Nighthawk vs. the new CB

[the Ferret]

I really liked my 750 Nighthawk and rode it all year round. The picture below was taken on my annual New Years Day ride ( notice fingers indicating 1-1 or jan 1st) which is a tradition with my brother and I. Usually possible in southern Ohio. I never had any carb troubles in the cold, but it is nice not having to thumb a choke lever. Even with a faulty rear brake on my CB 1100, the big CB s brakes are far superior to the Nighthawks. Power is a lot better as well as handling although I had my handling straightened out on the Nighthawk with a Superbrace and Progressive shocks. I wish the big CB had hydraulic valves though.

I really liked my 750 Nighthawk, but the CB1100 is really the superior machine in nearly all aspects.

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/Jan1-2009_zpsc7c581f0.jpg.html]

Which 750 Nighthawk did you ride again?

I had the '84 Nighthawk CB750SC (blue/black). Great looking bike for its time. Yes, I miss the hydraulic valves and a few other knick knacks. However, I believe there was an engineering design flaw in the intake air box. Every time a significant side gust caught my ride at freeway speeds, the carbs lost oxygen and very quickly freeway speed dropped. This was very scary given there was traffic cruising behind me. Just as scary was when the air returned to the box and the revs took off and sometimes resulted in an unplanned wheelie. Also, if the bike got too hot, the hydraulic clutch would fail and needed to cool down for about 30 minutes. This was rare, but happens in muggy hot summer days in parked traffic. I kinda miss the shaft drive.

Which 750 Nighthawk did you ride again?

I had the '84 Nighthawk CB750SC (blue/black). Great looking bike for its time. Yes, I miss the hydraulic valves and a few other knick knacks. However, I believe there was an engineering design flaw in the intake air box. Every time a significant side gust caught my ride at freeway speeds, the carbs lost oxygen and very quickly freeway speed dropped. This was very scary given there was traffic cruising behind me. Just as scary was when the air returned to the box and the revs took off and sometimes resulted in an unplanned wheelie. Also, if the bike got too hot, the hydraulic clutch would fail and needed to cool down for about 30 minutes. This was rare, but happens in muggy hot summer days in parked traffic. I kinda miss the shaft drive.
GO I had a 2000 750 Nighthawk (chain drive)

There were some really nice things about it. No epa stuff, hydraulic valves, single disc front that was easy to bleed, rear drum, low seat height, was easy to put a clear windshield and soft bags on.

To me Honda could make just a great commuter/leisure bike by going with an Ptwin in about 800 cc, shaft drive, air cooled, hydraulic valves, about a 5 1/2 to 6 gallon fuel tank, 75 or 80 rear wheel ponies, 60 ft lbs of torque, Fi, ABS, self cancelling T/S's, 31" or less seat height, under 450 pounds, 65 -70 mpg on 87 octane,make the oil filter as easy to get to as on the CB1100. Easy to get to air cleaner, easy to get to the spark plugs,

Not sure how I could resist something like that