b13pnoysentra 
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Bike: 1983 Honda Nighthawk 650
Posts: 6
Join Date: Nov, 2011
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« on: December 06, 2011, 01:15:56 AM » |
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Hello! It's nice to finally find a Nighthawk dedicated forum. I started riding a couple of months ago in October and learned on my friend's Buell Blast (yellow one in the pic). Just going around the parking lot in first gear and learning the clutch control convinced me enough that I had to have my own bike to learn on without worrying about breaking his so I bought this 1983 Nighthawk 650. I really did not know much about bikes, but this bike ran well enough, was the right price, and its classic look appealed to me. I'm 24, but I figured I didn't really want one of those sport bikes that every rider around my age was riding around in. The Nighthawk has the looks of a cruiser without being too bulky and leans well enough to turn like a sport bike, and this makes it stand out from the majority of bikes I see on the road. So far just made a few changes to the seat padding, handlebars, and headlight. It's got a 4 to 1 header of some sort (don't know brand name). Overall, this is a very well put-together forum. I've been browsing for a while and have found some very useful info and very helpful responses from the members. Bravo   |
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ariwhiteboy
Child Psychologist (No, Really)
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Carpe Navitas
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« Reply #1 on: December 06, 2011, 01:46:23 AM » |
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 to the forum! I like what you did with the headlight. Take care and ride safe! 
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What is good Phaedrus, what is not good? Need we ask anyone this?
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jerjohn
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« Reply #2 on: December 06, 2011, 01:47:36 AM » |
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Welcome. I like your headlight, did you keep the sidecovers? How does it run with those foam pods? That will spank your friends buell all day long.
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2000 Nighthawk 750
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hppants
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"Aging is inevitable. Maturing is an option!"
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« Reply #3 on: December 06, 2011, 06:34:55 AM » |
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Welcome to the group - ride safe.
Looks like your header is a Mac 4-1. makes nice sound, but many like the stock exhaust better. Personal preference, I say.
Where do you call home?
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2005 FJR1300
96 CB750 - sold
84 CB700SC - sold
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drdubb
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« Reply #4 on: December 06, 2011, 08:44:08 AM » |
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Welcome aboard. I've got on old 83 also.
Noticed the non stock bars and that the fork legs are raised in the triple trees quite a bit. This can have a negative effect on handling. Might want to think about that.
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Dance as if no one is looking.
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fortyhourdays
Dining Room Mechanic
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« Reply #5 on: December 06, 2011, 10:51:55 AM » |
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Welcome  Nice job picking up the Nighthawk. They are great bikes. |
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Jon
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SirSeanSean
The Brown Knight.
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Drink Coffee.
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« Reply #6 on: December 06, 2011, 02:23:11 PM » |
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I like your choice of Nighthawk. Any reason you have the forks raised like they are?
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1984 CB650SC Java.
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cjbear11
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Iron Butt 1000 - 1983 Honda Nighthawk 650
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« Reply #7 on: December 06, 2011, 02:44:03 PM » |
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Cool bike 
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genespleen
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« Reply #8 on: December 06, 2011, 05:47:26 PM » |
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I really like the headlight assembly, but wow--that bike is dropped way down on the fork tubes. Were the front wheel to bottom out, would it contact the oil cooler? How does it deal with aggressive leans? (Dropping the bike down on the tubes like that really takes away a bike's clearance.)
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David
1985 CB650sc
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Option13
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« Reply #9 on: December 06, 2011, 10:17:33 PM » |
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I think that's just a case of missing sidecover. Who takes off the sidecover and leaves the rear cowl on? I have to agree with the others though, you should raise the fork tubes a bit, if only for safety's sake. Bottoming out would be quite ugly. Plus, in my experience, lowering the forks doesn't noticeably sharpen steering and only reduces cornering clearance - I scrape pegs on my NH often. I raised mine back up to stock after having them lowered for 200 miles, and felt no difference between the two above parking lot speeds. I have to say I kind of like the headlight! I'd love to get a projector beam unit styled similar to yours on my bike, but I'm too cheap and have gotten a soft spot for the rectangular headlight.  |
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'84 650 - "Naia" | DDM HID | 700S Rotors | SS Brake Lines
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Hawk4Tony
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« Reply #10 on: December 07, 2011, 08:07:13 AM » |
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Nice looking 650. The headlight treatment definitely makes it distinctive. My brother has 3 bikes, a VTX 1300, a 919 and his 650 and it's the 650 he rides daily. He picked it up cheap because it's a project bike with near 100k miles on it. He put about 40k miles before the engine went south. He found a damaged 650 with a great engine/trans and swapped it out. Here's a snap of his bike and like yours has the pod filters. The side covers are notched to match them. Maybe something to consider for your bike. Between my brother and this forum I've gotten great advice and ideas on my Nighthawk. Enjoy yours. Ride safe 
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JB1290
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« Reply #11 on: December 07, 2011, 11:10:42 AM » |
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I'd rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6
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Laminar
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« Reply #12 on: December 07, 2011, 02:41:41 PM » |
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I have to say I kind of like the headlight! I'd love to get a projector beam unit styled similar to yours on my bike, but I'm too cheap and have gotten a soft spot for the rectangular headlight. I'd love to find the headlight/fairing from a B-King:  |
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It's not what it is, it's what it does.
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b13pnoysentra
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Bike: 1983 Honda Nighthawk 650
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« Reply #13 on: December 08, 2011, 12:37:05 AM » |
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Hey guys thanks for the warm welcome. Anyway, my friend did lower the front of the bike just to see how it would look and handle being lowered. Come to find out like you guys say, it BOTTOMS OUT 95% of the time. Today I took a right turn with a little lean and scraped pretty hard on something (pegs or most likely the exhaust manifold) and I fishtailed a bit but recovered. Yes I will most likely raise it back up to stock. I still have the covers by the way. They were off since the battery was being charged. Thanks for the tips!
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Deadly
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« Reply #14 on: December 09, 2011, 12:47:36 PM » |
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b13pnoysentra
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« Reply #15 on: January 15, 2012, 05:16:16 PM » |
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KarlJay
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« Reply #16 on: January 17, 2012, 03:40:58 AM » |
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NICE job! I saw you had pod filters on there, did you get it to run right with pod filters?
Several here have tried to get pods to work without much luck.
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hppants
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"Aging is inevitable. Maturing is an option!"
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« Reply #17 on: January 17, 2012, 06:33:27 AM » |
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Redline on the 650 is higher than 10K. But I like the dial. Are those standard handlebars that are just turned down, or are they specifically made to be mounted that way? To ride in that position for more than 2 miles would be a back breaker for me. Nice looking bike. |
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2005 FJR1300
96 CB750 - sold
84 CB700SC - sold
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Laminar
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« Reply #18 on: January 17, 2012, 04:01:04 PM » |
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Are those standard handlebars that are just turned down, or are they specifically made to be mounted that way?
Those are Clubman bars, specially designed to smash your controls into your tank. |
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It's not what it is, it's what it does.
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b13pnoysentra
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Bike: 1983 Honda Nighthawk 650
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Join Date: Nov, 2011
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« Reply #19 on: March 20, 2012, 01:17:56 AM » |
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butcher650
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« Reply #20 on: March 20, 2012, 03:47:30 AM » |
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That is some beautiful views and roads right there!
GOD I wish the UK had some views like that...
I love the bikes!
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rheklas1
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« Reply #21 on: March 20, 2012, 07:27:56 AM » |
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Man oh man! The headlight assembly in the second pic is hot  ! I also just picked up an 83 650. Can you fill me in on where you got that and what you had to do to make it work? |
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b13pnoysentra
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Bike: 1983 Honda Nighthawk 650
Posts: 6
Join Date: Nov, 2011
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« Reply #22 on: March 20, 2012, 01:14:20 PM » |
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Man oh man! The headlight assembly in the second pic is hot ! I also just picked up an 83 650. Can you fill me in on where you got that and what you had to do to make it work? You can buy mine from me since I'm no longer using it. I switched over to the round headlight. It's on ebay for $40 + shipping but I can ship it to you for less. Message me (paypal preferred) |
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Laminar
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« Reply #23 on: March 20, 2012, 02:46:56 PM » |
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That's one of those 25W bulb housings, no?
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It's not what it is, it's what it does.
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b13pnoysentra
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Bike: 1983 Honda Nighthawk 650
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« Reply #24 on: April 28, 2012, 03:08:24 PM » |
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