First time on boards.. new rider with a new (to me!) bike

[Alano99]

Hey everyone! I just posted a greeting on the new users thread and I figured I ought to go ahead and post on here along with some pictures of my bike.

It is a 1982 Honda Nighthawk CB450SC. So far I haven't done a whole lot to it, just a few small things. First thing I had to do was to buy a new battery for it because the one I bought it with was shot. Then I got a new air filter and put it in because God knows how long the previous one had been in there. It runs much better now with the new air filter installed. I recently took my gas tank off and took it to a radiator shop so they can clean it and seal it for me (picking it up today!). I bought an oil filter but I haven't changed the oil in it yet (the oil looks good but I'm going to change it within the next week or 2 anyway).

I'm planning on buying some sea foam and running it through because I've read that the stuff can do amazing things for your fuel system. I've already cleaned the screen that sits on top of the petcock tube, cleaned out the bowl under the petcock, and got an in-line fuel filter to install when I get my tank back.

I took off the seat the first day I got it and was pleasantly surprised to see the original toolkit and bag (which from reading different posts, it sounds like I should buy a better toolkit) and the original 1982 owner's manual!

I've been enjoying riding it so far, but I've basically only ridden through all the roads/subdivisions in a 3 mile or so radius of me. Supposed to be taking it tomorrow to ride with a couple of a my friends. I'm excited!

[fishmeister]

Welcome Alano to the Nighthawk Forums !!!
P.S. clean and lube your chain....amoung all your other pre-flight checks.

Follow directions with the seafoam, ( 1 oz. per gallon of gas ) It can be vicious if overdone.

[Tryvelcro]

  to the addiction.

I agree with Mr. Fish, clean & lube that chain up before you ride more.

[fishmeister]

to the addiction.

I agree with Mr. Fish, clean & lube that chain up before you ride more.

THAT'S A FIRST

[Alano99]

How exactly do you clean the chain? I bought some chain lube and lubed it up the first couple of days I've had it.

Can you buy chain cleaner and spray it on just like the chain lube, or is cleaning it a little more involved?

[Alano99]

Also, about how often should I spray more lube on the chain?

[fishmeister]

In your rusty case, I'd get a couple small brass brushes and a couple cans of non-chlorinated brake cleaner and start brushing and spraying off the rust. Then lube it.

[Tryvelcro]

Mr. Fish - I'm feeling particularly generous today.  Don't get used to me agreeing with you, might be a while before it happens again. 


For chain cleaning/lubing, there's some discussion in this thread:

http://nighthawk-forums.com/index.php/topic,3777.0.html

Does the chain move/flex freely?  If it gets rusty to the point it inhibits the proper function, it should be changed.

[detdrbuzzard]

hello and  to NHF alano99

[kmkindred]

Hard to tell from the photos, but how old are the tires?  The back one in particular.  I know you don't want to spend that kind of money just after buying the bike, but if they're more than 4 or 5 years old, get new ones.

Keith

[Alano99]

Yeah, the chain moves and flexes freely. My mom's b/f who has been riding bikes all his life checked out the bike when I got it and made some suggestions as to what to do (air filter, oil, etc.) He checked the chain and said it's fine right now and doesn't need adjusting. I agree that it should be cleaned though.
I am assuming that you can get those brass brushes at the auto store?

[Alano99]

The tires are actually in good condition, they are just dirty! I checked them both out very thoroughly for cracks, dryrot, etc. and they came up clean. I need to give the bike a good hard cleaning, but I've been trying to wait for my apartment to turn our car wash facility back on. Don't really want to go to a regular car wash and used pressurized water on it.. I heard that's bad on the seals.

Thanks for all the welcomes so far guys! I have a feeling I'll be coming here a lot in the coming months. I've already been browsing this site for about a month now!

[fishmeister]

Probably, or hardware store....use your imagination. I powerwash mine all the time using judgement where and how close I'm spraying. Many bikes sit and are rode in the rain, water doesn't melt them.

[LOKi]

I use a chain scrubber. You can usually find them in motorcycle shops or on the net. Works great. Fill it with WD40 or the cleaning solution it comes with until that runs out. Snap it on the chain and spin the wheel backwards. The box does all the work.



  to the forum.

[hppants]

Welcome to the group sir.  Your bike looks nice and I like the color.  I see you are from Georgia.  If you are so inclined, we would like for you to join us for the Deal's Gap Nighthawk Rally on the weekend of May 21-23.  You can read all about it here:

http://nighthawk-forums.com/index.php/board,22.0.html

Hope you can make it and ride safe.

[tcoop]

  to the NH forum. I got one that look just like your, but my seat must be older it's gone grey like me.  Have fun on your ride and ride safe. (make sure you do the things everyone here has suggested, they only have your best intrest in mind)

[fishball]

Welcome to the group Alano.

[highwayjamin]

  to the forum,nice lookin bike 

[Alano99]

Thanks again for all the welcomes!

Loki - When I get a chance this week I'm gonna drop by the bike shop around here and see if I can't find a chain scrubber. That sounds like the best way to clean the chain that I've heard so far.

hppants - I've actually been reading that thread a little bit and I may be interested in coming along for part of that ride. Me and two friends bought bikes to ride this summer and so if we are feeling good about riding up there we may all come up. My one friend ended up getting a 79 CB750 and my other friend purchased an 06 Suzuki GS500F. Hope no one minds a crotchrocket pulling along with us lol.

So I took my bike out for its maiden voyage ride just yesterday! I live around McDonough and my friends live around Atlanta so I took highway 20 up and met them in Loganville and we rode all around that area on Saturday. We put in a good 150 miles on Saturday and I have to say my bike was up to task. I didn't have one problem out of it the whole day! I would post up on the trip forum/subforum but unfortunately none of us got any pictures or anything else to show off for yesterday.

So I finally got my bike all cleaned up this weekend! I have been waiting for our car wash facility at my apt complex to be turned back on and they finally did it this weekend! So I got it all washed (need to wax it still I guess) and I nevr-dull'd pretty much every piece of chrome on it that I could find (with the loving help of my g/f I may add). I don't even know how good it looks yet because it was basically dark when we finished all the polishing. New pics will be forthcoming soon! Nevr-dull is really good with taking out smaller rust spots but for medium sized ones it doesn't do a whole lot. Is there anything (preferably semi-easy) that I can do to fix/hide/cover-up a few spots of rust that nevr-dull won't seem to take away?

[Alano99]

tcoop - Have you added anything on to your bike? I'm thinking about a windshield and either saddlebags/luggage rack/tank bag. Any ideas you have would be helpful. I'm just trying to figure out what I should change/add onto it to make it more efficient/comfortable/look better etc. Haha

[Hondo]

I wouldn't use brake cleaner on the chain- it will destroy the o-rings.

You can buy chain cleaner or use the old standby, kerosene.

[tcoop]

No I have not added anything to my 450. But I have thought about a windshield, thicker grips and saddle bags. If I can find one I might add a sissy bar too.

[hppants]

My one friend ended up getting a 79 CB750 and my other friend purchased an 06 Suzuki GS500F. Hope no one minds a crotchrocket pulling along with us lol.

No worries - all makes welcome.  Hope you can make it.

[ariwhiteboy]

  Alano I'm in the Savannah area and will be attending the Deal's Gap run so I hope we get to see you there.  If you don't make it we could always meet up sometime for a ride.

[Alano99]

ari, I'll have to let you know when me and my friends get over around the Savannah area when we are riding.