Topic: '85 CB700SC Nighthawk...Opinions?

[mick750F]

   I'm looking at one of these for sale locally. It has only 350 miles on it and has been sitting for some time. Engine turns...needs to be completely gone through...needs a good cleaning, tires, tune-up, etc. For some reason I've always had an interest in these bikes but I can't say why. Maybe because they were kind of a quirk for Honda and only lasted a couple of years. That being said, I know next to nothing about these bikes. Are they Honda's deep dark problem child or a hidden diamond...or something in between? He's asking $1,500 which is what a running, hop on and ride one in really good condition goes for. I wouldn't consider paying that...maybe not even half that given the amount of attention it needs. I'm just looking for a project and it caught my eye. The low miles really caught my eye. So, anybody have anything for me? Thanks!

Mike

[cb650]

A old neighbor of mine had a 84 650 nitehawk. I think they are basically the same.  She rode hers to Minnesota from Denver and liked it. With that love of miles it might be worth 1500 but you know it will start leakin somewhere. Hell it isn't even broke in yet.  Buy it put tires on it and drive it until it leaks so bad you have to fix it.




             Terry

[ohiocaferacer]

A friend purchased one last summer....an 84, with about 7,000 miles on it for about $600. If was in a 5 on a 10 scale......needed the carbs cleaned and gone thru and a fresh tune up....had been sitting for about 10 years. I got it all back road worthy and was absolutely impressed with it!!

Stock(stock carbs) these bikes are very colded blooded and need at least 20mins to warm up or they will bogg down and stall. The carbs are jetted to lean on the pilots and need to go up a size. I shimmed the needles also and once the carbs were balanced....the bike would run like a bat out of hell within a couple mins of running from a cold motor.

Overall the bike is extremely comfortable to ride and has one of the smoothest motors i've ever riden.....not to mention nice power. Also.....with that small 16" wheel up front they tend to turn "VERY" quick....something to watch out for. If I ever come across a nice one at a good price......i'd be all over it. I think these 700sc bikes would have been extremely popular had they been introduced a few years earlier......they came out when the full-fairing sportbikes were getting really popular and just couldnt compete.

Just my 2 cents,
Greg

[TwoTired]

I couldn't believe my luck.  I was GIVEN an 85 CB700SC nitehawk about 6 months ago.  It has 72K miles on it, and had been sitting for 6 mos.  I flushed the carbs, charged the battery and it runs great.  It's very fast.
There isn't much to tune up on these things; Hydraulic valves, modern ignition, and shaft drive don't leave much for tuneup besides oil/filter change, and air filter.

Mine had a snapped valve cover bolt that the PO drove with for a very long time.  He stopped riding it cause he got tired of changing the oil in his pant legs!  There was oil everywhere and quite a mess.   I extracted the bolt and fixed the cover leak

I went for my first ride a couple weeks ago in the twisties by the Calaveras reservoir, and this is a very nice bike.  It's got a 10,700 red line and snaps the head back during windup between 7 and 8 K like some sort of boost comes in.   Very strong and, for me, a bit scary.  The brakes are very effective, though..

After driving this bike I can see why the SOHC4 became less popular.

 It has a bunch of suspension and shock adjustments front and rear that I haven't figured out yet, all factory.

I'm still trying to get used to the quick steering, though.  It needs quite a bit of counter steer in turns and going in a straight line is difficult as it tends to wander in the lane on freeways if you don't pay strict attention.  I'm hoping that the worn center of both front and rear tires will help with driveability.

It also came with Riffle fairing that was painted too horribly to put up with.  I have it stripped and am waiting for the weather to warm up for painting.  That's why it is missing its stock smaller windsheild.

Probably the biggest problem it will have is parts availability.  The used market appears very very small, and I don't know how big an inventory Honda still has for spares.  Though, they did have the turn signal mounts it needed.

But, if you don't smash it, it seems a very low maintenance bike, indeed.

Don't let people tell you it's just bored out 650.  The 700SC is it's own design.  I don't think many, if any, parts are interchangeable.

[mick750F]

   Thanks for the input guys. I just got back from checking it out. Cosmetically it's pretty nice as it should be. It has been sitting in the corner of his garage for 19 years. The downside right now is that it's seized up. He says that is wasn't 5 years ago, the last time he checked. So, I have him dropping some oil in through the plug holes to see if it will free up. If the engine frees up I'm going to be very tempted although my sense is that he won't go lower than the $1,500. Claims he'll put it back in the corner until he has time or his son grows into it. I don't think he'll ever touch it. He admitted to me that he had to look at the owners manual to see how to put it in gear! While he didn't say it, I'm guessing from what he did tell me, this was his first bike and it scared the ever lovin' bejesus out of him hence the 350 miles and 19 years in the corner.

Mike 

[bill440cars]

mick750F,
     You're probably right about his experience, maybe you can end up with it and do it justice.

                                                                                 Later on, Bill

[TwoTired]

If you could drive it away, it would probably be worth $1500.

If the engine is seized, then the cylinders are probably rusted and the rings seized to them.  So, expect to do a top end job on the motor.  You'll need a special tool to collapse and prime the Hydraulic lifters, or you will bend all the valves after reassembly.
Of, course, a gasket set, cylinder bore, new pistons and rings, too.

So, if you are willing to invest another $1000-$1500 into the bike for engine work tires battery, etc. then get it.  You'll have a nearly new bike to drive a good long while.  Otherwise, determine what it is worth to you, make an offer and leave your name and number if refuses, so he can call you later when he changes his mind.
At some point neither he or his son will want to put any more money into that bike he has nearly ruined with neglect.

There are a lot of nice bikes you can enjoy for $1500-$2000.  And, now is a good time of year to shop for them.

Cheers,

[ofreen]

The CB700SC has something of a cult following.  If you look at all the features on the bike, you'll see there is not much else quite like it, past or present.  It was a victim of the Harley tariff in the '80s as it was available as a 750 in other markets.  I know two guys that own them and they would not consider selling them.  They have no problem getting parts, but they seldom need any. 

I remember seeing brand new left-over models sitting on dealers' floors in the mid '80s for $2600.  I still see clean examples for sale at $2000+.  However, if the engine is stuck because the rings are rusted in the cylinders, I wouldn't give him $1500.  If you want one, you can find others around.

[hondav4]

i would pass that one up for sure.