Official Nighthawk thread

[Slayer]

Originally Posted by Deadly

Those look pretty nice, Im going to think about it for a day or so. Can you post some photos of your bike from the front view?

As you can in this pic, they stick out about 2 inches further than stock and sit about an inch higher. They are not near the quality of the originals (weight wise and being as vibration resistant) but for the price you can't go wrong.

I cannot believe you are considering selling your NH. After all the sweat (blood, tears?) you've put into it?

[Deadly]

Originally Posted by Slayer

I cannot believe you are considering selling your NH. After all the sweat (blood, tears?) you've put into it?

I told my wife I was thinking of selling the bike and she just rolled her eyes at me. I spent almost $1,000 on it this past winter upgrading the suspension and a few other things. If and when I sell it though everything goes with it including the trailer I pull behind it once in a while.

I have not listed it publicly other than in my signature on a couple of message boards.

[beardking]

Originally Posted by Deadly

I get in the mood to sell mine every once in a while and Im in one of those moods now but, ..... you guys are making feel kind of bad about the idea.

I had actually been considering putting mine up for sale lately because I was wanting something newer and a little more powerful (probably a bad idea on the power). Had the "mishap" before I could decide and it was decided for me. The good thing is I bought my Nighthawk for $1400 last year because it needed carb work. The insurance is giving me $2500 for it, so I made $1100 profit AND got a full year of riding experience on a nearly flawless bike. Works good all the way around.

[tshepp]

I've had it for a year now and try to ride every chance I can get!

[tshepp]

I've had it for a year now and try to ride every chance I can get!

[Lee Keller King]

Originally Posted by eteller

Okay Nighthawk owners, come out of the closet! Let's have our own thread to celebrate one of the most underated bikes ever. Post you're pics and any Nighthawk discussions. Here's my new (to me) 2003 750

So, I don't have my NH yet. I'm stuck between two bikes and hope to make a decision and pick one up tomorrow (Payday!).

Bike 1 is a 1982 CB650SC with 15,000 miles. I met the owner on a local board and he is selling to make room for a newer, larger bike (looking at Suzuki Bandit 1200s). It has a new chain and good tires and he rides it on a regular basis. His mechanic says it needs a new rotor in the charging system, but he'll do the install for $25 if I supply the part. I'm taking a test drive later today. He will let me have it for $1,300, which is more than KBB but the bike is well cared for.

Bike 2 is a 1992 CB750SC with 21,000 miles, from an owner who posted it on Craigslist but got no takers. He has reduced the price from $2,200 to $1,500 and will probably take less (he is being transferred out of the country by his employer). The bike needs a new chain soon (and probably new sprockets), has good tires and no major dings (bad spot on seat at right front about 1/2 inch wide). Not a regular rider but started right up when I looked at it yesterday.

Both bikes are blue, but Bike 2 doesn't have the Honda logo on the tank.

So which one do I take? Argghhh.... This was easier when I had only ONE bike to choose from!

Help me, group mind! Help me!


(Photo is Bike 2)

[Lee Keller King]

Originally Posted by Lee Keller King

So, I don't have my NH yet. I'm stuck between two bikes and hope to make a decision and pick one up tomorrow (Payday!).

Bike 1 is a 1982 CB650SC with 15,000 miles. I met the owner on a local board and he is selling to make room for a newer, larger bike (looking at Suzuki Bandit 1200s). It has a new chain and good tires and he rides it on a regular basis. His mechanic says it needs a new rotor in the charging system, but he'll do the install for $25 if I supply the part. I'm taking a test drive later today. He will let me have it for $1,300, which is more than KBB but the bike is well cared for.

Here is a photo of Bike 1 (the 650).

[AR-TRVLR]

I'd go for the 750. I've heard mixed opinions on the 650 motor, but the 750 is reputed to be solid mechanically.

Are those wheels on the 750 standard, though? Perhaps painted?

[Slayer]

I'd go for the Nighthawk 750 also. It's 10 years newer even though it has a few more miles. I'd bet the 650 is great too but you're looking at a bike that is 26 years old. Of course the other one is 16 but that's better than 26. I'd worry about seals and such on the older one. IMHO of course. Good luck with whichever one you choose.

[Lee Keller King]

Originally Posted by AR-TRVLR

I'd go for the 750. I've heard mixed opinions on the 650 motor, but the 750 is reputed to be solid mechanically.

Are those wheels on the 750 standard, though? Perhaps painted?

I think they are the original wheels, painted to match the bike.

Lee

[beardking]

Originally Posted by Lee Keller King

I think they are the original wheels, painted to match the bike.

Lee

Lee, those are definitely the stock wheels, but someone has definitely gotten after them with a spray can. Since it doesn't have the Hondo logo on the tank, I'm assuming that the tank has been painted, right? You might want to go over it really well to see if it's been laid down hard.

[Deadly]

Originally Posted by Lee Keller King

So, I don't have my NH yet. I'm stuck between two bikes and hope to make a decision and pick one up tomorrow (Payday!).

Bike 1 is a 1982 CB650SC with 15,000 miles. I met the owner on a local board and he is selling to make room for a newer, larger bike (looking at Suzuki Bandit 1200s). It has a new chain and good tires and he rides it on a regular basis. His mechanic says it needs a new rotor in the charging system, but he'll do the install for $25 if I supply the part. I'm taking a test drive later today. He will let me have it for $1,300, which is more than KBB but the bike is well cared for.

Bike 2 is a 1992 CB750SC with 21,000 miles, from an owner who posted it on Craigslist but got no takers. He has reduced the price from $2,200 to $1,500 and will probably take less (he is being transferred out of the country by his employer). The bike needs a new chain soon (and probably new sprockets), has good tires and no major dings (bad spot on seat at right front about 1/2 inch wide). Not a regular rider but started right up when I looked at it yesterday.

Both bikes are blue, but Bike 2 doesn't have the Honda logo on the tank.

So which one do I take? Argghhh.... This was easier when I had only ONE bike to choose from!

Help me, group mind! Help me!


(Photo is Bike 2)

How about a Black 02' model? You wont get it as cheap as either of those bikes but you will get lots of stuff with it.

[Lee Keller King]

Originally Posted by beardking

Lee, those are definitely the stock wheels, but someone has definitely gotten after them with a spray can. Since it doesn't have the Hondo logo on the tank, I'm assuming that the tank has been painted, right? You might want to go over it really well to see if it's been laid down hard.

Well, its been takin out of my hands. Someone else bought the 1992 before I could get the cash.

I'm going to go with the 1982 so my wife doesn't spend the money on Botox, first!

[Deadly]

Here's a little something you will not see everyday. I stumbled upon this website about a week ago. Its the Endless Highways website which looks to be run by a guy name Walter Colebatch.

This is just a little snip-it from a Russia/Siberia ride report I found on the site:

Russia / Siberia 2004

"I think we were lucky to get to Chita in one piece, and especially so because we had unusually good weather except for one day. John’s and Steve’s bikes took terrible punishment during that week. The BMW lost a right fork seal --- Steve observes that an Englishman’s fork seal leaks but an American’s fork seal is always blown --- in the first hour. The shock was next. The instrument panel almost rattled off. A Jesse bag mounting bolt broke in half. A sub-frame bolt unscrewed itself. The sub-frame itself is bending. John rides hard and fast. The BMW R100GS is paying the price.

Steve’s KTM 640 has been beaten like a red-headed stepchild as well. His left fork seal leaks. His shock is finished. His tail light bulb hasn’t worked since we left Sakhalin. Twice he has had welders repair a saddlebag mount. In fairness to the machine, most of its problems have surfaced on the return trip.

And how are the Honda Nighthawks doing, you ask? Not a single part of original equipment manufacture has failed on either machine."


Unfortunately this ride report has no photos but you can check out the whole report here:

http://www.endless-highway.info/tokyolondon/attwood.htm



I have e-mailed Mike Kneebone and asked for a photo of the Nighthawks but have not heard back from him (prob. to busy or something).

[Deadly]

I went riding this evening just before sunset. My favorite time to ride is at night. The damp night air seems to enhance things like the smell of fresh cut hay, and the smokey smell of wood or brush burning.