Super Standards

In a May 1993 issue, Cycle World did a comparison of 10 standard bikes of varying sizes and price ranges. They didn't set out to "pick a best one", just to show what was still available on the market for us "standard" aficianado's. They rode and rated the BMW K75, BMW R100R, H-D DYNA Low Rider, H-D Sportster 883, Honda CB750 Nighthawk, Honda CB1000, Kawasaki ZR1100, Suzuki GSX100G, Suzuki VX300, Yamaha TDM850, and the Yamaha V-Max. This is how the Nighthawk 750 fared:

Here's proof that a relatively small price tag doesn't necessarily buy a small amount of motorcycle. The $4399 list price attached to the CB750 Nighthawk makes it the least expensive motorcycle in this group. In some ways, it is a lot of bike for the buck. In some ways, it also is one of the least exciting motorcycles in this group, and stands as evidence that while Honda was successful in building this bike to a budget, it may have set the budget number too low. "What it gives up in performance, it delivers in price," noted one tester, summing things up nicely.

There is much here that Honda is to be congratulated for. The Nighthawk is a smooth, docile motorcycle that embodies all of the virtues for which Honda is justly famed. Its power output is not astonishing, but it is smooth and fairly comfortable, low in maintenance and high in excellence of finish. It is a bike with no glaring flaws, but it has flaws, nonetheless. These mostly are found in two areas: suspension and brakes. The Nighthawk's fork works pretty well, and provides a reasonable ride and very light, neutral steering. Its rear suspension, complete with dual shocks, works less well, and is quite harsh over big bumps and over little ones.

The bike's brakes aren't outstanding, based as they are around a single rotor and a two-piston floating caliper up front and a drum brake at the rear. They work fine, but the front brake wants a lot of lever, and the rear fades quite easily.

Still, as we've already noted, this is a budget bike. It is perfect for a newcomer to motorcycling, or for a reentry ridcr. Is that you? If so, should you spend a little less for a good, clean second-hand machine, or should you spend a bit more to buy a brand-new Nighthawk 750? Trust us: Buy the Nighthawk.

Just for the sake of comparison, I will post the equivalent BMW 750 machine's numbers next to the Nighthawks. See if you think the BMW is worth paying 50 % more money.

SPECIFICATIONS

GENERAL

NIGHTHAWK 750

BMW K75

List Price

$ 4,399

$ 6,590

Weight (tank empty)

470 lbs.

490 lbs.

Fuel Capacity

4.8 gals

5.8 gals

Average fuel mileage

40 mpg

40 mpg

PERFORMANCE

1/4 mile

12.69 sec @ 105.14 mph

13.24 sec @ 100.55 mph

0-60 mph

4.1 sec

4.8 sec

Top gear time to speed:

40-60 mph

5.1 sec

4.9 sec

60-80 mph

6.3 sec

6.2 sec

Measured top speed

114 mph

122 mph

BRAKING DISTANCE

From 30 mph

29 ft

26 ft

From 60 mpg

111 ft

115 ft

HORSEPOWER/TORQUE

Horsepower

62.4 @ 8250 rpm

52.8 @ 8000 rpm

Torque

42.7 ft.-lb. @ 6750 rpm

41.3 ft.-lb. @ 5750 rpm

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