Description
Click here for an CycleVIN Motorcycle History Report on this 1989 Honda Hawk. Additional photos are available here for your perusal.
Honda was ahead of its time when it debuted the Hawk GT, also known as the NT650. It was one of the world’s first modern naked bikes but it was a commercial failure. Over the years, many riders have realized what the Hawk offered, and it’s become a cult classic.
Honda advertised the Hawk as “a thoughtful blend of European styling, American V-Twin muscle, and a Honda trademark – technological sophistication.” That makes sense nowadays in a world full of SV650s and Ducati Monsters, but when this bike was released American riders wanted power and they wanted fairings – a 600 Hurricane had 30 more horsepower and all the plastic bodywork one could want for just $400 more than the Hawk’s $3,598 MSRP.
For more on the Hawk, check out this article on Canyon Chasers where they call it one of their favorite motorcycles of all time.
The seller of this example (VIN: JH2RC3103JM001207) acquired it in May 2019 from Independent Motorsports of Columbus, Ohio.
Since then he’s covered 2,250 miles – the odometer now shows 14,535 miles.
The seller changed the oil and filter each season and also replaced the fuel line between the pump and the petcock as well as the rubber fuel tank bushing as it had dry rotted.
The seller calls this Hawk “ the most reliable bike I’ve owned by a very wide margin. It’s also, in my opinion, pretty much the perfect beginner bike, but the people who own Hawks love them regardless of experience or age. They handle beautifully, were years ahead of their time in terms of styling, sound awesome with their 650cc V-twin, and are one of the cheapest ways to get a vintage Honda sportbike with RC30 DNA.”
The sale includes one key and a Pitbull rear wheel stand (the seller is covering shipping for the stand).
Modifications:
Two Brothers Racing equal length headers (ceramic coated by Jet-Hot).
Two Brothers Racing carbon fiber muffler. “I believe it’s been jetted to match the exhaust, but I can’t confirm that.”
Cosmetic Blemishes:
“The bike has been resprayed as Hawks never came in black.”
“There are some small scuffs and scratches in the paint. The largest issue is a small dent on the very front of the tank. The plastic rear fairing has a few paint chips underneath the seat.”
“The original center stand is missing, it was sold to me like that.”
“The midpipe wasn’t ceramic coated, so it visibly doesn’t look as nice as the headers.”
The seller states that it’s “in excellent shape mechanically” and he’s “selling it to free up some garage space and some money to buy a family friend’s RC51. As much as I love the Hawk, the character of the bike doesn’t suit the boring, straight roads here in Cleveland.” Currently located in Shaker Heights, Ohio, this Hawk is offered on a clean Ohio title.
Have any NT650 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the comments below!