coffee_brake 
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Jenn in "Jaw-Juh"
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« on: July 31, 2009, 07:49:50 PM » |
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Cue the sappy music....  Way back when I was a little first-grader, one Saturday morning Mom and Dad woke me up early; the family was going to pick up Dad's new motorcycle! It was a shiny blue one. Pop took me on little short rides every summer on that bike, from first grade on. My older brother and I always rode our little Honda CL125 in the fields at home, me on the back and the dog on the tank, my brother driving. We wore that little motorcycle out. But when Dad took me for a ride on the street, THAT was speed! If I asked, he would dodge in between the yellow dotted lines if there wasn't any traffic. By the time I was 12, I knew it was a Honda, and Dad didn't ride it much anymore. So my brother began to take it out sometimes. When he left home, Dad let him have the CB900, and he rode it often until he met his wife, who didn't want anything to do with it. When they married, my brother put the bike in a shed and left it. But when they moved, he took the shed, and the bike. At least it was out of the weather. He always said he'd get it going one day. I wasn't riding then, didn't know anything about bikes except to sit still on the back and keep my shoes off the mufflers. Big brother began a family, I went into the military and learned to ride motorcycles. When I got my own CB, I naturally became curious about the fate of my dad's old CB. I saw it this Christmas, in the shed, dry-rotted tires and tank leaking who-knows-what jellied fuel. But it was out of the weather at least.... Tonight my brother called me. He knows he still doesn't have time to get the bike going, what with family and career, boyscouts and home repairs. Would I get it running again if he bought the parts? It would mean so much to me to see my dad's old CB900 Custom back on the road. Even more to see my brother riding again. So this winter I'm going to try to get the old bike back up on fresh wheels, re-do the carbs, fix the fuel tank...hoping the rings are not stuck. I didn't want another project but this is important to me, and my big brother. And my dad, who's going in for surgery to keep his heart going this Friday. I hope I can do it. |
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JordanA
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« Reply #1 on: July 31, 2009, 07:52:56 PM » |
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Sounds awesome... nice and nostalgic!
Good luck and I'm sure you'll get it on the road if you just work at it.
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1998 VFR800FI
1972 CL350K4 - SOQS
1985 CB650SC - Sold
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skramer360
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Life is short. Eat dessert first.
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« Reply #2 on: July 31, 2009, 07:54:09 PM » |
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 you had me crying only half way through. Kidding aside it sounds like a winter project that I would certainly want to do in your shoes. Good luck and don't forget the pics!
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I'd rather be riding my blue '85 (700s)
Steve
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Brittles
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« Reply #3 on: July 31, 2009, 08:17:13 PM » |
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Sounds like a great plan. Good luck and post pics.
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John
'84 CB700SC
'04 XL1200C
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Maxx
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I don't want a pickle
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« Reply #4 on: July 31, 2009, 08:20:18 PM » |
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In what year were you a first grader...lol
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Maxx
84 650 Nighthawk Black
84 650 Nighthawk Red
77 KZ650
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hockeyhawk
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« Reply #5 on: July 31, 2009, 08:27:58 PM » |
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Good luck with you project, and more importantly, best of luck to you Dad on his procedure, hope all goes well. Ride Safe  |
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85 NH 650-SOLD
85 NH 700s
97 Suzuki DR 650
03 Yamaha FZ1
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Bumblebee
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« Reply #6 on: July 31, 2009, 09:13:13 PM » |
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Nostalgia Galore! I bet you can make your dad cry if you were to ride it up to his front door next spring...especially if you don't tell him the long lost bike is being wrenched on to return it to service. Lots and lots of kharma points packed in that one there is...  |
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You can't get lost if you don't know where you're going.
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gammer
Crazy Canuck
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"Hang on lady, we going for a ride" - Short Round
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« Reply #7 on: July 31, 2009, 09:20:44 PM » |
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That is awesome. I have no doubt you will do a fantastic job on it. Be sure to log your progress and post lots of before and after pics please  p.s. If it were me, I'd strip it down to bare frame and bring it back slowly. Concur? |
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Certifiably not certified.
Technical answers based on experience
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coffee_brake
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Jenn in "Jaw-Juh"
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« Reply #8 on: July 31, 2009, 10:12:42 PM » |
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In what year were you a first grader...lol
It's an '81...do the math! I ain't ashamed!  |
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coffee_brake
--- NHF---
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Jenn in "Jaw-Juh"
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« Reply #9 on: July 31, 2009, 10:19:44 PM » |
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Thanks for the encouragement everybody...skilled I may not be, but I am determined. If I say I will do something, I will give it everything I've got to do it. Especially for something like this. That is awesome. I have no doubt you will do a fantastic job on it. Be sure to log your progress and post lots of before and after pics please p.s. If it were me, I'd strip it down to bare frame and bring it back slowly. Concur? Dude I think there may not be time. The old man's heart is steadily getting worse. I'm going to get the thing running reliably, if the rings are not stuck, and get it back to my brother ASAP. I want HIM to ride it to our childhood home and show it to Pop. My dad told me back in 1998, when I was 24, that if I would NOT join the Army he'd buy me a brand-new Harley-Davidson motorcycle. I said, "Pop, I'm going to join the Army and buy my OWN brand-new Harley-Davidson motorcycle." And I did. You gotta understand, Pop volunteered before he was "volun-told" to join. Pop always rode, he rides his Harley Ultra on good days. Mom picked up riding a couple years ago, she's getting pretty good at it. Big brother always rode, and I do too. That makes all of us! |
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OriginalHawk
Keep on Hawkin'
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« Reply #10 on: August 01, 2009, 12:34:54 AM » |
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Man I love reading a good story like this.
You should know even a cat from a younger generation such as myself (I'm 20) can appreciate a good story like this, and a classic bike.
I just got my first bike, a 1982 Nighthawk 650, and will be undergoing a similar restoration such as yourself.
I wish you the best of luck with your goal and look forward to hearing the good ending I know this story will provide.
Keep the shiny side up.
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1982 Honda 650 Nighthawk
Diamond in the rough
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happycommuter
EX500 pilot, WTF?
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« Reply #11 on: August 01, 2009, 07:12:47 AM » |
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Even my heartless self got a bit misty reading this.
Good luck with this labor of love.
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Rusty B
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« Reply #12 on: August 01, 2009, 08:33:07 AM » |
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Hey Jenn Good luck to your Dad. He has a great Daughter that will be there for him. I just got out of the hosp from having an "Aortic Aneurysm" fixed. My Hawk is sitting in the garage waiting for me. My Daughter and Grandaughter were there every day for me. Get that bike going for Dad, and your Brother too. Show them the Love you have for them. They both Love you, and will Love you more. Good Luck to You Honey, and to your Dad too. Rusty |
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02 ST-1100
95 750 Nighthawk
"Texan by Birth"
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fishmeister
Guest
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« Reply #13 on: August 01, 2009, 08:15:27 PM » |
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Even my heartless self got a bit misty reading this.
Good luck with this labor of love.
Same here....good luck to pops and yourself. |
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green427
Bionic Ears
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« Reply #14 on: August 01, 2009, 08:30:24 PM » |
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Good luck and keep us posted.
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coffee_brake
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Jenn in "Jaw-Juh"
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« Reply #15 on: August 01, 2009, 09:14:36 PM » |
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Thanks folks...well I told the hubby, who is the voice of reason when it comes to me and bikes. I'd have the entire yard full of wrecks if he didn't stop me. Well, as regards the CB900, he didn't stop me or tell me no. I'll call my brother tomorrow and arrange with him to trailer it down here (about 2 hours away).
First things first, I need to get a dab of oil in each cylinder to get to work on the piston rings. If they aren't stuck or damaged, this will be SO much easier. I have a line on a set of cleaned CB900 carbs that I can swap out and get it going sooner, then I can take my time and clean the dirty ones to trade back in this winter.
A tank? now that may be worse. I'll get some pics up of what I find, but it may be two weeks or more before the 900 gets here.
So I won't forget about this. I may not be talented, but I'm determined. When I say I'll do something, I do it or give it everything I've got trying.
This bike will run again.
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Sideways
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« Reply #16 on: August 02, 2009, 03:13:37 PM » |
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Uh I thinks there's something in my eye...
jk, that's cool, I was in 1st grade in 81 too and my dad had a honda back then. lol
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Hondo
Nighthawk-Forums.com
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« Reply #17 on: August 02, 2009, 03:58:06 PM » |
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Awesome! Took my CB1000C out for a 400+ mile ride yesterday - http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=491768  |
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isleofmanfan
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Carpe diem!
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« Reply #18 on: August 02, 2009, 04:37:47 PM » |
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Isle of Man TT fortnight = Mecca
Promote CU80 use in USA!
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Hondo
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« Reply #19 on: August 02, 2009, 05:09:58 PM » |
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No, a CB1000C is a CB900C's big brother -
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Rusty B
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« Reply #20 on: August 02, 2009, 09:35:22 PM » |
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I had an 81 CB 750 Custom, Guess that was a "Little Brother" But I was riding it in 81 Rusty |
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02 ST-1100
95 750 Nighthawk
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niteman
Shaun
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Waiting for the wet season to end
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« Reply #21 on: August 03, 2009, 02:41:38 PM » |
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Good luck on getting the 900 running again. An good luck to your dad and his health!
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'86 CB450SC traded
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Moedad
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« Reply #22 on: August 03, 2009, 03:56:32 PM » |
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I'm looking forward to the continuation of this story, Jenn! That sounds like a great thing for your dad AND your brother. You rock!
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05 Suzuki DL650 Vstrom
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Hondo
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« Reply #23 on: August 03, 2009, 04:38:32 PM » |
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coffee_brake
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Jenn in "Jaw-Juh"
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« Reply #24 on: August 03, 2009, 08:20:12 PM » |
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As of the phone conversation today, big brother is bringing the 900 ASAP, and we're going to visit a while too. He seems really pleased that I'm ready for the bike so soon. I had to sell the (now assembled and running like a dream) basket-case '92 750 first, and it went home to its new owner last night. [My many-months-long riding buddy Riley says he'll join us on the forum! He just loves my NH and when he found out I was doing a top-end rebuild on one, he wanted to buy it right away.]
So...the garage has been swept and cleaned, hubby is aware and approving, big brother is ready to trailer in the project...
CB900 re-road is a go!
I wish I had pics. I don't think we have even one pic of the 900 from when I was a kid. Just the little 50cc Honda that me, my big brother, and even my mom rode decades ago (those are great pics!) But none of the big street bike.
Soon...as soon as it shows up, there will be pics!
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