What makes a bike memorable?
That it’s fast? Maybe – but not necessarily. A buddy of mine owned a first-year Honda Interceptor VFR1000. The whir of gear driven cams – and 125 hp (in ’84).
Very memorable. I’ll never forget that one.
Modern stuff? Not so much. Not so far, anyhow.
For me.
Maybe because I’m older now – and more jaded than I was back in ’84. 180 hp (and 180 MPH) hardly raises an eyebrow anymore. It seems everyone’s got one.
Timing is most definitely a factor.
Good or bad, most of us remember our first bike – just as we remember our first car.
And, of course, other first things.
Still, some bikes stand out – regardless of the moment in time they came into our lives. Whether they were particularly fast – or not.
If they had character. If they were likeable.
For me, one such bike was the ’83 Honda Nighthawk CB550 I owned just after college, in the early ’90s
It was a One Year Only Special (I attract such bikes, for whatever weird karmic kismet reason) that appeared – and then just as quickly, disappeared. At least in the United Sates. Honda offered the CB550 for another year… in Canada as the CB550 SC.
When new, the bike slotted in between its bigger brother, the Nighthawk 650 (which eventually spawned the bikini-faired 700S sport bike) and the entry-level, twin-cylinder Nighthawk 450. 
Honda had made 550 cc machines before, but the ’83 was the first with dual rather than single overhead cams. The 550 SC also broke new ground by combining styling and functional elements of a cruiser and a middleweight sport bike in one bike.This made it stand out against more category-conventional rivals such as the Suzuki GS550 (a typical UJM “naked/standard” bike) and the Kaw GPZ550 (a bikini-faired sport bike).
On the one hand, you had Sons of Anarchy posture. The bike’s 29 degrees of front end rake feeding out to a 19 inch slim-line tire was almost chopper-ish. There were buckhorn bars and and a cushy, double-hump seat. Fatty 16 inch Dunlop tire out back; belligerent angle-cut 4-2 megaphone pipes on either side of you. Chrome and polished or brushed metal everywhere.
But if you did encounter the real Sons of Anarchy, the CB550 had what it took to break contact: 75 hp erupted out of that little DOHC four when aroused – spiked by cams from the larger (and longer stroke) 650 cc Nighthawk. Power peak at 9,500 RPM – redline somewhere past ten five. Stuffed in a bike that only weighed 440 pounds.
Bye-bye One Percenters.
The 550 (actually, a 572) posted some pretty big numbers: 12.64 at 102.7 MPH through the quarter-mile.
Well, for the early ’80s they were big numbers.
For some sense of scale, the big fish superbike of the ’70s – Kawasaki’s Z1900 (disclosure: I own one of these) made a claimed 82 hp out of 900 CCs and ran just slightly quicker. In part because it was much heavier (510 pounds). 
Also unlike my 900 Kaw, the Honda was an almost zero-maintenance machine. No valve clearance checks – ever. It had a self-adjusting valvetrain with hydraulic lash adjusters that had the additional benefit of pumping down if you over-revved the engine, a fail safe against bending valves. No chain, no sprockets. No mess. No hassles. Shaft drive. Change out the fluid once every couple of years. Hydraulic clutch. No cables to break, no adjustments to make.
Just ride. Whenever, wherever. Forever.
That bike was always ready to go. And would go and go and go. It never let me down. Its only deficit – as far as I was concerned – was its tiny (3.2 gallon) tank, but this was compensated for to some extent by the overdriven six-speed transmission, which made it possible to get 50-plus MPGs out of the thing if ridden languidly. Back in the ’90s – when gas only cost about $1.20 a gallon – the Nighthawk was virtually free transportation. 
$12 would cover the week, usually.
I stumbled onto the bike by chance while reading the classified ads. This was pre-Internets early ’90s, so it was an old school paper ad – just two lines of type and a phone number. The second line interested me the most. It read: “1565 miles, asking $1,300.” Notice the absence of a comma in the first figure. I, too, assumed it was probably 15,650 miles (seller’s typo). On the other hand, if it actually was 1,565 miles then it was time to pick up the phone.
It was a Richmond number – area code 804 – not far from where I lived at the time in the DC suburbs of Northern Virginia. The guy who answered told me he’d bought the bike new, intending to ride it regularly but then he (cue funeral dirge) got married, a baby came and the wife did not cotton to him riding anything.
Thus the Nighthawk mostly sat… in his heated garage, under cover. Every so often, he’d start it up, let it run for a little while. But he almost never rode it after that first summer. The years passed, wife’s attitude didn’t change. It was time to sell.
Want to come take a look?
After hitting the ATM, the emergency slush fund (extra bills I kept in the lower drawer of my tool box, under some manuals) and borrowing another $350 from my pal Derek to cover the remainder, we hit the road. About an hour later I was in the guy’s garage, looking at what would soon be my Nighthawk.
Half an hour later, I was on the road, headed back home – on the Nighthawk.
It would be several years before I got off the Nighthawk – even though other bikes were acquired during that time. The Nighthawk stayed because it remained my go-to bike, the one I rode most often.
Why?
Because it did almost everything right – and very little wrong. It had a great personality, it was likeable. And it was a a lot of fun. It always put a smile on my face and never a frown.
Bikes like that are keepers.
I often wish I’d kept this one.
Throw it in the Woods?
I bought my ‘83 Nighthawk 550 brand new. All was good until a kid in an F-150 pulled out of a gas station right in front of me, headed the opposite direction from which I was headed while driving maybe 25 mph, leading me to t-bone the truck. Fortunately I only broke my thumb, and got a decent case of whiplash besides. …could easily have been much worse, and the bike of course got banged up besides. I was able to fix it by the insurance settlement, but I moved out of state not long afterward, left it in my folks’ garage, and sold it not long afterward. It was a pretty little machine, though, and left me with more good memories than bad.
Hi Irish,
My ’83 is still close by! My old college buddy’s kid owns it now – and loves it. It makes me happy to know the bike is still knocking aorund… glad to have you with us, by the way!
Hello Eric … Ughghh the memories .. 🥺
Im 52 years old now .. the 550 nighthawk was my very first bike I owned in 1988 .. I’ve prolly had 20 since then .. but the nighthawk has always been such a great 1st love memory .. I had so many first in that bike .. I used to just Cruz Phoenix city at night just for the joy it .. I even out ran some cops once on that bike ,, lol ( long story ) if I ever came across another in excellent condition I’d def buy .. enjoyed your artical .. thx for the long ago yet young memories of life .
My pleasure, Dean –
Honda made some great – memorable bikes – but this one holds a special place in my memory!
Hi Eric;
I know this is an old post but thought I would comment any way.
I recently picked up a 1983 Honda Nighthawk 550.
I haven’t ben riding for years, saw this one and knew this was the one I wanted to ride. It was kept in a guys garage, fairly maintained and only 8,000 miles. I had to clean and sync the carbs but looks like new. May rebuild them eventually.
I wanted a light bike with enough power to get out of the way when needed.
My instincts were right and it has not disappointed me at all. I am impressed at the response that it gives. More than I need to bring back the thrill of ridding. It has to warm up and choke to start but once there it is there nothing is holding it back.
An oldie but goodie!
Man, those Nighthawks were Da Bomb! back in the eighties. I never got to own or ride one, nor the, imho cooler GPz, however; they always catch my eye when I see the rare one out and about.
You’re fortunate, there, Rick. I hope you have a blast with it.
…Get on your Bad Motor Scooter, and ride.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNjdSYvUjMs
Hey Eric, I think you sold me this bike back in 2007. 🙂 I too wish I still had it! It was my first ride, and I ran up about 6K up on the odometer before moving to the Caribbean and had to let her go. Sold to another new rider who was excited to find such a solid old machine with low mileage. I bet he had as much fun as we did. Thanks for this solid writeup on our one-year wonder.
Never mind, remembered the guy’s name I bought it from — Daniel — so maybe a different bike than the one you owned. But very similar history, including location, and identical dent in the gas tank from where the original owner dropped it. So if it’s not the same one, yours has a twin!
Hi Fiona,
I think my old CB550 is still around these parts – SW Virginia, near Roanoke. I sold it to my buddy about 16 years ago; he sold it about five years later, if I’m remembering things right!
1st bike,my friend got a ninja 900,said 2 him,” u get the 900,I’ll buy the nigjthawk, with in 24hrs,proud owner, — long story short, dumb it,got rid of it parents didn’t no I had it,brought home slowly– I really miss it,looking 4 same bike- my dad had A Honda 150,when he took me 4 a ride,I had my own seat, sat on gas tank
Hi Kevin,
I have owned probably 20 bikes in my life and the CB550 really stands out. That bike was just the ticket for me when I was young and poor and needed a reliable, almost maintenance-free bike that got great gas mileage and was ‘all kinds of fun to ride, too.
The Honda four made great music!
Fun write-up! Found your article fishing around for info on 83 CB550SC’s – recently inherited one. Put on new (to the bike – they’re used) pipes (that aren’t rusted near the tips), and man that chrome sure gleams. Have to sort out some signal stem issues, but parts are on order. Gas tank was pretty rusty on the inside, that has been treated…needs a couple of good long rides to run a tank or two of clean fuel through it. Carbs have been cleaned and tuned. It’s old skool, but COOL old skool. The only remaining gremelin is the brake light is stuck on – hopefully that will be an ez fix.
It’s old skool, but COOL old skool. Thanks for the article.
Hey Eric, reviving this. Just found it in my research. I just purchased sight unseen my 45th bike an 84 550 Nighthawk (Canadian) I took a few years off riding after a serious eye injury that is now fine enough after a few dozen operations. I can’t hold back the fever at any rate. I pick it up this Friday with a buddy’s help and truck. It needs a fair bit of work but runs, sounds nice (over the phone) LoL and is only setting my back $350.00 (Canadian which is about $260.00 US$) so nothing to lose for a winter’s worth of satisfying tinkering. A question is, was there any difference at all between the 83 and the Canadian 84? Information is slim online for the 84. My plan is to come up with a one-up sport-touring-bobbed-comfo-racer-ish design. Thanks!
Hi Firepuncher,
I don’t think there are significant functional differences between the two versions. Both should have the same DOHC inline four and five-speed plus overdrive sixth, shaft drive, etc. There may be cosmetic differences, such as colors and maybe the Canadian version has a bikini fairing like the 650/700 S. Have you got an pics you can post? I still have pics of my ’83…
I haven`t even picked it up, hopefully Friday. I plan to do a blog possibly on Youtube as well. I will share a few as soon as I get it home
Steve
@Eric- I don’t think the “perfect” bike can be made. That is why us addicts usually have 2 or more, depending what/ where we want to go and do. My ’99 black and chrome Honda Valkyrie standard is another “one off” from Honda. An 800Lb. head turner that sounds like an angry Ferrari when cranked up. Even the Harley guys come over and ask what it is (enter the sound of a hissing balloon on their face when they learn it is a rice burner 🙂 . It is happy to run 400 miles a day at well over 90MPH and ask for more, but around town it is a handful.
I see Honda has brought back the old 70’s CB retro bike in an 1100cc (and 1300cc off shore model). I do wish they would bring back the Nighthawk (and the old Yamaha Virago) in an updated tech version too.
Very true, Gary –
Like a lot of guys, I have multiple bikes – one of almost every type (sport bike, touring bike, naked/standard, cool old antique, off-road bike).
I finally convinced Dom to get a second bike – and he seems to be happy with it!
My daughter of age 26 with a kid and another kid- a husband bought a Hogley-Ferguson 103 CID thing for a first bike. I about went through the roof as my wife takes care of the grandson on my dime, If informed I would have given her a 1000 mile Buell 1125CR or let her have just about any of my bikes to learn on and then make a decision on whether she really wanted that tubby Harley or perhaps a very low miles Benelli Sei 900, She decided to try a Moto Guzzi 500 III which is a fairly slow 500 twin but is a laugh to ride as the handling and brakes and light weight make it such a pleasure as her “training bike”.
I saw your later bike articles and agree with you on how a test ride is so important so that one does not end up with a bike that gives no pleasure.
I had no business buying that Buell even if it was stupid cheap as I am not good enough anymore to ride it the way it was designed to be ridden. I get far more pleasure from my ’67 TR6 that is an absolute slug compared to most anything nowadays.
I have something against 400 lb+ bikes—just me.
@Erie – For your “in crowd” daughter.
http://youtu.be/OOWO–z1S8A
Hi Erie,
Good stuff!
I’m not a Harley guy, either. Too heavy – and too expensive. Which isn’t the bike’s fault, I realize. It’s what the market will bear. I like lighter, more agile bikes.
No offense meant to HD fans. They’re just not my bag.
My neighbor has an 84 650 Nighthawk. He often uses it on his farm as a work vehicle so it’s usually caked with mud. After hauling my pressure washer over there last summer and cleaning off years of accumulated of dirt and plant material, I could see that the bike has an aggressive yet elegant profile that really appeals to me. Although smaller, it reminds me more than a little of my former Yamaha XS1100 Special. Just for the heck of it, I checked out the horsepower and acceleration specs on the internet and they’re pretty darn impressive. Thankfully for my ego, they’re slightly below my 865 Bonneville which means I can still hold my head up and swagger around like a vastly superior being. Aftermarket parts are readily available.
They’re great bikes – both the 550 and the 650 (and also the later 700S and the 750 Nighthawk “standard”). It’s a shame such bikes are not made anymore. Among other things, they were great starter bikes that you didn’t outgrow in six months’ time. Very few such like today.
The styling was a high point, too.
I like to see the engine; I like chrome and polished metal. Plastic does little for me.
I haven’t lusted after a new sport bike in several years now…
I thought GPZs were Kawasakies (end of paragraph 14).
Ach, not enough (or too much) coffee again… fixed – and, thanks!
My 2nd bike was a new
1983 Honda V65 Magna
• $3,898 MSRP
• 65 cubic inches/1100cc
• V4
• 105hp
• liquid-cooled
• shaft drive
• 6-forward speeds
• digital display.
It was a beast … a street dragster, yet also a cruiser.
I used to ride it to work in my 3-piece suit with my briefcase strapped to the back, going up to 90mph, daily. 🙂 … I never got a ticket!
I averaged about 13,000 miles per year on it.
Here is a 1983 Honda TV commercial:
And here is a short walk-around of someone selling one:
Notice on that TV commercial, there was no lawyer fine print “Professional rider. Closed course. Do not attempt.”
Yup – that’s why I chafe so much about the “safety” culture of today. I can remember before it took hold. America was a different – a much better – place in those days.
Great bike, JC!
I’ll never forget the Magna, either…
The V65 was a quick scarey-ass machine. A lot like the Yamaha V-Max.
This article brought back memories. My first bike was a 1983 Honda Shadow. It was a great bike back then as like all “Jap” bikes it still is today even though it is long gone. There are many of these bikes….and cars sitting in barns collecting dust waiting for their day to return.
For me, that era – roughly, 1973-1988 – was the golden age of motorcycling. They had become modern enough, powerful enough – and reliable enough – to be ridden anywhere, anytime. But they weren’t “over the top” as so many bikes are today. Part of the fun – again, for me – is that bikes (back then) were cheap to buy, cheap to own, cheap to maintain. They also had more personality, more character.
I miss them – but at least I have a few (four!) in the garage…