Great all around bike
Written: Apr 28 '05
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Pros: price, relaxed seating position, low on attitude, reliability/durability
Cons: slightly weak brakes, few suspension settings, VERY small aftermarket, weight
The Bottom Line: It's a shame that Honda no longer makes this bike. It has been "replaced" by the 599 and 919.
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| aneis's Full Review: 2000 Honda Nighthawk 750 |
I am a 24 year old male, and have had my 2003 Nighthawk 750 for about 5200 miles. I am 150 pounds, and 5'9". I usually ride in full gear (boots, Joe Rocket pants, Joe Rocket jacket, full face helmet), which probably adds several pounds to the mix. I purchased the bike new after learning on a 1982 Kawi KZ440.
The Nighthawk, so far, has done everything I've asked it to do. I have done the occasional 300 mile trip through pouring rain, have gone through some gorgeous twisty mountain roads, and commute to work on it (over local roads and highway here in crazy-driver-filled NJ) any day the weather allows. I bought the bike for its durability and reliability, low price point, and reasonable power. I didn't want another 500cc or thereabouts bike, as I outgrew the KZ440 very quickly. The Nighthawk promised quick acceleration and extralegal speeds at an attractive price point. Allow me to address the pros and cons I've outlined above.
Pros
Price: Not much to say about this. You get a lot of bike for your money here. 747ccs, 0-60 in under 4 seconds, no sportbike insurance premiums, etc.
Relaxed Seating Position: The seating position is best described as "natural." For someone of my dimensions, I find it to be very comfortable. On the highways I will sometimes put my feet on the passenger pegs and tuck in a bit as the Nighthawk offers zero wind protection from the factory. I have considered a National Cycle PlexiFairing II or III, but have purchased neither. I ride with a full face helmet and full gear, so that helps with the wind blast. Also, I wear earplugs for any ride farther than down the street. I can actually hear my surroundings better with earplugs, as they eliminate the windnoise rushing around the helmet. The earplugs also lessen the need for a windshield or fairing. I recommend Hearos 33db attenuation plugs. Comfy, cheap, effective.
Low on Attitude: I am not a "biker guy." I don't ride the bike because I'm a squid, a hooligan, a Hell's Angel, or anything of the sort. I can't stand most bikers my age, because they're irresponsible fools. Nor do I like bikers who are riding their Harley (or Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, etc) cruisers simply because they think they look cool in leather. I ride because I love riding. The Nighthawk offers you a distilled motorcycling experience. It gives you the essence of motorcycling without all the unnecessary bits. No unnecessary plastic, no exhausts that wake up your whole neighborhood, no gas gauge (hey, you got an odometer, what else do you need? :), no nothing. It doesn't have an outlandish paint scheme with "Xtreme Grafix". It doesn't have more chrome accessories than functional parts. In short, I suppose I like the Nighthawk for what it isn't. It's not for show. It's form mirroring function.
Reliability/Durability: So far, so good. I'm only 5200 miles or so into the bike, but no problems yet. Took it into the shop once for a turn signal not working, and they plugged the wire back in to the brake lever (must've worked itself out somehow) as I grinned sheepishly (oops, I could've done that!). At around 3000 miles, I missed shift on the highway and broke the redline. After that, I kept feeling/hearing a slight metal on metal scrape whenever I was off the throttle in low RPMs. A friend confirmed he felt it, too, when he rode on the back with me and I told him when to listen/feel for it. Two separate service shops said they didn't feel it. When I got an oil change, however, the problem went away. Again, let me stress that this was my fault, that the problem was too slight for anyone to notice but me and a friend, that it didn't impact performance/handling at all, and that the "problem" went away after an oil change. So, really, reliability has been stellar so far. As for durability, well, I finally dropped the bike today :( . I was pulling out of a gas station, stopped abruptly, and the ground to my right was farther away than I thought. I put my foot down, it stepped on nothing but air, and by the time it found ground I was struggling to keep the bike (with its newly filled tank of gas) upright. It fell over gently, and I managed to get my leg out from under it before it was all the way down. Total damage to the bike: nearly invisible scratching to the engine crash bar (thank God I bought and installed those), nearly invisible scratch to the brake lever, invisible scratch to the brake pedal, invisible scratch to the right footpeg, and a pretty visible scratch to the right passenger footpeg. Not a single piece got dented or bent. I don't intend to replace a single one of those parts. I will, however, always keep the passenger pegs out from now on, as I think my right shiny chrome can would've taken a big beating if it hadn't been out.
Cons
Slightly Weak Brakes: Not much to say. Euro Nighthawk 750 gets triple discs, and we get one disc. Bah. I hear there are conversions you can do, but it's not worth my time and money. Besides, I can still lock the back wheel if I try hard enough. I don't have the guts to intentionally lock the front wheel.
Few Suspension Settings: Rear preload, that's it. I understand that it's a budget bike, I really do. I have no problem with there being no stock centerstand (I purchased it from Honda). But suspension settings are an integral part of any motorcycle's ride quality, and I feel that no bike on earth, no matter how cheap, should have so little adjustability. It's not like a car where the vehicle itself makes up 99% of the weight. A bike handles much differently depending on the weight of the rider perched atop it, and thus different suspension settings need to be available based on who rides it, how much cargo is being carried, and what luggage is strapped on.
VERY small aftermarket: Not something I looked into before buying the bike, unfortunately. A lot of companies out there completely overlook this bike when manufacturing "hop up" parts or the like. And to some extent, I understand that. It's seen as a beginner bike, and if people are going to spend money upgrading a bike, they're going to do it on something closer to what their final goal is (sportbike, tourer, boulevard cruiser, etc.). But I like the Nighthawk because it is none of these things, because of its versatility. Unfortunately, it is more difficult to turn it into a sportbike this weekend, a commuter during the week, and a tourer next weekend when the aftermarket is so tiny. Don't get me wrong, spare OEM parts are easy to find, but aftermarket parts are not.
Weight: It's a cheap bike, and thus uses cheap components. No high tech aluminum frame here. Steel is heavy, and there's lots of it on this bike. The design, you have to remember, is 20 years old. This bike literally has not changed in decades. So it weighs as much as more powerful, bigger bikes with newer technology. On the plus side, it's rock solid at highway speeds except in high crosswinds.
Conclusion
It's a great bike for your money, it really is. I will admit that I have recently starting eyeing upgrades. I would love to be aboard a new Ducati S2R, or a Honda 919 (I like naked bikes, can you tell?). But the Nighthawk offers me everything I need for now (I have not even begun to push its handling limits) at a very attractive price (liability-only insurance here in the insurance-gouging capital, New Jersey, is only $160 a year). If you have more money, then, sure, buy yourself a bike with fuel injection, triple discs, better suspension, and a fuel gauge. But honestly, to get all those things (not just one or two), you'll find yourself paying a lot more.
Ride safe(ly).
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 5700
Condition: New
Model Year: 2003
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Epinions.com ID:
aneis
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Reviews written: 2
Trusted by: 1 member
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