1985 honda reviews

Classic 1985 Honda Rebel 250 cruiser with low mileage and near perfect body. Extremely well-kept bike with same owner for last 25 years and stored in-doors. Rides smooth and easy for a classic cruiser that is ideal for either new or experienced riders. Trickle charger included with bike just needs to be connected along with original manual and brand-new Yuasa Yuam327BS-YTXL maintenance free battery. Priced to sell/move in this summer warmth... well below blue book!! Show less

Well, I bought this bike and never drove a stick shift car. A week after I bought the bike, I took the Rider's Edge course...(great course by the way)...and the next weekend I drove from Rossford to Central Avenue to get the next class excited, and maybe inspire someone! Yup... one other woman there told me that I was her inspiration, and another told me that I was her lucky charm... I helped her stop popping the clutch! Ha! Anyway...back to the bike... yup... LOVE IT!!! Even let the instructor try it and he felt it was a great little bike (his knees got in the way, but it's perfect for me)! I am riding all over town on my Honda Rebel now!!! I am feeling free and loving every minute of it. It shifts gears a little hard, but probably because I have little feet! Ha! If you never owned one of these little guys...you have to get one of your own. It's a great bike! (I moved up from a scooter...I'm a big girl now!!!) Come ride with me! I'd love to have someone to ride with.... maybe we should start a Honda Rebel club! Ha!!! (seat gets a bit uncomfortable after a little while of riding, but not too bad). ::smile:: Show less

I bought my Rebel from a friend recently and although it was dirty from storage, it was in good shape. The bike needed new fork seals but that is a cheap fix. I was suprised with the power of this bike when I started riding because I thought it would be sluggish due to engine size. The bike handles great and is easy to ride. The bike starts to feel a bit uncomfortable on long rides because the footpegs are so close to the seat but not to the point that I will avoid a good ride. The engine runs amazing for its age and never hesitates to start when ignition button is pressed. I love the gas mileage with this bike because 80 miles to a gallon is nothing to complain about. I am very pleased with the reliability of this bike and know that I will not be stranded when I leave home. A downside to this bike is that due to the small motor and gearing you have to rev the bike up a bit to get it to 60-70 mph. This is not a highway bike but it is a great bike that I am happy to own. Show less

I have always wanted a Nighthawk and more specifically one of the 84 through 86 models. Of all the Nighthawks I felt these were the best of the breed. Not only are they the best of the breed, they are one of the best bikes ever built. Things about this bike that really took me by surprise were the little things like self adjusting valves, anti dive front suspension, shaft drive, and dual disk front breaks. The ride is excellent and the power comes right on when you twist the throttle. Even two up riding is not a problem. I live in the northeast where we have many twisting turning climbs and this bike has yet to let me down. That said the bike is a little give and take. don't expect sport bike handling and power and don't expect touring bike comfort. The faring provides no wind protection at all. It is more of an aesthetic piece. Finding parts for these bikes is an exercise in patience and persistence. Ebay and salvage yards will become your friends when you get one of these. What you get in return, though, is one of the best engineered, lowest maintenance engine transmission combinations ever created. Shifting is smooth and the engine feels solid. The riding position makes this bike a very easy bike to maneuver and inspires you to really want to get out there and see what it can do. Living here in VT we have many unpaved roads and this bike handles them with ease. Two substantial upgrades I have made are adding a Corbin seat and Progressive Suspension springs and shocks for both the front and rear. The Corbin allows you to ride a lot longer than the stock seat ever would and the Progressive Suspension makes the bike come alive in the corners and is better for two-up riding. I find myself riding this bike far more than I intend to. I do have a new BMW R12GS which I truly love. That bike will be the one we take on vacation in a couple of weeks. Never the less, if you are new to motorcycling or an experienced rider such as myself, don't pass one of these by they are too much fun! Show less

I purchased my black/red (type A) 85' Honda Nighthawk CB700SC 5 years ago. Since that time, I have changed the oil, air filter, front tire, plugs, and cleaned the carbs (because the tank was rusted - had that Kream'd). My only complaint is that the tank rusted even though I use fuel treatment, and always keep it topped-off. What stands out about this bike? The technology you get for something made in '85: adjustable Trac (anti-dive) front shock control, front disc brake, oil cooler routed through the frame, shaft drive (that doesn't have that chain 'whine'). The handling and weight balance is terrific - I am able to come to a complete stop and then take-off without touching the ground. I see these guys cruise up to and away from stops with their feet off the pegs nearly touching the ground, and chuckle. I very seldom take my feet off the pegs for a stop sign. The speed is invigorating above 6,000 RPM - a blast hits when the main jets kick-in. I would highly recommend this bike to anyone who can find one in good condition. I have learned that you cannot use a K&N filter without changing the carburetor jets, and it's best to use the Honda OEM air filter - not a Uni or any other aftermarkets. Also, have the tank lined (if it's not already) immediately! Another side note: With the age of this bike, I have found that consumable parts are still readily available, but things like gas tanks, side plates, OEM stickers, and the like are no longer available. My next bike? Honda ST1300 with ABS. Why did I rate the bike only 4 stars for comfort... Goldwings take the cake! Show less

Have had my '84 Sabre for a few months now... the smile never leaves my face! Power galore! I'm a big guy so handling is good for me. No handling problems that lighter riders have complained about. Get lots of looks, some people hate the bike's lines... I think it's sexy like a muscle car is sexy. I wish I got one years ago! Show less

I have owed or driven just about every motorcycle there is and I have to say this bike does it all and to date has never had any problems. It runs like a Swiss watch with only normal repairs of service. Have driven just about every winding road in the US and a complete joy to ride and when you want the power to burn it's there every time. Until you have owned one of these babies, you haven't owned a motorcycle. Just wish I could buy another new one and start over again. If you are lucky enough to find a low mileage one, grab it while you can or call me I would be willing to pay more the any new motorcycle costs today! Why Honda stop making them, I will never understand. They are just an awesome motorcycle all around! Now off for another quick ride to the land of freedom. Show less

Ok, first let's start with the age. The bike is almost 20 years old and it runs like a beast! I got this bike two years ago with about 19,000 miles on it. My wife loves to kid me that I bought a girl's bike. The lady I bought this from was looking for something bigger. Her loss, my gain. With the redline at just over 8000rpms (plus it has a tach), the bike can haul with the big boys. Having been able to keep up with bigger cc crotch rockets and pass bigger cruisers like they were standing still, not quite sure what she was looking for? 6 speed, shaft drive, hydraulic lifters, hydraulic clutch, liquid cooled... what is to complain about? I did have to replace the stator and rectifier which did suck, but besides that, this bike has been more reliable than my car! I love this bike, rock solid. I don't understand why Honda doesn't make anything like this anymore. The new Shadows in this class are not up to par with this bike, even the 1100cc would be a compromise. They are all 5 speeds and get pretty nasty gas mileage on the expressway (where they get in the high 30's I can get about 50+ mpg going 80mph). I have looked to try and "trade upto a newer bike, but have found I would in fact be trading down. I would like hard bags, but can't seem to find any for this model. Honda, just make one of these as a 20th Anniversary bike or something and I will by it! VT700c, there is nothing better. By next year I will have over 37000 miles on it, almost doubling the original miles. Show less

My Sabre started making a ticking sound in May 02. Found out the engine work would cost more than the bike was worth. In the meantime I bought a '93 VFR and then eventually an '01 Gixxer 750. I have not the heart to junk it or part with it out on ebay yet. She is sitting covered under my deck in the backyard. She was the most comfortable to ride 2-up. With the backrest the passengers felt very secure. I had the bike since '93 and did a lot of riding. I will miss her. She was very reliable until now. The newer bikes take riding to a whole different level, but sometimes it is nice just to cruise and take in the scenery. LONG LIVE THE SABRE! Show less

I've owned a v65 since 1989. I don't ride much, mine still has only about 50K, but this bike stands up. Big frame for us bigger guys, comfortable seating even for two, and don't lose many top-speed challenges. I did lose to a hot 5.0 Mustang last year. I was quicker, he was faster. Show less