The phrase “historical past would not repeat itself, however it usually rhymes,” whereas an statement extra correct than not, apparently wasn’t mentioned by Mark Twain in spite of everything (this, in response to an in-depth examination by Quote Investigator). Nonetheless, it is exhausting not to consider these days, particularly whereas watching Seth and BJ at Brick Home Builds convey a candy little Honda Nighthawk 700 S again to life.
In case you’ve been studying RideApart for a minute, chances are you’ll already know that I am keen on a plethora of Hawks (although admittedly one more than others). And given the present state of ongoing tariff battles being fought in US courts as we push additional into 2026, it is exhausting not to consider the Nighthawk S in context of the way it got here to be within the first place: As a response to the 1983 tariffs that then-president Reagan signed into legislation to assist Harley discover its footing once more after a sequence of missteps.
For these unfamiliar with the early-Eighties tariffs, they imposed a steep 45% tax on imported bikes over 700cc of displacement, and moderately crucially, solely utilized in the event that they exceeded a sure gross sales quantity. So small, boutique European manufacturers had been successfully exempt, and Japan’s Massive 4 had been very clearly focused (although not in fairly as many phrases).
What did Honda and its fellow Japanese producers do? They used their brains and discovered how one can drop displacement down underneath the 700cc threshold, whereas on the identical time fidgeting with issues like cam timing and gearing to get as a lot efficiency out of those revised engines as attainable. Perhaps there is no substitute for displacement, however possibly you may as well use the constraints you’ve got been positioned in to do one thing cool that riders actually like anyway.
To cite an excellent Hagerty piece on the topic, “Different mid-Eighties developments instructed a center finger to tariffs….Honda’s 1984 Nighthawk S sported an air-cooled 80-hp 697cc inline-four and flew by way of the quarter in 12 seconds flat at 111 mph. This shaft-drive commonplace/sport mannequin was bought for 3 years within the U.S., and solely as a 700.”
Now, again to the BHB Nighthawk S in 2026. Since it is a 40-plus year-old bike (nevermind that it is carbureted), it is naturally going to wish a little bit TLC. Fortunately, it wound up within the palms that it did, as a result of you’re going to get to each see and listen to it run by the top of this video.
Is it good? Nah, it nonetheless wants the carbs synced, and you’ll inform that some fine-tuning nonetheless must occur. However earlier than you will get to the high quality particulars, getting it operating is crucial. Very like the snow and ice on the bottom is proven in various states of soften, all it actually wants is time, effort, and folk who’re prepared to make the distinction.
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