to and from work. Nice you got yours through a mates will, understandable that you'll never get rid of it.
I turned 16 in 1984. They had these in blue and red and I wanted that in blue and a Honda XL350. I never got either come out later I rode an XL 600 but I really wanted one of these. They had the CB 707 50 before this but from 8486 they had this design with a nighthawk S and in the day it was pretty hot it was not a full-blown sport bike or café racer as they called them back then but it was just a good basic standard bike and they put some decent brakes on it and some nice features and made it look nice. I think it’s a really good classic look and even today they still look pretty cool. In the mid 60s Mr. Honda kind of revolutionized the industry and brought quality and consistency through production into the motorcycle industry, before that they were all kind of leaky pieces of junk really, they were cool but mechanically and production wise they kind of sucked. Honda revolutionize that and everybody had to follow suit because everybody started buying Hondas and Pop through the late 80s he controlled the company and kept all that going. Somewhere in the 90s a Honda started getting a little sloppy and cutting costs and going for profit but these late 70s and 80s Hondas were incredibly well-built and we’re great bikes and like you were talking about the maintenance very low maintenance diehard they go forever, they were just really well-built an engineered. I love the 84, part of it was because that was the year I turn 16 so this is what I wanted but it’s kind of a muscle car looking bike it was simple but it was also high-tech enough to where it still looks good. I’d love to find one of these in blue, the red looks great too but blue is what I wanted when I was a kid and his performance is still great all-around bike, the six speed overdrive, you get on the freeway once you’re up to speed and the engine kicks down gets decent mileage nice and smooth low vibrations. I put braided brake lines on the front especially on one that’s almost 40 years old, I’ve heard a lot of the older ones are a little mushy on the front brakes but these were solid brakes when they were new. I don’t like the pipes that much either but I’d keep them because the collectors will want them, it was one of the signature pieces on these and at the time considered very cool. But late 70s and 80s as win a lot of the modern technology came into play and when engines got to be really good and I think this is still a great bike even by today’s standards, it’s simple but simplicity has its place and the maintenance on these is simple they’re built tough, you can put 80,000 miles on this no problem and it’s still gonna run great and that something you don’t find very often anymore. But this was kind of a jump in the looks of a bike, before this almost everything was very utilitarian and they were working on function but not a lot looked really good but this was pretty cool it has kind of that muscle car vibe to it. Yours looks to be in great shape too, I’m a little jealous 😅
I read about a lot of bikes and selected to get the 700S. It will be arriving July 2. This will be my 23rd bike and probably my last bike. I think it is the best example of the ujm.
I have owned an 84, 85, and now an 86. The only color i cant find for sale is the white red and blue! I learned to ride streetbike on this baby! I have a lot of nastalgia for 700S! Building the 86 now for my girl to learn to ride on!
i've had an 84 magna for well over 15 years.a 84-86 700 nignthawk is the only other bike i have on my bucket list.the things are damn near bulletproof. & can nearly keep up to a similar year magna.without worrying about the cam wear of the early v4's.a big thanks to harley & president reagan for these magnificent machines.
Had one back in the mid 80's. Same year and color. It had an RC 4>1 header on it and it was pretty loud. Great bike. Decided I wanted more power so I ended trading it in for a 1985 Suzuki GS1150ES. What a mistake that was.
My 84 has almost 39k on it now but I bought it as a basket case since the alternator chain broke as all of them do sooner or later. I did put a newer model 750 chain in it since they were stronger and a little larger than the wimpy chain they came with. I don’t like the front forks though. I’ve seen a kit you can buy to replace the triple clamp to install a Yamaha r6 front forks and wheel brakes. My bike fits me great and I love riding it. Mine does have a full yosi header and slip on and it’s jetted and absolutely will get it quickly!
I had a 1986 Honda V65 Sabre, I bought new as a "leftover" in 1987. It was horrid, 603 lbs wet weight. It was hard to ride more than an hour without suffering. I now have a 2019 Honda CB300R Neo Sports Cafe and I love it. 317 lbs wet weight and plenty of low end power.
Iv had mine now for 20 years...best bike I ever owned...i know every inch of this equipment and have rebuilt starter...done all maintenance...yep...she is good girl
ws6man96 Lime green. A lot of people don’t like the green but to me it embodies the whole retro DNA from Kawasaki. Think Eddie Lawson 1982 KZ1000. It’s a time capsule to me and the green just brings all the memories back. New sub thanks!
80’s bikes are the best, the golden age of sport bikes! I just picked up an 84, same colour as yours. I’ve wanted one for 25 years. Should be out of the shop in a few days. Be forewarned Some parts are getting pretty tough to find too. I needed to replace the neutral/gear position indicator switch to pass government safety & had to order from Europe. The 700 ‘Hawk is probably the bike I’ve wanted to get my hands on for most of my riding life. Great looking bike BTW!
OMG WHEN YOU SAD YOU WERE LOOKING FOR A PIPE, I WAS LIKE YA!!! MY DAD HAD THIS BIKE WHEN I WAS A KID AND IM LOOKING TO BUY ONE TODAY MY DAD HAD A 4INTO1 PIPE AND IT SOUNDED AMAZING!!!
Great vid! I Love the nighthawks, I've got a black/blue 85 700s.. I have a buddy here in Ohio with probably one of the largest or the largest collection of hawks, tonnnns of bikes and parts. He buys and sells everything nighthawk.
I think I’ve been chatting with your buddy through his FB page the last couple days...Cleveland area? If that’s him, his His collection is bloody unreal!! Lol
@@kristopherwhittaker5193 lul yeah that's definitely him. His official page is Joe's Honda Nighthawk cb700sc. And you can find him in the nighthawk fb group also. He's got the biggest collection of them that I know of.
I own a CB 360 1974 Orange color. with 9900 miles. I am thinking of selling it. I am looking at options right now. This looks cool and there is one local for sale. The Blue 86 model. Can you ride this on the highway and if so at what speeds would it feel ok?
I just bought one exactly like that for 500. It has about 20k miles but it has some problems. It wasn’t running when I bought it but I fixed it and it is all good right now but I think the previous owner did something to the shift lever cover because neutral is 5th on the dash and 4th is neutral on the dash. Looking for parts.
I just bought a 1985 nighthawk Project for $100. Not exactly sure what it needs. Carbs cleaned, battery. And a clutch reservoir for starters. Gas tank is also rusty . Im hoping to find the time and funds to get into it here soon. Wish me luck...
If you want to fix your faded switches wipe a think coating of vasoline on the black plastic bits and let it sit for a few days (careful not to get it on the moving parts or inside). Wipe it down and they will look great!
I bought 650 night hawk SC 1982 wish I had bought a newer model because of the shaft drive mine only had 11367 miles on her did need a bit more work than yours still love the bike this also my first bike
I have the 96 Nighthawk 750 .. the big brother to that one .. engine and alot came from this bike . fun bikes.. i wish they would have kept the shaft drive
I purchased mine in 2016 with 20k miles. Previous had it sitting in the garage for 5-6 years until he decided to sell it. Has to rebuild carbs as well as all the fluids and it started right up. Once I knew the motor was ok then spent funds on fork seals, tires, and other misc items. Such nice bikes and I won’t ever sell it. Check my UA-cam page I have it posted as well as my 83 Honda Sabre 750. Safe riding my friend
Sweet!!! I'll check it out and great find. There isnt much to go wrong with the bike unless it was extremely abused. It's hard to fit everything in you want to say and still keep it interesting.
Freddie Spencer...............was the test rider in the commercial...................WORLD CHAMPION Freddie Spencer................only man to win the 250 AND 500 cc World Championship in the SAME YEAR !........yeah, that guy. "Freddie loved the Nighthawk so much..............he did'nt bring it back".....was how the commercial concluded. i agree.
Cool video. I have a blacked out 84 700S that's in the shop right now for fork seals! It's in decent shape for its age, not perfect, but it still runs pretty good. I plan on eventually replacing the brake lines and the clutch line with stainless and replacing the pads because the front brake just doesn't have a lot lot of bite. That could just be because the fork oil is getting on the rotor, though! I do occasionally have clutch slippage, but I sourced some stiffer clutch springs that I will replace next time I do an oil change. It really is a tank of a bike and it's great not having to do much maintenance, although you will replace wear items. I also have a few oil leaks here and there, but replacement parts are readily available. I have almost 36k miles and hope to drive it for a lot longer. My favorite thing, I think, is the riding position. The bars are narrow but high, and the foot pegs are straight down, making it really comfortable. I also have a 2018 Suzuki GSX250R, and while I do enjoy the bike and the 70mpg, the sport bike handlebars make my wrist fall asleep after an hour or so. Like you said, there's nothing out there that looks like a Nighthawk 700S and Honda hit it out of the park with this model.
I had an '83 Nighthawk, but always wanted the 700s. May find one now, hopefully as nice as yours! You failed to mention the less maintenance of shaft drive. For restoring the switch housing and any other black plastics check out Jenny Smith's resto of hers on 'Rider' magazine's vlog. The product is called 'Solution Finish'.
I had an 83 650 Nighthawk brand new back in 84. Buddy had a Nighthawk S. We traded a lot. 650 had more power in the lower 2/3rds of the RPM range. 700 did come to life at 7k RPM though. That 699 CC restriction really hurt the S. I put 30k miles on that 650 in less than 3 years(never owned a car till 88) then traded for a V65 Sabre. I now have a 2015 Yamaha FJ-09,(after several bikes) very similar feel/layout but much more power and lighter. Honda got the looks right though in the 80's, in my book never equaled.
I live in northern Illinois when I owned my Black and Red S. We didn't have any twisty roads to speak of so I couldn't appreciate it in the turns. Gave it to a pastor in Arkansas. My V65 was a better fit for those roads. Now I live in Virginia by the Smokies, yeah, on purpose. Just recently picked up an 02 Nighthawk 750, with a similar vibe. Haven't gotten it on the road yet, December and snow on the ground. Also owned the VFR 750 in Red and white wheels with matching red GIVI bags. I would recommend the S as a great sporty all arounder if you live near twisty roads and don't enjoy riding on your wrists and your balls any more. IMO the Nighthawks with bags make better sport tourers than sport bikes with bags. Even tried to buy one recently, but was second in line. : ( Thanks for the memories.
Cool looking bike. I used to see them all the time in the 80's, always wanted one. They seem to be very rare now, haven't seen one on the road in many years.
The riders name was Freddie Spencer superbike champion ..I owned the 84 red just like this one absolutely spotless and absolutely loved it very powerful and fun ... That was in 1989 I was 19 I would love to have another one I just sold my 1982 Honda v45 magna also very fast
I bought one of these that needed a rebuild for $110 at an estate sale... Never rebuilt it, gave it to a friend ofmmine who was interested, desperately trying to track it back down, I miss that bike.
I was in the Army. When I got back from Korea in 1986, I bought a 1984 Honda Nighthawk S. Watching this video literally gets my adrenaline pumping. I loved that bike. I sold it in 1991 when I had a kid and thought I had to settle down. I regret selling it. I would love to find one in that condition. You are very lucky to have found it. Enjoy!!
Yes, I had a used one back in 80s, it was one of the BEST looking bike at the time! Great tool to pick up hot girls! I had to sell my beloved nighthawk S. It gave me memory of the good old time....
It is amazing how this bike looks absolutely gorgeous after all these years. I would dare to say it is the prettiest air-cooled 4 cylinder UJM to date.
It certainly stands out from the rest!
In my opinion, the 700S was the best looking bike of that era. That's why I got myself an '84 700S in blue. Watching this video makes me regret my decision to sell it...
FYI.. it is oil cooled, not air cooled.
@@glow9999 thanks.but we dont have a motorcycle which is specifically oil cooled.they are usually air-oil cooled simultaneously.
@@glow9999 no it's air cooled but has an oil cooler.
My father bought his 1984 Honda Nighthawk S brand new. It was the blue and black color scheme. I still remember the day that he brought it home. I was 7 years old, and it was the bike that got me started into motorcycling. The look and sound of that 700 screaming while riding on the back of it, are imprinted in my brain. Yes, you have to rev it to get the most out of it. But, it is such a rewarding experience. For 1984, it was a fast bike. It topped out right about 125 mph, which was fast for a 7 year old. My father kept the bike until around 2000. My brother took possession of it and kept it until last year. The bike remained stock the entire time we had it. It did develop an oil leak that we couldn’t figure out. We are in the Cleveland area, and we couldn’t find a shop to work on it. None of the Honda dealerships wanted to work on such an old bike. It was in mint condition cosmetically, and ran great up until the day we sold it. Thanks for the video! It was a trip down memory lane!
Thank you for the great story on your Nighthawk!
I had a 1985 blue 700S -- my first motorcycle. I bought it in 1999 after it was neglected and abused, allowing me to snag it for $300. I rebuilt the carbs and cleaned the rust from the tank and the bike was amazing. I did "trade up" to a 1995 Honda CB1000 about 5 years later, but I have to say I really miss the Nighthawk. Thanks for the video, it really reminded me of how much I adored the motorcycle. That frantic pull to redline and the sound those stock twin pipes make... along with all those amazing features that made it such a hassle free and reliable bike.
Owned 2 of these back in the day. Best sounding bike especially at the time imo. They are sneaky little beasts. At 7000 RPM it found a new life. Awesome video.
That's awesome to hear! Thanks for the comment!!
Back in 85’ I put a header and jet kit on an Alpine white one, boy she was sweet and really ripped after that. My buddy had a pearl white CBX 82’ hard bags and all for dirt cheap, this was 84’ it was a leftover from 82’ probably gave $4000 or so for it LOL
yup a 7000 rpm the torque kick in big time
Bulletproof
An ‘85 (blue, the border was silver, actually) was my first bike! Bought it new. I think it was $3050 from the Honda dealer. I put 75k miles on that bike! Rode it for 3 years, rain or shine, during college. Also rode it cross-country and back (CA to VA, and then back to CA) one summer. LOVED that bike! Other than a pipe and jetting, best thing you can do to that motor is re-time the cams. The lobe centers were set crazy-high (like 114-118, can’t truly remember) for that peak power. I literally took out the cams, ground slots where the bolt holes hold the cam chain wheels to the cams, and re-timed the lobe centers down to ~108 degrees. Made that motor fantastic!
Hearing you start it up, even with the stock pipes, brought back so many memories!!! I am crazy-jealous!!
Back in 86 my girlfriend had an 86. I got to ride it a lot and loved it. I wish Honda would make a modern version of this today, hydraulic valves and all. My girlfriend and I broke up. I was sad to see the bike go.
I just bought my first Nighthawk last night 700SC. I've been riding newer sportbikes my whole life but what a joy when I rode my new nighthawk home she definitely Suprised me.
I had an 84 Nighthawk S in blue and black. I loved that bike. So much fun to ride. It handled really well and had comfortable seating position. Your video brought back awesome memories! I rode that bike from Chicago to California with no issues. Wish I still had that bike.
same feeling, at that time, people were friendly, women were sweet, the world was in peace........
Beautiful Nighthawk S...remember these back in High School when they came out. One of Honda's best.
I have the exact same bike. Had it since 1985. Put a Kerker K2 4 into 1 exhaust on it, K&N air filter and installed larger main jets in the carbs. Sounds incredible accelerating through tunnels. I'll never sell it.
Bought a new one of those back in 1984. Exactly like that. What a great bike that was. Really enjoyed it in all aspects. Fun to ride, sounded good, fast enough and very stylish.
Would love to find on in that condition.
I had an 84 , and then a 85 2nd one was tricked out pretty good. At one time like 7 of us friends had them. So fun. Them they came out with the new nighthawk hated it. Be sweet if they brought this back with like a 900 cc engine and new tech.
Super nice condition. Looks great!
I’ve got a 1984 Nighthawk S CB750SC here in BC, Canada. Owned it since 1988 and was parked for 15 years in garage. I changed the battery and gas. It fired up on the 3rd crank and was I impressed. Gotta love those Honda motors. I’m looking for a left muffler due to road rash from previous owner. I’d like to get “Collector’s Plates” for 25 year or older motor vehicles. Has to be in like new condition. Yours looks like it would qualify.
Here’s a story for you:
I was on a ride with 15 other riders. Mine was the oldest (and cheapest). There were mostly Harley’s, a couple of Triumphs, a Yamaha and a couple of Ducati’s. We were all at a gas station and a lady from another group of riders (lots of riders where we were), came up to me and asked, “what year is you bike?” After I replied, she said, “You have a beautiful bike!”. I thanked her and we continued our different paths. That made me feel proud of my bike when all these other rider’s bikes were $15K - $40K. Just to let you know, these vintage bikes do have a certain look that no others have.
my 1985 blew the engine after a rough 20,000 miles, I rebuilt it and screwed up boring it out, not one time but 2 times in college so I had it done professionally, 1mm, and found out it was making tooooo much HP for the transmission and started ripping out 1st and 2nd gears on the driven shafts, I had to abandon this because I was tired of removing engine and splitting cases......was a really quick bike after I made it I think a 823CC, It would stay with my brothers V65 up to a 100.....lol
Bought a Blue 84 brand new after owning my 81 Honda CB400T Hawk. Man I loved that Nighthawk. It was really cool looking back in the day and you could catch bigger bikes off guard as to how quick the Nighthawk was. Was a good wheelie bike, but super comfortable to ride. And yes, the dash was awesome, especially at night. Now I have a 2014 CB1100, but I'll always have a sweet spot for the 84 Nighthawk S.
It’s crazy how similar your bike choices have been to mine. First real bike was this exact bike with a V&H 2-1 exhaust, then a 1999 VFR800 with D&D exhaust, then a 2003 Cbr1100xx Super Blackbird. I sold all these over time unfortunately but recently got another 1999 VFR800 and came across your videos. I was strongly considering getting a Kawasaki Z900 RS but an amazing deal popped up for this VFR and I couldn’t be happier. Great taste in bikes, keep it up!
Possibly my favorite UJM of all time. I had a blue/black '84 version- loved that bike. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
Back in 1984 Motorcyclist magazine review said it required as much maintenance as a shovel. I had a 84. Loved ridin that bike. It was black and blue when I got it but painted it all black. Had Dennis Kirk slip-on aluminum can mufflers which sounded great. Thanks for the ride. Ahhh memories.
My first bike was an 84 in red and black just like this. It had the Kerker 4 into 1 and carbs jetted. I absolutely loved that bike, I only sold it after the timing chain let go. This makes me want to find another one.
I had an 84 red, ran SuperTrapp and a carb kit on it , it was awesome and sounded like a mad hornet net screaming down the road! Loved it!!!
When I was a teenager I fell in love with this bike. Read every article in all the motorcycle magazines. I'm now 51 and own a 2002 Harley V-Rod. Good luck with your bike and as always be safe.
I can imagine this was quite a enticing bike back in its day with how it still is a head turner now. Love V Rods. I'd love to find a VRod Street Rod.
@@ws6man96 you can check on RumbleOn.com. They usually have a few v-rods on their website. Great people to work with.
@@joeleonardo4902 sweet! I'll check it out.
Just bought 750 S.
Cod version.
It was my dream bike as a kid.
Needs some work, but love all things you mentioned.
The retro movement for 70’s bikes is happening now. The 80’s retro scene will be coming soon imo
Awesome!! Enjoy getting it running. The 80s is returning with the new Suzuki Katana. Others will be joining too I'm sure.
How much did you buy it for? I'm looking at picking one up. I found a 1985 nighthawk 700 with 20k miles for $1k. Carbs were rebuilt. Wondering if that's a good deal or not? It's the only nighthawk that I could find for sale locally online
I have a beautiful black and blue 700s. 1984. I just had a local shop in Belvidere nj get it going after 2 years. These bike are still hot looking after 36 years !
Juste bought a 1984 Honda Nighthawk 750 s for 800$, needs a New paint job and i gave a brand new set of complete Nice Blue decalls that the seller gave me , cant Wait to go for a ride...Nice video by the way.
AZ highway patrol clocked me at 142 mph on my hawk... gawd I miss that bike
I had an '82 Nighthawk 750 that I really liked and had a friend crash it just before my vacation and planned trip to the east coast Canada. I walked into the bike store and purchase the '84 Nighthawk S that I had been eye balling for awhile. I road it from Ontario to P.E.I. and back and just loved it! Although it was a smaller than the '82 it held it's own on the highway. Everything you said about the bike is spot on! I really miss it as I had to give it up through a marriage breakup and after watching you ride this on UA-cam, I have a renewed desire to get another. Mine was like yours, the black and red. The only thing I had to do was a valve guide replacement as they became leaky. Great bike! Thanks for showing us this.
Thanks for the comment! I'm glad you enjoyed the video and I liked hearing your perspective compared to the 82 750!
Awesome video and a fabulous bike. I owned a black 1984 Nighthawk 650 which was very similar. Best bike I ever owned, never had a problem and ran just great. Wish I had kept it. Always loved the Nighthawk S of 84 and 85.
The 650s were deceptively fast for the era!
@@ws6man96 They sure were! I had it for 19 years and put about 30k on it. It was very fast and took it everywhere all over New Hampshire. It was bullet proof and I maintained it very well. Never had any issues with it. Those bikes that came out during that era made quantum leaps in motorcycle tech from the earlier bikes from the 70 s and early 80's, Honda at that time was leading the way I always thought amongst the big Japanese 4 manufacturers , but the stuff that they were coming out at that time was awesome too. It was a great time in motorcycle history.
I've got the fever for a ZX14R and I'm 56 years old. I ride a sweet custom Harley Davidson Road King now but miss the excitement and adrenaline from the old days.:)
@@tlc8865 I'd love a ZX14 too but I've heard full coverage insurance is ridiculous. Its a deceptively comfortable bike from what I've heard too. Always wanted to ride one. I believe the 2008 and up are the most desirable years.
What a sweet example of a classic! Great video!!
I've been jonesing for an '86 red white and blue for years now. My favorite looking motorcycle of all time. That bike just gets my heart beating!
I bought one of these as my 2nd bike, it was the blue and black edition. this was cirica 2014 and I was young and dumb, I spent a lot of time on that bike over summer and spring and crashed it pretty bad in july of that year and broke my ankle. I was trying to keep up and show off to my friends on modern sports bikes. I really miss the sound of it, lol just hearing it run made me remember all the good times I had on it. best $800 I ever spent
I am a very proud owner of a 1985 HONDA NIGHTHAWK S750! Yes, I own the 750 version of the NIGHTHAWK S as my bike was sold in Canada. When the Nighhawk S came out there was a govt tariff on any bikes over 700 CC's so Honda in their infinite wisdom destroked the engine by 3.6 millimeters but kept the bore the same and the US version was 696 cc's and the Europe and Canadian version was 747 cc's and also had 33 millimeter carbs vs 31 millimeter carbs for the US bikes. My side cover even says Nighthawk S 750 I remember when these bikes were brand new and I wanted one so bad. I so wish Honda would make a modern version of the Nighthawk S My 36 year old bike still looks great today. Motor cyclist called it the California Hot Rod!
Got my 85 black and blue 700s last year. Guy had ot tucked back in garage for about 10 years. 24k miles
Best damn bike ever
Hang onto it!
Good video thank you! So to be clear, in 6th gear, 55 mph the engine revs were a bit above 4500 rpm? SO 65 mph would have it revving much higher? Thanks!
I bought a new 1986 Nighthawk S as my second bike. It was the blue and white with a red striping. Loved that bike I would still have it today if it had not been stolen. I never liked the 86 blue and orange versions, but the RWB was gorgeous to me. Enjoy the ride.
Hi from the UK, I first watched your Video about 6 months ago, and was really impressed, I came back to biking 4 years ago, and I am 81 yrs old now, and have had several new bikes since returning , I now have a 2022 Yamaha XSR 700cc twin, which I am very happy with, but I am really in love with a 4 in line and wanted one like yours, as a second bike with minuium maintainance, I have found one for sale which has been painted yellow , but I will change the colours when I buy it, as I said I am now retired, and feel that I could try and bring it back to some origional colours it is a 1983 model and since you have one and I was hoping that you may pass on the colours that it should be, you have certainly made up my mind about the Honda Night Hawk, thanks to you and I will do a deal this weekend, please can you tell me what questions I should be asking the seller, in regard to the state of the mechanics, and what the weekness are to this model if there are any, you have certainly helped me to pick the right model, and Iam very excited about fixing up any thing that may be required to do!. I thank you again for your Video, and keep making them, you are good at it, Happy Riding from "Born again Biker Bryan"
I bought a blue/black in 1985, rode it 12 years then '97 got a bandit 1200 - had it for 23 years. Lots of great memories both.
These were amazing bikes. I was fortunate enough to have owned a 1986 red,white,and blue one brand new back in the day. I still miss that bike.
That's awesome! Love that color combination. Thanks for sharing your history with the bike!
Picked a red 86 700 nhk s up a few years back put 6k super fun miles on it. always turned heads when I took it out. one of the coolest bikes made, loven the retro!! Didn't have time or space to keep it so I gave it to my nephew so a new generation can apreciate what the awsome 80s had.
My heart was beating away watching this video :D The 84 Nighthawk 700s was the bike that started my love of motorcycling. It wasn't my first new bike, I purchased a Honda Ascot FT500 before the Nighthawk. The Ascot was a good bike I used for around town and back & forth to school. But the Nighthawk I actually rode, on it I discovered what motorcycling was all about. I started exploring and seeking fun roads, took my first tour(well, it was a day trip, but felt like a tour too me....lol ) and even had my first wreck on(or is it off??) my 700s. Me and the bike survived and were good as new with a little fixing up. I do remember how damn comfortable it was, that seat was just right and it never bothered me to ride all day. I also remember laying down on the tank, with my feet on the back pegs, head tucked down in that little fairing and holding the throttle wide open, ripping down the MA Turnpike, with speedo bouncing off "full right"(you know where it cuts off...lol ) What can I say? I was 17 when I bought that Nighthawk I liked speed even more then...That was the fastest I've ever gone on a motorcycle and I wont be pushing that limit ever again.
Anyway, great video and review, I think you're pretty much spot on and its a testament to how good of a motorcycle they were that you're enjoying one today. Ride-on!!
You forgot to mention one of the bike's most unique features....The Nighthawk 700s is sport bike with a shaft primary drive..... 8-O
Thanks for the great story! Glad you still hung onto the bike. I did mention is was shaft drive towards the end.
@@ws6man96 ..No, I didn't hang on to it. :( I wish I did, but at that time in my life I didn't realize what I had. Sold it after a couple years and moved on to something else.
@@painsrides3616 aww bummer!! Well snag one up if you can.
@@ws6man96 ... Don't give me any idea's ...lol
Mine is stock. It's the bike that'll pass down through my family. They know there is history so will look after her
Had the 650 nighthawk and I loved ridding that girl . This bike is so Damm nice make me remember my high school years when I had her
The Honda nighthawk S was my very first motorcycle as well. I bought one in 1986, it was a 1984 model still in the box cost me $2600. I just bought one two weeks ago in Ohio that cost me $2900, but I love it. I also bought a few weeks ago a 2024 Honda rebel 1100 DCT. I have not had to do much to my Nighthawk S for a bike that is 40 years old. I’m going to replace the valve cover gasket as it is seeping, and then I had to replace the clutch and brake reservoir as you cannot see through the glass. I do have a question for you, the track system on the left front fork has a little play, about a 16th of an inch movement back-and-forth. Does yours? I don’t remember my original Nighthawk S doing that. I loved your video and the pretty scenery.
That was my favorite bike of all that I have owned. That was my only transportation for about 10 years. 92-02.
I owned a 1986 RWB in 1989-1992... I bought a red 1984 in 2010.. but I also thought the RWB 1986 needed polished side covers. So I repainted a 1985 RWB. Painted the wheels and valve covers gold. Looks awesome. I had a Maier chin spoiler painted to match the RWB scheme. I spoke to Maier and they no longer makes the chin spoiler, If you own a 700S you need to reach out to Maier to bring the chin spoiler back.. it really adds a lot to the café racer look.
I’m picking up mine from a fella up the road. So excited about it. It will be my 5th machine. All previous bikes were super sport 600cc. Really looking forward to a different riding experience
That's really clean, you found a nice one and took good care of it. It's really cool you're a long term owner.
White 55 mph indicator because 55 was the national maximum speed limit.
The >700cc engine because of the tariffs that Harley lobbied Congress for. It's also a big reason why Honda transferred Goldwing production to Ohio.
My cousin had a Nighthawk 650 which also had shaft drive.
Great video of the Nighthawk S, Thanks......I have owned three of these prior to purchasing the fourth just a few weeks ago. The first 3 bikes all 1984 blue and black, this one I just purchased is a blue 1985 blue and black only 40,000 kms. Also bought another for my son which someone painted metallic green, but I'm putting it back black and blue. I love these bikes and if you look on Facebook marketplace in Texas there is a guy with blue bike for sale and has that 4 into one exhaust in picture not installed on it, you possibly could buy it. New tires just mounted on my rims and cleaning waxing rims before putting back on bike, then wait for spring warm weather to get it out. Ride safe 👍😎
Great info. There's someone selling one of these locally and I love the look of it. Seems like it's pretty bulletproof too.
I've been hunting for one for years but they're hardly ever available in my area
Michael Turner they are, they have hydraulic valves so they don’t need much, change the oil frequently and it’ll run forever.
You took your ride on my birthday. My 1st motorcycle was an '86 Nighthawk S 700, red, and I loved it. I don't remember why I sold it. My 2nd bike was a Yamaha Radian 600 (pretty sure it was a 600), it was totaled Halloween eve 1996. My third bike was a 2002 (I think) 250 Ninja, way too much buzz in the grips. Came into some money recently and saw a Nighthawk S on Facebook Marketplace and that got me looking. Bought an '84 Nighthawk S about a month ago now. Red, of course, with 17,000 miles on it. It was dropped once so it needs a right front turn signal replaced and some touch up painting. I'm seriously considering replacing the red decals with the white scheme because you don't see many like that, it really stands out and it looks really good. Thanks for the video and hang onto that bike, I think their value will only increase.
Edit
As I said at the top my 1st bike was an '86 and that's what I really wanted. The '86 models were too far or too much $ when I bought the '84. About 6 weeks after buying the '84 I found an '86 in Red White and Blue with 17k miles and a 4 into 1 exhaust. I snapped it up the day I saw it listed. About 2 weeks ago I put the '84 up for sale and it was gone within a week. There's definitely a loyal following for the Nighthawk S. That should be no surprise to anyone whose ridden or owned one, they are really awesome bikes!
Thanks for posting. I had the 750cc canadian model for a couple years in the early 90s. Sold it, got a 1254cc bancit 20 years later. Liked the honda way more.
Great bike, bought a new one in 1985 had a lot of fun on it !!
Nice video and nice bike. I got my '85 700S this year. Drove 5 hours to pick her up but it was worth it. I remember drooling over this bike in high school. I'm working on restoring her back to stock. Have to get the steering stem bearings and fork seals replaced soon.
I own the same model in stoke on trent in england. It was left to me in a mates will. I will never sell black betty. ( her name) my daughter has put her name on betty and will be hers when she is old enough. An absolutely beautiful ride and gets more looks than my bandit 1200 street fighter or zx9r when out.
Super nice story about your bike. I happen to have a zx9r as well, and am considering buying one of these nighthawks for easier rides to and from work. Nice you got yours through a mates will, understandable that you'll never get rid of it.
I turned 16 in 1984. They had these in blue and red and I wanted that in blue and a Honda XL350. I never got either come out later I rode an XL 600 but I really wanted one of these. They had the CB 707 50 before this but from 8486 they had this design with a nighthawk S and in the day it was pretty hot it was not a full-blown sport bike or café racer as they called them back then but it was just a good basic standard bike and they put some decent brakes on it and some nice features and made it look nice. I think it’s a really good classic look and even today they still look pretty cool.
In the mid 60s Mr. Honda kind of revolutionized the industry and brought quality and consistency through production into the motorcycle industry, before that they were all kind of leaky pieces of junk really, they were cool but mechanically and production wise they kind of sucked. Honda revolutionize that and everybody had to follow suit because everybody started buying Hondas and Pop through the late 80s he controlled the company and kept all that going. Somewhere in the 90s a Honda started getting a little sloppy and cutting costs and going for profit but these late 70s and 80s Hondas were incredibly well-built and we’re great bikes and like you were talking about the maintenance very low maintenance diehard they go forever, they were just really well-built an engineered.
I love the 84, part of it was because that was the year I turn 16 so this is what I wanted but it’s kind of a muscle car looking bike it was simple but it was also high-tech enough to where it still looks good. I’d love to find one of these in blue, the red looks great too but blue is what I wanted when I was a kid and his performance is still great all-around bike, the six speed overdrive, you get on the freeway once you’re up to speed and the engine kicks down gets decent mileage nice and smooth low vibrations. I put braided brake lines on the front especially on one that’s almost 40 years old, I’ve heard a lot of the older ones are a little mushy on the front brakes but these were solid brakes when they were new. I don’t like the pipes that much either but I’d keep them because the collectors will want them, it was one of the signature pieces on these and at the time considered very cool. But late 70s and 80s as win a lot of the modern technology came into play and when engines got to be really good and I think this is still a great bike even by today’s standards, it’s simple but simplicity has its place and the maintenance on these is simple they’re built tough, you can put 80,000 miles on this no problem and it’s still gonna run great and that something you don’t find very often anymore. But this was kind of a jump in the looks of a bike, before this almost everything was very utilitarian and they were working on function but not a lot looked really good but this was pretty cool it has kind of that muscle car vibe to it. Yours looks to be in great shape too, I’m a little jealous 😅
My first motorcycle too in 1988!! Loved it.
I had one, it was my first bike and I must have another one. Sooo much fun to ride.
I read about a lot of bikes and selected to get the 700S. It will be arriving July 2. This will be my 23rd bike and probably my last bike. I think it is the best example of the ujm.
I have owned an 84, 85, and now an 86. The only color i cant find for sale is the white red and blue! I learned to ride streetbike on this baby! I have a lot of nastalgia for 700S! Building the 86 now for my girl to learn to ride on!
Terrific video young man. And I agree that you have one of the very best bikes built back then. Thanks, George
i've had an 84 magna for well over 15 years.a 84-86 700 nignthawk is the only other bike i have on my bucket list.the things are damn near bulletproof. & can nearly keep up to a similar year magna.without worrying about the cam wear of the early v4's.a big thanks to harley & president reagan for these magnificent machines.
I have this for about 15 years best bike I ever owned
Congrats on your long ownership and thanks for watching my video! It's a great bike to hang onto.
That bike is the absolute greatest...had a new one in 85.... regret its loss..
I lusted after this bike when I was young. It seemed like the perfect low maintenance commuter bike. I loved the early GPZ 750's as well
Had one back in the mid 80's. Same year and color. It had an RC 4>1 header on it and it was pretty loud. Great bike. Decided I wanted more power so I ended trading it in for a 1985 Suzuki GS1150ES. What a mistake that was.
My 84 has almost 39k on it now but I bought it as a basket case since the alternator chain broke as all of them do sooner or later. I did put a newer model 750 chain in it since they were stronger and a little larger than the wimpy chain they came with. I don’t like the front forks though. I’ve seen a kit you can buy to replace the triple clamp to install a Yamaha r6 front forks and wheel brakes. My bike fits me great and I love riding it. Mine does have a full yosi header and slip on and it’s jetted and absolutely will get it quickly!
I'm jealous of your exhaust!ha
I had a 1986 Honda V65 Sabre, I bought new as a "leftover" in 1987. It was horrid, 603 lbs wet weight.
It was hard to ride more than an hour without suffering. I now have a 2019 Honda CB300R Neo Sports Cafe and I love it. 317 lbs wet weight and plenty of low end power.
Iv had mine now for 20 years...best bike I ever owned...i know every inch of this equipment and have rebuilt starter...done all maintenance...yep...she is good girl
Are they easy to get parts for? Doesn’t sound like you needed parts but I am looking at one and I know from my 89 DT200R it’s impossible to find parts
I love the old look. Back in 1980 my neighbor had one. That’s why I went with the RS cafe instead of the base model Z900.
Sweet! Congrats in getting the RS Cafe. Which color?
ws6man96 Lime green. A lot of people don’t like the green but to me it embodies the whole retro DNA from Kawasaki. Think Eddie Lawson 1982 KZ1000. It’s a time capsule to me and the green just brings all the memories back. New sub thanks!
80’s bikes are the best, the golden age of sport bikes!
I just picked up an 84, same colour as yours. I’ve wanted one for 25 years. Should be out of the shop in a few days. Be forewarned Some parts are getting pretty tough to find too.
I needed to replace the neutral/gear position indicator switch to pass government safety & had to order from Europe.
The 700 ‘Hawk is probably the bike I’ve wanted to get my hands on for most of my riding life.
Great looking bike BTW!
OMG WHEN YOU SAD YOU WERE LOOKING FOR A PIPE, I WAS LIKE YA!!!
MY DAD HAD THIS BIKE WHEN I WAS A KID AND IM LOOKING TO BUY ONE TODAY
MY DAD HAD A 4INTO1 PIPE AND IT SOUNDED AMAZING!!!
I had an 85 650 midnight blue to which I added a Vetter Sting fairing. Really liked that bike.
Great vid! I Love the nighthawks, I've got a black/blue 85 700s.. I have a buddy here in Ohio with probably one of the largest or the largest collection of hawks, tonnnns of bikes and parts. He buys and sells everything nighthawk.
I think I’ve been chatting with your buddy through his FB page the last couple days...Cleveland area? If that’s him, his His collection is bloody unreal!! Lol
@@kristopherwhittaker5193 lul yeah that's definitely him. His official page is Joe's Honda Nighthawk cb700sc. And you can find him in the nighthawk fb group also. He's got the biggest collection of them that I know of.
I own a CB 360 1974 Orange color. with 9900 miles. I am thinking of selling it. I am looking at options right now. This looks cool and there is one local for sale. The Blue 86 model. Can you ride this on the highway and if so at what speeds would it feel ok?
I just bought one exactly like that for 500. It has about 20k miles but it has some problems. It wasn’t running when I bought it but I fixed it and it is all good right now but I think the previous owner did something to the shift lever cover because neutral is 5th on the dash and 4th is neutral on the dash. Looking for parts.
I just bought a 1985 nighthawk
Project for $100.
Not exactly sure what it needs.
Carbs cleaned, battery. And a clutch reservoir for starters.
Gas tank is also rusty .
Im hoping to find the time and funds to get into it here soon.
Wish me luck...
If you want to fix your faded switches wipe a think coating of vasoline on the black plastic bits and let it sit for a few days (careful not to get it on the moving parts or inside). Wipe it down and they will look great!
Sounds like it has been a great bike. Looks good still, as well
Awesome bike. I have CB 450 C & CB 750 C. Any Idea of selling the bike?
I bought 650 night hawk SC 1982 wish I had bought a newer model because of the shaft drive mine only had 11367 miles on her did need a bit more work than yours still love the bike this also my first bike
I have the 96 Nighthawk 750 .. the big brother to that one .. engine and alot came from this bike . fun bikes.. i wish they would have kept the shaft drive
I purchased mine in 2016 with 20k miles. Previous had it sitting in the garage for 5-6 years until he decided to sell it. Has to rebuild carbs as well as all the fluids and it started right up.
Once I knew the motor was ok then spent funds on fork seals, tires, and other misc items.
Such nice bikes and I won’t ever sell it. Check my UA-cam page I have it posted as well as my 83 Honda Sabre 750.
Safe riding my friend
Sweet!!! I'll check it out and great find. There isnt much to go wrong with the bike unless it was extremely abused. It's hard to fit everything in you want to say and still keep it interesting.
I have 2 of them, a 1985 I bought new (red)and a 1984 I bought used(blue) love both of
them
if u ever decide to sell your85 nighthawk , please contact me thanks
My 1st bike. 84 blue. Bought it back in 88. One of the easiest bike to ride.
Freddie Spencer...............was the test rider in the commercial...................WORLD CHAMPION Freddie Spencer................only man to win the 250 AND 500 cc World Championship in the SAME YEAR !........yeah, that guy. "Freddie loved the Nighthawk so much..............he did'nt bring it back".....was how the commercial concluded. i agree.
Hi W6 Man
Would know where I could find a motor for a nighthawk? Not much in Canada.
I have the same year/model as you?
Any info would be appreciated.
Cool video. I have a blacked out 84 700S that's in the shop right now for fork seals! It's in decent shape for its age, not perfect, but it still runs pretty good. I plan on eventually replacing the brake lines and the clutch line with stainless and replacing the pads because the front brake just doesn't have a lot lot of bite. That could just be because the fork oil is getting on the rotor, though! I do occasionally have clutch slippage, but I sourced some stiffer clutch springs that I will replace next time I do an oil change. It really is a tank of a bike and it's great not having to do much maintenance, although you will replace wear items. I also have a few oil leaks here and there, but replacement parts are readily available. I have almost 36k miles and hope to drive it for a lot longer. My favorite thing, I think, is the riding position. The bars are narrow but high, and the foot pegs are straight down, making it really comfortable. I also have a 2018 Suzuki GSX250R, and while I do enjoy the bike and the 70mpg, the sport bike handlebars make my wrist fall asleep after an hour or so. Like you said, there's nothing out there that looks like a Nighthawk 700S and Honda hit it out of the park with this model.
I had an '83 Nighthawk, but always wanted the 700s. May find one now, hopefully as nice as yours! You failed to mention the less maintenance of shaft drive. For restoring the switch housing and any other black plastics check out Jenny Smith's resto of hers on 'Rider' magazine's vlog. The product is called 'Solution Finish'.
Is ya boy back there on a Kawasaki Z? That was my last bike. I'm picking up an 82 NH 750 this week.
I had an 83 650 Nighthawk brand new back in 84. Buddy had a Nighthawk S. We traded a lot. 650 had more power in the lower 2/3rds of the RPM range. 700 did come to life at 7k RPM though. That 699 CC restriction really hurt the S.
I put 30k miles on that 650 in less than 3 years(never owned a car till 88) then traded for a V65 Sabre.
I now have a 2015 Yamaha FJ-09,(after several bikes) very similar feel/layout but much more power and lighter.
Honda got the looks right though in the 80's, in my book never equaled.
I live in northern Illinois when I owned my Black and Red S. We didn't have any twisty roads to speak of so I couldn't appreciate it in the turns. Gave it to a pastor in Arkansas. My V65 was a better fit for those roads. Now I live in Virginia by the Smokies, yeah, on purpose. Just recently picked up an 02 Nighthawk 750, with a similar vibe. Haven't gotten it on the road yet, December and snow on the ground. Also owned the VFR 750 in Red and white wheels with matching red GIVI bags. I would recommend the S as a great sporty all arounder if you live near twisty roads and don't enjoy riding on your wrists and your balls any more. IMO the Nighthawks with bags make better sport tourers than sport bikes with bags. Even tried to buy one recently, but was second in line. : ( Thanks for the memories.
Cool looking bike. I used to see them all the time in the 80's, always wanted one. They seem to be very rare now, haven't seen one on the road in many years.
Salve ne ho appena comprata una anno 87´ e sono super contento della robusta sostanza dei materiali e delle emozioni che regala
Beautiful bike bro!!!!
Gr8 video as well!!! TY!.!.
The riders name was Freddie Spencer superbike champion ..I owned the 84 red just like this one absolutely spotless and absolutely loved it very powerful and fun ... That was in 1989 I was 19 I would love to have another one I just sold my 1982 Honda v45 magna also very fast
I’ve had to change the turn signal stems a ton on my 84 650sc. They always dry up and crack
I bought one of these that needed a rebuild for $110 at an estate sale... Never rebuilt it, gave it to a friend ofmmine who was interested, desperately trying to track it back down, I miss that bike.
Oh yeah, it was Freddie Spencer in the commercial
I guess Freddy is still riding it and never returned it.
My 2nd motorcycle was an 86 Nighthawk S. I wish Honda would remake this retro, shaft drive and all.
I've got an 85. It's got 55k on it and runs as good now as it ever has. It's been said that everything's for sale. There words fade as I ride on.