My Vintage Ride: 1966 Honda CB77 SuperHawk Special

4/14/2010

By Vincent Lupo

Hello from Baltimore! I read in my April 2010 copy of American Motorcyclist that you're looking for people/bikes who will be attending AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days this summer.

My bike is a 1966 Honda CB77 SuperHawk Special. I bought my SuperHawk six years ago after a rather long hiatus from motorcycling. I had always wanted a vintage British motorcycle, and every time I asked anyone about them, the first thing they'd say to me (no kidding) was "Well it's not like owning a Honda." After about the fifth time hearing this, I thought, "Why don't I just get an old Honda?"

At that time, Walneck's Cycle Trader had run a period review from Cycle Magazine on the CB77, and the reviewers at the time (1965) absolutely loved it. And, also in that very issue, my bike was advertised for sale by the original owner in Chicago. Might say that all the stars fell into alignment...

So, the idea with this seemingly ugly duckling was to take the best of Britain and meld it with the best of Japan. As well, I approached the project as incorporating the types of period modifications that someone could have done back in the 1960s, and I've taken pains to be as period correct as possible in this regard. I studied period photos, 59 Club archives, watched The Leatherboys a few times, and was (and still am) a voracious reader of Classic Bike Magazine. Basically, it's taking a classic Japanese bike and creating a vintage British story around it.

I'd always admired bikes like BSA Spitfires, Manx Nortons, Norton Commandos, Triumph Bonnevilles and the new Triumph Thruxton. I took many of the cues from these bikes and incorporated them into this creation, some of which include: hand-painted checkered stripes on the tank and both fenders (Thruxton), hand-painted red coach lines on the rims (Matchless, Vincent), crossed Japan/checkered flag motif with recently painted ribbon with "1966" painted (BSA), and Norton Commando rear shock knobs, to name just a few.

As well, there are some vintage British bike parts on this bike: AMAL 626 carbs, John Tickle headlight brackets, Bill Selby bacon cutters, pedestrian slicer from a pre-unit Triumph, Stadium bar-end mirror, Hagon shocks, front springs from a Triumph, Altette horn, Norman Hyde / TOGA Gold Star mufflers, NOS 1960's dealer badge from Brook Motorcycles, Beston Gran Turismo grips, handlebar-mounted pocket watch holder w/1960 Ingersoll 'Triumph' pocket watch, reproduction tax disc (Dec. 1966) and Halcyon tax disc holder.

Here is the total rundown (more or less) of what's been done (this has been done over the 6 year period):

  • Rebuilt engine (0.25 o/s),
  • new pistons,
  • new valves,
  • ported and polished the head,
  • new seals,
  • bearings,
  • advance unit,
  • coils,
  • charging system,
  • electronic ignition,
  • rebuilt transmission,
  • new clutch,
  • painted and powder coated the engine,
  • new bolts,
  • custom front end w/Frank's Engineering fork tubes,
  • progressive internal suspension,
  • external springs and custom machined aluminum cups for the springs,
  • Hagon rear shocks w/Norton Commando shock knobs,
  • Amal 626 carbs w/K&N air filters,
  • K&N breather filters,
  • Akront rims w/stainless spokes,
  • polished hubs,
  • 1960s Bill Selby bacon cutters (specifically made for the SuperHawk),
  • Dunlop K82 TT100 tires,
  • new brake pads,
  • wheel bearings,
  • new cables throughout,
  • Sprocket Specialists sprockets w/Tsubaki chain,
  • Norman Hyde/TOGA Gold Star Mufflers,
  • headlight conversion to replaceable H4 bulb
  • conversion of main fuse from glass-type to a flat 'automotive' type,
  • PowerSonic gel battery,
  • CYB (race) Honda hydraulic steering damper,
  • newly chromed everything,
  • large Altette horn,
  • replaced the seat cover and had custom white piping added,
  • 1960s Stadium bar-end mirror,
  • Magura levers,
  • PJ Speedos handlebar-mounted pocket watch holder,
  • everything custom painted,
  • custom decals and custom detail painting.

I'm sure I'm missing a bunch of things -- basically everything from stem to stern was done, and sometimes multiple times in order to achieve the right look. (For example, the front end was reworked three times before I was happy with it.)

As far as the projects go, I had things done as I could afford them, so not everything was done at one time. I'd have things done over a winter, ride it the next year, do more research, then make changes/additions the next winter, etc., etc.

This is the only bike I own, and as a result, it gets ridden. The second year I had it I rode from Baltimore to the Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Group's annual show just west of Niagara Falls, Ontario (about a 1200 mile round trip). I've ridden it to AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days at Mid-Ohio twice (1,000 mile round trip each time), and I rode the bike to the AMCA's National Rally in Rhinebeck, N.Y., two years ago (over 900 miles roundtrip). The plan this year is to go back to Mid-Ohio in July, and maybe to the Barber Museum in October (about 1,000 miles each way). Last year I logged over 4,100 miles on this bike, and over 16,000 miles total since I've owned it, and I don't ever plan to get rid of it. Please bear in mind that this bike is only 305cc, but it's the perfect size for me.

This bike does not get trailered anywhere!

 














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