The Bike That Came 30 Years Too Soon | The Honda NT650
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- Опубліковано 14 жов 2024
- The Honda Nt650 is such a nice bike and something I hope more people will learn about and enjoy. They are rare bikes and hard to find but they are still worth the hunt.
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I love my hawk!! Ty for posting.
I bought an 89 brand new out of the dealership in Hawaii. It was not my first choice as I wanted a Hurricane. I was 19 at the time and the insurance on Hurricane was literally the cost of the bike for one year of insurance. The dealer told me the quarter mile on the Hawk was nearly Identical to the Hurricane. So I bought that instead. That's probably why they came detuned from the factory so the Hawk didn't beat the Hurricane at the quarter mile. Later I shipped it to California where it turned out to be a lane splitting machine. I can't imagine a better bike for that. If you want to have a laugh look at a pic of the Hurricane for that year.
They wheelie nice too, light and torquey, for a 650.
I’d turn it around and say that the Ducati Pantah inspired the Hawk and not the Hawk the Monster. If then only in being a naked. I own a Pantah 600 but the Hawk, which I bought only a few years ago, is still my favorite to ride. I wish I had known sooner. Beside owning a near standard Hawk I am also working on a Hawk special with a Fireblade front end. That totally puts it on a par with modern bikes when it comes to roadholding and braking.
I really don’t see it that way. That Ducati to me is very different. I think this is one of those brain children that came from Honda and people took inspiration. I mean Suzuki made a near identical copy of
@@navscycles Then have a look at the also badly selling Pantah 600 TL and if still not convinced at the Yamaha XZ550 from 1982. No particular Honda invention here, although a very fine incarnation.
I honestly think you’re missing the point. All those are vintage motorcycles. Not modern naked sports bikes which is what separates it
@@navscycles Your arguments become ever weaker. So the Hawk and Monster are modern bikes and those I mention vintage? Only 7 years separate the Pantah and XZ from the Hawk. The Hawk was introduced 35 yers ago. The first Monster is only 3 years younger. Seen from that perspective they have all been introduced within a period of 10 years more then 30 years ago and thus all vintage. Please do your homework before you launch such claims. 🤣
Many came to Europe as grey imports. Here in The Netherlands they are cheap and easy to find. Prices starting at 1000 dollars for a high mileage one. 😁
How do you feel about it as a first bike? My boss has a mint condition 88 in grey he’s going to sell me for 1500$ I’m unbelievable pumped and just scheduled my course for the end of this month, I can’t wait!
Buy it. They are great first bikes. If you ever sell it let me know.
If it is in a good nick buy it. You’ll never regret it if you are not particularly into high powered bikes. They are extremely durable. Many have topped more then 100.000 km = plusminus 60.000 miles here in Europe. 👍
@@navscycles thanks for the confirmation glad I stumbled upon your channel great stuff!
@@marcbrasse747 thanks for the info!
Wow nice sound too. Genuinely looks like a late 00s naked bike....
The Monster does NOT have an aluminum frame!
It’s partially aluminum but not fully you’re right.
Slower than most 500's of that era and more expensive than most 750's definitely hurt the Hawk in the showroom. Additionally it came with bowlingball hard MagMopus tires that nullified its excellent chassis. In spite of that it was a popular bike in the groups I rode with who mostly picked them up used or at the discounted (dumped) price Honda eventually sold them for. I never owned one but did manage to get a few hundred street miles and some track time on a couple of different units and found them to be an excellent and fun oriented ride. They were much better with higher quality tires but it was still fun sliding around on on the standard one too.
I own a Bros 400, which is a Japanese market version, I get lots of comments on how great it looks. Low down torque is great for a 400 but of course the top end is pretty limited.
Another similar bike from the Honda stable that the US market never saw was the 88-92 Spada VT250, probably the best real world 250 ever. They are very popular with club riders here is OZ and as an owner of both bikes I can confirm the Spada is easily as good all round as the Bros except for ride characteristics, but it has a brilliant screaming 14,000 rpm top end to compensate. The Spada in good condition is also a very nice looking machine.
Suzuki sv copied too. Best form of flattery. Lol. Thanks fer sharin!😂
The Ducati Monster was a steel trellis frame and could not be comparished with the Honda in any way.
Yesterday I sold my Transalp 650 and never thought to see that motor on a naked bike it's incredibly interesting, actual just sold my because of his bad ergonomics and heavy driving, a naked version it's so interesting
Can you check your audio please? It doesn't sound good through headphones because it's uneven between left and right.
I had one , not enough power. Bought a vtr1000 super hawk instead.
To each their own. The super hawk has more power but not handles worse. I enjoy the power for what it is in this bike but wouldn’t mind another 20hp but not what it’s about.
Also honda made a Ducati monster look alike VTR250.
They were covered up in the early years though if I'm not mistaken
The VTR was actually a later down specced version of the Spada, (which debuted in 88 I think) cheaper frame, about 8hp less, 5 speed instead of 6, lower grade fittings etc. still a fun bike and actually a practical ride even today.
The Spada was discontinued because it was simply too expensive to build for a 250 and the sell at a realistic price.
The Castec frame on the Spada was derived from the GP bikes and despite the lack of the single sided swing-arm is better than the Hawk frame.
As noted though the VTR is very similar to a Monster, definitely a good looking machine.
@@ultimateiphonedng8756 I own a spada its really good. It was the worlds first cast aluminum chassis. 40Hp with 25.4Nm torque from a 90° v-twin.
IT DID NOT SELL WELL BECAUSE OF THE ALLOY WHEELS..... THEY ARE LIKE ELECTRIC FAN BLADE...LOL ....IT WOULD LOOK WAY BETTER WITH NICER WHEELS I THINK