Hondas

Honda Motorcycles

Interceptor – Magna – Sabre – Nighthawk

Honda is well known for making the most reliable automobiles. They’re also the most prolific motorcycle manufacturer, too. Honda makes more cycles in a day than, say, Victory makes in a year.

Honda has also made some damn good motorcycle models. CBs, Nighthawks, Sabres, Interceptors, Magnas, Hurricanes (for 1987 and 1988, changed their badging to CBR after 1988), Ascots, Gold Wings to name my favorites.

Honda Interceptors

The early Honda Interceptors, introduced in 1983 as the V45 VF750F if I remember correctly, stole a big share of Kawasaki’s then sport king, the GPzs. I read and reread the 1984 issue of Cycle Guide I owned comparing and analyzing the GPz and Interceptor so much, the ink came off the pages. Mid-80’s era sportbikes reviewers gave the Interceptors a very slight edge; the VF engines were so potent, a rider needed merely to show up and twist the throttle. The powerband of the Interceptor began when you pushed the start button, and ended when you got scared. GPz riders, for better or worse, needed to actually know how to ride a motorcycle to wring all the power they could from the GPz powerband in order to keep up. Here in the US, Interceptors initially just came in the V45 (750cc) version; in 1984 the 500 700 and 1000 Interceptors were released. In 1988 Honda introduced the v-twin VTR 250cc Interceptor but didn’t bring them to the US but for a few seasons. In Europe and Japan, the 400 Interceptor was all the rage.

But I digress. The Interceptors make awesome collectors bikes. Not too long ago, an eBay seller was paid around $5,600 for his museum-quality ‘83 V45 Interceptor. Folks near and far claim the ‘86 and ‘87 Interceptors, redesigned with their new post-tariff 750cc engine as the best Interceptors ever. eBay is a cool place to start looking for ‘vintage’ Interceptors. Here’s what’s out there right now:

Honda Nighthawks

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The Nighthawk line began somewhat modestly as the Hawk. Then, Honda introduced the beautiful, powerful Nighthawk 750 in 1982. It, and the more cruiser-like Nighthawk 550 was only on the showroom floor for two years. But the Nighthawk 650, also introduced in 1982, would be a great seller through 1987. As a shaft drive, it didn’t suffer from the odd torque lift feeling that the Sabre shaft did. Nighthawks pulled off the livability-sport-looks trifecta… until they were brought back from the dead in the late 90’s as the reliable-yet-forgettable 750. Here’s a walk-around video showing a beautiful, stock Nighthawk S.

Below are Honda Nighthawks for sale on eBay nationwide:

Honda Magnas

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Honda Magnas were the quintessential power cruisers. Introduced in 1982, they featured the legendary v-four water cooled shaft drive engine. Their powerband was described as either Off or On. Even now in 2008 you’re going to see quite a few24 year-old Magnas on the streets and highways. I’d like to give a good ‘84 V65 Magna a home, myself. Magnas came in a few flavors: the v30 (500cc), the V45 (750cc) and the V65 (1100cc). In 1984, Honda brought the destroked tariff-beating Magna 700 – you’ll probably find a lot of these guys for sale, too.

Here’s a video released by Honda for the 1984 V65 Magna:

Finding a good Magna nationwide isn’t a chore. Mature riders generally drove Magnas so they’re apt to be better cared for than, say, sport bikes or less-featured cycles. Here’s what’s available right now on eBay:

Honda Sabre

The Sabres have seen a lot of costuming. The current day Sabres, to me, are entirely indistinguishable from the Shadows. Cruisers today all seem to look the same. This was not so in years gone past. Honda made the Sabre V45 (750cc) in 1982 and 1983. In 1984, the Sabre was redesigned and released as the Sabre 700 and V65 Sabre, an 1100cc beast. The 1984 Honda V65 Sabre, until the Yamaha V-Max came out the next year, was one powerful mofo, the power cruiser to beat.

The Sabre is a low-maintenance worry-free shaft drive cycle. The 700 model did suffer from a little shaft torque issue – acceleration tende to very slightly lift the bike, an odd sensation until acclimated to it. Does the Sabre still warm your cockles like mine? If so, there are some still out there. Sabres were owned and ridden, initially at least, by the most mature of riders. High school kids gravitated to Shadows or Interceptors. A Sabre with relatively low miles has promise as a great retro ride – especially today, when everything new looks like everything else new. Added bonus: it’s pretty much the best ride for the 6-foot 4 plus crowd out there. Lots of room in the Sabre saddle. Here’s what’s on eBay right now: