Many motorcycle enthusiasts will admit that there are two reasons for purchasing a bike: speed and attention.

Speed is the insane sense of acceleration that almost any bike affords over a car: the ability to twist the throttle at 60 mph in 5th gear, and have the bike whine like a stuck pig and surge ahead. And of course, as you do all this, people look. People admire. And no doubt, at one point, most riders were the people who looked and admired the power and speed and responsibility of riding a motorcycle.

However, converging the sense of speed and power with the economy of actually purchasing a bike requires a modicum of sensibility and concessions when it comes time to decide what to ride. Most people see the two ends of the bike spectrum as being either a heavy handling hog or a zippy crotch rocket. A bit of circumspect research reveals that there is a whole host of bikes that fall in-between the two categories. Perhaps one of the most admired, well known, and long-standing performers in this category is the Honda Nighthawk.

First, the Nighthawk (I refer here to the 750 cc) is a pleasure to ride, and a great bike for a beginner to learn on. At 463 pounds dry, it seems a little heavy on the kickstand, but once it's moving, even at slow speeds, it is capable of being easily handled by novices.

The throttle response will satisfy a new biker for a year or two, though it's not the arm-jerking sensation of bigger bore, high performance bikes. At times it seems to be wanting for a 6th gear. It cruises at 4,500 rpms at 65mph, but redlines at 8,500.

With a smooth road the bike will lay nicely into the corners and even drag the foot pegs, but small bumps or rocks cause a bit of instability as the front end is heavy and not extremely responsive.

The rear suspension is composed of dual rear shocks with five-way spring preload adjustability. For moderate cruising, they seem to perform their job appropriately. One thing that I particularly enjoy about the Nighthawk is that there is plenty of room on the saddle for a second rider, though most enthusiasts will advise purchasing a Corbin saddle immediately.

The electric start is a nice addition, and the bike comes off the choke quickly on warm-up. True to Honda design all the controls are only a finger's lift away, sensibly placed.

Little has changed on the bike in the past few years performance-wise. However, little nips and tucks here and there on the fairing have produced an elegant style that often receives praise from observers and riders. The unique styling has helped the Nighthawk to stand out in its class.

Typical of most bikes of its type, the Nighthawk needs only regular tender loving maintenance: chain lubes, oil changes, master cylinder fluid, brake adjustments etc. There are no major checkups, so-to-speak, which can't be performed by the owner. Since the valves are hydraulic, the yearly compression and tuning test is unnecessary. In fact, the engine is almost completely sealed and only rarely, if abused, would it be necessary to break it down. The easy access to the oil filter, right behind the front pipes coming out of the headers, makes oil changes a snap.

Nighthawks are almost commodities unto themselves in the bike market. They are not extremely pricey (a used mint condition 1995 Cb750 will leave the dealer's showroom for about $3600), but they do hold their value. Small aftermarket modifications like a one-quarter windshield or pipe kit will also increase the value. Nighthawks are easy to sell, and since dealers know this, they are often accepted with a relatively high trade-in value.

Any negatives associated with the bike are probably a result of trying to ride it in a manner for which it wasn't built. As a street bike/cruiser it moves nicely, and is fun to ride. Pushing it to its limits, a more experienced rider will want a bike that is built differently and designed to perform differently. But for these small misgivings, the bike has a solid reputation and offers a solid ride.


Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 3600
Condition: Used
Model Year: 1995