Honda CB 750SC Nighthawk S

The big 'Hawk incorporates all the high-performance/low-maintenance features which have made the Nighthawks so popular: a rubber-mounted in-line four-cylinder engine with oil cooler and 16 hydraulically adjusted valves, hydraulic clutch, automatic cam-chain tensioner and fully electronic ignition. The shaft drive is low on lash and maintenance free, and the 16-inch front. wheel, with TRAC anti-dive and an integrated fork brace, delivers nimble yet stable handling. The rear end is steadied by a pair of VHD shocks with four-way-adjustable rebound damping and box-section swingarm

Honda introduced the Nighthawk in the 1982 model year. It was initially produced in three sizes, the CB450SC, CB650SC & CB750SC models. All of these models borrowed heavily from the existing CB models, yet there were enough styling and substantive improvements to warrant designating them as new models. The CB450SC Nighthawk was an improvement upon the CB400, with an increase in engine size, improved internal lubrication system, hardened transmission gears, six speed tranmission, chain drive, cast wheels, disc front brake, air-adjustable fork, and VHD shocks. In it's first year, the 650 Nighthawk was equipped with Honda's last remaining SOHC in-line 4 cylinder engine, a 5 speed transmission, chain drive, and Comstar wheels. The CB750SC Nighthawk began it's run as a chain drive, 16 valve, DOHC in-line four cylinder, using the existing CB750 engine, but with everything else restyled and redesigned.

1983 brought many changes. The CB550SC Nighthawk , a cruiser styled Nighthawk, was introduced. The CB650SC Nighthawk was totally redesigned, producing a package which rivaled other companies 750's, including shaft drive, self adjusting cam chains, improved braking, handling, ergonomics, and visual appeal. The CB750SC was still offered but that would come to a hault when In 1983 the U.S. government, in an effort to keep Harley-Davidson afloat, imposed strict tariffs on imported motorcycles exceeding 700cc's. The 700 Nighthawk S was produced in 1984-86 in an effort to make a larger model Nighthawk that was still able to be sold in the U.S.

The 700s hit the showrooms with an all new engine, with DOHC and automatic cam chain tensioners. The bikes were shaft driven, and came standard with a small fairing, giving the bike a sportier appearance. This model remained until 1986, the last year of the Nighthawk's initial existence. The 550 was dropped after the 1983 model year. The 450 was not produced in 84, but was reintroduced in 1985 & 1986 model years. The 650 saw it's last production in the 1985 model year.

1987 brought sportier bikes, cruisers, and touring rigs, but no Nighthawks!! This intolerable situation persisted until 1990, when Honda, finally realizing the error of it's ways, resurrected the Nighthawk series in the 1991 model year. The bike was bike. The new version came in two sizes, a 250cc twin, and a 750cc inline 4 cylinder (size was not a problem now that Harley-Davidson was healthy again). Both of these machines were very well designed and affordable, a package hard to beat. Having achieved perfection at last, Honda has wisely left the design untouched , except for moving the location of the helmet lock in the 93 and later bikes, color changes, and a blacked out engine in 1997 and later bikes). The new 750 died off yet again leaving the Nighthawk name with the lesser 250cc. Today the "little bird" is used as a training bike for the MSF's(motorcycle safety foundation).