1985 Honda CB750SC NIGHTHAWK to much for a New rider?

[EmSaMa]

Hey,

I'm just looking at bikes to buy and I found a 1985 Honda CB750SC NIGHTHAWK.. I have very strong legs for a female, also I'm above 170lbs. Would this be a good bike for me.. When I get my motorcycle license I plan to take the safety courses as well..

[bajakirch]

The 750 NH shouldn't be too bad if you've got a little bit of experience riding or plan to be very careful at first.

OTOH, I have a 1983 550 NH I just posted for sale on my local Craig's List. It was my starter bike and has served me very well for 4 years. Depending on where you're located, it might be worth checking out. PM me if you're interested and I'll send you the CL link.

[EmSaMa]

I plan to take a Good riding course as I have only rode on the back of my friends bike.

[markk53]

the Nighthawk S CB700SC is a great bike. I had an 86 and it was the best bike I've ever owned and ridden for my needs. It has a more comfortable seat than my old 83 Gold Wings, great sport riding capability while still maintaining the standard seating, which suits me well. Shaft drive, hydraulic valve adjustment, and all make it a very low maintenance great bike.

Problem, it could be a bit much for a beginner, having about 80 hp claimed. Not quite a supersport, but could get one in over one's head if not careful. A person who tends to have a natural capability to ride would do well with it if they restrain urges to go too quick too soon. A sort of herky jerky new rider may get in trouble with the power.

Still, great ride.

[bajakirch]

CB700SC

Could be a 750 if it was a Canadian model.

[DachshundUberAlles]

Too much for a new rider? Not in my opinion. You have the physical stature to handle it and it's not like it's power curve is overly aggressive. As long as you take your time to get used to it everything will be OK.

[markk53]

Originally Posted by DachshundUberAlles

Too much for a new rider? Not in my opinion. You have the physical stature to handle it and it's not like it's power curve is overly aggressive. As long as you take your time to get used to it everything will be OK.

Your final line says it all. Having seen a few hundred new riders, I stand by my statement. Some riders are natural, some riders are destined to become non-riders. I've seen some who can't control a 50cc scooter. I'd much rather be right in a conservative manner than wrong on a massive scale. Some riders can handle 100 hp out of the chute, others are lucky to deal with 8. In 1984 with the introduction of the 118 hp V65 Magna, some shops had every one sold crashed out. Oddly enough we only had one rider total his and it happened at 35 mph when he was distracted and almost rear ended a truck, cartwheeling the bike off the side of the road (he was okay, the bike was a wadded ball of metal). Ever seen those Youtube videos of the people crashing out a Honda 100? Imagine if it was an R1!

[markk53]

Originally Posted by bajakirch

Could be a 750 if it was a Canadian model.

Good point. A lot of riders in the U.S. make the mistake of thinking the 700SC was a 750 though. There was no external markings indicating the engine size except the small cast numbers 699cc on the cylinder block.

[DachshundUberAlles]

'markk53',
Funny you should mention the Honda 100. To this day I have always felt that my greatest contribution to the motorcycle shops I worked in was convincing the owners that they should keep an XR100 on hand for use as a new rider instruction tool. Whenever people talk with me about getting into riding I always recommend they purchase an XR100, citing the fact that every skill they need to master can be learned on that bike in an isolated and safe environment and that as their skills progress, they will find the little XR will become even more fun to ride.
You're also dead on right about the CB700SC. That's one I still to this day have a regret that I didn't snag when I had the chance.

[markk53]

For years Ken Roberts trained his GP team and other riders using XR100s. The point he made was if you could powerslide and do all the other stuff on an 8 hp wonder, you could do it on a 150 hp GP bike. It wasn't so much the power, but the technique.

There are still schools that train riders using the 125s. Same low powered flexible flyers.

[DachshundUberAlles]

That was the exact reason I cited in my sales pitch. I remember that he called them "road racing simulators" and stressed that every skill learned at 35 MPH on an XR100 transferred to a GP bike at full race speed. Everything from steering with the rear wheel to scrubbing speed with the front.
I have a promotional video that Yamaha sent out to the dealers following Wayne Rainey's first championship that includes a segment featuring Rainey, Roberts, John Kocinski and Eddie Lawson ripping around a dirt course at full speed on their XR's. It's an amazing sight to see what that little bike is capable of in the hands of World Champions.
I know Colin Edwards emphasizes dirt track training in his "Texas Tornado" schools though with the rise of the more "classically" trained riders who are currently dominating GP racing, combined with the electronic controls, I wonder how much dirt track experience can contribute beyond the "backing in" technique for corner entry.