Once upon a time, in the middle of the Carter Administration ...

The year is 1978, model-year 1979, and Honda eliminates their Single OverHead-Cam Four-Cylinder (SOHC/4) CB550 and CB750 streetbikes from their offerings. Since 1969 Honda's SOHC/4 design had captured the hearts and minds of critic and consumer alike. Beginning with the Harley-killing CB750, Honda's reign on this engine technology would last until 1982, the year the Nighthawk moniker is introduced as the CB650SC. The 1979 CB550 and CB750 grow up and get themselves, among other things, a second camshaft.

The SOHC/4 replacement is the CB650, which, to some, seems little more than a cubic-centimeter compromise. To others, it's a last gasp at an engine technology that, approaching the early 80's, is quickly bound for antiquity in the high-horsepower attitude of the late-70's/early-80's streetbike market. For many owners, these bikes are examples of the perfect middle-weight pocket-rocket.

In any event, the SOHC/4 CB650's are truly the culmination of Honda's decade of experience with their ground-breaking SOHC/4 design. ...