My 1982 CB650SC Nighthawk

[jacobarber]

My 1st bike. Just bought it on Tuesday.



It runs great; a little tough to get going in the cold, but warms up quick enough and rides smooth. I am replacing the rear brake shoes this weekend and possibly doing the left fork seal. It's a little leaky, but not pouring out. I've gotta grab a few odds and ends: shift pedal rubber peg, left passenger rubber peg, speedo bulb, and a new clutch cable. I think it's a bit old and stretched to the point where oiling it won't do any good at all.

All in all, I'm very happy with this bike so far. And I can't wait for the warmer weather to return. Buying in winter is great for prices, but awful if you get the itch to ride.

[fortyhourdays]

Welcome to the addiction   That's a good looking 650. 

ATGATT (All The Gear All The Time)

[happycommuter]

My 1st bike. Just bought it on Tuesday.

How coy.  C'mon how'd you get into bikes and riding?  Nobody is born a motorcyclist.

Is it hard to start or just takes a while to warm up?  Have you adjusted the clutch cable and brake shoe lever?  I hope you're replacing both fork seals and the fork oil while you're at it.  You may be able to ghetto rig a piece of fuel line or other rubber hose over the shift peg.

Overall it looks pretty good and you seem keen on maintenance.  Winter riding is great as the diminished traction enforces smoothness.  Oh yeah, I'm hoping the sun is just making the rear tire look really oxidized.  Please tell me it's pliable and sticky.  Anyway, every new rider with a new bike should be spending a lot of parking lot practice time before venturing into traffic.

[cjbear11]

  Sweet 650! Thats a great bike. +1 to changing out both fork seals at the same time. Also, the first thing on your list when the spring rolls around should be to buy new tires. Don't trust old rubber.

[jacobarber]

Welcome to the addiction   That's a good looking 650. 

ATGATT (All The Gear All The Time)

Thanks much. I ride with full gear regardless of conditions.

My 1st bike. Just bought it on Tuesday.

How coy.  C'mon how'd you get into bikes and riding?  Nobody is born a motorcyclist.

Is it hard to start or just takes a while to warm up?  Have you adjusted the clutch cable and brake shoe lever?  I hope you're replacing both fork seals and the fork oil while you're at it.  You may be able to ghetto rig a piece of fuel line or other rubber hose over the shift peg.

Overall it looks pretty good and you seem keen on maintenance.  Winter riding is great as the diminished traction enforces smoothness.  Oh yeah, I'm hoping the sun is just making the rear tire look really oxidized.  Please tell me it's pliable and sticky.  Anyway, every new rider with a new bike should be spending a lot of parking lot practice time before venturing into traffic.

I used to ride dirt bikes with my buddy in high school, but that was over 10 years ago. I just got the bug, took the MSF course this past summer, and let nature take its course.

In the cold, I close the choke all the way and give it a little throttle to keep it from stalling. After a few mins, I slowly open the choke back up until she idles steady without any assistance. In mid-40s, it takes about 5 minutes altogether. Then she runs great and starts back up without hesitation.

I haven't adjusted anything yet. The clutch cable is cheap and easy enough to replace that I don't feel like trying to revive a potentially stretched and corroded cable. The rear brake shoes are inexpensive and easy to replace as well, so I'll make sure they're worn when I crack the drum open tomorrow.

And as for the fork seals, they'll both be changed at the same time. The PO gave me some replacements she bought, but never had the time to install. New dust boots too.

The only thing I have to look into more is that there's a little bit of oily residue on the outside of the motor. I have to clean it up and see if this is coming from O-rings or the head gasket. And some seafoam. I'm sure the internals could use a quick cleaning.

The tires are only a few months old. The picture is quite white-washed, so no worries there. I won't be riding around on old rubber for a while.

[Stitch919]

My 1st bike. Just bought it on Tuesday.

How coy.  C'mon how'd you get into bikes and riding?  Nobody is born a motorcyclist.

Is it hard to start or just takes a while to warm up?  Have you adjusted the clutch cable and brake shoe lever?  I hope you're replacing both fork seals and the fork oil while you're at it.  You may be able to ghetto rig a piece of fuel line or other rubber hose over the shift peg.

Overall it looks pretty good and you seem keen on maintenance.  Winter riding is great as the diminished traction enforces smoothness.  Oh yeah, I'm hoping the sun is just making the rear tire look really oxidized.  Please tell me it's pliable and sticky.  Anyway, every new rider with a new bike should be spending a lot of parking lot practice time before venturing into traffic.

I think i may have been born a motorcyclist cause it runs in my family from my grandfather to my dad to my uncle to my aunt(just on my dads side of the family) to my bro and me haha. runs in the blood...?

[happycommuter]

I just got the bug, took the MSF course this past summer...

That's what I was beating around the bush about.  Especially as a former dirtt rider, the MSF cousrse probably showed how different street riding is.

I think i may have been born a motorcyclist cause it runs in my family from my grandfather to my dad to my uncle to my aunt(just on my dads side of the family) to my bro and me haha. runs in the blood...?

I wish I could remember who I am paraphrasing, but just because we weren't born motorcyclists doesn't mean we werent' born to be motorcyclists.

[Stitch919]

I just got the bug, took the MSF course this past summer...

That's what I was beating around the bush about.  Especially as a former dirtt rider, the MSF cousrse probably showed how different street riding is.

I think i may have been born a motorcyclist cause it runs in my family from my grandfather to my dad to my uncle to my aunt(just on my dads side of the family) to my bro and me haha. runs in the blood...?

I wish I could remember who I am paraphrasing, but just because we weren't born motorcyclists doesn't mean we werent' born to be motorcyclists.

true but its the way i see it ya know where its somethin that has always been an interest in our family so yeah 

[ExTex]

Using SeaFoam in the gas is always a good idea. 
Nice Ride!
Merry Christmas

[JB1290]

 

[cb650]

Be very protective of the tank.  They are hard to come by.

[Stitch919]

Be very protective of the tank.  They are hard to come by.

either hard to find or very expensive cause i have seen tanks for my '93 750 nighthawk and seen prices that are 600-700 dollars just for the tank itself

[butcher650]

Very nice bike!! How rare are these particular models??

Its exactly the same as the one I have, and 82 CB650 Nighthawk but mine is in blue. I haven't seen many of them on here..

I am still trying to upload my pics for you all to see, Im new to the forum. Now about to figure out photobucket so I can upload them!

[Bumblebee]

How rare are these particular models??

The 650 SOHC was a 4 year run (79-82) The nighthawk (SC) was only 1982 so there wasn't much time to get them out before the major redesign for the 83+ models. They were also competing against the 750 at the same time. Essentially they took the 81 CB650C (custom), changed a few minor things, added more plastic then called it a nighthawk. Take care of it and do not break things or bopper it. Things like the stock 4-4 exhaust pipes are slightly more difficult to come by than winning the lottery 3 times in a row.

There are a few minor design problems (air-t-connectors for one) however overall it's an incredibly reliable design.

There are a fair amount of 82 CB650SC's out there. The 82 CB650 standard like I have is extremely rare - as in, I haven't seen another one in 16+ years.

[cb650]

The 4-4 pipes where made 3 years though.   I have 3 sets.  one in very good condition.

[jacobarber]

I'm wondering something.

I've read that the 82 CB650 Nighthawk came with a black engine block. Why is mine not black? It sure doesn't look like anyone repainted the motor. Every picture I've seen of these bikes there is a black motor. Makes me wonder if something happened and if the engine had been replaced at some point. Weird.

[Bumblebee]

That's the engine off the standard, not nighthawk. It could possibly be the 1981 engine also. It's basically the same engine. The reason for the change could be anything.

It looks like you have the typical high pressure oil o-ring failure in progress at the head gasket. It's not a show stopper, just needs work eventually. If you can do your own wrenching and have a shop manual, I can talk you through the process.

[jacobarber]

Indeed I do have that leaky spot. It's on the to-do list. I'm keeping a close eye on my oil levels, and they don't seem to have moved at all. I do have a shop manual and definitely want to learn more about this bike, so I'll probably be asking some questions along the way.

Maybe one day when I restore this bike I'll paint the block black to make it a more proper looking Nighthawk.

[Bumblebee]

Oil is like blood. It doesn't take a lot to look like a nightmare. That leak is a low flow rate for the most part though it makes a proper mess. It will however never get better until you pull the head to replace the o-rings.

It's an excellent motorcycle though. It'll take you everywhere, and back, reliably as long as you take care of it.

I'll paint the block black to make it a more proper looking Nighthawk.

I could still tell.   
Few others could though. 
(hint: generator cover)

[cb650]

I have the opposite.  A 81 standard with a nitehawk motor in it.   

[DCJM]

Can anyone tell me if the starter is the same part on the '82 650 Nighthawk as it is on the 1984 650 Nighthawk ?
Thanks!
Doug