My 93 Honda Nighthawk, soon to be Bobber

[Patmando]

Hi,

I picked up this 93 Honda Nighthawk.  It was actually a gift from a friend of a friend.  A 'looking for a good home' type of deal.  It was not attended to for a year.  But after a battery charge and some fresh gas it was purring like a kitten.  It was obvious that someone had done some learning when riding it.  It's actually my first bike.  So I had no problem with that.  And of course, just like everyone always says, you don't know s??? about riding till you take a digger.  I did.  And the bike handled it beautifully, and I think I did ok too.  So here it is.  1993 Honda Knighthawk 750cc



This is how it looked when I first saw it.  Awesome!



Loaded up in the back of the my brother's pick up.  Ready to battle some Manhattan traffic before getting it back to Bridgeport Ct.  Stressful!



At the DMV for its registration!  You can see that I wasn't the first one to lay it down.



You can see my customization here.  Again, this bike behaved beautifully.  I'm not looking for driving instruction here.  You can give advice when you have more driving experience than I do.  I'm new to motorcycles, but have an excellent teacher.  I start to take away some plastic.  

This is my first automotive project in many years.  You may notice a jeep in some of these pictures.  It has a v8 and a one ton tranny in it.  That was my first major project.  There were a few between now and then.



So I take off all of the plastic and seat.  You can really see the beauty of this bike.  It's got gorgeous lines.  



So I take the plunge and pull off the air box.  I can actually see what I want to accomplish now.  But a little unsure of how to move forward.  It seems to run fine w/o the factory air box.  So I'm not going to mess with the carbs until they ask me to.  But I do want to lower it.  I'm not sure about where to find rear shocks.  

Also, I'm on a budget.  I'm getting married this winter and customized motorcycles is not on the priority list.  My future wife is totally supportive, but I can't really spend any money on this.

Any thoughts?

[harrisonfaulkner]

 

[JB1290]

Just grab the sawzall or angle grinder and go nuts.
 

Just keep posting progress pics.

[Patmando]

Hi,

I honestly really appreciate your sentiment.  I had a 1989 Caprice Classic that I kept perfectly pristine and factory fresh for 5 years!  It was amazing to me.  I also understand that I will be messing up the timing of the motorcycle by interfering with the air box.  So I'm going to build a new air box.  But even as a Nighthawk fan, aren't you in awe of the beauty of this bike?  I just want to show off some of the things that make it an amazing bike. 

[Patmando]

Thanks, JB!  I see it now.  I'm going to go slow, so that I enjoy and learn as much as possible.  But as soon as my brother gets back from his weekend date i'm going to bring it up to his shop to use the air tools.  One thing I'm having trouble with is the seat.  I like this bike as a date bike.  The seat is pretty comfortable.  Can I lower it and still use the seat?

[JB1290]

I'm a fan of many of the UJM's. The NH just happens to be my favorite of all of them.

Are you planning on hardtailing the bike? Or just lowering it?

Good luck on making a new airbox for it. The carbs on these bikes can be very finnicky when the airflow is changed from the stock format. Jetting changes may be required with changes to the filter, box, etc...

[JB1290]

Thanks, JB!  I see it now.  I'm going to go slow, so that I enjoy and learn as much as possible.  But as soon as my brother gets back from his weekend date i'm going to bring it up to his shop to use the air tools.  One thing I'm having trouble with is the seat.  I like this bike as a date bike.  The seat is pretty comfortable.  Can I lower it and still use the seat?

I don't see why you couldn't use the seat from just lowering it. If you cut any of the rear frame off, then the stock seat could be an issue.

[NightHawked]

 I can't watch anymore. Put everything back where it was and enjoy the bike for what it is. Save your money. Stock will enable you to take the bride to be for a ride.The previous owner said they were looking for a good home for it. You took it home and stripped half of it.

 OK I'm done now.  to the Forum. Enjoy.

[Patmando]

Thanks again!

I think I can still bob it and keep the seat!  and NightHawked, I do have every part labeled and boxed and ready to get put back on.  I haven't done a single permanent thing here yet.  Surprising isn't it?  How much of this bike was designed to be taken off?

[NightHawked]

Yea I read that about the seat, you got me there. Well I guess continue but please please reconsider what you are doing and to a black one yet.

[Patmando]

What about making it so i could put on one of two seats?  The catches are pretty far forward.  it might work.

[NightHawked]

The "j's" are what 1/2ish way back, mine has a lock and that is back pretty far, not that you really need it. It would probably work.
 You want to lower it in the back, what are you doing to the front. I mean you are changing the handling of it, if it is for the better great but if not what do you have a round the block hopefully show piece? I'm sorry I have to stop for now.

[Patmando]

Its going to be functional and beautiful.  But just strip away the bulls???.  Why does a motorcycle have emissions?  They are already uber efficient. 

[NightHawked]

It better be. I'll pretend I didn't hear that about the stylish panels and such. To control pollution. Be lucky you don't have a California model some if not all are much worse from what I hear. Heck they want to or have already done emission stuff to outside power equipment. Some cars are now as good or better than these bikes.

[Option13]

Because emissions and fuel consumption are completely different.

These bikes are carburetted and have no catalytic converter. Just about any modern car is cleaner in terms of emissions. Less fuel consumption? It's certainly possible, but a car polluting less is almost a given.

[hockeyhawk]

  and Congrats on your new nighthawk and good luck with the project.

You will find that most members here are purist and love nighthawks in their stock condition and appreciate a really nice clean bike more than one that has been chopped and cut. With that being said the workmanship and talent that goes into a NICE bob or custom chop is much appreciated.

You also may find that some bikes that have been chopped are much less useful than they were in their stock condition.

The only advice i would offer is to maybee try riding the bike for a while in the stock format before you decide to modify it. You may be surprised and learn to love your hawk just the way it is.

What every you decide, I look forward to reading about it and seeing some 

[NightHawked]

Because emissions and fuel consumption are completely different.

These bikes are carburetted and have no catalytic converter. Just about any modern car is cleaner in terms of emissions. Less fuel consumption? It's certainly possible, but a car polluting less is almost a given.

Interesting can't say I looked at it that way.

[ariwhiteboy]

  to the forum!

Chopping a late model 750 is not going to be easy, but if you go slow and ask plenty of questions you should be able to come out with something. As an aside, you might consider doing a cafe' to it...just as cool IMO and you would retain much more functionality. 

Either way keep us posted with plenty of 

P.S. Armored gear helps immensely with those "diggers".

[hppants]

Welcome to the group, ride safe.  Get the gear.  Get the gear.  Wear the friggin gear!!!!  DAMHIK.

If you are considering POD style air filters, be forewarned, the bike runs a little lean from the factory, and this mod will likely drive you nuts.  You could try the carb washer mod - using 2 washers instead of 1, but that will only help your part-throttle bog.  You will have to play with the main jet to get anything close to right - and that might take a full weekend or longer.

I know that rear shocks from some Honda Shadows are shorter than the Nighthawks, fit and function well, and look pretty good too.  Ask member Luckylindy about which year(s) might work for that.

If you want the fat tire look, some members have gone up to the 150 tire, but past that, and the swingarm has to be replaced, which is going to be a real challenge.

There have been several NH bobber projects on this forum that have been well documented.  A simple search should give you plenty of ideas - some better than others.

The bobber is not my thing, but I get it.  However, IMO, there's a very fine line between a nice looking (albeit disfunctional) Bobber and a POS Rat Bike.  Hope you get what you want.

[tbante]

Pants:  "However, IMO, there's a very fine line between a nice looking (albeit disfunctional) Bobber and a POS Rat Bike.  Hope you get what you want."

Absolutely great observation!

[cmyers]

Welcome 

While I can appreciate well done customization - to say that you dont have much income for a bike and wanting something to use as a date bike I would strongly consider leaving it stock for a while. Ride it letting you and your SOQS (She of Queenly Status - wife) enjoy it for a while, and in the mean time research other projects, plan what changes you would want to make, set aside the money needed for parts/paint/incidentals.

Also what are the condition of the tires, the brakes, lights, the fork seals, the oil, and chain and sprockets. Theses items are needed regardless of what you do to the bike and could easily cost several hundreds of dollars.

I applaud you for you enthusiasm and hope you take my comments as they are intended, which is as a little practical advice. Below is one photo of a Cafe job that someone (forgot who) once shared with me. IMO it looks pretty good and is still extremely functional in that it wouldnt have lost any of it handling or performance characteristics.

[talespin]

Its going to be functional and beautiful.

I've never seen a stripped or bobbed Nighthawk that looked better than the original. They mostly look like what so many of them are, in my opinion - backyard mutilations whose form and function have been compromised. YMMV. I think the Honda engineers and designers hit a home run with the NH series. Disclaimer: some people think I'm a grouchy old fart.

Why does a motorcycle have emissions?  They are already uber efficient. 

Bikes that have emissions controls have them to minimize pollution, not improve gas mileage. Some people think clean air is important, like for breathing and stuff.

[Patmando]

We went over it for an initial inspection a year ago.  We came up with a wish list, but the bike was in impressive condition and pretty safe.  I have already ridden on it for a year and enjoyed it for what it was.  Easy, comfortable and fun.  I took my 'wife to be' for our dates, she loved it.  But it's too high and not comfortable for her to get on and off.

The bobber is not my thing, but I get it.  However, IMO, there's a very fine line between a nice looking (albeit disfunctional) Bobber and a POS Rat Bike.  Hope you get what you want.

So now I want to fulfill a dream of mine.  To own and love a POS Rat Bike!  Isn't that a stepping stone on the walk to every bike builder's dream? 

I live in a neighborhood of bolt ons.  Every DB in the world who ever walked into a Harley Dealer has taken their exhaust off their Harley and called it Custom.  There are a thousand of these in my neighborhood.  I just want something comfortable and unique. 

I want two things from this bike. 
1) to start a new hobby.  That doesn't mean I'm going to be good at it my first try. 
2) something unique, fun, safe and runs great!

Thanks for the input!  I really appreciate the suggestions!

[Wahrsuul]

 Disclaimer: some people think I'm a grouchy old fart.

Damn grouchy old farts....Get off my lawn!!   Oh wait, that's backwards

Few are the people on here that haven't modded their bikes to some extent.  Back rests, highway pegs, additional lights, Hodge mods, hard bags, windshields...  In the end, it's your bike, do what you will.  If we can help, we probably will.

I contemplated chopping up my 96, but in the end, I just didn't have a clear vison of what I wanted it to be.

[hppants]

To own and love a POS Rat Bike!  Isn't that a stepping stone on the walk to every bike builder's dream?

Prolly so - touche'   

Good luck with your project - I'll help any way I can, keeping my bobber opinions to myself.