Here are some pictures of my motorcycle, and other similar motorcycles.

First these are both same makes and models, Honda Nighthawk-S 700SC. The one on the left I suspect is an 1984, same as mine. The one on the right is probably an 85 or 86. (See how there is a white border around each of the blue areas?) Pictures used with permission of Bryan Dunlap. (see his motorcycle page)

Both of these bikes look stock. Below is my bike. See any differences? (besides the fact I made it bigger)

The saddle is a Corbin seat. Very comfy. The back is nice because it is more steep than the stock saddle, so I can actually lean into it a little. The other thing I added is the backrest/luggage rack system. This was made by KG which went out of business several years ago. I don't know why, because the system is GREAT!! As it's set now, the passenger gets to enjoy the backrest (which is the reason I got it, I've received several requests from my various passengers that I get a back rest. Now add to that when I ride solo (which is most of the time), I can just loosen two screws, move the backrest up a bit, tighten them again, and I have a backrest for myself!! It only takes about 30 seconds to switch from a solo backrest to a passenger backrest. My passengers love it, and when going solo, I love it.

As I said, KG has gone out of business, but call up some salvage yards. That's where I got mine. When they described it to me I was skeptical, but I forked out the money, and now have NO regrets. Same for the Corbin saddle. These niceties aren't always cheap, but they do make a huge difference when riding. If you are interested, I got the KG backrest/luggage rack through Milwaukee Cycle Salvage, their phone number is 1-800-359-6014 (ask for Bob), or check out their great web page. Oh, one piece of advice if you do decide to get a KG luggage rack system. USE LOC-TITE or some other liquid that is supposed to hold screws and nuts better. I lost a few screws in the first few weeks due to some vibration. Now I loc-tite everything! Another thing, make sure you get a luggage rack (as shown above). The first thing they sent me was a mounting kit for some kind of luggage box. But as you can see, it's all cleared up now.

I got this bike because of things I read about it in books, magazines, and on the internet. People have said this is a good bike for someone who isn't very mechanically inclined. That's me, Mr. All Thumbs. I've learned to do very basic things like change the battery, and put on a back rest. I still haven't learned how to change the oil though. Other things I've heard is that this is a good bike for beginners. I agree. This was my first motorcycle. Some say you shouldn't start with over 500 or 600 cc. Don't let the 700 cc engine scare you. This is no wheelie monster. It has a good wide powerband that takes some punishments while you are learning how to ride in different situations.

Why did Honda stop making this model Nighthawk (with the Shaft drive) after only three years?  I don't know. Everyone I spoke to who used to own one of these has told me NOT to sell it because they all miss theirs. I don't know about never selling it, but I do know I'd like to keep it for a few more years. For one thing, the insurance is sure a heck of a lot cheaper for an older bike. And except for one time when I fouled my plugs, the bike has never let me down.

Well, it broke my heart, but I traded the Nighthawk in for a new Kawasaki Concours. I wish I had the money to keep both, but no such luck. The dealer wouldn't give me anything extra for the Corbin Saddle or the backrest, so I took both of them off and sold them to other Nighthawk owners. Meanwhile, I'm very happy with the Concours. As much as I enjoyed the Nighthawk, I don't regret my decision.

Last modified: 22 DEC 98