- This topic has 9 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 10 months ago by megaspaz.
Just bought my first bike. 1982 Honda Night Hawk 450
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June 12, 2008 at 11:07 pm #1512c_dlcParticipant
I just bought my first bike. 1982 Honda Nighthawk 450. Found it on craigslist. Listed for 1500. Ended up paying 1200 with a helmet thrown in. It has about 14000 miles on it. Second owner says they did some work to the engine adding 50 cc making it a 500.
Here are some pictures.
http://orlando.craigslist.org/mcy/712868950.htmlWhat do you think of the price? Overall the bike looks good. Some minor scuff marks but he is also including the paint to cover them up. The RPM doesn’t work. He says the cable was too short so it just needs to be replaced.
This the type of bike that I have been looking for.
I will be picking it up on Monday.June 12, 2008 at 11:20 pm #7272megaspazParticipantCongrats on getting a bike. I’d toss away the helmet and get a new one. Who knows what the guy did to it…
Did you take a test ride on the bike?
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If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now…June 12, 2008 at 11:38 pm #7273c_dlcParticipantYup rode it around. Im new but it felt good to me.
June 13, 2008 at 4:45 am #7282uncle_bernieParticipantLooks nice! Not sure what the right or wrong price is for a 1982 Nighthawk but I view most all purchases with the mindset of the house inspector we used when we were house hunting in Houston. He said “there’s no such thing as a bad house, just a bad price”. If it’s what you want, in good shape, and reliable, then there you have it.
~He who laughs last didn’t get the joke…
June 16, 2008 at 12:23 am #7367RabParticipantLooks like a great bike, and not just to learn on (being a 450/500).
Nice simple, reliable, air-cooled parallel twin by the looks of it.
I really wish they still sold standards like this in the 350-500 c.c. class in the U.S.A.
They make perfect commuters with their upright riding position, lightness, reliability and fuel economy,
June 16, 2008 at 12:29 am #7370RabParticipantWhere are the mufflers? Can’t see any in the pictures.
I’m sure you can buy something that’ll fit, but it looks like they’re missing and they’re not cheap…
June 16, 2008 at 5:31 am #7384c_dlcParticipantMufflers??? Yea I forgot to type that the mufflers are missing. Now I am on a mission to find a parted out nighthawk so I can get them at a cheap price. For now the bike is just loud.
I picked her up today. First time on the road, local and highway, with any motorcycle. Some things of note for a first ride;
Look where you want to go on turns. I caught myself looking behind me checking for cars while turning on an on-ramp. I quickly realized how important it is to look where you want to go.
Highway riding is for the most part easy. I read somewhere that going fast in a straight line doesn’t make you a motorcyclist. My father drove behind me and I kept at about 55. Hit 65 once. Only time I got nervous was when an 18 wheeler was passing me up on the left. I definitely felt the wind from the truck but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I will focus my practice on local roads.
A 450 is plenty of power. I can see me later possibly moving up but it is sufficient power for cruising on the highway. I was barely rolling the throttle while cruising at 55. I know she had a lot more left.
I thought I would like standard bikes and I was right. Though its only been the first day and no real experience on a sports bike I like the way this bike feels. The only issue is my right ankle feeling a bit sore from holding the foot right above the brake. I might be able to adjust the brake so that I can rest my foot flat without pressing the brake.
It took me over 3 years to actually get a bike and now I have it. I am excited.
June 16, 2008 at 6:44 am #7386megaspazParticipantI picked her up today.
Congrats. (-:
First time on the road, local and highway, with any motorcycle. Some things of note for a first ride;Look where you want to go on turns. I caught myself looking behind me checking for cars while turning on an on-ramp. I quickly realized how important it is to look where you want to go.
Important, but don’t forget to keep evaluating conditions even in a turn. Looking to where you want to exit a turn’s important but if you fixate only on that, you might miss that big bumpy crack or humungous pothole on the road that’ll upset your bike and… you get the picture.
Highway riding is for the most part easy.Yup. But still stressful… Especially, during rush hour commute times. Even more stressful on a bike and dealing with pissed off cagers in stop’n’go looking to get to where they want to go faster than you.
I read somewhere that going fast in a straight line doesn’t make you a motorcyclist.Not sure what the requirements are for being a motorcyclist. I’m pretty sure riding on a motorcycle must be a big part of it. Others have their ideas on what makes a “real” motorcyclist. Some valid, some arrogant. I find most people’s viewpoints on what a “real” motorcyclist is falls on the side of arrogance. *shrugs*
My father drove behind me and I kept at about 55. Hit 65 once. Only time I got nervous was when an 18 wheeler was passing me up on the left. I definitely felt the wind from the truck but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I will focus my practice on local roads.A 450 is plenty of power. I can see me later possibly moving up but it is sufficient power for cruising on the highway. I was barely rolling the throttle while cruising at 55. I know she had a lot more left.
If your speed limit’s 65, ride at least at 65. At least here in California, driving under the speed limit on a bike is considering becoming an endangerment to other motorists.
I thought I would like standard bikes and I was right. Though its only been the first day and no real experience on a sports bike I like the way this bike feels. The only issue is my right ankle feeling a bit sore from holding the foot right above the brake. I might be able to adjust the brake so that I can rest my foot flat without pressing the brake.When riding at speed, you rest the balls of your foot on the foot peg, not cover the rear brake with your foot. This shifts the weight off your ankles. The balls of your feet is designed to take that kind of stress and it aids in balancing in general.
It took me over 3 years to actually get a bike and now I have it. I am excited.Indeed. (-:
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If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now…June 23, 2008 at 5:10 pm #7696c_dlcParticipantWhen riding at speed, you rest the balls of your foot on the foot peg, not cover the rear brake with your foot. This shifts the weight off your ankles. The balls of your feet is designed to take that kind of stress and it aids in balancing in general.
Awww yes that works. Thank You.
Have had the bike a little over a week. Got caught in a downpour which was interesting. I have not bought any rain gear yet so I got completely soaked. It was so bad that I when I stopped under an overpass I was joining about 10 other cars who had stopped.
I am working on getting more comfortable with leaning at higher speeds. I need to trust the bike more. I want to take it someplace where I can practice leaning at 35-50 mph. Question that I have…when turning at these speeds do you counter lean at all or stay centered on the bike (go into the turn)?
June 23, 2008 at 5:23 pm #7697megaspazParticipantQuestion that I have…when turning at these speeds do you counter lean at all or stay centered on the bike (go into the turn)?
when going at speed, you lean into the turn. When doing a real slow tight turn, like a uturn, you’ll want to intially counter balance and then lean into the turn when you accellerate out of the apex. Actually, I’m not really sure when else you’d want to counter balance except when doing a uturn.
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If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now… -
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