It’s easy to fall into the trap of underestimating a motorcycle just because you don’t like its style – just ask Bertie Simmonds.
![1984 Honda Nighthawk CB650 SC](https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/5243/208629/58a173b5365a9/1984-Honda-Nighthawk-CB650-SC.jpg)
I’m clearly not going to enjoy riding the Honda Nighthawk, right? It comes from an era that style couldn’t recall and is a class of bike that I don’t really care for.
Now, the 1980s saw some very fine motorcycles produced; we could rattle off the likes of the Suzuki GSX-R range, a stable full of Kawasaki GPzs (and GPXs), ZXRs, Yamaha RDs, FZs and a host of Hondas, but bikes of – well, bikes of this style just weren’t really my thing back in the day. It just seemed that they were neither fish nor fowl: I’m talking about motorcycles like Kawasaki’s Eliminator family, where fantastic engines would be saddled with a style and a chassis that just didn’t compute with me back then or now. In fact, take the ZL900 Eliminator: the motor was the sublime GPz900R’s but the styling… well, it just doesn’t work, does it? I’m not some race-replica above everything fan, as I love a good quirky cruiser – preferably one with a characterful motor, like a Yamaha VMAX, but the Eliminator? No thanks.
I can’t help but be reminded of the Kawasaki as I approach the Nighthawk. The first thing I’m noticing about the CB650SC is the natural patina it proudly displays. Nowt wrong with that: the patina includes some rust spots on the odd bolt and fastener, paint flaking off some of the engine finning and lacquer peeling off the forks. But let’s remember this is a 33-year-old motorcycle and other parts still look good: most noticeably the paint work, decals and exhausts. It’s a Honda, then.
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Honda VFR750R - RC30
If thereâs a more worshipped V4 out there, weâve yet to see it: welcome to our reboot of the awesome VFR750R RC30âŠ
![Mountain tension!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5243/725565/6128834cd2ab6/crp_Mountain-tension.jpg)
Mountain tension!
Award-winning motorcycle engineer!
![Fazer set to STUN!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5243/725565/61288945b8905/crp_Fazer-set-to-STUN.jpg)
Fazer set to STUN!
What do you get when you mix CRKâs lovely café racer kit to Yamahaâs budget middleweight and the recently-retired Martin Fox? Well, one helluva foxy Fazer!
![Project Suzuki 1984 RG250 part 4 BRUNO BARES ALL!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5243/725565/612877300a5e5/crp_Project-Suzuki-1984-RG250-part-4BRUNO-BARES-ALL.jpg)
Project Suzuki 1984 RG250 part 4 BRUNO BARES ALL!
This month, while we wait for backorder engine parts, we strip the chassis back to the bare frame, assess what is needed and plan the reassemblyâŠ
![Project Kawasaki Z900 Stocker part 2 Ralph has a blast!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5243/725565/61288005ee272/crp_Project-Kawasaki-Z900-Stocker-part-2-Ralph-has-a-blast.jpg)
Project Kawasaki Z900 Stocker part 2 Ralph has a blast!
For the best finish on his Z900âs motor Ralph wants the best, so he visits Stephen Smethurst Casting Renovation to find out how itâs done properly.
![Project Suzuki TS400 Part 8 Loom with a view!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5243/725565/61287a0244003/crp_Project-Suzuki-TS400-Part-8Loom-with-a-view.jpg)
Project Suzuki TS400 Part 8 Loom with a view!
Weâre getting down into the nitty-gritty this time with component testing and loom building. What could go wrong?
![Project Yamaha TX750 Part 12 A question of balanceâŠ](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5243/725565/612874d758e99/crp_Project-Yamaha-TX750-Part-12A-question-of-balance.jpg)
Project Yamaha TX750 Part 12 A question of balanceâŠ
Only The Beach Boys had good vibrations⊠so whatâs Mark been up to, to sort out the bad ones coming from his TX750?
![Splitting links](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5243/725565/612881a974776/crp_Splitting-links.jpg)
Splitting links
Ralph Ferrand works with tools all day long â he sells them too at bikerstoolbox.co.uk so he knows what works.
STAVROS: PRINCE OF PRANKSTERS!
Itâs probably fair to say that Stephen JamesParrishâs persona and overall levity throughout his life have muddied the waters as to just how good a bike racer he was back in the day.
![Metal magic!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5243/675190/60c86275889dd/crp_Metal-magic.jpg)
Metal magic!
Ralph Ferrand works with tools all day long â he sells them too at bikerstoolbox co uk so he knows what works.. .