I just rode my 1964 Super Hawk CB77 yesterday, It starts right up and puts a smile on my face every time!

My first bike was a 305 Superhawk. It would just hit 100 MPH. I rode with a guy who had a big Harley sportster. The Hawk kept up with it and was exponentially more reliable.

@stevefirth6472

Жыл бұрын

This was my first motorcycle also. Loved it!

@billchessell8213

Жыл бұрын

I rode with a guy who had a Bonneville. He left me in the dust.

@stevefirth6472

Жыл бұрын

A 650 will generally outrun a 305. My 3rd bike was a Triumph and it was stronger than my Super Hawk, but required a lot more maintenance.

@BuzzLOLOL

Жыл бұрын

@@stevefirth6472 - Only the dual carb. Bonneville 650 in especially good tune would keep up with a 305... single carb. 650's were asthmatic...

@doublel7337

Жыл бұрын

@@stevefirth6472 I agree, even the Honda 450 would seldom beat a Triumph or BSA 650 with the twin carbs.

In 1971 when I was 16-years-old, for some reason my Dad came home pulling a trailer with a 305 Superhawk and a 160 Baby Hawk; both from 1966. He bought them both from a friend who had bought them new. They were both red. My brother was 13, and he quickly began using the 160 as his personal transportation. It was perfect for him. I liked it too. The police, however, had an unreasonbly hostile response to my brother's early transportation independence. I have to say I loved these bikes. I was a little too heavy for the 160, but it was still an awesome little bike. The 305 was fantastic. As you pointed out, both bikes looked super good. The proportions were spot on. Loved the chrome tank sides. Dad sold the 305 in the late-80s. Don't remember why. I ended up owning the 160 and also had a Suzuki T500 Titan and a 68 Triumph Bonneville 650. Loved all these bikes. I sold them when I moved across country in the 90s, thinking I would buy a new bike there. I still remember those old Hondas though. I'm too old to ride now, but I still think about finding a nice 305 to put in our sun room just to look at. My wife is unreasonably hostile to this brilliant idea.

@cjdeas1528

Жыл бұрын

That IS a brilliant idea!

@kzoo4053

Жыл бұрын

Boy, you have my full sympathy. Now I think you must know why I never married. I have a beautiful motorcycle in the center of my living room. I own more than one old Super Hawks and if you can change your wife’s mind……

@chrisweeks6973

Жыл бұрын

Two things, Dwayne. Firstly, you're not too old to ride. You're ten years younger than myself and I'm still riding. Secondly, my ex-wife tried to stop me racing (cars - which I'd been doing for years before we met). I told her not to make me choose between racing and her, 'coz she'd lose. She did; we divorced. I'm now happily married to a much more understanding lady!

@omgdwayne1565

Жыл бұрын

@@chrisweeks6973 Well we age differently. Ha ha, I am definitely too old to ride. My brother still rides all the time however. Just kidding about the wife.

@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188

Жыл бұрын

Have you thought about another wife?

I owned two Superhawks, one in 1965 and another in 1968. Great bikes that bring back memories.

In 1961 my uncle landed the first Honda dealership in Kentucky (Louisville). He made a small fortune with the Japanese brand within 9 years. The Hawk and Superhawk 305's are definitely the bikes that put Honda on the map, and put the British companies on the road to failure. My uncle had no trouble selling the Superhawks, it was keeping them in stock that was the problem. He was the premier motorcycle racer of his region in the 50's. He ran BSA's back then, but he immediately saw how Honda had made advances light years ahead of the western motorcycle manufacturers. Thanks for the video bart, you are doing great man.

@aaron___6014

Жыл бұрын

The hawk? Is that the baby-hawk cb160

@montemasterson9588

Жыл бұрын

@@aaron___6014 The Hawk CB72 came out in 61 and was 250 cc. The CA77 Dream 305 also came out in 61 and was not as powerful as the Superhawk, but the Hawk had the sleeker design of the Superhawk, whereas the CA77 Dream was kind of dorky looking.

@BuzzLOLOL

Жыл бұрын

The 1960's Suzuki 250cc X6 Hustler also put the kabosh on 500 - 1200cc bikes of the day!

@dorseyjack3206

Жыл бұрын

I have 6 Hondas at the moment I also had every British big bile you can think of. sorry not a Vincent or a Brough. I would give them all away for one Rocket Gold star. My favourite was the BSA Shooting Star but that might be because it was my first big bike.

@dorseyjack3206

Жыл бұрын

@@aaron___6014 My friend had a Honda 161 he loved it.

In high-school, I owned the last year of the 305 Honda Scrambler.... it was a good machine. Wished I still had it.

This interesting story was very nicely told. I was an apprentice back in the early seventies working on bike development including the new Honda fours. The general quality of the aluminium castings and machining tolerances were a world above the British bikes of the day. Thank you for sharing🙏

I bought a crashed CB77 Superhawk around 1970, for $150. It came in several pieces. The front forks were wrecked and had to be replaced. I tore the whole bike down, except for the engine, and rebuilt it. This was my second Honda, the first being a 90cc, bought new. The Superhawk really was the perfect road bike.

Riding a CB-77 Superhawk across the country from Philadelphia to San Francisco in 1969 was an experience that gave me some profound character building along with the enjoyment of the dependability of the bike. The Hawk made it across with only one failure of the headlight switch needing replacement. Two years later I took another Superhawk across country and returned home without any mechanical issues. That model was something else in reliability and very solid engineering. It being so quiet gave me a lot of appreciation. Thanks for your video. The Superhawk was a machine that ushered in a new era to not having to fuss over one's motorcycle before taking off to ride.

Thank you for posting this video. Back in 1968 I bought a '65model CB77 in England, where they were marketed as the 305 SS; mine was identical to the Shropshire-registered blue one in the latter part of the video. Compared to British bikes of the period (and I'd ridden quite a few, including Triumph's 3TA, TR6 and 6T, BSA's B34, A7 etc), it was considerably more advanced. The electrics package (12-volt, starter, indicators) was far superior, handling was excellent and it would give most British 650 twins a big scare in terms of top speed. The quality of the engine castings was beyond reproach, it was oil-tight and the carbs stayed in balance. The only thing one had to do was to change the oil twice as frequently as the book said, as, due to the close engineering tolerances, dirty oil would cause piston-ring failure.

I rode a friend's Super Hawk a few times in the '70s and it was definitely a way cool bike. It loved being power shifted at redline up through the gears without backing out of the throttle. And it would do that all day long without missing a beat and of note without leaking oil all over the pavement like the Triumphs of the day.

There was a mix of attractions for the CB72/77s as sport bikes back in the day. One inspiring aspect was that these machines carried over the race-bred geometry and construction of the factory twins and fours that were so very impressive on the technical front. Along came the CB-93/96 whose frames were very close in fabrication to the factory twins of the early '60s that were hallmarks of engineering and performance to follow up the CB92s which amazed us as the earliest of mechanical marvels. As a Honda mechanic and dealer service manager, I had a CB77 and later on several CB160s which were so good one tended to take for granted just how good they were. Fond memories of the early Hondas.

@barryrudge1576

Жыл бұрын

The CB72/77's were the most attractive bikes to emerge from japan at the time. British manufacturers had nothing to compete with them. Electric start, indicators, fuel gauge, plastic lightweight mudguards, none of these features appeared on any British bike of the time

@BuzzLOLOL

Жыл бұрын

@@barryrudge1576 - British bikes looked fine... lean... classic... but only the top biggest dual carb.s models could do 'the ton'... 100 MPH...

The 305 engine was an excellent engine that was at its best on the CL77 305 Scrambler. Prior to the fours, the 305 scrambler (with the suppressor off) was arguably the best sounding motorcycle in the marketplace at that time. Winding out to redline, it was quite glorious.

I can still smell my first, and brand new bike. The 1968 CL175. I was so proud of it. Polished it every week, and cleaned it after every ride home from high school. Thanks Bart. Watch every vid.

@edhastie6074

Жыл бұрын

I had the CD version of the 175. All blue, no chrome except for the tank sides. Brand new. So proud of that bike

@kevatut23

Жыл бұрын

@@edhastie6074 I feel ya. 30 plus bikes later, none ever got the TLC of that CL175

I had a Superhawk while in high school. It was a great machine. Another feature is that the foot pegs were mounted in a way that would allow them to be mounted in a more rearward cafe racer type configuration. This pedal system was the reason that the CB77 required a forward rotating kick starter. I later swapped the CB for a CL77 Scrambler which was the cat's meow for any high school kid in my day. The two shared the same motor minus the electric starter on the CL77 and with a more conventional rear rotating kick starter since the Scrambler had more conventional foot peg location.

When the 305 came out we fell instantly in love with the style. That close finned engine was a thing of beauty and it had an electric leg. It was a no brainer. Goodbye Triumph Thunderbird.

I think this one one of your best vlogs. I was around all those motorcycles you were talking about and you could just tell Honda was going to dominate markets.

My first motorcycle was a 1964 Honda C72 which I bought in 1972. I didn’t have it for too long but it was my introduction to the 2 wheel world. I was 17 at the time.

At 17 years old my Honda 305 Superhawk amazed me with the double leading brakes, I loved racing it down windy mountain roads! With brakes the worked!

Great video,glad someone finally documented a little bit of the history of these bikes. Built my first Honda Scrambler at the ripe old age of 14. Later on dad handed down his Superhawk, still have both bikes even after all these years. Excellent bikes for sure, worked for the local Honda dealership when I was 17 and 18. Still building, restoring and machining parts for bikes although it’s switched directions to antique Harleys and Aermacchi’s. Again, great video footage and history. 👍

I had a black Superhawk. '66 model year. Just loved the thing.

Very nicely presented! My first bike was a '66 CB77, and it wasn't until years later that I found out it's exactly the same kind of bike as Bob Pirsig rode on the adventure with his son in "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance." That bike's on display at the Smithsonian!

@Bbbbad724

Жыл бұрын

By 70 the XS 1 Yamaha was the British killer of the decade!

I bought a new CB400 (Hawk) in 1978 for $1,300. That was quite a lot back then, especially for a college kid. Those were the days of 19% interest on vehicle loans so I paid it off in a little more than one year. It was a very nice bike that I ended up having to rely upon for transportation after my car died. Rain, snow or sun that thing served me quite well for a few years. It’s a shame Honda doesn’t make small displacement multi cylinder bikes anymore for the US market.

Brilliant detailed history - The first bike I ever rode on the road was a Super hawk with clip-ons, fairing and rearsets, I was 12 years old, and now on a 1800VTX - Yes HONDA make Fantastic Bikes!

1972, I bought a used Honda Hawk 125 from a shop in Nice, France. Drove the entire South of France, La Cote d'azur. It was a dream come true. Black, silver / chrome trim. Very Cool!

@pede8889

2 ай бұрын

This is too cool. You got the t shirt and are a total Boss

@StephiSensei26

Ай бұрын

@@pede8889 Big Smile back at you! Great memory!

My first twin cylinder road bike was a Honda CB 160. Bought it off a friend as a non runner and fitted a new crankshaft and away I went on my little Honda. Lovely little bike.

I tend to agree with you, the Hawk was called the black bomber in the UK and outperformed bigger capacity British bikes of the time like the 650 Bonneville and Royal Enfield Interceptor ,plus it was almost bullet proof reliability wise and didn't leak oil all over your garage. then when Suzuki released the T500 in 1968 it killed of Brit bikes as sports bikes.

@johnkestly4762

Жыл бұрын

I bought a new 1968 Suzuki 250cc X6 Hustler in April of 1968. My Honda friends struggled to keep up. I could beat Triumph 650 Bonnevilles to 60 mph, but then they went by me. My buddy bought a 450 cc Honda then, I rode on it and the vibration was so bad I couldn't ride for lone.

@chrislatchem1854

Жыл бұрын

@@johnkestly4762 Remember to Suzuki ad..."Just when you think you've seen it all...shift into sixth!"

@tedecker3792

Жыл бұрын

In the US the term Black Bomber was only for the first generation CB450. I was a mechanic at a Honda shop in the 60s and 70s.

@yonniboy1

Жыл бұрын

@@johnkestly4762 I loved the Hustler ,a friend had a blue one with red and white tank stripes, I had a Kawasaki S2 350 and there wasn't a brit bike that could keep up with it.

@yonniboy1

Жыл бұрын

@@tedecker3792 The Black Bomber name stuck with the 450s right through their import to the UK whether that was the proper name or not.

Takes me back to 1969. I owned several CL and CB-77's..One CB I set up as a Cafe racer. Fiberglass tank and seat. Clip on's.Engine mods included boring out the cylinder liners and installing 450 sleeves and pistons.Schaller cam,lightened rockers, ported and polished head, locked out advance timing,CR-77 gearbox. Fun bike! Very fast for the times.

@oceanhome2023

Жыл бұрын

I was waiting to find someone that loved and recognized the 305 Scrambler . I fell in love with it when I first saw it and it had that awesome sound as usualy the muffler was taken off and small washer type snuffers were put on each pipe . It had such a cool sound and it was so cool the way the pipes kicked up together in the back even the chrome heat guards looked so cool. The gas tank was so different, no chrome always silver with only the black Honda badge, but I remember some times the tank would be painted Candy Apple Red or custom metal flake , nothing looked cooler than the 305 Scrambler also remember that the frame came up on the back fender just behind the seat and made a good handle to put the bike up on its stand or a handle for a passenger . The front shocks were covered with the rubber flex covers and an honest Skid Plate added coolness it only had a kick starter which added to it’s sound . I wish I still had mine ! I also wished that they had made a 605 or 805 Scrambler if you catch my drift ! These were much more popular than the SuperHawk and it deserves it’s OWN mention as such ! A lot of people loved these bikes and most of us never drove it off road it was both art and culture . I miss it ! Thanks for your comments !

@oceanhome2023

Жыл бұрын

T

@jaycunningham2723

Жыл бұрын

@@oceanhome2023 Ron, I also had a 305 Scrambler. With it, it had headwork, an x'ed gearbox, cam and locked-out advance. The frame was raked another couple of inches and I installed a Super hawk 18-inch rear wheel instead of the 19-inch Scrambler. It was painted by Dave Allee of Bill Krause Honda fame. multi blue with cobwebs in the side panel area. Nice bike. Wheelstand second gear pretty easy.

New Zealand. Purchased a brand-new 305 superhawk sports Red in colour, started my love life with Honda and moved on to CB 750s from 69 onwards, still riding Hondas to this very day, mostly sports bikes.

It's great that a younger guy is into all this history of bikes. I could see myself commenting all day long on your videos. A bit of context, my old man was big in to bikes, he used to race when he was young and had raced at the IOM. I was his 3rd kid, so by the time I was born he only raced at our local circuit which was Aintree. Anyway by the time he retired he had a couple of early 60's small capacity Ducati's, a 1949 Moto Guzzi Arianne, a 250 4 Benneli, an MZ 250 ISDT, and an early 60's 125 twin Honda Benly, which he had 2 of. He got the Honda's from his mate who owned him money, and like a lot of his bikes arrived at our house in pieces. The Hondas were really nice bikes, with electric start, big massive brakes, just really good looking bikes, apart from the shitty pressed steel forks, and maybe the frame was pressed steel, I can't remember now TBH. He dies last year at 90, after battling with alzheimer's for 10 years, during which all his bikes were sold.

@stuarthart3370

8 ай бұрын

It's lovely that he loved bikes.

My first street bike was a 64 CB-77 305 Super hawk. Started my 57 year motorcycle journey

Great memories. I was a part of that early 60's Honda generation. First I had a Super 90, then a CB-160, and finally a CL-450. Friends had the Triumph 500 (I was jealous), Honda 150 Dream; and a Norton 750. One friend had the Suzuki 250 X-6. He only rode that thing one way; wide open throttle...I always admired the Super hawk, would have loved to have owned one.

@eddie75935

Жыл бұрын

exactly how i feel. i had a 150 dream and i loved it. it just cranked and went every time. not too fast but surely fast enough for a 15 year old kid..........great memories...

@John-ls2gp

10 ай бұрын

SL 90 motosport, SL 175 my 1st 2. Then the DT 250 & 360 Enduros. I considered my Pappys 1970 CL 350 as the perfect motorcycle, along with the Yamaha 360 .

I loved that Super Hawk when I was a kid in the sixties.

Thanks for fleshing out the often overlooked importance of the 1960's for Honda's meteoric rise to dominance in the 1970's. I had no idea that the Super Hawks were so capable, as I was born in 1962.

@billmago7991

Жыл бұрын

Meteors don't rise, they fall😛

@5tr41ghtGuy

Жыл бұрын

@@billmago7991 I misused the phrase, which commonly refers to a rapid rise to prominence, followed by a precipitous fall. Instead I should have said something like "rapid ascent".

I owned a CL-350 in 1970 when I was in college. I traveled all over the East Coast with it, and it never let me down, even once. I look back on it fondly, and I wish I had never sold it. Now, I have a VTR-250 which I plan to keep till the day I die. Why this bike was never sold in the US, I will never know, but it is as next to perfect as it gets.

I've owned & ridden Brit bikes & Hondas (and others) from way back then to today - Got to say this is as well balanced and as informative as you could pretty much squeeze into 20 and a bit minutes. Nice one Bart - Keep 'em coming

In 1968 I borrowed a Super Hawk 305 and being 14, bending low over the tank, I achieved 98 indicated mph and experienced a speed wobble which scares me to this day!!

I bought a 1964 Honda Superhawk in 1969. It didn't run. $225. What stands out is exactly what you have identified here. It might have cost me $50 to get it running and it never cost me anything, at all, after that. i lost a race with a Triumph Tiger on I287, before I287 even opened, but he was alone (I had a passenger) and he barely walked away from me. Well, I did lose. That bike was SO reliable, did not leak oil, and, well, wow. I've owned many since then, but I regret selling that bike.

They need to make these bikes again. They look amazing.

I still have fond memories of my 305 super hawk, bought it while I was in the army at ft Benning, bought it from a guy that was shipping out overseas, got my orders 7 months later, packed my duffle bag n found some bungee cords at a auto parts store n prepped it n myself for the ride home to see family before I shipped out, from ga to n.j. where my mom n brother lived, gassed up at the post station n made it to n.c. on that tank, fueled up n got a motel room for that night, took off again that late a.m. n got to Delaware the next night, had to stop once for fuel, n took off till I got to Delaware, hit rain, got a motel room n waited till the rain ended, left early a.m., made it home by the next nite by 10p.m. n got in the garage just in time to beat a rain storm, that bike was the best an only ride I did that far as I hadn't gone more than 50 miles previously, total reliability n performance, taught my brother how to ride it n maintain it while I was overseas, had to buy a bigger bike when I got back, as he wanted to keep it, had too much fun on it n loved it like I did.

In 1966 Hondas, Suzuki 90cc were popular at the school, The Yamaha 250-305cc 2 strokes were the acceleration king.

I had a 305 Super Hawk back in the mid 60s. My buddy had a Triumph Bonneville 650. The Triumph was much faster than the Honda, which is only logical since it had over twice the displacement and almost twice the power. If you read contemporary magazine road tests the Honda turned the 1/4 mile in the low 17 second range. Cycle World put a 350cc kit and a roller cam in one and got mid 16s. A Triumph Bonneville at the time could get into the 13 second range on a good day. People who say Honda 305s were as fast as a 650 Triumph are looking back through rose colored glasses. But I could keep my friend on his Bonneville in sight on any ride, and when we stopped at an intersection my Honda wasn't smoking and idling rough and dribbling oil out the breather hose. And I spent a lot less time working on my Honda. Wish I had it today, whereas I rarely miss my later 72 Bonneville. BTW, the CL Scrambler was not a Super Hawk with high pipes, although it did use the same engine. It had a completely different frame and almost everything else was different too.

@bartmotorcycle

Жыл бұрын

Thanks that's really helpful and informative.

@BuzzLOLOL

Жыл бұрын

The 650 needed twin carb.s and hot cam to keep up with a 305... a single carb. model couldn't...

@barryervin8536

Жыл бұрын

@@BuzzLOLOL Keep up with? Keep dreaming. The Honda 305 was fast for a 300cc bike. It was not as fast as a 650cc Triumph. Dig up some contemporary Cycle or Cycle World instrumented road tests and compare the figures. I was there, I had a 65 305 Super Hawk, my friends had Triumphs and BSAs and I rode them all and they were significantly faster. Why would a 300 with 27 hp be faster than a 650 with 47 hp (and only about 40 lb heavier)?

@BuzzLOLOL

Жыл бұрын

@@barryervin8536 - I'm 74, I was there also... the Brit bikes were over rated in HP and the stock mufflers really choked off the engines... the carb.s were a nightmare...

@barryervin8536

Жыл бұрын

@@BuzzLOLOL Everything was over-rated for HP back then. The Japanese were just as bad as everybody else in that respect. There were no "truth in advertising" laws, manufacturers could just pull numbers out of the air, and did. It's interesting that the first Super Hawk ads claimed 110mph top speed (an utterly ridiculous claim for a 300cc bike with about 27 hp, even with a 95 lb Japanese rider aboard) and later ads said 102 and then it went down to 98 I believe? Mine would barely reach 95 on the speedo, and I'm sure the speedo read way high like all bikes did back then, and some still do. But 90 mph was very fast for a 27 hp bike. And, no, the Suzuki X6 Hustler didn't really do 100 mph, although the speedo may have indicated that. I did a little online searching and the BEST recorded 1/4 mile dragstrip time I found for a stock Super Hawk was 16.8 sec. with Cycle World's resident drag strip ace riding it. Every other test I've seen was in the 17s. That's at least 2 sec. slower than any Triumph 650 time I've ever seen, even a single carb version. Brit 650s got hot cams and twin carbs in an effort to pass the Harley 883 Sportsters, they didn't need them to keep up with Honda 305s. In the late 70s my buddy was stunned when my Yamaha XS650 left his "Giant Killer" RD350 2-stroker in the dust. Bottom line, unless it's backed up by calibrated measurements, much of what people choose to believe is just mythology and exaggeration and inflated advertising claims.

1964 I was working as a joiner for a small firm of shop fitters that was a family run business. Their son also worked with the firm as an apprentice joiner and at 17 yrs of age his father bought him a brand new Honda CB72 250cc motorcycle, I thought it was one of the most beautiful 250cc machines I had ever seen. At the time my commuter bike was a little 98cc James Comet. Today these machines are very much treasured and command quite high prices.

I was in the Marines in ‘71 at Iwakuni when the 750 Honda came out. One day we were swimming in a river and we could hear this F1 sounding engine coming up the valley. I had never heard a four cylinder bike before. My big bike had been a Norton Atlas on Guam. We moved around to points where we could see the road and this thing rolls around a corner above us on the road. The rider was a guy who looked to be about 5’6”, mostly red Hawaiian shirt, no helmet, wrap around sun glasses and sandals. He was ripping down this valley leaning the bike way over and the engine was singing. Killer.

I have a Honda CB77 road racer full tilt in my bedroom , it had a top speed of 125 MPH with a little engine and chassis mods running in the 350 class and the engine was 305 cc's. mine is .020 over bore30mm Amal carbs , high lift cam light and polished rocker arms, heavy valve springs, racing clutch and springs, close ratio trans. Could run in the 500cc class and do good. The 350 class in the AFM was ruled by the Honda CB77. I'm 84 years old and was a Honda parts manager and General Manager during the 60's and early 70's.

My dad had a 66 Cb77, I was able to ride it from time to time, very reliable and with electric starter, it didnt have turn signals, but we wired those in by hand. It had massive front and rear brakes all with leading shoes, operated by thick cables with grease fitting(rear cable)

In the late 60's I was 15 1/2 when I bought my first bike. It was a near new but used CL160 Honda. I'm in my 60's now and I have bought, built, traded and restored everything from Honda's,Triumph, BSA, Norton, Kawasaki, Suzuki, now Harley's. Funny thing, you never forget that first feeling of freedom like I did when I was 15 1/2 on that Honda CL 160. Now when I fire up my Harley and roll down my long driveway I still feel like I'm looking through the eyes of that 15 1/2 year old kid....Keep the shinny side up friends.

I loved the Superhawk when I was a kid in the 60s. I had a picture of it on the wall when I wasn't even a teenager

In high school, graduated in 1966, I always wanted a motorcycle but my parents said no. My girlfriend’s brother had bikes and he let me ride them. First a Honda 65cc then a Honda Super 90, a beautiful bike. After a while with those I rode his Super Hawk. Oh my God, I felt like I had a jet fighter under me! When I moved to California in 1969 I bought my own used CB -450. Within a year I was working for the Honda dealer and was there when the CB-750 came to America. We even converted a few for the police department to use. Still ride at 73. 😊

My first bike was a 1961 CB77 $250.00 in 1963, right after I got out of the USN. I added clip ons, rear sets, one of the factory seats and a faring. Thought I was a racer.

I’m turning 74 and looking back at my life. In 1963, as I recall, I bought a CB 90. I beat the heck out of that bike for a few years until I leaned it against a friends curb on trash day. They hauled it off! In the early 1970s, during the gas shortages, a friend and I went to Pasadena and bought CB350Fs. I took much better care of that Honda, being a young adult. I paid $1,000 for it and sold it back to the same dealer with a weeping cylinder gasket for $900. I’ve also owned a 500 Ascot and a Sportster, as well. I did sell the Ascot for what I paid for about 18 months later in order to not show the CC balance when buying a new home. The reason, though for enjoying your video the most was my best friend owning a 305 SuperHawk. What a great bike that was. It was black and unmodified. I miss him and his terrific bike most of all. Thank you for this trip down memory lane!

Even today, this style of Honda is still evocative. Wouldn't mind any of them today....

The Honda Dream 305 was the first motorcycle of many I owned during the 1960's and the ONLY one that didn't leak oil. It was the first bike I ever owned where I could spend more time riding it rather than fixing it. Sold me for life on Honda. I currently own a Honda Gold Wing 2003 and it is a totally reliable and beautiful machine even 20 years later. Honda rocks !!!!!

Thanks for including a clip of my CB77. Yes, I still have her!

I'm a real old guy. For $30 in 1978 I bought a 1965 CB150 Honda twin that had 725 original miles, and the original whitewall tires (dry-rotted) --- the engine was seized up. I removed the heads and cylinders to find the rings rusted to the sleeves. New rings gaskets, tires and presto!... it ran again. I used it for college commuting every day (40-mile round trip), graduated after putting a few thousand on the odometer, then sold it to the next door neighbor for a couple hundred. On level highway with no wind, the thing would do 53 mph. Downhill with a tailwind would push 60. Neighbor still has it, although it hasn't been started in many years. :)

I remember seeing this Honda model for the first time and how awed I was at the finish and craft.

I was a british is best teenager in the late 1960s and my first motorcycle was a BSA C15. It needed a full rebuild so i bought a Yamaha YL1 a 100cc two stroke twin. It was like riding a super-light screaming pogo stick. British brake linings, tyres and rear units transformed it and I really sniffed when the BSA was ready and I had to sell it. Early 70s and history repeated itself and, when my BSA Thunderbolt needed a bottom end rebuild( bad maintenence by a previous owner), I bought a Honda CB77, 305 at the right price. The Honda did almost everything the T-bolt did at half the engine size. It was a corker as was the CB350 I later acquired as a runabout. Still I love my T-bolt. With a Keihin carburettor instead of the manky Anal and electronic ignition, coupled with routine maintenance I enjoy performing and a super stainless micro mesh oil filter it is as reliable as a Honda. Miss the button start though.

My first bike was a 1967 black Superhawk. Bought it from a man in Akron for 200 bucks when it was the summer before my senior year in high school, 1972. I rode the piss out of this bike while singing Elton John's Rocket Man in my head. LOL Brings back great memories here. Thanks so much. I loved this bike.

I owned a black 305 Super Hawk. I think it was a 1967. I put a set of Wiesco 11.5 to 1 pistons in it, and jetted the carbs correctly and it would do an honest 100 MPH. Also very important for best performance was the valve adjustment. I had a set of Honda upswept pipes from a 305 Scrambler on it until my Wife got tired of burning her leg on them! I flogged the hell out of it for 30K. miles. A bulletproof design. My next bike was a 1972 Suzuki 750. Water cooled 2 stroke. Also a very fine bike. Many bikes later, my Wife and I have been riding GL1800 G/Wings for the last 17 years. We have been riding together 51 years. Thanks Honda! HAPPY TRAILS!

Thank you very much for the history and bringing back many fond memories! Honda and Pirsig changed my life for the better. My first motorcycle was a Honda CL175 that I bought from my neighbor in 1973 for $100. I rode it all over the Central Texas Hill Country backroads and even ventured to San Antonio and Houston. It was bulletproof and more fun per dollar than anything I've ever owned. Many motorcycles later, I ended up with a new BMW R100/7 due to it's good road and some off road characteristics for mountain trails. I'm an engineer and still have total faith in Honda engineering after many of their cars. After all, "you meet the nicest people on a Honda" 🙂

My first experience with Honda was the late 60s CB450. It was introduced in 1965. Bart seems to have overlooked this legendary model. Still my fav, followed by the CB350Four

@davidreed6264

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The 500 four was great

Hey! I was born and raised in a motorcycle shop in Hawaii ,primarily japanese bikes , the biggest shop in our state from the 70's . I'm sure I knew or met the dude on that superhawk and absolutely sure my Dad knew him . As a lifelong motorcycle mechanic I can say for certain that Honda is the shit! In fact one of our benly's ended up being restored and was being displayed at the gugenheim . Keep up the good work !

I had a few CB72/77 bikes. The CB72 sold well in the UK due to the 250cc learner law. They were so well engineered, the only weak area was the gearbox, they only had 4 speeds, unless you were lucky to find a 5 speed cluster from the CR race kit.

I bought a CA-77 (Dream) in 1972. It was my second Honda. I put 14,000 miles on my Sport 50 before I sold it. I trailered that Dream from PA to CA in 1974. It was my only means of transportation for a year. I had a CB450 and a CB750 after that. After 30 years on Harleys, I'm looking for another Honda, probably a 450 or 750 as my last bike. I'm 73 and can't live without one. In 1965 I was in Tokyo for 3 weeks and my father took me the Honda factory to buy some parts. I nearly wet my pants seeing motorcycles hanging from the ceiling because they were producing them so quickly.

Honda may not have continued with design but the Laverda SF750 shares the same DNA

The scrambler at -8:00 brings back so many memories of my rowdy youth!

That high pipe 305 with smaller tank was owned by a kid in my highschool in the sixties. It was the ultimate bike, soooo cool, everyone was jealous. Take out the baffels and it had a loud and unique sound. I still remember the longing I felt to this day. I was in love with anything Honda. However, my dad was a union man and and forbade me to buy a Honda. 😟 I ended up buying a two cycle Harley that looked a bit like a sportster, to it's credit, but had that awful two cycle rin tin tin tin to it when you let off of the gas. Generator didn't work, chrome was replaced with paint, a Honda 65cc could out run me. I tried to be cool despite all the disadvantages but only rode it the summer and sold it to buy a 10 yr old 57 Chevy on it's 3rd round of Bondo. Cars didn't last long in Michigan in those days. Appreciate the trip down memory lane. You only hit briefly on the sportier 305 and I can't remember it's name but it was king for a spell where I came from.

I had one in the late 60’s. Fun and reliable transportation.

Well done!! A very telling statement you made towards the end of the vdeo 'It provides all of the horsepower you will ever need for the streets'..totally agree in this day of overpowered overweight electronically festooned 2 wheeled Miatas. I currently ride a BMW G310GS everywhere year round. In 1972 I had a CB 350 which could easily walk away from Triumphs, BSA's, Nortons and Sportsters at any stop light races. Simply because those bikes seemed to be always sputtering or out of tune. In 1972 Honda sold more versions of the 350 (CL CB SL) than Kawasaki, Yamaha and Suzuki had in combined sales. All thanks to the CB 77.

@darrellcook8253

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In '76 I bought a slightly used SS 350. Had something like 25 miles on the odometer and was in showroom condition. I stupidly traded it for a CB 350 and a almost new trail 90. Rode both without a helmet all over Santa Rosa California during the summer. I drove the 90 in inclement weather.

Bart for president, as usual, bravo!!!

My very first bike was a '67 model. I was a few weeks away from turning 16 when an uncle came back from Laos with a black Superhawk 305. That was 1969 and it was the first time I saw anything like it. He wanted to sell it and came to ask my dad but dad didn't know how to ride, so... now I regret not taking good care of it the time I had it.

Matt’s dad here. Returning to riding with a 855i Triumph. Back in my youth I rode a very built 600 cc Norton Dominator. Very much a sleeper. A riding brother popped up with a SuperHawk. Very nice concept Looked and ran more like the big boy bikes. But check out its cousin The Honda Dream. Nothing else like it before then. I think the Japanese thought they were making the SuperHawk for rockers and the Dream for mods. But like the Mick, I’m neither. I’m a rod and a mocker. Lol. Ride it like you stole it.

Hi, I'm 20 and I'm currently restoring one. I'm absolutely in love with it

Great video, thank you so much

Mark my word - by this time next year (2023) you will have 100K subiscribers. Good luck and I wish you all the best.

My first "big" bike was the 160. What a great bike that was. Rode it every day, rode it to school, rode it to friends house, sometimes I just rode it to ride. That wonderful exhaust note, that smooth ride. Wind in my hair, careless 14 year old. My next bike was the CL350 which I enjoyed riding the dirt trails of Arkansas. Next was the Suzuki GT550 3 cylinder 2 stroke. What a blast that was. Finally in 1979 I bought a brand new Suzuki GS1000 for $2400. I'll never forget that 160 and all those great rides on the country back roads of northern Arkansas. Old story. I lived in Arkansas when I had the 160. It started to have problems with one carb flooding. Seems the float wasn't floating any more. Later I went to Victorville, California to visit my uncle, he took me to the Honda place and they had the float and bowl gasket in stock!

I started on a 305 Superhawk at age 21. Since then I had a CB350, a i981 Goldwing, and a 1997 Harley Dyna glide. The Hondas were the best! I am 71 and drive an F150!

@tomtom7299

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Had a 305 super hawk while stationed at Ft. Huachuca Arizona in 1967-68.Took lots of trips to Mexico thru the mountains and canyons.Now I'm 77 and drive a Mustang..

I wanted one in 1964 and I still want one.

My third motorcycle was a Super Hawk, first reliable bike. Could actually go somewhere and expect to get back home. Loved it. Just needed a five speed.

Aaaaaaaaah! The one I always wanted, the 305 Superhawk! I owned 1972's CB750, CB350, CL100 and a CL350, but never a Superhawk. Beautiful looking design, with so much character! Thnx for the upload.

In ‘77 in purchased my Dad’s CB350 and just Loved it!! Great Bike!

I had one, it was the best bike I ever owned. I now ride a big cruiser, but this was my favorite. I got my license in 62, so I've been out her for a while.

My dad was working at a Honda dealership in 1961. He often told the story of the Honda sales rep showing up at the dealership with the first superhawk they'd ever seen in the back of his Honda company pickup. The rep told my dad to take it out on the highway and try to make the speedo / tach needles meet at the top of the gauge at 120 mph and 12,000 rpm. Dad said that it almost did it, well over 100 mph indicated. The dealership was soon selling superhawks and other models as fast as they could get them. Dad was working nights putting them together. He said that he'd never ridden another one that was as fast as the first one that showed up with the rep. Probably a modified, supertuned ringer.

The first Honda l had was the 125cc CB92 followed by the C72 and then the 250 version the CB72 twin really great bikes in their day.

My first 'real' bike was a Super Hawk back in 1967. Great bike. Did many miles on it. Hard for parts though down here in New Zealand. Upgraded in 1969 to my first new bike, the Honda 350, which was actually 325. Another great bike. And exceeding the redline was never an issue for either of these bikes. A great introduction to bikes. Loved both of them.

Fantastic memories.. my dad bought a used super hawk 305 in the late 1960s.. he could not get out of the driveway without me on the back! .. in early '70s he bought a Suzuki 500 Twin 2 stroke... I turned 18 in 1977 and purchased a brand new 1978 Honda hawk 400.. the bike had a large bore Short stroke engine.. with a high red line.. it really loves to be revved! The engine wasn't unusual as was multiport with 2 intakes & 1 exhaust port per cylinder... The bike was fast and it also handled really well around corners I could lean it way over without anything scraping... The engine was actually part of the frame! And it had the new comstar wheels that look like mag wheels but flex like spokes..

The Old Hondas have all the soul of Old British bikes ;the heritage has a long run now. I love Brit bikes, and the Italian ones as well. Saying the lack the soul is a holdover emotion from non Japanese bike riders of the past. That being said, I wan't my next bike to be a Triumph Scrambler 1200 because it has the aforementioned soul of the old bikes of the 60s. No heart beats with more soul than the early 70s Kawasaki Z-1 or their Triples. I love all of it from the era of the 60s and 70s. Somehow, some way PLEASE let Norton have another successful come back too.

A cb 175 from the seventies sounds insane without any baffles in the exhaust - like an Indy 500 car coming down the street.

I love your video essays! I hope you continue through the small displacement Hondas up to the 90s 250s, and further. The CBR250RR is famous for its high rpm engine but you should check out its luggage touring hook placements. Hooks on the passenger foot pegs, near the numberplate, and just behind the rider. The bike is a small cc super sport touring bike.

I had a 305 Superhawk. I got it up to 92 MPH. Later, I upgraded to a CB750 4 cylinder. I had quite a few Hondas. Nice bikes.

Bought my low mileage Honda 250 Superhawk when I got out of the ARMY in 1973. Loved the bike, rode it everywhere in N. Cal.. ..I recall the inconvenience of my leg repeatedly breaking the key off in the ignition. Upgraded to a Honda 750F in 1981 and began road racing in the AFM.. for five years.

I had a new super hawk in 1968. The starter seldom was able to start the bike. I finally got in the habit just using the kick start. On the road one day it made a terrible whirring noise. The Honda dealer told me a cylinder sleeve had gotten loose and was going up and down with the piston. I did not know enough to question that. It got fixed under warranty but it showed a fragility.

My 1974 CB750 Was An Awesome Bike And will Never Forget it!!! She Never Let Me Down!!!! I Miss Her!

The Hawk 305 was wonderful

In 1968 I bought a 1964 model CL-72 "250 Scrambler", the older cousin to the more popular and more numerous B/CL-77s with their 305cc engines. I seem to recall that the CL-72 had 72 mm pistons (or maybe it was stroke) while the 305s were 77 mm. The fastest way to tell stock 250 and 305 bikes from a distance was from the right side, the final drive sprocket was smaller on the 250 (thus giving me a top end advantage over my 305cc friends when racing a long downhill), and from the left side, the upper pipe on the CL-77 (305cc) Scrambler was welded to the muffler and the lower pipe would slip out of a red rubber gasket, whereas the CL-72s (250) had both upper and lower pipes gasketed making the muffler easily slip-off removable. (I had "Snuf-or-Nots" installed in my pipes to quiet them down ... when I felt like it.) I also upgraded my tank emblems by buying 305 badges from the dealer and put my original badges marked "250" in a drawer; forty years later I learned my 250 badges were worth way more to collectors than the 305 badges so apparently I wasn't the only guy trying to pose as riding a more expensive bike. It was a great bike.

Always wanted a 125CC twin never owned one. I am restoring my 1967 305 Super Hawk now, love that blue frame and seat. Still have the original tank badges on it which are priceless!

The C77 was a slug, but the CB77 (Super Hawk) & the CL77 (Scrambler) were big fun

@davidnelson6893

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Yes you got that right they haul ass

Honda's from the 60-70s are still reliable enough to ride as daily transport even now, a testament to Honda's build quality...

I was 14 in 1966 when my best friend bought a 90cc c200 red honda. the next summer I had a silver and red 1965 CL77. oh the memories.

My first Honda was a ‘68 350 scrambler. And it was very fast! I could out run Sportsters, Triumphs etc through the quarter. It never let me down and I’ve always rode Hondas. I have two V4s now. I’m 74 and still riding Hondas . Thanks Honda for all the smiles. I always wanted A BSA lightning until I saw the CB750K. I bought one of them and never looked back. I loved my Goldwing as well.