Well,
to those that have heard my short story, the Katana was written
off, and I purchased a Honda Nighthawk 550 as the bike to get
back on the horse with. Heehee...very different bike from the
sporty Katana in looks but still a very sporty bike. Read on....
The
Honda Nighthawk 550 is a dream bike to start with in my opinion.
The bike is relatively light. I don't know the exact weight
but feels 100 lbs lighter than the Katana's 465lb.
This
bike is nimble. This bike rides like a dream and very much has
a sporty feel to it. The bike corners well, and accelerates
well. The bike has a lot of pep and really gives you a tug from
about 6,000 RPM +. The bike is awesome and I haven't needed
more power. Although, I do miss the power of the Katana, this
bike is so much easier to handle. A mistake on the throttle
doesn't mean the bike jumps on you.
This
bike has allowed me to hone my skills. The bike has a lot of
chrome and is a very good looking bike. I am really enjoying
the bike, and it compares well to my Acura, nimble, spirited
and peppy! The bike has a very comfortable upright riding position.
I
have a few cons about the bike. I feel that at 550, I have already
out grown the bike. After riding the Katana 750 for 2 months,
and this bike for about 3 months, I am ready for something bigger.
I find that the gas tank is pretty small and I only get about
180 km out of one tank. The bike is not made for long term commuting
and is not comfortable to ride on the highway. Also, I find
that as a taller person, ok not really that tall, 5'11'', the
bike does not seem large enough for me. I would recommend this
bike to smaller people rather than larger folks. Although, the
guy I bought it off of loved it. Perhaps it's my long legs.
They force my butt into the ridge of the passenger back seat
and I find it uncomfortable.
If
you are looking for a great starter bike to ride in the city
and live it up, this bike is for you. I consider the Nighthawk
a perfect starter bike, and I am more than pleased I made the
choice to go with it.
This
bike is more than enough bike for most people to handle for
their first couple of years. I guess I was spoiled with the
Katana, and that means that this bike is only a temp bike for
me. I'll be upgrading in the spring, and hopefully passing this
bike off to my girlfriend who is going to try getting her license
again.
Oh
yeah, one more thing, CHEAP INSURANCE. That rocks!
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Rider
Review: 1983 Honda CB550 Nighthawk