New Rider - Just bought an '84 650

[benlaw]

I just bought a 1984 Nighthawk 650.  I actually rode casually (and illegally) when I was a teenager and had a '79 Twinstar 185.  Now, after have taken the New Brunswick Safety Council safe riding course, I am ready to get on the road.  I paid $1500 for it.  It looks to be in very good condition, but has been dumped before and is scraped up a bit on the right side.  I think with some cosmetic upgrades and eventually paint, it will be real nice.  It has 68000kms on the odometer, but was told from the previous owner (who was the second owner), that the first owner had the motor rebuilt around 5000km ago.  The second owner did not ride it for very long.  The down side is that the key has been lost and I have yet to hear it running.  I am in the process of getting either the code from the ignition for a replacement key or replacing the whole lock system.  Can't wait for summer![/img]

[JB1290]

Very nice. And, 

[BP]

 , Nice Bike. Were all 650's had speedo in KMPH?

Have fun with it.

[chromy]

Benlaw,
  That's a great looking 650SC.  Seems to have been well taken care of.  Welcome aboard the NHF!
Best regards,
Eric

[skramer360]

  Benlaw. The gray seat is unique and adds something  Very nice.

[happycommuter]

  You could try the technique from the 'cut your own key' pdf that Laminar posted a while back.
Sorry to hear that it can't really be started, but glad you're trained and legal and all.  Bike looks fine.

[niteman]

  to the um, addiction... glad to have you.

[fishball]

Great bike benlaw.  Happy riding, once you get that key!

[JordanA]

Is there really a way to have a locksmith cut the key with some code?  Does that work for any bike?

edit: Nice bike, by the way.  I see that the ignition is set to "lock".  Have you been dragging it around with the wheel locked to one side???  I bet that was fun!

[benlaw]

Thankfully, there was lots of snow on the ground to be able to drag it.  Getting it up the ramp into the truck wasn't fun, though. 

[JordanA]

Congrats on the bike, again.  I love how it has 68K on the odometer.  That's quality!

[Laminar]

Is there really a way to have a locksmith cut the key with some code?  Does that work for any bike?

The SOHC Hondas had a different style of key with a code on the ignition cylinder and seat lock cylinder. Based on that code, a key could be cut. I'm not sure if the newer Hondas are the same way.

[flyingbrick]

I don't have the picture of mine available at the moment, but the key code most certainly is on the ignition switch. My bike came with 1, very crappy looking key. I found someone on ebay selling blanks, asked him if he had a cutter, and gave him my key code. he made me 2 brand new keys for my bike my code. Charged me like $2.00 extra for cutting the keys.

[benlaw]

That is really good info to know before I haul the ignition out.  It'll be a couple of months before I actually get at it, but I am glad to know it can be done and the code is there, so i don't have to replace the whole lock system.  Thanks!

[JordanA]

we've had this discussion before, and I tried and tried but there was no such number on my ignition cylinder, if I remember correctly.

I had the local honda dealership cut me new keys based upon my old ones, and none of them work!

[flyingbrick]

When I get home I'll post a picture of where the number was on mine. There's this flat spot that looks like it would have a sticker with that info printed on it, but it doesn't. Mine had the key code stamped(very lightly) on it. It was so light in fact that in order for me to be 100% sure of what it said I had to sand the surrounding area. Once I had the black paint off the surrounding area and it was only left inside the punched numbers I was able to clearly see it. Last thing I wanted to do was pay for some keys, have them cut at an extra cost, and then not have them even work.

[flyingbrick]

Mine's stamped in the shiny spot. That's where I had to sand it to be able to see the numbers.

[benlaw]

Was it hard to take this out?  My handlebars are locked, so I think I might have to take the light box off to get at both bolts properly.

[detdrbuzzard]

hello and  to NHF benlaw

[flyingbrick]

Was it hard to take this out?  My handlebars are locked, so I think I might have to take the light box off to get at both bolts properly.

I seem to remember the one bolt being east to get to, and the other one being a pain in the ass. Sadly, having the steering unlocked probably doesn't make it any easier. Probably the least stressful way to do it, although more involved is to just take the headlight out. Once the headlight's out, take the entire cover off the fuse box, unscrew the fuse box, and pull the connector for the ignition switch from the back of the fuse box. It's gonna be hard to pull BTW. After that you can get the the whole thing out of the bike pretty easy.
Now this is all assuming that the lock sticking out isn't engaged in any kind of hole or anything like that. I've never bothered to see what the lock goes in to. BTW, the lock is the rusty round thing above the shiny spot in my picture.
Oh yeah, and ignore the rifle round and tactical flashlight.

[benlaw]

It wasn't too hard to take out.  Like was said, the inside bolt was easy, but the one next to the fork required a universal joint adaptor to wrap around the fork enough to get at it.  Took me about a half hour for both.  Now I have found out from a locksmith that someone has messed it up with a screwdriver or something and it can't be disassembled to make a new key.  So I'll have to find a used one or buy a new one, although that still leaves the tank and helmet lock and I can't find anyone who sells the whole set, only the ignition part.  I have a new seat cover with red trim ordered and with a few other cosmetic things she'll be ready to go. :) 

[biometrics]

The tank is a separate issue, but on my 83 650 NH the helmet lock is the same as the ignition and may be eaiser to get off of the bike... maybe the locksmith could get a code off that lock, or just pick it and re-key it, and then that key should fit the ignition.  

Now for the tank cap lock... it is a good thing that I got a key for that, because a major locksmith company here told me that the lock on the cap is not designed to be taken apart and he wouldn't be able to make a key for it if I didn't have one.  You may have to buy a replacement cap... Getting the old one off will be a real trick unless you can pick the lock...

I am going to start a new thread and see if anyone has been able to repair a gascap lock and how difficult it might be?  Here is the link.

http://nighthawk-forums.com/index.php/topic,5566.new.html#new

Best of luck and let us know how you make out.

-John

[ariwhiteboy]

  to the forum!  Sorry I was a little late to the party, but enjoy the bike and ride safe.