Honda's First Sport Bike - Honda 305 Superhawk Road Test Review

In this ride review video, I am riding a beautiful 1966 Honda 305 Superhawk. This is truly a special bike and it is still owned by the original owner! When it was initially introduced, the 305 Superhawk, 305 Dream, and 305 Scrambler were the largest displacement bikes Honda had ever made. They were fast bikes for the time period and, unlike British and American bikes, didn't leak oil or break down regularly. The 305cc bikes from Honda really solidified Honda's position in Europe and America and paved the way for Honda's legendary CB750 that would debut a mere 4 years later! What's it like to ride and drive today? Let's find out together!

[@duaneluchsinger5736]

You’re hittin’ me in the heart with this test. My first bike as soon as I hit my 16th birthday, a blue 1962 Super Hawk. Of course I had a few hooligan moments on it…thankful to have survived those moments of indiscretion(racing a Yamaha YDS2 on a bypass at close to 100mph with no helmet, googles or glasses on at night..he never did get by me…at the time that was all that mattered). Anyway, this was a great review giving credit to the owner of this gem and Honda Motor Corp. Thank you.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Thank you Duane for sharing the memories! It's why I do what I do. I was honored to be allowed to drive this beautiful, one-owner machine.

[@cycoklr]

What 16-year old did not act like a hooligan with a 305 as a first bike? 😁 I was also 16 when I got my first bike, a 1967 model that I ran to the ground. Much regret that i did not take good care of it. I'm 70 now, still riding and would love a second shot at getting another 305.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@@cycoklr Right on!

[@cerealtiller]

The CB72/77 was Honda's largest Bike for a full 5 Years before the CB 450. it Cemented Honda's place in the Motorcycle Sport market. A thing of Beauty in every respect.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@@cerealtiller Right on!

[@sgvern1]

A red Honda Superhawk was my second bike. I got it in 1970. Ran smooth, ran well. It was a mid range bike at that time. It had,plenty of power for the highways. It was quite an upgrade from my first motorcycle, a Harley-Davidson Rapido (a single cylinder 125cc two stroke made by Aermacchi in Italy. Look that one up in the Harley Encyclopedia. It ran on a magneto, no battery, no turn signals, my left arm indicated turns, the brightness of the headlight and the sound of the horn depended on how high the engine was revving at that time. Total weight, about 173 pounds per the Harley Encyclopedia. Actually rode the Rapido on the highway, it got wheezy at about 60-65mph. Those were the days!

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on! It's good to ride some of the older, smaller machines in order to appreciate the newer, bigger machines.

[@SkiVaught]

I Long to buy such a bike or a Dream.... My first was a Moto Cross 90, then a 350...

[@gdmofo]

Seen a lot of those around as a kid in the 70s and even a few running around in the 80s amazing machines

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on! They're more of a rare sight these days, but they're still great bikes! Cheers

[@gdmofo]

@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 indeed good memories

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@@gdmofo 👍

[@bobcohoon9615]

They were very smooth running, could hit 10,000 rpm , very reliable . This one is running perfect . They had a 180 degree crankshaft ( Type 1 ) , and the Dream models were lower compression and 360 degree cranks ( type 2 ) , so they don't quite sound the same

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on! My friend still drives it frequently.

[@aboversite]

Robert Pirsig wrote a book in 1974 called "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance". It was about this bike (and a lot else).

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Very cool 😎. I have the book on the shelf - I need to read it! Cheers

[@TimeTraveller1117]

Indeed! Robert Pirsig and his son Chris loaded up his 1966 Honda Super Hawk , with camping gear, and in 1968 left Minniapolis for a 5700 mile round - trip motorcycle ride to San Francisco. He accompanied a couple from the Cities on their BMW. His bike is now in the Smithsonian Museum. A good part of his trip followed what was the Yellowstone Trail that is in modern times highway US12.

[@rockmann88]

Great review. It brought back memories of when I was younger and fortunate enough to spend a California summer riding a Honda 350 Superhawk one of my college room mates generously let me ride. It was a special bike, equipped with megaphone exhaust pipes, modified high performance carbs, racing tires, racing handlebars, and foot pegs set for a prone riding position. It was brilliantly designed, just as fast as the 500cc Triumph I rode before, and accelerated like a rocket ship. It was loud and very responsive, would do a wheelie if you popped the throttle too quickly. Overall acceleration was quick and smooth, and downshifting and braking through fast curves was effortless. On twisting, curvy two lane roads it had superlative handling, and would do anything I wanted it to do without any sense of losing control. It never missed a shift, never locked up the brakes, and at speeds of 75 mph fully heeled over in a very tight radius turn it was rock solid with no suspension hop or surge. I was able to ride it consistently at 90-100 mph speeds with no problems. I'm pretty sure it hit 110 mph at full throttle and 9000 RPM's on the freeway. There was a lot less traffic on back country roads in those days and you could open up the throttle at will, although I did get chased by a California Highway Patrol officer for many miles before he caught up to me at a stop sign. Somehow no speeding ticket was issued, maybe because the officer enjoyed running his big Dodge Magnum 426 Hemi at full speed while trying to catch up. Motorcycles like that innovative 350cc Honda, which are now considered "vintage" were new, exciting, and a thrill to ride during that era, when lightweight, fun, good handling, fast, reliable and high performance (for their time) bikes were coming out pretty regularly from competing companies like Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki. It was the golden age for young motorcyclists, and it's great that you do reviews on many of those fine old bikes. They were affordable and easy to repair, inexpensive to modify and maintain for high school and college age motorcycle enthusiasts, unlike the megabucks you now have to spend for the current generation of superbikes, which are now overpowered full blown race bikes for the street, and far more expensive to own, operate or modify, putting them far out of economic range for most younger motorcycle enthusiasts.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Thanks for sharing your Super Hawk memories! I would have liked to explore the performance envelope a bit more, but it wasn't mine, so I rode it very conservatively. I appreciate you giving the context of the time in which it was created, the competition and its performance in its day. Though it looks like a cute old motorcycle today, the Super Hawk was a serious performer that sparked the imagination of many a young enthusiast! Cheers

[@texasj49]

Beautiful bike. Thanks for taking us along. Kudos to the owner for owning it and keeping it up all of those year.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on!

[@harveymartin161]

​@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev35389

[@bikabill5182]

This was the bike of my dreams. I never got one, instead Uncle Sam had other plans for me and after that bikes were bigger. Looking at this bike I can still smell the showroom in Morris Marine, Florence AL, so many years ago. Oh how I had wanted one. Thanks for showing.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@@bikabill5182 So cool 😎! Thanks for sharing the memories.

[@johnwilcox4078]

I currently have a good running original paint '68 305 Superhawk and a '64 red 305 Dream undergoing a full restoration. My first bike was a '67 305 Scrambler. Im a big fan!

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Very cool, John! They are neat bikes. Cheers!

[@mikehherron4800]

I remember the 305 from my first tour of duty in the Philippines. A coworker had one that he "chopped" (very common thing to do over there. Metal work was relatively inexpensive in the early 70s). He found out that a bobbed rear fender meant a brown "racing stripe" down his back when riding in the rain.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on! I laugh when I see bobbers here with no fenders, and often, no suspension in the rear. There's a price to pay for style 😎.

[@farleyfuche4540]

Not to leave out the guys who ride with no FRONT fender. Unexpected rain, make that even wet roads w/out a windshield - face full of water, muck, and mud.@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538

[@clutchpedalreturnsprg7710]

Hello, thanks for the upload. I was with my older brother when he purchased his 1965 CB - 77 Super Hawk. He paid $ 727.00. A vast sum of money. " Hey! "

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

So cool 😎! I think prices may be cheaper today when you take inflation into account. Cheers!

[@davidmcglumphy2240]

What cost $727 in 1965 would cost $7148.3 in 2023.

[@clutchpedalreturnsprg7710]

@@davidmcglumphy2240 Hello, thank you for the calculations. One of the shopping tricks back then was pennies were solid copper and coins in larger denominations than a dime were 90% silver. Though, that coinage just as it is today, are " State Money System " dollars These are non- interest-bearing dollars. Unlike the interest-bearing " Green Seal " Federal Reserve Note dollars of the " Bank Money System " dollars. The " Red Seal " non- interest -bearing United States Notes of the " State Money System " was a better economic system overall.

[@kybourbonboy]

The coolest guy in my 9th grade class owned this bike. He was the "Steve McQueen" of our school. The other kids with bikes rode 50cc and 60cc 2 strokes. Note that at that time in Florida, 60cc was the biggest a 14-15 year old was legally allowed to ride. He was just turned 16. We all so envied it. As an aspiring biker, the Honda 305 was a serious bike. Even now, over 5 decades later, I would love to tool around town on this bike for a day.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on! That would still be a fun time. It was a real treat to get to ride this one. Thanks for sharing the memories!

[@chrismoody1342]

I understand exactly where Japanese bikes came from. This is where I started my motorcycling life. 14 years old and my older brothers shared this motorcycle. So I got in on the action at their expense. I wasn’t allowed to operate on the street, but that was ok, cause was behind the house was miles and mile of fast fire road at my disposal. It was on those road I got let the Superhawk stretch out it’s legs. She’d do a true 100 mph. And it sounded so amazing winding it out at 9000+ rpm. I would love to own one. But it ok, I own instead as a vintage bike the venerable Z1b. So instead of doing 100 mph I can go 140 mph and sound even better. 😎

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on! Thanks for sharing the memories, Chris! I can just see you blasting down a gravel road followed by a huge cloud of dust! Here's the KZ1000 I'm working on currently: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKeVi2hom9uradU

[@Dan-ez6dr]

Such great memories. In the late 60s there was a shop that rented these bikes out by the hour. I rode a couple of these 305 Super Hawks and just beat on them and they were a hoot to ride and bullet proof. I ended up buying a '68 Triumph. Those were some good days in my life. I was 20 in '68.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Very cool 😎! Thanks for sharing the memories, Dan. Cheers!

[@markd7811]

Very accurate and well done presentationand review Mr . Honda was a genious . The story and legacy of Honda will never happen again on this planet. What a great great motorcyle . Honda Bikes are the best .wonderfully done video!

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Thank you!

[@garycb8592]

I learned to ride on a 305 Superhawk in 1966. A high school friend had one (RIP Don) and he taught me how to ride. My dad bought a used 1966 Superhawk around 1971. I still have it and it still runs good.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

That's so cool! Thanks for sharing the memories Gary!

[@josephsaia5527]

That’s amazing. Do you still ride it? Any spokes ever break?

[@garycb8592]

@@josephsaia5527 No broken spokes. I don't ride it anymore as I have other bikes. But I will never get rid of it.

[@Mr121953]

You 'Drive; a car and 'ride' a bike ...-Check out the 'Read Titan ' race version built in the UK in 1965. Bored out to 350 , proddie racer , successful in local racing and hill climbs . ...(NB Laverda used the style of the'Titan' and build for their SFC 750 in 1972.-) The 'Superhawk C 77 305 was a genuine 100 mph motorcycle , one bike journo at the time maintained he got the bike to do 105 mph . Max power reached at 10.000 rpm . Innovative and the start of Honda's dominance of all things motorcycle . Some maintain it the CB 750 of 1969 that was the real game changer , not so , it was this incredible little machine which was in real terms faster than most English 750's of the time - A classic motorcycle on every way , well built with an oil tight engine , reliable electrics and good brakes ...Icon of a bike .

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on!

[@josephsaia5527]

I always said the same thing but lately more. KZbin reviews that starting to say drive. I know it is crazy

[@brucebirnbaum6152]

I grew up in the sixties and seventies. Very Beautiful and special Bike's they were. They started all the fun OF motorcycling . THAT We Enjoy Today. Thanks again for the Ride AND Great INFO take care and have fun with them . 🍵🍩

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on! It was a real treat to get to ride the Superhawk.

[@josephsaia5527]

So true

[@henryhawk978]

If I'm not mistaken, this motor is what Laverda looked to for their inspiration for their 750. Enjoyed the video Jon and RIDE SAFE OUT THERE!

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

The two motors certainly look related!

[@henryhawk978]

@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 right down to the tach drive

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@@henryhawk978 Yeah, I noticed the similarly after filming this video and then seeing a Laverda at a bike show.

[@karljackson5068]

The 305 supermarket was marketed in South Africa as the 305 super sports. It was my first bike which was just perfect ,I miss it even today after more than 50 years. I still have one of its ignition keys as a keepsake. It was a blue 1965 model. what a great bike

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Very cool! Thanks for sharing the memories. Cheers!

[@stevewhalen6973]

Ĺovely old bike . I owned one of its related models in 1972 at age 19, a 1967 305 CL77 with the upswept exhaust pipes on the right side . It would do 105mph and rode and handled well at 55-65 mph , highway speeds of that time. It was a well-built fun to ride , reliable old bike in its time.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Reliable and packing impressive performance for its size. Bikes like this put Honda on the map.

[@clutchpedalreturnsprg7710]

Hello, I always thought the CL seat was wider and more comfortable than the CB seat. Honda also sold a road racing seat for the CB. We mounted one onto a CB - 160. Fit like a glove with modifications to the mounts.

[@davidmcglumphy2240]

Take a look at pictures of the CL77 to see where the pipes were located.

[@karlschwab6437]

I have one in my shed: it hasn't been out of the shed for years.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on! Do you plan to restore it?

[@garys4425]

Bought a new 1963 305 Superhawk from dealer in Virginia Beach while stationed in Norfolk. Rode through NC and Va mountains and was surprised how well the machine took the curves and inclines. A couple of trips into DC was enough to keep me in the hills...

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Very cool! Yep, the thought of riding in any city makes my blood run cold!

[@garywebb7481]

My first Honda was a ‘68 CB350 scrambler, and I was impressed with the 305 and 450s. My first bike was a 250 Ducati Monza and turned me off from Ducati to this day. It was a nightmare. It had electrical problems and and always needed something fixed. I never had a Honda fail until a few years ago my vintage 94 Magna’s voltage regulator died. Still have it. I. Ow do cross country rides on my CTX1300 and love it. I’ve owned many Hondas over the years and would not consider another brand.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Honda certainly makes good bikes!

[@christophersimon2269]

Thanks so much for the video that brought back so many memories.The CB-77 was my second motorcycle, having graduated up from a Honda S-90 in 1966.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

You're welcome, I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

[@RobertTosh-h3v]

I had one and loved it. I would like to have another one.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Very cool. There are still a few out there. Cheers!

[@randywilliams3126]

The best my uncle worked on bikes when I was growing up so I got to ride all late 60. All the 70s and 80s motorcycle s yes

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

WOW! I hope you appreciated it at the time. That is a priceless experience!

[@aldntn]

I lusted after this bike in jr high. Also lusted after norton commando and small ducati that schoolmates had.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Great bikes all! The Commando would be a fun bike to review! Cheers!

[@scottwheaton9689]

Hi Jon,scott from ny here. Cool bike for sure & very nice ride out on the bike with as usual your great commentary feedback on it. My father had a black 66 305 dream & many moons ago as a teen i had a 66 or was it 67 305 scrambler with the high pipes on one side. I rode it on the trails,it was a pretty heavy beast in tight trails riding esp with me being 130lbs wet at the time. All my friends with their little ring ding 2stroke 100,125,175 bikes would eat my dust when I’d pass them all to get away from ingesting their clouds of thick blue smoke 2strokes produced back then with lower oil tech. Ttyl.,,,Scott

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Very cool. The 305 scrambler are apparently worth the most money currently.

[@cazgerald9471]

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on!

[@meggrobi]

I had a C72 in 1970 would love to have it now.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on!

[@brentneves3602]

This is the bike I learnt to ride on

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Very cool 😎!

[@peterhallock9486]

In 1966 I had a Honda 150 Dream !

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Very cool! I had the 150 Dream too (though it never ran while I had it). I sold it to a gentleman who restored it to beautiful condition - I was so glad that it went to the right home!

[@MarkandBarbHuth]

Still have the Super Hawk that I bought new-in-the-crate in August 1967 (worked in a Honda shop in Oil City, Pa after graduation from high school). It doesn't look much like it did that first year. Have over 35k miles on it ( many speedometers/ lots of vibration). Also have a 1965 Super Hawk Cafe Racer with big bore 358cc kit and Honda 450 carburators on aluminum manifolds I cast in Penn State's foundry in the fall of 1969, and a Honda CYB road racing saddle that originally fit Honda's 1961 250 Hawk that I bought new in the spring of 1967 ( I got a basket case 1964 Super Hawk late that winter).

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Wow, that's cool!

[@theknifedude1881]

I bought a 1961 CB77 for $250.00 in October’63 when I got out of the USN. the only problem I ever had was a broken shift drum. It cost less than $50.00 to fix it.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Very cool! They're neat bikes.

[@andyvanherwynen4866]

I have a 64 305 Superhawk in my shop waiting on a restore. One piston is stuck, but it'll come free with ATF/Acetone soaking.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on!

[@joelstein4657]

OMG, what memories. We were all riding Harley "Hogs" in those days. A bunch of us saw one of these in the new Honda shop window and laughed ourselves sick at how silly they looked. It wasn't til I got a 350 years later that I realized how old and outdated the whole Harley design was.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

The early Honda's were a real game changer!

[@Tencargo]

I had the exact bike. The after market exhausts are better looking than the originals.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on!

[@UncleRobsGarage]

My first was a 67 Yamaha 180 ,then my favorite was a 1963 Honda 305 superhawk it was capable of 80mph all day.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

They were impressive!

[@havok531]

Love these older Honda motorcycles, although if I had one of these or the 450 I would probably install an electronic ignition.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on! I'm a big fan of the classic Hondas AND electronic ignition. Cheers!

[@andrewwolf4430]

I restored a 67 super hawk in the late 70’s. A fun bike to ride around town but very small compared to my 79 cb 750

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

No doubt. In 1967, the Superhawk was considered a mid-sized bike. But by 1979, it was a small bike compared to the 1000s, 1100s, and even 1300s that were available. By then, the CB750 was a mid-sized bike. Cheers!

[@redtobertshateshandles]

When I was a Suzuki shop apprentice in the late 70's, my boss bought a nice CB72 like this bikes condition. The old guy who previously owned the shop did some jobs for himself around the shop, such as porting. He got the CB72 and started removing the finish and when I suggested that it might not be a good idea, he ignored me, as he was thinking of the money that he could charge the shop for his labour. He draw filed EVERY finish off including all the chrome and paint. Yep, fork tubes, rims ,everything. Then reassembled it. When the boss saw it he asked me why didn't I stop him. All I said was " I tried but he didn't listen." I guess when you treat younger staff members poorly then that's what happens. You should have seen it. For the rest of my years there it sat covered in oil, looking very sad. It was a monument to greed and power.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Wow! What a shame. I can't imagine why someone would think of doing that 🤔!

[@redtobertshateshandles]

@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 he envisioned getting everything rechromed and painted. The boss just wanted a nice original CB72. As anyone would. It was a travesty, because it was in nice condition.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@@redtobertshateshandles Too bad!

[@HaroldReece]

This same bike was my first motorcycle I bought it new in 1966. I think the cost was about six hundred dollars. That was a lot back then. I sold it in 1967 when I left for basic training in the Army.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Very cool, Harold! Thanks for sharing the memories. Cheers!

[@kirshberndt8412]

Looks and runs good! 👍

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on Kirsh!

[@thomaslemay8817]

Set up properly that front brake will lift the back wheel as high off the ground as you are willing to go . Yes, I worked on race bikes in the late 60s and early 70s .

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

I believe it. The problem is setting it up properly. You can't just install new pads. There are lots of adjustments, and the pads should be "fitted" to the bike to insure that they make contact with the drum across their entire surface when engaged. I'm sure you know the drill, having worked on the race bikes of the time. Long live disc brakes 😉!

[@DocJonesGarage]

Nice review Jon 👍

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Thanks Doc!

[@danielhertercasagrande1686]

I just bought last year a CBF 250 I think it’s quite similar - 30 yrs ago I had bigger bikes but for cruising in neighboring Alsace I don’t need to speed up and I like to have a light bike - the best that I had was Yamaha SRX handles like a 250 with the power of a 600

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Very nice!

[@eddylloyd7413]

How I miss my red one ❤️

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

They are neat bikes!

[@josephsaia5527]

I remember my new 1966 CB77 305 Superhawk speedometer sweeping counter clockwise. It was my second bike coming from a 1965 CA110 Honda 50 Super Sport. I would love to have a totally refurbished one with the new upgraded ignition but what about the spokes. I remember one breaking back in the day and I never reached 20k miles on the bike. My Dad bought it new for me in 1966 for under $700. I did use to miss gears on it frequently and often that would float the valves but it never broke that I remember except the clutch finally started slipping. At 16 yo. I was constantly speed shifting it “ not letting up on a full throttle. That was abuse

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Yeah, as a young man, my bikes suffered more abuse than they should have. Missing a shift while giving it full throttle just can't be good! I was careful while driving this Superhawk and didn't miss any gears, thankfully!

[@josephsaia5527]

@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 I don’t remember if it would happen 1st to 2nd or 3rd to 4th

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@josephsaia5527 Right on! Depending on the bike, I have found false neutrals between different gears. The worst was my dad's high-mileage BMW. It had a transmission full of neutrals - finding a gear was the hard part. Didn't matter if you were shifting up or down.

[@dennisleslie8962]

The next step up for Honda was not the CB450. It was the 1969 CB350, which introduced the engineering and styling changes that sold over 300,000, more than any other Honda model except the Cub. I owned a 1969 K0 and it was simply superb. Wish I had it still.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Very cool 😎!

[@davidmcglumphy2240]

Um, Wikipedia says the 450 started in 1965 while the 350 started in 1968.

[@michaellawrence5492]

The gearing ratio spread was designed tall to make best use of the rpm's range up to 9000 rpm that their motors could easily do both being smaller and using a 180 degree crank in them while the larger British twins still using a 360 degree crank couldn't match the same theirs being around 5500 rpm to factory suggested red line.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

It definitely feels like you need to wind it out in each gear to avoid it bogging.

[@sll-tt6bj]

Would love to own one

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on! It was a real privilege to get to ride this one!

[@russjan2811]

Very cool video Jon and thanks for sharing. Great roads to ride there as well. I like how the motor was used as a stressed member of the frame in the superhawk design. Rev it up to 9K rpm and the motor still holds together after all these years. Happy New Year! Here's my CL77 which I ride and was my first bike kzbin.info/www/bejne/bmjPg6ueo86fZsU

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Thanks! I watched the video. You have a beautiful scrambler! I was hesitant to rev my friends bike to 9k rpm, but I'm sure it would have done just fine. Happy New Year!

[@ronaldbertin9455]

My neighbor had one . I got it running for him. , ran good afterwards . I rode it hard to clean the shit out of it. He just putted around. . I was 225 lbs he was about 155

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on Ronald! It's definitely good to open them up every so often to keep them running nice.

[@1990-t1j]

I don't think Hawk/Superhawk as a name was ever used in GB. This is a stunning example of what I consider as a classic bike. 3:08 That profile is perfection. Some dash on it! Goes well. My CD175 was a four-speed, as well.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Very cool. Do you know what they called this model in GB?

[@1990-t1j]

@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 I dont actually. I would think CD305. If we had it, that is. 1966 was before my time. I started riding in Decemebr 1971.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@@1990-t1j Right on!

[@neilurquhart8622]

I recall that it was called the Super Dream in the UK in the 60’s. I rode a standard Dream at that time at the same time as owning a Norton 650ss. When the Japanese bikes were initially on sale the biking media and the riders laughed at them…who wants electric starters? winking indicators? bright colours? ….etc. How wrong eh? Although initially Japanese bikes didn’t handle too well it didn’t take long to improve and unlike British bikes they were reliable and didn’t leak oil!! I’m 80 now and have a Honda VFR V-tech; fantastic all rounder, easy and comfortable to ride, reliable, no oil leaks, fast enough (for me anyway). In my view a beautiful looking bike too…..timeless🇬🇧

[@mrserious55]

I had a blue one.. beast lol

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Very cool! I haven't seen one in blue. Cheers!

[@DonFarmer-hq5sw]

That beautiful ride and the song 🎶 that bike was singing, was nearly ruined by some dude chatting like a monkey 🙊

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Monkey man here... It was a fun ride!

[@johnchild61]

I had one of here machines CB72 version I paid £249 with 3000 miles on the clock I covered another 28000 miles on it great bike all I have now is a. Original 10mm spanner and a plastic model , sadly!

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

So cool, John! I'm sure you made a lot of great memories over those miles. Cheers!

[@jameswulzen590]

could never been the original battery. It cost $695.00 in 62 when I bought mine, turned it into a road racer of the times, top speed 120mph. X the rrans and it made it close ratio. It would out run a Triumph 500 twin.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on! The widely-spaced 4-speed stock transmission was a surprise to me. I'm sure it was easier to keep in the powerband with a close-ratio unit. Cheers!

[@melodie-e9i]

If you have a well maintained CB77 that reliably starts on the starter you might consider never using the kick starter. The reason those covers are so expensive is because the kicker breaks them. The kicker for mine is in a box.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@@melodie-e9i Good idea!

[@garypatrick7817]

I had 2…..sweet bikes….

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Very cool!

[@alfred-vz8ti]

actually, the hawk first, 250 cc. same bike, little less juice. great bikes for the money.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on!

[@cycoklr]

I had a 1967 model with an upswept front lip on the seat. It was an import from Laos. Does anyone know why the difference with other models with the flat seat? Was it the region of origin or the model year? Just curious.

[@daveharms8819]

I rode one for years. Mine was red and had flat bars.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Nice, Dave! I'm sure it looked cool with the flat bars.

[@QuickShiftMoto1]

Laverda basically copied this engine design alltogether when they developed their 750 twin. The LAverda 750 engine even looks like the Super Hawk engine. My dads first big motorcycle after an NSU Max in the 50s was a 1973 Laverda 750 SF1 in red. He rode it for a couple of years and then got a BMW R90S in 1975.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

There's no denying the visual similarity between the engines. I would love to ride a Laverda at some point. They're beautiful bikes. Cheers!

[@hudsonhollow]

CB77, "E" is just signifying the engine number, not the bike model.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Thanks Mark!

[@billmago7991]

the 250cc cb72 came out before the 305cc cb77

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@@billmago7991 Correct.

[@peterfowler8044]

Single leading shoe rear brake (it only has a single actuation lever)

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@peterfowler8044 It has two activation levers. One in front of the axle and one just behind it. Both are activated by the single cable. You can see this clearly at 01:07 in the video. Cheers!

[@peterfowler8044]

@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 Sorry , I thought I heard you describe it as a double leading shoe in the video . Thanks for getting back :) .

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@@peterfowler8044 👍🏻

[@peterfowler8044]

@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 I finally saw the part of the video , as mentioned, and saw the other actuating arm . Once again , thanks for responding !

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@@peterfowler8044 You're welcome!

[@jameswulzen590]

the battery would never make it and condensers would also fail along with points, I was a Honda parts manager for over 10 years. start ing in 1962.

[@redtobertshateshandles]

They're consumables. 😂

[@caribman10]

Honda's first "sport bike" was the Benly, with due respect.

[@wesstubbs3472]

Fork brace

[@captlarry-3525]

Fairly ignorant commentary. These bikes kept up with the Triumph 650s. He is constantly short shifting which is ok, but the thing was meant to be revved at least to the torque peak. The S 90 would do 55 all day, and he finds it surprsing that the 305 with 4 or 5 times the Hp will? Like I said, Ignorant. Besides being unaware of the super hawks capabilities, he seems never to have heard of the 450 Twin ! Some "reviewers "would be well advised to show but not "tell".

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Admittedly, the Superhawk is outside of my wheelhouse and the oldest bike I have riddento date. The original owner was kind enough to let me ride it. So, I was on an unfamiliar vintage bike with tons of sentimental value to the owner. As such, I rode it conservatively and gave my riding impressions while doing so. Cheers!

[@bluhammer06]

Dude lighten up, it was a nice review.

[@allanhughes7859]

Had one but it was the C.B. 72 in Europe and it was a 250 One of the best bikes I have ever owned Sadly due to being young and short of money I sold it How I wish I had not !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on! At least you got to experience it back in the day.

[@yomommaahotoo264]

About 25 yrs ago I bought 2 junk bikes, one being a chopped 350 Honda, and a 305 (scrambler)? The 350 engine was seized, so I inserted the 305cc engine onto that unique Honda scrambler chopper and restored it into something I've never seen the likes of since. Another bike I foolishly sold for peanuts during the pre internet era.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Sounds interesting. These haven't really gone crazy with prices but they're still neat machines!

[@yomommaahotoo264]

@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 Out of all the bikes I've owned that 350 (305) chopped Honda Scrambler was the funnest and very reliable and cool sounding rides for having points and drum brakes. The 'chopped' rake looked factory to me...this in the day of 60's chopped Harleys. Keep your eye out for any other examples of chopped 60's Hondas.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@@yomommaahotoo264 Right on!

[@InterestingWorldLove]

maybe but I don't remember the term sport bike back in the day? We called them jap street bikes. I wanted a jap scrambler or enduro until I got one LOL

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

You're correct, the term "sport bike" didn't emerge until later. It is now used to describe the more performance oriented street machines. In this case the street version would be Honda's Dream 305 and the sport version was the 305 Superhawk. Maybe it's just the politically correct way of saying the same thing. Cheers!

[@anthonynicholich9654]

Japanese quality period. That's why when people talk to me about other brands I tell them to stfu l don't tolerate ignorance and arrogance anymore.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on! These helped give Honda the reputation for quality that they still enjoy today. Cheers!

[@peterquest6406]

Zen and the a......

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

...art of motorcycle maintenance.

[@markd7811]

👏👏👏

[@thomasm8699]

With a "red line" near 11,000 these motors were meant to scream. Great review.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Thanks Thomas!

[@markjohnson8260]

The one I had, showed 9000 redline on the tach.