HandsomeSteve 
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Location: Dekalb, IL
Bike: '82 NH 450
Posts: 251
Join Date: Mar, 2011
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« on: March 14, 2011, 05:16:42 PM » |
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New here, been away from cycles a long time. I got into old Brit cars for about a dozen years. Decided it was time for another bike. Neighbor's B-I-L had a 1982 NH 450 (original owner) that he parked in the garage 16 years ago and let it sit. Bike was dust covered, chrome looked like it all needed replaced, engine seized, carbs seized. However, it looked like it was all there with 8,500 miles on the odo. Brought it home and rebuilt the carbs, freed the engine with some Marvel oil and persuasion. Wiped it all down, buffed all the paint work, agressively attacked the rusty chrome with SOS pads and got it running over a couple half days work. Purrs real nice, though it does dripple a little gas out the overflow tube. So I may have to pull the carbs again. Pic below. Sorry I don't have a before pic, I really wish I had taken one but at the time I didn't think the transformation would be so dramatic.  Paid $400 for the bike and $30 for a new battery. The dunlop tires are probably original so those will get replaced this week. Cheers, |
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Tryvelcro
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Age: 42
Location: Stockton, CA
Bike: 1991 CB750
Posts: 1926
Join Date: Mar, 2009
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« Reply #1 on: March 14, 2011, 05:18:10 PM » |
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Welcome to the addiction.
I drank the red KoolAid.
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HandsomeSteve
Contributing Member
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Location: Dekalb, IL
Bike: '82 NH 450
Posts: 251
Join Date: Mar, 2011
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« Reply #2 on: March 14, 2011, 05:27:10 PM » |
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Thanks TV! Yep $400, but it looked way different, plus with the engine seized up I wasn't so sure about it. Now, obviously it is not showroom condition but with the serious cleaning and spit shine it looks like a 3-4 year old bike now (from 10 ft away  ). Very excited to start putting some miles on it. Felt pretty comfortable tearing the carbs apart; they seem similar in design the old SU carbs on Austin Healeys, Triumphs, and MGs from the 60s. Cheers, Steve |
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drdubb
--- NHF---
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Gender: 
Age: 58
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Bike: '95 750 Nighthawk, '83 650SC Nighthawk, '71 SL350K1
Posts: 2807
Join Date: Dec, 2009
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« Reply #3 on: March 14, 2011, 05:53:11 PM » |
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Great buy. Went riding with Bull City and his 550 this weekend. She scoots.
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Dance as if no one is looking.
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hppants
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Age: 46
Location: Lafayette, LA
Posts: 6033
Join Date: Aug, 2009
"Aging is inevitable. Maturing is an option!"
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« Reply #4 on: March 15, 2011, 10:54:35 AM » |
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Welcome to the group - ride safe. You got a good deal.
Consider flushing the brake fluid and bleeding that front brake.
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2005 FJR1300
96 CB750 - sold
84 CB700SC - sold
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clemsparks
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Location: Columbia MO
Bike: '86 CB700S NightHawk
Posts: 30
Join Date: Mar, 2011
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« Reply #5 on: March 15, 2011, 02:44:35 PM » |
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Cool. I love good deals like that. You've got serious sweat-equity now!
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Yeah well...sometimes even when it IS broken I don't fix it.
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fishball
--- NHF---
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Location: Stoneham, MA
Posts: 2535
Join Date: May, 2009
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« Reply #6 on: March 15, 2011, 03:14:38 PM » |
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Great deal now that you've got it all cleaned up. Enjoy the ride and welcome to the group!
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Dan
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84 Honda cb650 Nighthawk
03 Honda Reflex (Sold)
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HandsomeSteve
Contributing Member
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Location: Dekalb, IL
Bike: '82 NH 450
Posts: 251
Join Date: Mar, 2011
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« Reply #7 on: March 15, 2011, 04:07:41 PM » |
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Thank so much everybody! Really enjoying the bike, smooth running, well balanced. I think there may be a long-haul highway driving 650/750 in my future  |
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HandsomeSteve
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Location: Dekalb, IL
Bike: '82 NH 450
Posts: 251
Join Date: Mar, 2011
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« Reply #8 on: March 17, 2011, 04:20:39 PM » |
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Just another shot.
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Snoopy
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Age: 26
Location: West Des Moines, Ia
Bike: '85 Hawk 700s aka Snoopy
Posts: 1168
Join Date: Feb, 2009
To come, or to go as long as I am on my nighthawk.
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« Reply #9 on: March 17, 2011, 04:50:22 PM » |
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Hey meester, that bike sure is purdy!! I might be able to get my hands on a 450 for rather cheap myself! keep talkin to my buddy who owns it but has only ridden it for about 15 miles.
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1985 Nighthawk 700s, 1994 VW Jetta VR6 - Sold, 2005 Pontiac G6
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HandsomeSteve
Contributing Member
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Location: Dekalb, IL
Bike: '82 NH 450
Posts: 251
Join Date: Mar, 2011
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« Reply #10 on: March 17, 2011, 06:05:48 PM » |
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Hey Snoopy, Des Moines huh? I grew up just west of there. Smack between Waukee, Adel, and Van Meter.
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Snoopy
Senior Member
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Gender:
Age: 26
Location: West Des Moines, Ia
Bike: '85 Hawk 700s aka Snoopy
Posts: 1168
Join Date: Feb, 2009
To come, or to go as long as I am on my nighthawk.
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« Reply #11 on: March 17, 2011, 06:45:09 PM » |
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Born and raised sadly... lol what small town were you associated with. My cousin and I like to rude up to adel from winterset and bring the i-state home.
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1985 Nighthawk 700s, 1994 VW Jetta VR6 - Sold, 2005 Pontiac G6
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HandsomeSteve
Contributing Member
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Location: Dekalb, IL
Bike: '82 NH 450
Posts: 251
Join Date: Mar, 2011
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« Reply #12 on: March 17, 2011, 07:12:11 PM » |
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Went to HS in Adel. Summers worked the cornfields around NW of Des Moines and weekends on a chicken farm in Minburn. What HS did you go to?
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Count de Monet
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Location: Deptford, NJ
Bike: '85 CB650SC Nighthawk
Posts: 79
Join Date: Aug, 2010
Can't be an athlete? Be an althletic supporter!
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« Reply #13 on: March 18, 2011, 09:17:04 AM » |
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Great looking bike. I wish I was a little more mechanically inclined to take on a project like that.  There is a lot of good information available on this board if you have any questions. and  |
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85 cb650sc
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HandsomeSteve
Contributing Member
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Location: Dekalb, IL
Bike: '82 NH 450
Posts: 251
Join Date: Mar, 2011
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« Reply #14 on: March 18, 2011, 09:37:23 AM » |
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Thanks MJ! I'm probably just an "okay" mechanic but I AM persistent. I'm not afraid to open things up for a look see. Just figure hey it's already not working right...how much worse can I make it?!? Enjoy the discovery of figuring something out, it's educational. Although I did reach my wits end with those old Triumphs!  |
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Snoopy
Senior Member
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Gender:
Age: 26
Location: West Des Moines, Ia
Bike: '85 Hawk 700s aka Snoopy
Posts: 1168
Join Date: Feb, 2009
To come, or to go as long as I am on my nighthawk.
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« Reply #15 on: March 18, 2011, 12:20:52 PM » |
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I went to school in Indianola, lived there my whole life, and moving to west des moines, so this will be the first time i am moving out of indianola..maybe it will help me so when i move out of iowa....
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1985 Nighthawk 700s, 1994 VW Jetta VR6 - Sold, 2005 Pontiac G6
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