New rider, old Nighthawk

[fortyhourdays]

Thought I'd introduce myself here.  I'm a new rider who picked up a 1985 Nighthawk 650 SC a couple weeks ago.  It's got 32,000 miles on it, but still runs great and I've had a blast riding it around the countryside here in the Nashville, TN area.  It used to be red, but unfortunately the previous owner did a black rattle can paint job on it (painted right over the decals).  Still doesn't look too bad unless you're within about 5 feet of it .  With the freeway speeds of 70mph here, I think I need to get a faring for the front of it, because that's an awful lot of wind to be hitting you right in the chest all day.  Well, looking forward to getting to know you all.  Here's some pics. 

[ariwhiteboy]

  to the forum! Very nice bike you have there, it's sporting what we call a "20/20 paint job"...looks good from 20ft or at 20mph!    Take care of it and ride safe! 

[Tryvelcro]

  to the addiction!

[JB1290]

  to the NHF. Nice looking bike.

[noahnsteph]

I'd be curious to see some close up pics of that rear rack.  Definitely not stock.

[SliverXZennon]

  to the forum. Lots of information here for the new rider, and remember AGATT!

[fortyhourdays]

Haha, I like the 20/20 thing.  I got some close ups of the rear rack.  I was thinking of taking it off or at least modifying it because I think it makes the brake light less visible.  You can also see that their used to be some sort of sissy bar on the rack, but the previous owner cut it off.

[Laminar]

If you're looking for something small and inexpensive, check out the Slipstreamer Spitfire.



It fits the rectangular headlight perfectly and although it doesn't eliminate wind from hitting your head and body, it greatly reduces pressure on the body and smooths out air across the head.

[happycommuter]

 
Good gloves and helmet (and of course, bike) for a stoopid newb!

I may be paranoid, but I get the impression that the rack obscures the taillight to trucks following at any close distance.  Otherwise, wonderfully utilitarian.

[fortyhourdays]

Thanks Laminar, That windscreen looks like just the ticket.  I don't really want one that I have to look through so I think that will be perfect. 
happycommuter, I agree with you about the rear rack obscuring the tail light.  I think I'll either remove it, or modify it.  So far I love the helmet and gloves.  In case anyone is interested, sportbiketrackgear.com has those cortech injector gloves for sale for only $39.95 right now. 

[SirSeanSean]

  to the forums. Nice bike. (Even with the 20/20 paint) Out of curiosity have you taken a MSF course? If not I highly recamend it. Enjoy the ride and be safe. 

[hppants]

Welcome to the group.  Ride safe.

Nice looking six fiddy you have.

I have the Spitfire windscreen on my bike.  Huge difference in buffering the wind.

Best of luck to you and your endeavors.

[fortyhourdays]

Out of curiosity have you taken a MSF course?

Unfortunately I haven't gotten to take a MSF coarse yet.  My job has me gone on most weekends which is when all the classes are.  I'm hoping to get a weekend off soon so I can take the course.  I grew up riding dirt bikes, but it's a whole different world being out on the road so I definitely want to take the class.  Until then, I've been youtubing and reading as much info as I can.   I must say that the motorcycle licensing procedure where I live was kind of a joke.  I spent several days practicing all the cone weaves and emergency stops and swerves, then I show up take the written test, and then they have me do two figure-eights with no boundaries, and a loop around the parking lot.  That was it. 

[Hangster]

 

[SirSeanSean]

Out of curiosity have you taken a MSF course?

Unfortunately I haven't gotten to take a MSF coarse yet.  My job has me gone on most weekends which is when all the classes are.  I'm hoping to get a weekend off soon so I can take the course.  I grew up riding dirt bikes, but it's a whole different world being out on the road so I definitely want to take the class.  Until then, I've been youtubing and reading as much info as I can.   I must say that the motorcycle licensing procedure where I live was kind of a joke.  I spent several days practicing all the cone weaves and emergency stops and swerves, then I show up take the written test, and then they have me do two figure-eights with no boundaries, and a loop around the parking lot.  That was it. 

Dang. The one we have here is nearly impossible to pass. 12 points and your done. That's why I took the class.

[gammer]

Welcome fortyhourdays 

As far as fairings go...if I were in the market for a square headlight fairing, I'd probably get this one:


You can get it with an 11 inch or 14 inch windscreen.

[luckylindy]

  Enjoy the 650.

[JB1290]

What kind of gloves are those?

[red78ta]

nice scoot!

Out of curiosity have you taken a MSF course?

Unfortunately I haven't gotten to take a MSF coarse yet.  My job has me gone on most weekends which is when all the classes are.  I'm hoping to get a weekend off soon so I can take the course.  I grew up riding dirt bikes, but it's a whole different world being out on the road so I definitely want to take the class.  Until then, I've been youtubing and reading as much info as I can.   I must say that the motorcycle licensing procedure where I live was kind of a joke.  I spent several days practicing all the cone weaves and emergency stops and swerves, then I show up take the written test, and then they have me do two figure-eights with no boundaries, and a loop around the parking lot.  That was it. 

Wow.  two figure 8s and a loop around the parking lot.  Well, stay safe and stay within your limits.  I was glad I took a MSF, it opened my eyes to a lot of stuff, i should prob take another here as its been 6 years since i took it, and i'm pretty sure they offer them on base once or twice a year...

[happycommuter]

What kind of gloves are those?

In case anyone is interested, sportbiketrackgear.com has those cortech injector gloves for sale for only $39.95 right now.  

Don't make me provide a link!

[fishball]

Congrats on the 650, great bike.  I purchased a National Cycles Street Shield screen for my bike and it works pretty good.  The bottom of the screen is cut with a mostly straight edge so it looks like it belongs over the square headlight.

[Captainm63]

+1 to Laminar's comments and to Luckylindy who also has this screen, I just got my slipstreamer Spit Fire on sale from Dennis Kirk and it definitely blocks the chest blast effect!  It does flow air, but freeway speeds are ok now.

If you're looking for something small and inexpensive, check out the Slipstreamer Spitfire.



It fits the rectangular headlight perfectly and although it doesn't eliminate wind from hitting your head and body, it greatly reduces pressure on the body and smooths out air across the head.

[jspringator]

Welcome fortyhourdays 

As far as fairings go...if I were in the market for a square headlight fairing, I'd probably get this one:


You can get it with an 11 inch or 14 inch windscreen.

Rifle makes 3 different fairings for the CB650SC.  I am awaiting delivery on a Rifle "Sport".  That is the fairing that incorporates the turm signals into the fairing.  This will be my 3rd windscreen, so I hope it does the trick.

[ndmeistr]

Congrats on the 650, great bike.  I purchased a National Cycles Street Shield screen for my bike and it works pretty good.  The bottom of the screen is cut with a mostly straight edge so it looks like it belongs over the square headlight.

I'm interested in getting a shield for the winter too.

What is the Model number of that shield? does is have 2 or 4 mount points? Have you been able to compare it to the Sptifire as far as performance and air flow? What about buffetting control behind a big rig? How many mount points does the Spitfire have?

[fishball]

Here is the link to the National Cycle windshield.

http://shop.nationalcycle.com/perl/cycle/N2560?mv_session_id=NyYBaAG6&search_model=hd%2d021%22

The shield has four mount points, two to the forks and two to the bars.  Fairly easy to get on but it does take a little bit of customization to get the angle and height you prefer.  As far as the performance goes it was night and day once up to highway speeds.  I was no longer having the feeling of being blasted off the back of the bike.  It's a nice size, it doesn't overpower the look of the bike but big enough to do the job.  As far as wind blast that really depends on how tall the rider is.  I'm 5'11' with a long torso and my head is still in clean air, if I duck down it is a nice quiet pocket.  I still get plenty of buffeting behind a semi but I attribute more of that to the bike's design than the screens.

If you want comfort behind the screen then I suggest you look for a larger model, it just may look a bit hokey on the slim 650.