HONDA CB650SC Nighthawk (1981-1982) Specs, Performance & Photos

The Honda CB650SC, also known as the Nighthawk 650, was a standard motorcycle part of the CB series, manufactured and sold from 1982 to 1985 in the US market. The 1982 Nighthawk replaced the previous Custom motorcycle and featured a redesigned fuel tank and side covers.

Also, for the 1983 to 1985 models, the SOHC engine used from 1979 until 1982 was replaced with a DOHC unit that featured hydraulic valve-lash adjusters and a rubber-mounted system that reduced vibrations.

In 1982, the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer launched the Honda CB650SC Nighthawk, a standard motorcycle in Honda's range powered by the SOHC engine first introduced on the 1979 CB650 model.

In addition, the Nighthawk came with standard features, such as an analog instrument panel, a dual seat with a passenger grab handle, a round headlight, a chromed dual exhaust system, a black-finished steel frame, and lightweight cast aluminum wheels.

For suspension, the model packed a 39 mm air-assisted Showa telescopic fork on the front and dual Showa shock absorbers with five-way spring preload adjustability and four-way rebound damping adjustability that offered optimum suspension performance.

As for stopping power, the bike featured two 275 mm discs with two-piston calipers on the front and a 180 mm drum braking unit on the rear that provided strong braking performance.

In the power department, the 1982 Honda CB650SC Nighthawk took its muscles from a 626cc four-stroke four-cylinder air/oil-cooled engine fitted with four Keihin carburetors and delivered an output power of 50 hp at 8,000 rpm and 49 Nm (36 lb-ft) of torque available at 6,500 rpm.