The Honda CB 650 SC Nighthawk motorcycle specifications include a 655 cc (39.97 cu in) engine, a 6-speed gearbox, and a listed weight of 197 kg (434.3 lb).
Key specifications
The 1983 model is treated as the standard specification. Only later model years with a different supplied value are shown below.
How the Honda CB 650 SC Nighthawk compares
This compares the motorcycle with all Honda models in this specifications database. The blue marker is this model and the grey line is the Honda database average.
About 16% higher than the Honda database average. Around the 66th percentile across Honda models.
Very close to the Honda database average. Around the 58th percentile across Honda models.
Very close to the Honda database average. Around the 44th percentile across Honda models.
Honda database percentile rankings
Percentiles show where this motorcycle sits across the Honda specifications database. They are descriptive database rankings, not performance ratings.
655 cc — larger displacement than about 66% of Honda models.
790 mm — taller than about 58% of Honda models.
12.9 L — larger than about 44% of Honda fuel tanks in this database.
Dimensions compared with Honda average
Each measurement is compared with the average value across Honda models where that dimension is available.
1,461
1,431
Close to average.
790
780
Close to average.
Mechanical overview
Additional useful specifications
| Front tire size | 100/90-19 |
|---|---|
| Rear tire size | 130/90-16 |
| Front tire width | 100 mm |
| Front tire aspect ratio | 90% |
| Front rim diameter | 19 in |
| Rear tire width | 130 mm |
| Rear tire aspect ratio | 90% |
| Rear rim diameter | 16 in |
| Estimated theoretical fuel range | 219 km |
| Bore/stroke ratio | 1.03:1 (Oversquare) |
Engine specifications
| Engine type | In-line four, four-stroke |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 655 cc (39.97 cu in) |
| Bore × stroke | 60.0 x 58 mm (2.4 x 2.3 inches) |
| Compression ratio | 9.5:1 |
| Valves per cylinder | 4 |
| Cooling system | Oil & air |
| Fuel system | Carburettor. Honda says 32mm; technically they are Keihin 29mm |
| Fuel control | Double Overhead Cams/Twin Cam (DOHC) |
| Ignition | Solid state |
| Starter | Electric |
| Lubrication | Wet sump |
Transmission and drivetrain
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
|---|---|
| Final drive | Shaft drive (cardan) (final drive) |
| Clutch | Wet, multi-plate clutch actuates hydraulically |
Chassis and suspension
| Front suspension | Air-adjustable, leading-axle forks with dual Syntallic bushings |
|---|---|
| Rear suspension | Two VHD shocks with four-way adjustable damping |
| Front wheel travel | 39 mm (1.5 inches) |
Brakes, wheels and tires
| Front brakes | Double disc. (2) 2- piston calipers, with TRAC system |
|---|---|
| Rear brakes | Expanding brake (drum brake). Single-leading-shoe rear brake |
| Front tire | 100/90-19 |
| Rear tire | 130/90-16 |
Dimensions and weight
| Dry weight | 197 kg (434.3 lb) |
|---|---|
| Seat height | 790 mm (31.1 inches) |
| Wheelbase | 1,461 mm (57.5 inches) |
Fuel and emissions
| Fuel capacity | 12.86 L (3.40 US gal) |
|---|---|
| Reserve fuel capacity | 1.89 L (0.50 US gal) |
| Fuel consumption | 5.88 L/100 km (17.0 km/l or 40.00 mpg) |
| Greenhouse gases | 136.4 CO 2 g/km. (CO2 – Carbon dioxide emission) |
Performance
| Power/weight ratio | 0.3198 hp/kg |
|---|
Other specifications
| Color options | Pearl Siren Blue and Candy Wineberry Red |
|---|---|
| Exhaust system | 4-2 double muffler |
| Comments | Without doubt the new CB650´s most impressive features are its valve-lash adjustment and its low-maintenance design. Honda engineers seemto have removed the last tedious, time-consuming ritual from motorcycling´s Saturday afternoon Here is a machine that fulfills the 650 promise: it feels small, smaller than a 750, yet runs with 750s without even breathing hard. Its smoothness and comfort invite long rides. The rear suspension´s springing and damping rates do need tuning to provide a more supple ride; and for sporting riders, Honda´s engineering department should attend to the drive line´s irksome lash and shaft reaction. Having a motorcycle that needs barely more maintenance than a safetypin is a bargain only if its owner genuinely enjoys the way the motorcycle works. Diehards may complain sourly about ´appliance-like´ character, but few riders will quarrel with the way this motorcycle functions. For about six or seven years, first one manufacturer and then another has proclaimed that its 650s perform like 750s; certainly there´s been much sound to this proclamation but little real 750 fury. Now the 650 Nighthawk delivers. Everyone who has ridden the 650 Nighthawk has come back impressed. This 650 is the new measuring standard of the 40-inch class. And the standard has just been raised. A lot. |
Disclaimer: Specifications may vary by market, trim, production date and optional equipment, and scraped or historical data can contain errors. Comparison and percentile values are calculated from Honda models in this specifications database. Always double-check important specifications against the motorcycle owner’s/service manual and official Honda information before relying on them. Visit the official Honda website.