Cafe Or Original? 1965 Honda CB77 Super Hawk
As if a Honda Hawk wouldn’t have been a good enough name, the good folks from big-H little-o-n-d-a named this series of 305-cc bikes the Super Hawk! This one has been modified as you can see and the seller has this 1965 Honda CB77, or Super Hawk, listed here on eBay in Jacksonville, North Carolina where the bids are at $2,650 but, of course, the reserve hasn’t been met yet. The original seat, handlebars, and exhaust come with the sale.
Fear not, you original-spec lovers (I am, too), the seller says that they have the original seat, handlebars, and exhaust pipes that go to the winning bidder, and having two completely different looks for the price of one is a win in my world. Hagerty is at $5,400 for a #3 good condition Super Hawk so this one is most likely at much less than half of where it should be. $8,900 is their #2 excellent condition value so there’s a lot left to go on this auction.
The CB77 Super Hawk was made beginning in 1961 up until 1968 and even though they were a smaller-cc bike than some British motorcycles of the period, they gave them a run for their money. The famous CB350 came after the CB77 Super Hawk and by then, the race was on with Honda, for the most part, being in the lead and they would stay in the lead with their CB-series of motorcycles.
The seller says that this Super Hawk was built in 1965 and sold in 1967 in Oakland, California. I’m not sure what that means, was it sitting on a showroom floor for two years? The headlight bucket and gas tank have original paint but the rest is new correct color paint and overall, this Honda looks great. It was luxurious in this era to have electric start, at least on a small-cc motorcycle such as this Super Hawk.
The engine is Honda’s 305-cc parallel-twin, which had 28 horsepower, and this one has 0.1-over pistons, according to the seller. There is also a new wiring harness, refurbished starter motor, camshaft bearings, halogen headlight, battery, and new tires. The seller doesn’t say how it runs or operates as far as shifting or any other features such as brakes or lights, but I have to believe that everything works as it should if not better given the appearance and work that has been done. Would you keep this one in trendy cafe-style mode or return it to its stock appearance?
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Comments
Back in ’67 this was my most desired bike. Well, leaving out a BSA Lightning or a Triumph Bonneville. The Hawk/Super Hawk really got the adrenalin going. I sure wouldn’t kick this one off my driveway.
I do have to question the year though. This looks like it has a twin-cam front brake; my information says 1967 only. But then, not everything I have is gospel. A nice bike. When guys were getting all bent out of shape over the newer 350 I still preferred this series. Well, I never remotely liked the Dream…
305 was a reving little motor. Didn’t ride one of these had a 66 cl77 the scrambler. Was geared lower but it also had twin carbs and it would rev. Had pretty decent low end power to but that was probably the scrambler bigger rear sprocket. Never had the electric start on it and would have been welcome. Always liked these and the 450 Black Bomber as well. Nice motorbike!
The Scrambler looked and sounded better with the high side pipes..but you could burn the sh&t out of your leg. I had a ’66 Scrambler too.
My 1966 305 Super Hawk had twin-leading shoe brakes front and back–excellent brakes!! It was fast–100 to 105mph. Bought it in Tacoma Washington used in January 1967. When Dad returned from Viet Nam, he had it shipped. to us when we returned to Heidelberg, Germany which was Hqs. USAREUR and 7th Army. During my senior year (graduating in June of ’68) and in two summers afterward I put on 12,000 miles–riding all over West Germany and Austria. Rode it to Berlin (110 miles inside east Germany–DDR) as well as into and all-around Hungary–Summers of ’69 & 70 respectively. Thanks to my Dad and that Honda I had some fantastic experiences . I wish I had it now.
Nice.
Big smile,,,see? It’s stuff like this that doesn’t keep me upset at BFs for long. It’s the writers that keep me from going off the deep end, Who cares? I’d like to think we’re mostly friends here, it seems it’s the “non-members” that upset me the most.
Sorry, this bike? Lose the cafe crap, all hunched over like a dog taking a crap, it’s very uncomfortable. Fact is, on my newer bicycle( after my last one broke in half, sending me to the ground, the worst 2 wheel mishap in almost 50 years of riding, including motorcycles) I changed the handlebars. Not sure about the story, I believe all Hondas were imported through California originally, and I read, they sold over 73,000 of these. At $665 new, everyone could afford one. Also, some 305s were actually badged as 300s, and the Scrambler tank badge says 300, regardless, it was this bike that put Honda on the map. It could dust most bikes costing much more, never needed repair, above all, didn’t leak oil. I think this was the 1st bike to go 100 mph out of the box. It literally changed the course of history,,,in motorcycles, anyway.
Now, having recently sold the squarebody for $300 ( cough), not really, but about what this bike is going for, and don’t give me this” you should have asked for more” baloney, I’m happy, my neighbor is happy, everybody happy, and I can sleep at night, not that I do, judging by the posting times, knowing I didn’t gouge anyone,, should I, or shouldn’t I?( buy another motorcycle) Can’t ask Scotty, he’s no help with his buying shenanigans,,this is a “SUPER” deal!
Well, my friend, I agree with you for the most part. They DID need repairs from time to time. A guy brought me one that sounded like broken glass when you hit the starter button. I dropped the engine out and pulled the head to find that a sleeve had cracked and caught the top ring. Had to replace the sleeves, one rod and both pistons (second piston replaced on general principles). The local Honda shop thought I was stupid trying to replace the sleeves or fix the crankshaft but I did, and everything ran the way a good 305 should…
The 50s Vincent Black Shadow was 120 mph out of the box. Rapide was 110.
Sorry, 1st Asian bike to go 100 , I think, plenty of bikes did 100, easy, if you had the grapes to do so, that is.
Had a red one like this year’s ago.Got it as a barn find for $ 50.00,no title.Tank was half full of liquid rust,tires rotten,chain and sprockets shot,mufflers rusted out.Tank cleaned up and sealed repaired what was bad and rode it a few years before trading it to a friend.He had it for about 10 years and I got to ride it one last time after his passing.Revs and Mph matched in top gear,95mph@9500 Seemed like a lot faster.Big gap between 2nd and 3rd gear also.Most of the fun was getting it running and seeing it go to some who enjoyed it:-)
21,000 miles and asking $2,600 so far. Nice bike. Hear I have a 2007 Shadow with 3,000 mile and nice shape for $3,500 and some THINKS its too much. I guess I,ll set it out in the field and watch it rust away
I have a CB77 called Super Hawk. The Super is because it’s the 305. The Hawk is the CB72 250 which is way more common in the UK. The Baby Hawk is the CB160. For some reason Honda decided to imbed the displacement in the model name but they didn’t do the same for the CB72 or the CB77. I’ve got several of CB160’s. . They’re all black for some reason.
You meet the nicest people on a Honda.
I worked for Honda as a field rep for 14 years. Honda had a difficult time selling the “big displacement” bikes like the 305 back in the day. What really put them on the map was the tag line you referenced Charlie! The year was 1965. At about the same time the “Hondells” came out with the song, “Little Honda.” Honda 50 and 90cc sales took off like a rocket. That was one of the most successful advertising campaigns in history and literally changed the motorcycle industry in America.
The speedo/tach is the coolest part
No mention of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? Am I so old that I am the only one who remembers the 66 Super Hawk in that tale?
If memory serves, I don’t think he ever identified the bike in the book. I found out in a book review (or interview) that it was the Hawk. I thought for sure he was riding something European. Anyway, it was a great read.
Love the cafe racer look and the option to return to the stock configuration!
Never a big fan of the bigger Honda’s back in the day….my 1966 Suzuki X6 would eat them for lunch and then come back for dessert. And my 1965 Yamaha YL-1 would trounce a Honda 160 to 50 mph. And my 1964 Yamaha YA-6 beat my friends Dream 150 every day. Still I give Honda cred for bringing America to accepting motorcycles with the nicest people ads.
Auction update: bidding ended at $3,650 and no sale.
That was my ride for about 4 – 5 years. Loved it.
Yep had one in 1977 put together out of junk a locked up motor ! Week worth of liquid wrench and kicking on it used some oil but ran really well probably had less $200 in it rode it everywhere for 2 years! Back when they were new I worked at a Yamaha Shop in East Ridge TN at 16 I bought a new 350 Yamaha it would Smoke the 305s! I still have trophies from the Drag Strip !!