1986 - 1990 Yamaha YX600S Radian

(Page 4 of 4)

July/August 2009
By Motorcycle Classics staff 
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Not yet — and maybe never — a classic, the ZL600 is an interesting reminder of mid-1980s style and performance.

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1986 Honda CB700SC Nighthawk
- 67hp @ 9,500rpm/125mph (est.)
- Air-cooled, 696cc DOHC 16-valve inline four
- 5-speed
- Twin-disc front, drum rear
- 516lb (wet)
- 40-45mpg

Just as Yamaha was bowing in with its “new” standard-style Radian, Honda was about to pull the plug on its own hot rod standard, the 696cc Nighthawk S.

Introduced in 1984, the 700 Nighthawk was an odd recipe of one part old-school to two parts new. While the Nighthawk’s twin-cam, 16-valve engine was all new, its air cooling was not, making the new Honda mill something of a throwback. Even so, it featured new-school amenities like hydraulic lifters (making valve adjustments a thing of the past), a no-maintenance driveshaft, electronic ignition, an automatic adjuster for the cam chain and a spin-on, automotive-style oil filter.

The Nighthawk’s inline four displaced 696cc to the Radian’s 598cc, and produced an honest, dyno-tested 67hp as opposed to the Radian’s “claimed” 66hp (Cycle’s dyno pegged the Radian at closer to 56hp). But the fact it was carrying an extra 80 pounds over the Radian erased any potential top end advantage. Like the Radian, many testers saw it as a new take on an old routine, the standard. An all around excellent motorcycle, it was also $1,500 pricier than the Radian, making it little surprise Honda didn’t extend its life cycle any farther once the Radian hit
the market.

 

 

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Comments

  • wil cisneros 6/24/2009 7:17:51 PM

    Back in 1991, I was ready to buy my first bike. A buddy of mine had a 1987 Radian, so of course the Radian was on my short lists of bikes I considered. I also thought about the Kawasaki EX500, but in the end, I got a good deal on a leftover '90 Radian. I still have the Radian, it's been in storage and/or the garage for ten years, until I find the time and money to bring it back to life. As a matter of fact, the Radian is the reason I subscribe to Motorcycle Classics, hoping to get all the pointers needed to revive my beloved Radian. Hey editors, how about a story about bringing a stored Radian back from ten years of storage. I've got the perfect bike that you can borrow.

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