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From: jdi%ingres@ingres.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.cycle
Subject: Re: Response to <5624@sri-spam.ARPA> <275@ingres.berkeley.edu.ARPA>
Message-ID: <275@ingres>
Date: Sat, 26-Apr-86 22:54:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: ingres.275
Posted: Sat Apr 26 22:54:00 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 11-May-86 16:49:18 EDT
References: <5624@sri-spam>
Lines: 43

In article <5624@sri-spam.ARPA> ehrhart@sri-spam.ARPA (Tim Ehrhart) writes:
>I am in the market for a new bike (presently own a 1982 Honda FT500
>Ascot) and have narrowed my choices down to the Honda Nighthawks.
>Can anyone out there provide me with their experiences or opinions
>about these two bikes ?
>
>I am attrracted to these bikes for their low maintainance items like
>shaft-drive, hydraulic valve adjusters, and hydrualic clutch while
>still providing high performance (72hp for the 650 & 80hp for the
>700S) and what I consider quite adequate handling.
>

     Well, I have about 900 miles on my 86 700SC, and I couldn't be happier.
When I was shopping (February) my choices were small (among new bikes, that
is).  Either you get a sexy, expensive, easily damaged cafe racer, or you
get a macho, uncomfortable, low-performance cruiser.  Or, you take the route
I did, which is to buy 'the bike in the middle, which handles great, preforms
great, is comfortable, etc, etc, but has ZERO looks'.

     This bike is not pretty.  If you don't care about that -- you'll love it.
The accelleration is pretty amazing, considering it's shaft drive.  Pulling
back at anything above 5000 (11,500 redline) produces (as Nissan would say)
awesome acceleration.  Note, however, that I haven't ridden any 'V-max'
style road crushers.  I have a tough time going faster than about 70 down
city streets anyway. :-)

     Handling is quick but very predictable.  Fork is a big 39mm with brace, and
damps well (don't use any air though, unless you like that 'compression
damping highway jolting' feeling).  Rear suspension is equally good.
Bike is very comfortable, but I haven't done any long tours, so I can't
tell you about that.  Also, the fairing they give you looks nice but doesn't
do a lot.  Highway handling is good but not great (suspect 'Progressive
Springs' and nitrogen charged rear would fix that.

     Anyway, with the way I drive (fun increases in linear proportion to
acceleration ability) I don't get much more than 30-35mpg, but then
if you want to drive it like you would a car you're supposed to get 40-45.
Also, it's got one of those stupid evaporative canisters stuck way
down near the centerstand, which doesn't help any.  (Wow, officer, it
must have been jarred lose by something :-)


	-- John