1984 & 1989 Nighthawk 700SC

[Ewt]

I bought 2 Honda Nighthawk 700 SC's last week, a 1984 & 1989 edition.
The 1989 700 SC is in very good shape, well maintained and only has a little paint damage but it missed a starter unit.
After looking around a bit I also found a cheap 1984 700 SC.

Time for some pictures:

[gammer]

Hi Ewt and 

Nice looking bikes.

BTW, did you mean to say that the 1989 is actually a 1986?
Either way, do you know the history on these two bikes and how they got imported into the Netherlands?

[Ewt]

I don't know the exact history, but lot's of bikes in the Netherlands are imported from Canada and the US, I think because they are cheaper in the NA market.

According the the RDW (DMV of the Netherlands) the bike first registered in the system in 1989 and was imported in 1992. The garage also sold it as a 1989 bike.

The bike has had 2 dutch owners  and driven 27.000 milles, and it appears to have had maintenance close to to last miles it drove. New battery, oil filter, tires. I think the garage owned it a while, they sold the starter, and couldn't find a new one in short order so I could bargain a lot of the price. The starter of the 1984 one was in bad shape but my father has restored it pretty good.

The owner of the Nighthawk from 1984 was trying for a long time to get rid of the bike, which also made it easy to bargain.
Because it is older then 25 year's it's road tax free.

[hppants]

Welcome to the group - ride safe.

Nice looking bikes.  I'm curious to know how much savings is realized by the road-tax free issue. if I am not being too presumptious?

The Red White and Blue bike was a one year only 1986.  It is certainly possible that it was sold new in 1989, though.

Since they are both 700 cc bikes, they were originally sold in the United States.  In 1984, the US government, in an effort to boost sales for it's American bikes (namely - Harley Davidson), implemented a stiff import tarriff on all bikes 750 cc and larger.  The tariff raised the import tax from approximately 4.5% to nearly 50% in 1984, 40% in 1985, and 30% in 1986. 

All of the Jap bikes simply de-stroked their 750 models to 700 to avoid the tax, and stay competitive in the "750 market".

There are a couple of other Netherlanders on the forum - including at least one with a RWB 700s.  Looking forward to seeing more of your bikes, and especially your beautiful country.

[JB1290]

  to the NHF. Those are some sweet bikes you got there. So, what prompted you to buy 2 bikes at the same time? Just curious...

[gammer]

There are a couple of other Netherlanders on the forum - including at least one with a RWB 700s.  Looking forward to seeing more of your bikes, and especially your beautiful country.

Good point Pants; I was just thinking that.

EWT, take a look at OhCrap's profile. He is from the Netherlands and has a Red, White and Blue 700s too. You too might be able to go for a ride together.

[MOPARJOE]

Great looking bikes (I love the 700-S). It looks as though the '84 may have had an '86 engine installed (all the aluminum parts are blacked out), but perhaps someone was just painting stuff black to look like an '86 engine).

Welcome to the Forum!

[Brittles]

Great looking bikes (I love the 700-S). It looks as though the '84 may have had an '86 engine installed (all the aluminum parts are blacked out), but perhaps someone was just painting stuff black to look like an '86 engine).

Plus, the '84's got that black plastic doohickey by the right lower rear tank that only came on the '86's. Still haven't figured out what that thing does. Anybody?

Welcome to the forum Ewt and enjoy those machines.

[Ewt]

I checked the Headset of the bike and it tells me it's build in 1986. I am going to contact RDW to see if I can lower the build year. All bikes of 1987 and after never get road tax free again. I think the tax costs around 80 € a year.

I bought 2 bikes because I needed starter for the 1986 Nighthawk. Before I found the 1986 I contacted the owners of the 1984 bike, they contacted me several times and sounded eager to get rid off the bike. The garage also wanted to sell me 1986 without started, so I got the price down from 1700€ to 850 € and bought the 1984 for 425 €. My dad maybe want's to use the 1984 as a winterbike when they salt up the roads, to preserve his bike.

OhhCrap lives in the upper north of the Netherlands, I live in the south near Weert, about 300km down. Maybe I'll contact him.

[tomb raider]

 ,

 2-700s bikes      It's cool that these are showing up on the NHF from around the globe...  What kinda bike is your Father wanting to keep safe from winter ?  

 Do I see an 1987 TW200 there as well   

[Ewt]

I think you see the Yamaha Tenere and he want's to preserve his Kawasaki 1300Z in the winter.
http://www.299kmh.com/topic/4316-kawasaki-z1300/
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=248631

[FearThis SC]

Great looking 700s      I love the RWB  

Back in the late 90's I was stationed in Germany.  Anyways, on MANY weekends we would rent a Mercedes-Benz 500 Kompressor and roll into Arnhem and SCORE  

But on longer weedends   we would stay in Utrecht and take the train into Amsterdam........  


  I LOVE YOUR COUNTRY


Oooooooo   to NHF!

[tomb raider]

Never hear of either bike, that Kawi looks Bad ASS.....  Fear,