Official Nighthawk thread

[genespleen]

Originally Posted by Yokomo

gene - cut mirrors?

Hi--no they're just aftermarket mirrors I picked from, I think, Dennis Kirk.

Snow outside....sigh.

[FocusPlayer]

Risers from GenMar got here in 3 days, new lic plate same day.. now if it will just dry out and warm up!!

[redneckmech]

Hello all,
I am a n00b to motorcycles and willing to admit it... I have always wanted to have a multiuse bike and after a month or so of research I settled on the venerable Nighthawk... I managed to buy a 96 Nighthawk 750 off of ebay in October (paid more than I probably should have, yet I was impatient). It had 14947 on the Odometer when I bought it (has a few more now ). (pics will follow)

I stumbled upon this forum a couple of days ago and read through all 104 pages....
Here are a few lessons learned for anyone else out there who does not have the time (or the lack of a life) to do the reading...

1. Deadly is a genius with fab work and has a basement garage that can make any machinist turn green with envy... Beautiful Weehawk there man....

2. Note to self.. Never sell Nighthawk you will regret it....

3. To obtain a hardcase luggage rack you will have to either fabricate one or sell your soul to the devil... For a good condition factory exhaust... well I won't go there.....

4. Websites that may have Nighthawk parts
http://www.bikebandit.com/
http://www.ronayers.com/index.cfm
http://shspowersports.com/
http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/common/Frontpage.jsp
http://www.oregonmotorcycleparts.com/
http://www.servicehonda.com/

5. ALL 92-03 Nighthawks are identical except for minor cosmetics..

6. DITCH THE STOCK TIRES... it will greatly improve the ride and handling..
examples to look at..
Michelin Pilot Roads
Metzler Lasertecs
Pirelli Sport Demons
Avon Distanzia Dualsports, or for street, Roadrunners
Bridgesone Bt-45

7. Get a centerstand.. if you try to lift the bike with a floorjack, other members of this forum will hunt you down and beat you to death with it..
$117 from service honda

8. There is one problem with Nighthawks.. The Tachometer will likely die..
Good news.. It can be fixed (it is a bad solder joint inside of it)
Bad news.. it is nearly impossible to get apart and Honda wants waaayyyy too much for a new one...

9. Suspension.. the factory showa suspension is not that great..
there is a fix Progressive 416 series fork springs (easy to install)..
Progressive 412 series shocks (20 min change) WARNING do not get the heavy duty springs unless you do a lot of 2up riding...

10. Carburetor mod
The Nighthawk runs a bit lean from the factory.. Honda does that for emissions purposes..
There are 2 ways to do it..
(1.) install a dynojet kit (hard, expensive way)
(2.) Tim Hodge washer mod (easy cheapo way)
LINK.... http://www.nighthawk750.com/mods/carbneedlemod.html

Well folks these are lessons learned from a N00B with no life
Sorry for the long post
Hope it helps....
RedneckMech

[redneckmech]

All pictures taken within half of a mile from my house..



I bought it off of ebay in October with 14947 miles on it, and waited a full month for it to get here ( I now dislike shipping companies) Truck broke down, 1 extra week.... they FORGOT to send it out for delivery from the local (92miles) warehouse (another week)...
Nevertheless I have it now and am very happy with it...

List of accessories that came with it..
Vance and Hines 4-1 exhaust
Corbin seat (factory one also) both came with it
National cycle plexistarII windscreen
centerstand
30mm bar risers (currently removed)
My add-ons so far
Fieldsheer expander saddlebags
Fieldsheer the Roll tailbag
LED taillight bulbs (coming soon)
Brighter headlight bulb (coming soon)
Trying to figure out what I want for new tires.... thinking Pirelli sport demons not sure yet...
Anyone have experience with them.. or others for that matter???

Eventually progressive suspension (when funds allow)

I will try get some more recent pictures.. I have done a lot of cleaning on it since these were taken... (I am almost OCD about some things)

Have a good one

The redneck Mechanic

[Lysol]

the only mod ive done is the v&h 4-1 pipe with dyno jet stage 1.

I also have fieldsheer expander saddlebags and a big ass duffel bag just in case!

Sorry about this but my most recent photos can be viewed here :http://nighthawk-forums.com/index.php/topic,3123.0.html

Its a RR i did of the ADV Central Rally for the folks at the Nighthawk Forums

[Yokomo]

Nice looking bike and summary

[redneckmech]

Lysol: Nice bike and nice write up.. I haven't got a chance to go camping off of the bike yet.. It is in the future though.. If anyone off of this forum is ever in Northern Idaho let me know about it and I can give a tour of the St. Joe... (lots of twisties and mountaintops... albeit not all paved).. The Nighthawk does love gravel roads too though; I live on one.

[Green427]

Redneck: Congrats on your new ride.

You may have paid more than what you should, however, your bike has some goodies that many others don't.

Other things to consider:

Many current NH owners selling their bikes (with all the accessories you want) are hard to negotiate with when you want them to sell their accessories separately. You might have to buy the whole bike just to get that Corbin seat, that Givi setup, etc, and then sell the bike afterwards.

I've contacted 6-7 different sellers about their Givi racks, seats, etc, and all of them either said 'no', 'I'll think about it', or flat out ignore me.

Even Deadly does not answer my emails about fabricating another set of racks for sale.

Frustrating, since our NH's are bulletproof and excellent for touring, but the aftermarket farkles are disappearing.

[FocusPlayer]

Great post and pics ! Congratz !

My hawk news:

I ( ok, Rusty ...while I held the bike) put the handle bar risers on today ( GenMar) . They fit fantastic, Super ez install and they made a huge difference in comfort. Hard to believe just an inch higher and 2 back would be that big a deal but it was.
I'm very happy with the purchase and I know it's going to make longer rides way less exhausting... not to mention getting sensitive body parts OFF the tank and back on the seat


Saddle bags should be here later this week and the fairing in another 12 or 13 days.

I hope to have a new back tire before then.
I'm going with Mich Pilot2s for tires.

[lucky lindy]

Great looking 'hawk RedneckMech and wish I lived in that kind of scenery.

[dogjaw]

just snagged a Shad SH40ca topcase and Shad rack off of Ebay, can't wait to get them installed... kind of apprehensive about the rack, as I've heard that the Givi requires some modification, but the Shad online looks like it should work, will post pics

[Green427]

Originally Posted by dogjaw

just snagged a Shad SH40ca topcase and Shad rack off of Ebay, can't wait to get them installed... kind of apprehensive about the rack, as I've heard that the Givi requires some modification, but the Shad online looks like it should work, will post pics

What is the model # of the Shad rack you got?

[dogjaw]

HOC74T, if I remember correctly. I called Binetto, they were about as helpful as a turd in a punchbowl, but their website said that it should fit, so I took the plunge... the girl answering the phone shore had a purdy accent, though.

[drdubb]

Originally Posted by FocusPlayer

Great post and pics ! Congratz !

My hawk news:

I ( ok, Rusty ...while I held the bike) put the handle bar risers on today ( GenMar) . They fit fantastic, Super ez install and they made a huge difference in comfort. Hard to believe just an inch higher and 2 back would be that big a deal but it was.
I'm very happy with the purchase and I know it's going to make longer rides way less exhausting... not to mention getting sensitive body parts OFF the tank and back on the seat


Saddle bags should be here later this week and the fairing in another 12 or 13 days.

I hope to have a new back tire before then.
I'm going with Mich Pilot2s for tires.

Which risers did you purchase? Checking the website on line didn't show the 1x2 risers. Were all of you cables long enough?

[Green427]

Originally Posted by dogjaw

HOC74T, if I remember correctly. I called Binetto, they were about as helpful as a turd in a punchbowl, but their website said that it should fit, so I took the plunge... the girl answering the phone shore had a purdy accent, though.

You mean you got the Shad topcase on fleaBay and the rack at Binetto?

I placed an order at oldbikebarn.com, then found out how bad they are at actually shipping your orders, but they haven't billed my card yet and called me 2 weeks later saying "hopefully another 7 days". Going to shop around some more.