Nighthawk 700 "S"

[RenoJohn]

Rewind to the mid 80's -----and I'm not talking about DCarver's mullet

I was starting college and I had a boner for this bike -I'm talking a serious "want". It made no sense at the time, no money, not practical, yada yada.

Over the years I've often thought about "what if" I would have had that bike in my late teens and what impact it would have made. Probably not much, but I'll never know. Turns out I've gone through my share of bikes, but never this one, the one that I lusted for more than any of the bikes I actually have owned or currently own.

As I remember correctly, the bike had some unique things ...just under the CC dispacement for the import tax thing(?) -it had oil through the frame(?), floating valves(?) and a shaft drive. .....and for it's day and to my young self, it was damn cool and sexy looking.

A few times I've thought about searching for a great-shape used one. To find out what this bike was really about. I have an idea in my head of what this bike is about .....an idea that has been there for about 25years. Today was one of those days where the idea to search one out ran through my head.

But instead ...I'm going see if anyone on this forum had one ....and perhaps you can share about the bike and let me live a bit vicariously through you.

 

[Old Michael]

You're fixin' to buy something soon, aren't you John? You sounded itchy last weekend.

(I think you should give in to your Blackbird urge instead.)

 

[ionbeam]

I was seriously into a Hondas when the 700S came out, only instead of the fencing Foil Nighthawk I took the V-4 battle-axe approach.

The Nighthawk was a pretty advanced motorcycle with the engine leading the way for future I-4 designs. The NH engine was 50cc less than the 750 but made more HP and was significantly lighter. Honda went after everything in this engine. It was almost as narrow as the two cylinder wide V-4 without the height penalty of the V-4, and very compact. To keep the engine short they used a dry-sump lubrication system where the engine oil was contained in the frame rails. It was free of any significant engine maintenance with hydraulic lifters. It had air adjustable front forks (pump up the forks and watch the seals blow...) and TRAC anti-dive valving in the forks. While it did have dual disk front brakes it was burdened with a drum rear brake. It also had electronic ignition. In another give & get trade the NH got dual rear shocks instead of a rising-rate single shock but that allowed a longer rear swing arm (4.5", IIRC) to virtually eliminate 'shaft jacking' (rise & squat) from the drive shaft.

I was technically interested in this bike when it came out but I had an addiction to HP that this bike couldn't fill.

 

[tstaff]

I had a Blue/Black 1984 like in the photo.

A car tried to fold it in half in late 85 & I moved on to an 86 VFR700F2 after that.

Great bike with a really cool exhaust note.

 

[fjrwalker]

Funny this topic should come up today. I'm about to go to a friends place to get his (formerly mine) Nighthawk out and excercise it for a day or two. He's laid up w/ a bum hip and hasn't had it out for over a year, maybe two.

I, too, lusted after these when they were new and have had three over the years (all blue on black). I found the Nighthawk to be a great solo bike and put many miles on the first two I owned until I needed something bigger for a pillion and for longer distance riding (I had two for a while in hopes I could get her on her own bike). Got a C10 and sold the Nighthawks, but after a couple years found another to use as a companion to the Connie (smaller, lighter, quicker handling, and nice to ride when the weather is really hot). I sold to my friend when I got the FJR, because I just couldn't imagine using it much anymore and didn't want it to deteriorate from lack of use, like it is now.

I think, overall, this is one of Honda's finest designs. A simple, clean look, good performance (although retiming cams for mid-range power is supposed to really help), minimal maintanence requirements and good ergonomics.

I'm really looking forward to getting back on one and have claimed first right of refusal if this one ever is for sale, again.

And I agree w/ Tstaff...probably the best sounding stock exhaust on a four cylinder bike, ever.

 

[BikerGeek99]

A good friend of mine bought one of the red & black ones in the early 90's. He loved it. It's thanks to him and his NH that my first bike was a early80-something NH 650 (non-S).

Unfortunately, my friend died several years ago. I have no idea what happened to his bike...

 

[RenoJohn]

Wow,

Awesome posts. Thanks much Ionbeam and fjrwalker.

Fascinating to hear your experience/observations of the bike. IMO it certainly is a classic. I had a good eye back then ...but never followed through.

 

[Rogue]

I never had one but I wrenched on bikes for a living in the mid 80's. IMHO the 700S was bullet-proof, almost maintenance free, one of the best looking bikes of its time, had decent power and pretty good handling.

 

[RICLET]

I had an '83 Nighthawk 650, a truly great bike. If I remember correctly it had self-adjusting clutch,valves and shaft-drive. Honda promoted it as a bike to ride not do maintainance on. Funnily enough I saw one on I-4 last week.

They were kinda like the FJR, you didn't see a lot of them, but the owners were smiling and riding

 

[dcarver]

The POS your are looking at is old as you are, RJ. If the bike was a woman, you wouldn't look twice. Since it was the girl you never laid, now you want one because you think you can afford it? Come on dude, you can't go back, just sayin'.. That's why I only have modern marvel new bikes in my stable :****: :lol:

I recall they had nice howl when running Basanni exhaust systems, and my bud rode his, Flogged it, for years. Never wimpered, never cried. I won't burst your nostalgic bubble. Geesh doode, first you get all whiny the other day, now you lust for an old bike, you going through the change or something?

:****: Hugs n Kisses :****:

 

[jmh_bhm]

RenoJohn,

I had a red/black one. Got it after coming off of a Yamaha Seca 750.

The CB700SC had hydraulic valves, but a really high rpm redline, very smooth engine, hydraulic clutch, adjustable handlebars (for tilt and pull back, very cool), air cooled alternator, long shaft for less jacking (like the FJR), 16" front wheel (fad at the time), slightly adjustable suspension, small fuel tank.

I really liked mine in spite of a few issues. It was a hoot to ride solo. Much less shaft jacking than the Seca. But all of the CB-SC power was up high in the rev range, almost no low end, which made riding with a passenger not so much fun.

The tank was too small, limiting range, but it balanced out with the seat, which became uncomfortable about the time you needed to stop and fill up. Although most examples were bulletproof, I did have a hydraulic lifter fail and had to have it replaced under warranty (sounded like a forerunner of the FJR ticking) and high mileage bikes usually have to have the brushes replaced on the air cooled alternator.

I still toy with finding another one, but at the age they have reached, most of the rubber seals and o-rings are starting to deteriorate, so that may be an issue for oil pressure and oil leaks. There are probably not many 16" front tires available to choose from now either.

Still one of the coolest looking bikes Honda produced. I always thought that a modern version with a liter engine, larger tank, and 17 in wheels, coming in at about the same weight would be a big seller. The CB1000 tried, but just got too heavy.

 

[canucklehead-biker]

When I got back on a bike in the late 90's I lusted after a 700S... but couldn't find one. Wound up with a CB650SC Nighthawk, and it was a good bike for getting back into riding. I suspect a lot of the same features as the 700s, minus some horsepower and the little bullet fairing. Loved that bike and put many enjoyable miles on it before upgrading to the FJR.

They had a red/black one for sale here at a local dealer a few months back, absolutely mint condition. Sitting there alongside some of the newer bikes it still looks quite good. They wanted too much money for it or I may have been tempted to add it to the stable...

Griff

 

[fjrwalker]

I had a great time flogging my old NH for a couple days. A couple hundred mountain highway miles yesterday and another 75 or so on local twisties today. Chicken strips? What chicken strips?

It's still a very satisfying ride, even at 25 years old. This particular example has only 21k miles and, except for seaping fork seals, is virtually flawless. The Corbin seat, bar end mirrors, and case savers are the only non stock items. It would be cool to have GP redo the forks and set up some good shocks for it then mount up some fresh tires.

The engine is super smooth, I'd forgotten just how smooth, and I don't know if this one has ever had a carb synch. Power is definately at the top of the rev range, but mid range isn't too bad pushing my 200 lbs. around.

I just may have to own one of these again. It's a great hot weather day trip kind of bike.

 

[FJRMGM]

a good friend of mine had one just like it when I lived in Charleston WV in the early 80's. He loved it and it seemed to be a good, reliable bike.

It was so cool looking.

 

[just roy]

loved mine, blue/black. would buy another in a heartbeat. made the mistake of buying a slightly newer 750 and what a turd in comparison. when i find a nice blue one i will add it to the line up watch and see. it is on my list of must haves. it is just a fun reliable one up bike.

 

[dcarver]

Looks like Reno has lost interest.. ADD RJ?

 

[RenoJohn]

Looks like Reno has lost interest.. ADD RJ?

Not at all. I'm just all ears (Carver, there is a reason we were given two ears and one mouth)I guess my teenage lust was valid for this bike, many good words spoken about this bike. It had some cool stuff at the time ...many of which are still cool today. IF I could find a descent shape one I'd be all over it. And while I don't commute on bike, it would be the perfect fun daily ride -especially for those days where you had an hour or two to flog some local roads for shits-n-giggles.

Very fun for me to hear the stories of guyz who've been hands on with the bike, IMO it is a classic, both in appearance and in the technology that it brought. Seems like some interesting Honda's haven't stayed around too long.

I was reading that much of the ZRX1100 motivation came from this bike -not sure if rumor or fact, but you can see that it might have. This bike was revolutionary and you're right Carver, it is the girl I never had -and that my friend is a very very long list.

Thanks all for the great comments on the bike! ....and maybe still more to come(?)

 

[MotorToad]

I haven't ridden one, but a good friend has had two and he just won't shut up about them. It seems it really was all that and a bag of chips.

1. Never meet your heroes, you'll never see them the same again.

2. Buy the freaking bike, you deserve it. And reading about it will never cure your lust.

 

[RadioHowie]

I was reading that much of the ZRX1100 motivation came from this bike -not sure if rumor or fact, but you can see that it might have.

Hate to be the wet blanket here, but Kawasaki patterned the ZRX1100 (and 1200) after its own KZ1000R Eddie Lawson Replica (ELR) of 1982, beating Honda to the "Superbike" look of the CB700SC by two years.

As a proud owner of an '04 ZRX1200, we Rexers tend to know these things.

1982 KZ1000R "ELR"

(clicky the picky)



Here's REX with his Uncle Kenny