{ "id": "epywv2pxzg", "slug": "street-hawk", "title": "Street Hawk", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series", 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"geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.action-thriller-series-entries.entries-released-in-the-1980s", "label": "United States · 1946 to 2000: Entries released in the 1980s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.action-thriller-series-entries.entries-released-in-the-1980s", "path": [ { "id": "geo.us", "label": "United States", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946", "label": "United States · 1946 to 2000", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance" }, { "id": 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"geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.action-thriller-series-entries", "label": "Action, thriller, and crime series film entries", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.action-thriller-series-entries" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.action-thriller-series-entries.entries-released-in-the-1980s", "label": "Entries released in the 1980s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.action-thriller-series-entries.entries-released-in-the-1980s" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Street Hawk is a 1985 ABC action series (13 episodes) in which injured cop Jesse Mach, played by Rex Smith, secretly rides a 300 mph computerized combat motorcycle built by Norman Tuttle (Joe Regalbuto), with a Tangerine Dream theme.", "snippet": "Street Hawk is a 1985 ABC action series (13 episodes) in which injured cop Jesse Mach, played by Rex Smith, secretly rides a 300 mph computerized combat motorcycle built by Norman Tuttle (Joe Regalbuto), with a Tangerine Dream theme.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.action-thriller-series-entries.entries-released-in-the-1980s", "markdown": "# Street Hawk\n\n**Street Hawk** is an American action television series broadcast on ABC in 1985, in which an injured police officer, Jesse Mach, secretly fights crime at night as the test rider of a prototype combat motorcycle. Produced by Limekiln/Templar Productions in association with [Universal Television](https://www.edgepedia.org/universal-television), it ran for 13 episodes from January 4 to May 16, 1985, and was created by Paul Belous and Robert Wolterstorff with the format developed by [Bruce Lansbury](https://www.edgepedia.org/bruce-lansbury).[1](https://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/street_hawk) • [2](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/street-hawk)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Broadcast | ABC, January 4 – May 16, 1985; Fridays at 9:00 PM Eastern; 13 episodes[2](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/street-hawk) • [3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/8736/street-hawk) |\n| Premise | Injured motorcycle cop Jesse Mach (Rex Smith) is recruited by federal agent Norman Tuttle (Joe Regalbuto) to ride the Street Hawk, an all-terrain attack motorcycle designed to fight urban crime[1](https://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/street_hawk) |\n| The motorcycle | Capable of over 300 mph, computer-controlled, armed with a laser weapon; hyperthrust could throw the machine 30 meters into the air[4](https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/street-hawk/cast/1030358126/) • [5](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/Radio-Programming/Boxtree-Encyclopedia-of-TV-Detectives-Tibbals-1992.pdf) |\n| Main cast | Rex Smith (Jesse Mach), Joe Regalbuto (Norman Tuttle), Jeannie Wilson (Rachel Adams), Richard Venture (Leo Altobelli)[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/street_hawk/cast-and-crew) |\n| Theme music | Composed by the German electronic group Tangerine Dream[7](https://nostalgiacentral.com/television/tv-by-decade/tv-shows-1980s/street-hawk/) |\n| Overseas reach | Syndicated to 42 countries; fondly remembered in Brazil as *Moto Laser*[8](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/street-hawk-80s-tvs-great-missed-opportunity/) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Premise\n\nJesse Mach, a police public relations officer, had been crippled before the first episode by an attack from an old criminal enemy. The government agent Norman Tuttle offers him the chance to ride the Street Hawk, a prototype combat motorcycle, and the deal includes special surgery to repair his legs while he maintains the public appearance of still being handicapped.[1](https://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/street_hawk) • [4](https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/street-hawk/cast/1030358126/) By day Mach keeps his cover at a desk in the police public information office; by night he wears a futuristic black helmet and fights crime on the city streets.[7](https://nostalgiacentral.com/television/tv-by-decade/tv-shows-1980s/street-hawk/)\n\nTuttle operates the computer control center that monitors the motorcycle's technical functions and warns Mach of impending dangers. Mach's police department boss, Commander Leo Altobelli, repeatedly reminds him that, officially no longer on the force, he should stay clear of police investigations. Mach's love interest is Rachel Adams.[5](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/Radio-Programming/Boxtree-Encyclopedia-of-TV-Detectives-Tibbals-1992.pdf) • [1](https://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/street_hawk)\n\n## The motorcycle\n\nStrictly speaking, Street Hawk is the name of the machine rather than the hero, though in practice it came to stand for the Mach-and-machine combination, in effect a minor superhero.[1](https://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/street_hawk) The bike was described as jet-black, turbo-designed, sleek, low and fast, with a hydraulic suspension system for off-street use and weaponry including a barrel that could neutralize, stun, and immobilize an enemy with laser particle beams.[5](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/Radio-Programming/Boxtree-Encyclopedia-of-TV-Detectives-Tibbals-1992.pdf) It cruised at 200 mph and reached a top speed of 300 mph in \"hyper-thrust\", with compressed-air vertical lifters that allowed it to jump 100 feet into the air; its stated build cost was $3 million.[9](https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1985/4/1/street-hawk-high-performance-hollywood-style)\n\nThe machines were real motorcycles under fiberglass bodywork. The pilot's hero bike was based on a 1983 Honda XL500, while the bikes used in the series were based on 1984 Honda XR500s; fifteen motorcycles were used in the production overall.[7](https://nostalgiacentral.com/television/tv-by-decade/tv-shows-1980s/street-hawk/)\n\n## Production and broadcast history\n\nThe series was originally planned for the fall of 1984 on ABC, Mondays at 8:00 PM Eastern, but the network changed its mind when the summer series *Call to Glory* performed well, and Street Hawk was pushed to mid-season. It debuted on January 4, 1985, at 9:00 PM Eastern and ran until May 16, 1985.[2](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/street-hawk) The feature-length pilot, directed by Virgil W. Vogel, ran 75 minutes and was later circulated as *Street Hawk: The Movie*.[10](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/street-hawk-the-movie)\n\nRatings started respectably: the premiere ranked 21st out of 69 rated programs, and one later Friday the show won its time slot with a higher rating than a [Clint Eastwood](https://www.edgepedia.org/clint-eastwood) film shown opposite it. Critics were less kind; associate producer Medora Heilbron acknowledged the show had been \"slaughtered\" by them.[9](https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1985/4/1/street-hawk-high-performance-hollywood-style) But the series was scheduled against *Dallas*, one of television's biggest draws, and co-creator Robert Wolterstorff later said the show managed around a 30 share against that competition, which the network judged insufficient.[8](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/street-hawk-80s-tvs-great-missed-opportunity/) The ratings did not warrant a second season, and the series was canceled after its 13 episodes.[11](https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/street-hawk/) Reruns aired on the [USA Network](https://www.edgepedia.org/usa-network) on Saturdays at 10:00 AM from 1990 to 1991.[2](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/street-hawk)\n\nProducer Burton Armus attributed the failure partly to the vehicle itself: \"I always felt the bike was too tinny and lacked the bulk and strength of a major vehicle compared to KITT or Airwolf. The hero had basically the same flaw.\"[8](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/street-hawk-80s-tvs-great-missed-opportunity/)\n\n## Cast and guest roles\n\n[Christopher Lloyd](https://www.edgepedia.org/christopher-lloyd) played the villain Anthony Corrido in the pilot, and a young [George Clooney](https://www.edgepedia.org/george-clooney) appeared in the second episode, \"A Second Self\", as Jesse's ultra-competitive old friend Kevin Stark, one of his first television roles.[10](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/street-hawk-the-movie) • [8](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/street-hawk-80s-tvs-great-missed-opportunity/) • [11](https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/street-hawk/) Wolterstorff later said the studio rejected Clooney for the lead role; Armus felt [Rex Smith](https://www.edgepedia.org/rex-smith) brought naivety and youthfulness to the part but lacked danger.[8](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/street-hawk-80s-tvs-great-missed-opportunity/)\n\n## International sales and merchandise\n\nDespite the short run, the series sold widely abroad. It syndicated in 42 countries and was popular with children in the United Kingdom, other European countries, India, and Brazil, where it was known as *Moto Laser*. The feature-length pilot also performed well in the video rental market.[8](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/street-hawk-80s-tvs-great-missed-opportunity/) Four UK novelizations appeared, by Jack Roberts, Charles Gale, and [David Deutsch](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-deutsch), and toy versions of the motorcycle were produced in Brazil, India, and the United Kingdom, though not in the United States.[1](https://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/street_hawk) In Britain the series aired on ITV in 1985, in two runs of six and seven episodes on Thames.[5](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/Radio-Programming/Boxtree-Encyclopedia-of-TV-Detectives-Tibbals-1992.pdf)\n\n## Place among the super-vehicle shows\n\nStreet Hawk belongs to the mid-1980s wave of high-tech vehicle action series that followed [Glen A. Larson](https://www.edgepedia.org/glen-a-larson)'s *Knight Rider* (1982–1986), alongside *Airwolf* and *Blue Thunder*. Contemporary and later commentary alike treat it as a two-wheeled counterpart to KITT, and the Boxtree Encyclopedia of TV Detectives judged it harmless escapism aimed at a teenage audience that \"proved no match for Michael Knight and KITT\".[5](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/Radio-Programming/Boxtree-Encyclopedia-of-TV-Detectives-Tibbals-1992.pdf) • [8](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/street-hawk-80s-tvs-great-missed-opportunity/) The series has since gathered a cult following: fans have built replica bikes and a command center set for the convention circuit, and the complete series was released on DVD, classified PG with mild violence in Australia in 2010.[8](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/street-hawk-80s-tvs-great-missed-opportunity/) • [12](https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/street-hawk-complete-series)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Street Hawk, The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction](https://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/street_hawk)\n2. [Street Hawk – watch tv show streaming online, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/street-hawk)\n3. [Street Hawk, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/8736/street-hawk)\n4. [Street Hawk – Where to Watch and Stream, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/street-hawk/cast/1030358126/)\n5. [Street Hawk, The Boxtree Encyclopedia of TV Detectives (Tibbals, 1992), p. 406](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/Radio-Programming/Boxtree-Encyclopedia-of-TV-Detectives-Tibbals-1992.pdf)\n6. [Street Hawk: Full Cast & Crew, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/street_hawk/cast-and-crew)\n7. [Street Hawk, Nostalgia Central](https://nostalgiacentral.com/television/tv-by-decade/tv-shows-1980s/street-hawk/)\n8. [Street Hawk: 80s TV's Great Missed Opportunity, Den of Geek (Andrew Younger, 2022)](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/street-hawk-80s-tvs-great-missed-opportunity/)\n9. [Street Hawk: High Performance, Hollywood Style, Cycle World (Paul Dean, April 1985)](https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1985/4/1/street-hawk-high-performance-hollywood-style)\n10. [Street Hawk: The Movie, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/street-hawk-the-movie)\n11. [Street Hawk TV show, TVSeriesFinale](https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/street-hawk/)\n12. [Street Hawk – The Complete Series, Australian Classification](https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/street-hawk-complete-series)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Franchise and series entries as standalone works › Action, thriller, and crime series film entries › Entries released in the 1980s*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/street-hawk", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/street-hawk.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Street Hawk\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/street-hawk. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Street Hawk](https://www.edgepedia.org/street-hawk)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/street-hawk](https://www.edgepedia.org/street-hawk). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Street Hawk\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/street-hawk. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Street Hawk is a 1985 ABC action series in which injured cop Jesse Mach, played by Rex Smith, secretly rides a 300 mph computerized combat motorcycle built by Norman Tuttle, with a Tangerine Dream theme." }