False Neutral #44: Nighthawks & Small Treasures

admin

/comment

Comments


Since our last episode, Garrett has a new son in the nursery and a new Nighthawk 650 beater in the garage. The latter prompts us to enthuse for Honda’s 1980s Nighthawk range. Turning to new bikes, we discuss the proposed U.S. tariff on European small displacement bikes. I recall my encounter with a tiny, very fake Italian “classic,” which leads the three of us to all get excited about building 60cc roadrace bikes in the classic Italian tiddler style.

The Italian small-bore website I mention can be found at piccolibastardi.it

Rate and review our podcast on iTunes.


False Neutral – Nighthawks & Small Treasures

Flase-neutral-jump-header

Garrett’s 82 Honda 650 Nighthawk
1982 Honda 650 Nighthawk (OE paint)
Image Source: bikepics.com
1983 Honda CB750SC Nighthawk & Triumph X-75 Hurricane
1983 Honda 550 Nighthawk
1991-2003 Honda Nighthawk 750
1988/89/90 Honda-VTR250 Interceptors
Bultaco Brinco
1973 Aprilia Colibrì
Image Source: piccolibastardi.it
Malanca Testarossa 4m
Image Source: piccolibastardi.it
Moto Bulloni (Pete’s photo)
Itom 50 Super Sport
Image Source: ebay.it
Itom 50 vintage racer
Image Source: motorcycle-usa.com
Kawasaki KX60
Honda CR60

About

admin

admin

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The maximum upload file size: 64 MB. You can upload: image, audio, video. Links to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other services inserted in the comment text will be automatically embedded. Drop files here

7 responses to “False Neutral #44: Nighthawks & Small Treasures”

  1. Batshitbox Avatar
    Batshitbox

    My latest discovery in the Honda / Small bike realm is the Honda FatCat. Even Wikipedia has very little to say about it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_TR200

    http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c104/torbreck2/1446-03.jpg

    Called the TR200, it popped up in a search for TW200 (Yamaha). Another of Honda’s 2-year only bikes. I’m guessing the tires are hard to find, and are probably not DOT compliant. 8-inch rims front and back! It’s a motorized wheelbarrow.

    Here’s a period comparison between the Yamaha BW200 (later the TW200) and the Honda TR200.

    http://yamaha.itgo.com/BW200review/1.htm

    Reply
    1. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
      Peter Tanshanomi

      The Fat Cat was off-road only, like the Yamaha Big Wheel.

      Reply
    2. Garrett Michael Avatar
      Garrett Michael

      the Honda Fat Cat is on my short list of motorcycles to own at some point. I love them!

      Reply
  2. Mitch Horner Avatar
    Mitch Horner

    Pete would the MB5 qualify in the 50cc 2 stroke series? http://kansascity.craigslist.org/mcy/5949722392.html

    Reply
    1. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
      Peter Tanshanomi

      Sure, Mitch, I’ve had two MB5s and loved both of them! But the MB5 doesn’t quite have that cool vintage racer look. Also, a 60cc MX motor makes close to twice the horsepower. (6-1/2 HP factory rating for the U.S. MB5, 11-1/2 for the CR60 — more for a KX60 of the same year, even higher for a liquid-cooled engine.)

      Reply
    2. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
      Peter Tanshanomi

      https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/21a4a6ec96215ebf2cdd0f974abd960c5677d5685c9df161e39bbe980b2035bb.jpg

      Reply
    3. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
      Peter Tanshanomi

      https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/60d374b9dac513251b1b07823383a88ebe8806c1235b934ebba3ccbdddf0c9a6.jpg

      Reply