1984 Honda Nighthawk S

1984 Honda Nighthawk S
Miles: 16,483
Clean Title
Engine:CB700SC
VIN: JH2RC2004EM006322
Bid at post: $1,225
Auction ends: July 8

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Seller
I’ve owned this bike for over the last 25 years, always garaged, seldom ridden but kept in great condition. Tire tread is like new but about ten years old . I have the original mirrors in a box along with some other extras.

RSBFS
It never gets old to look through our archives from over 15 years of posts to see if another bike like the current one has been on the site. NIghthawks always get attention from this crowd, and here we have an S model. I found only 3 examples of a 1984 Honda Nighthawk S on the site, two blue/black and one red/black.

Back in 2017 Mike covered one of them calling it a Tariff Buster. “The 1980s were a crazy-good time for motorcycling. Every major manufacturer was exploring the boundaries of what was possible. Everyone was in search of the silver bullet for performance; be it at the racetrack or the showroom. This was a heady era for Honda, as they pumped out new motorcycle variants seemingly every year. From two strokes to turbos, singles to six-bangers, Honda tried nearly everything. One of the surprising successes during this time was the Nighthawk S. Intended as a sporty commuter (comfortable, reliable, low maintenance), the Nighthawk S impressed with it’s power and handling prowess. Today, the Nighthawk S remains a beloved, bygone model.”

And here’s how it earned the Tariff Buster title, “Between 1984 and 1986, the American motorcycle scene was a mess. Harley-Davidson, the only remaining American manufacturer at the time, was flirting with bankruptcy like it was a super model. Using patriotism as their platform, H-D convinced Congress (and then President, Ronald Reagan) to increase the tariff on imported motorcycles greater than 700cc. This 10x tariff increase ensured H-D – who only produced bikes above the 700cc threshold – could be price competitive. Enter the Nighthawk S: Originally designed as a 750, the Nighthawk’s 700cc air-cooled, inline four cylinder featured 4-valves per pot and hydraulic valve lifters – a nod to reducing the maintenance interval. With a willing motor, a solid chassis, 16″ GP-inspired front wheel, comfortable seating position with bikini fairing and shaft drive, the CB700SC (as it was formally known) became the do-it-all hot rod – equally home in the canyons as it was for commuting.”

From what I’ve learned, the Nighthawk has never been considered a ‘collectible’ from the limited production standpoint. They made plenty and sold well, so they flooded the market back in the ’80’s. As happens often with bikes that are easy to keep, fun to ride, dependable and affordable – they get ridden into oblivion. The rarity here is that it survived and here it is, in all it’s glory, 40 years later. It’s like going to your high school reunion and seeing who aged gracefully. Some do, some don’t.

Any great Nighhawk stories out there?

This bike looks to be in great shape. If it makes you smile and you are near Massachusetts, check it out and let us know if you buy it.

Good luck to the buyer and seller!

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