HONDA CB77 Supehawk (1961-1965) Specs, Performance & Photos

In 1961, the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer released the Honda CB77, also known as the Superhawk, a motorcycle built from 1961 to 1967 and the first sports bike manufactured by the maker.

The bike was a landmark in Honda's range for the 1960s Western motorcycle markets due to its speed, power, and reliability, but also was regarded as one of the best bikes that set the standards for modern motorcycles.

The CB77 was powered by a 305cc engine, which was quite big compared to other Japanese motorcycles at the time, with enough performance to challenge much larger motorcycles from other countries and fitted with luxuries such as an electric starter, it quickly built a reputation for reliability.

The bike was built on the experience gained by Honda in the Grand Prix racing and differed from the previous models, with its steel-tube frame instead of the pressed-steel one used by the earlier models and the use of a telescopic fork.

Also, the parallel-twin engine, which was the largest unit on a Honda bike, worked as an integral element of the bike's structure for more stiffness. The engine was capable to deliver revs up to 9,000 rpm and send the bike to speeds over 161 kph (100 mph), as fast as British motorcycles with parallel-twin engines and higher displacements.

In the performance department, the 1961 Honda CB77 took its soul from a 305cc four-stroke twin-cylinder air-cooled engine that delivered an output power of 28 hp with maximum strength at 7,500 rpm and 23 Nm (17 lb-ft) of torque available at 6,000 rpm.