Faults:

Fork seals leaking, but that is a maintenance item. The bike IS 35 years old!

Ignition switch. Had to take it out, disassemble and clean. Now it works fine.

General Comments:

I absolutely love this motorcycle. The seat height is almost 31 inches, so good for me at 6'3". Wet it is just over 400 pounds, and even with me at 240 pounds, the wind can blow me around a bit. My legs are just a bit cramped with the mid-controls, but nothing horrible.

The handlebars are situated just perfect. I sit upright and it is a very comfortable motorcycle to ride. It accelerates well for being just a 450 too! I have learned to run the RPMs higher before I shift (red-lines at over 9,000).

Aside from normal maintenance like adjusting valves, cam chain, replacing chain and sprockets, fork seals, and clutch cable (all relatively easy to do for a mechanically inclined person), the only real expense was the rebuild of the 2 carbs. But again after 35 years, I can't complain! This is an all around GREAT commuter bike that I would absolutely buy again, and if you can find one in decent condition - buy it!!!

Faults:

Air cleaner needed replacement.

Spark plugs needed replacement.

Blown fuse.

Dead battery.

Choke cable froze.

Throttle cables snapped.

Small split in seat seam that appears to be slowly growing.

General Comments:

Overall, I couldn't have found a better first bike. As others have noted, I'm now jonesing for something with a little more roar (in the 750-1000cc range), but this little bike is just so damn... Honda. It starts up, it runs, and it works. I'm 160 lbs, and an 800 mile trip (mostly at around 62mph) netted just over 50 MPG. Bump that average speed up to 70, however, and you're down to about 38 MPG.

I've heard the 450SC described as "The Commuter's Dream Bike," and I think that's not a bad title. This bike is not designed to be a long-distance tourer (though, as I said, it survived an 800 mile trip with no problems). It's not designed to win races or blow out windows (although it certainly has enough pep to keep up with traffic on the highway or in town). It's not going to get you much respect from the middle-age wannabe "Bikers" at the local Harley bar. It's just a reliable, economical machine that works.

Obviously, with a bike this old, things will wear out, and you need to be perhaps a little more vigilant than someone with a newer bike - but you're also not paying "new bike" insurance premiums.

Faults:

It was stored when I purchased it. I had the fork seals done and ultimately replaced the 24 year old original Dunlop tires. I had the carb cleaned and sinked and the brake fluid changed. Basically, a general check out and service. Everything works on the bike and nothing has broken. I rode it approx 5k miles last summer.

General Comments:

This is one sweet running bike. I have taken a few 3 hundred mile trips and the gas mileage was exceptional - in excess of 60 miles per gallon running about 55 mph for the tank without stopping - 6th gear overdrive - flat road.

The 450 has plenty of pep (I am 220 pounds) and cruising speeds of 65 mph in overdrive keep the tac under 50% of red line, so not a stress on the bike.

This season I plan to replace the chain, change the oil and enjoy another 5000 miles. I would recommend this old Honda. I get a lot of other bikers looking at this 25 year old Honda - it has a nice styling that keeps it contemporary.

Faults:

Clutch cable, throttle cables, intake manifold disintegrated, fork seals twice, ignition switch.

General Comments:

My 85 CB450SC Nighthawk is a great bike. At this point, I would like something with more balls (750 to 1100ccs), but it's been so economical, fun and easy to maintain, that I don't know if I can part with her.

Most all work I've done on the bike is regular maintenance items. Except for a discharged battery and a snapped throttle cable, the bike never stranded me.

I'd definitely buy another Nighthawk or other Honda product. Quality machines.