Official Nighthawk thread

[onewheeltwo]

Originally Posted by kidtwist

I wish now that I'd gotten a black NH anyway. These days there are other bikes I want more, but a NH would have been a great first bike for me.

This thread won't go away and keeps taunting me: "You could have had a Nighthawk. You could have had a Nighthawk."

Need more taunting?

You could still have a black Nighthawk: http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=782814

[Pica Hudsonia]

So, I'm thinking about buying a Nighthawk 750 and I keep reading, "these things are bulletproof," and "they run forever," and "so reliable they're boring," etc.

I wanted to find one with low miles in excellent condition... in other words, as close to a new bike as I can get. So far, the best I've found in my area is a '95 with 44k miles behind it. I haven't seen it in person yet, but pictures online make it look pretty nice. The owner says it tipped over and got a few dings and scratches... probably no big deal, but I'll know for sure tomorrow. It's recently had the carbs worked over (new float valves, jets cleaned, and new gaskets), and it has a new chain and new tires.

I think the price is right: $2250 asking price, and I bet he'll let it go for two grand.

My only concern is the mileage. I keep telling myself 40,000 isn't really a lot of miles, and it should go two or three times that far without any issues, but part of me wants to hold out for one 4 or 5 years newer with under 15,000 miles. I'm sure a NH750 like that would be worth closer to three grand--I'm okay with spending that much. Am I better off to pick up the one with more experience for only two thou'?

When people say they run forever and only require minimal attention, does that mean I truly can expect to get 100k out of it (56k more than it has now) before worrying about an engine or trans rebuild?

I can do any minor repairs that come up along the way. Right now I like the idea of a bike I can just ride... change the oil in it every year, replace tires when they wear out, and otherwise not fuss with anything (okay, maybe lube and adjust the chain occasionally)... "reliable as a hammer," as the saying goes.

Feedback is much appreciated.

[®êšïš†ø®]

Packed over 1,000 miles in the past two weekends.... Virginia is frickin beautiful when you stay off the highway! The bike of course had zero issues. Gotta love that.

Pica - 44k miles is nothing ONLY IF the previous owner treated it like his baby. It really depends. If it was ridden as a cruiser 55mph on backroads, with regular and preventative maintenance, yeah it could probably go hundreds of thousands of miles. But if he was a damn squid, red-lining it all the time then leaving it out in the winter and never working on it, I wouldnt expect 50k out of it.

IMO, how clean it is tends to be a good indicator of the owner's attitude towards the bike. Look carefully. Chains are supposed to be gold in color, not black. The headers are supposed to be shiny. The underside of the pipes should not be rusty. Carbs are supposed to be silver.

If he says he changes the oil every 5000 miles and uses car oil from AutoZone, RUN AWAY QUICKLY!

There are a lot of these things out there, and looking through this thread seeing what people have purchased recently, there are some amazing deals to be had. It seems $500 can be the difference between a clunker and a like-new bike. Personally, I would hold out. But it may be getting harder and harder to find low miles on a bike that stopped production in 2003.

[RobbieAG]

Originally Posted by ®êšïš†ø®

There are a lot of these things out there, and looking through this thread seeing what people have purchased recently, there are some amazing deals to be had. It seems $500 can be the difference between a clunker and a like-new bike. Personally, I would hold out.

+1. I would definitely hold out. There are still a lot of low mileage specimens out there. I got my 2002 two years ago with 1k miles on it. That being said, these bikes will definitely go 100k plus if they're well cared for but there's really no way to know for sure. Even if it looks great on the outside, the internal stuff may not have been maintained properly. I would be concerned that there's been carb work done recently too. It may have sat for a while. The price he's asking is not particularly great either for a bike with that many miles.

[Patch]

Originally Posted by Pica Hudsonia

My only concern is the mileage. I keep telling myself 40,000 isn't really a lot of miles, and it should go two or three times that far without any issues, but part of me wants to hold out for one 4 or 5 years newer with under 15,000 miles. I'm sure a NH750 like that would be worth closer to three grand--I'm okay with spending that much. Am I better off to pick up the one with more experience for only two thou'?
.

Also can depend on who put the 40k miles on... how long has the current owner had it? If he/she put the majority of those miles on chances are pretty good that it was well taken care of. Someone who lets their bike sit usually doesn't maintain it. Ask for the history and see if the documentation supports it.

[Louisiana Rider]

My 2003 has 40K, I put all but the first 770 miles on it.
I would trust my bike even at 150K to take my yearly trips on.

[onewheeltwo]

So all of this talk of nighthawk sales has me wondering. Have I priced mine right to sell?

Short story:
1992, sold new in 1995
I bought it from the original owner in 1997, with 17k miles.
Currently 63500 miles

Any thoughts are appreciated.

http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=782814

[®êšïš†ø®]

Originally Posted by onewheeltwo

So all of this talk of nighthawk sales has me wondering. Have I priced mine right to sell?

Seems high. Id sell the luggage setup separately... the givi is very sought after.

FWIW, I picked up my 95 with 13k on it for $2500. And I've seen better deals than that out there. Part of it depends on what else is for sale at the moment.

[The Kurgan]

Does anybody know where I can order new carburetor drain screws for a 2001 NH 750??

It seems that from my Internet searching that you have to order the entire float bowl assembly at $66.00 each, and the gasket kits at $33 each (just so I can harvest 1 small o-ring)

Surely, somebody just carries the drain screws and the little o-rings?

They look like this...

[roadrunnerADV]

Originally Posted by The Kurgan

Does anybody know where I can order new carburetor drain screws for a 2001 NH 750??

It seems that from my Internet searching that you have to order the entire float bowl assembly at $66.00 each, and the gasket kits at $33 each (just so I can harvest 1 small o-ring)

Surely, somebody just carries the drain screws and the little o-rings?

They look like this...

Have you tried taking one of the other screws out and matching it up at Lowes or Home Depot? Harbor Freight sells a metric o-ring selection for practically nothing. The smallest o-ring in the selection is 1.9mm ID.

[creaky]

My Nighthawk has 42K, runs like a new one, it is the most troublefree (100%) street bike that I have had.

[The Kurgan]

Originally Posted by nerdier

Have you tried taking one of the other screws out and matching it up at Lowes or Home Depot? Harbor Freight sells a metric o-ring selection for practically nothing. The smallest o-ring in the selection is 1.9mm ID.

I pulled all four out. The o-rings look good. The screws, however, are not your standard screw. They have a tappered end.
They look like this:



I found these on Randakk's page, but I cannot confirm they fit post-1983 Nighthawks, they look very close: http://www.randakks.com/DOHC%20Four%20Page.htm#4

[truck6driver]

Hey guys just wanted to let you know that I have the last of my Nighthawk stuff in the flea market

A UNI air filter and left side panel for a CB650SC

Here are the links to the FM threads.

Air Filter
http://advrider.com/forums/showthrea...hlight=cb650sc

Side Cover
http://advrider.com/forums/showthrea...hlight=cb650sc


Ray

[The Kurgan]

Looking for a Hondaline backrest for 1991+ NH750. If you have one, let me now. I will pay top $$ for it.

[CL77]

A guy I know just got one. I'll check and see where he bought it.

Think it was from ebay. I'll find out how much it was, too.