Forum stalker pulls trigger!

[johnnyhawk]

I started getting the fever last fall and found this forum after thinking a Nighthawk would be a good choice for getting back into street bikes. Now, I have a good reason to post!
I grew up riding a Bultaco Alpina and a Honda SL360. In college I got into Vespa scooters and have wrenched/ridden those since. It was during a rebuild on a ‘58 Allstate when I was struck with the aforementioned fever for wheels that are bigger than 10”.
I was looking for something a little newer but found a 1982 NH on Cl. It had a rough idle but was clean and the price was right. I ran some Sea Foam through and she runs much smoother now. It appears to be mostly original and the only thing missing is the emblem on the right side cover. Rubber is new and the letters are still blue on the rear tire. I think there may be some sort of vacuum hose missing as well, but have a Clymer and will investigate that soon.
I’ve only put 40 miles on her so far (bought it in another state and haven’t licensed it yet…I snagged the tags off an old Vespa and kept to the backroads), but my first impressions are…I LOVE IT! The handlebars are a little uncomfortable and the bike is rather top-heavy…especially compared to the P200 I’ve been riding. I read the thread about JC Whitney’s “Daytona” style bars…does anyone recommend the switch? Also, the PO installed some foamy, cruiser-style grips. If I switch bars, do I just cut them off like rubber ones?
This forum was the affirmation I needed to buy a NH. Thanks, and I look forward to seeing you online or on the twisties.

[ExTex]

Yes, you can cut the grips off.
Yes, I think you would benefit from different shaped handlebars.
But remember that if you make big changes in the bars, the cables and hoses may not reach.

That is a pretty bike.  Welcome to the Forum

Ride safely,

[Tryvelcro]

  to the addiction.

[Bumblebee]

Ride it a bit further than 40 miles before you start altering things. It's not a scooter and won't feel or handle like one.

[JB1290]

  to the NHF. That is a nice looking stable you got there. I have never been much of a scooter guy but as I have gotten older, I have learned to appreciate those Vespa's. After all...it's not a scooter, it's a Vespa. 

[johnnyhawk]

Thanks, fellas.
You're right, Bumblebee. That was my first and only ride on this bike so far. Between the weather and the kids, about all I've been able to do is read about NHs.
JB is right as well. Vespas are in a different class from the 50cc buzzers you see around. The P200 pictured is stock and cruises comfortably over 60 mph. The older ones have 8" wheels and are most fun on windy backroads. I'll have to post pics of the '58 rebuild in another thread.

[tomb raider]

Hey there Johnnyhawk,   to the land of NH's......   Nice bike, well both are nice.....   Nice truck as well  

[drdubb]

I've got a couple of sets of bars....new that I'm not using. I'd send them for the cost of shipping. If interested, pm me and I'll send the specifics. One is a nighthawk bend and the other is flatter. Both look flatter than what your are using.

[Burgi]

  from another scooter rider.

[muttstang]

that's one clean looking nighthawk!

[HandsomeSteve]

Great looking NH!  I had no idea a Vespa would go over 60 mph... I still don't want one to pass me on the road   

[genespleen]

Hey there--welcome!  And tell us about your truck!  It looks great.

[Soupskin]

Welcome!   

Gorgeous NH you have there.

[Moustache]

Nice bike,
The truck, is it an Apache?

[FearThis SC]

  to the NHF!   Great looking NH.....Ride Safe... 

[hppants]

Welcome Johnny to the group, ride safe.

Nice looking '82 you've found.  How many miles on the ole girl?  It's hard to find a pre-'84 six fiddy with the silver stripes and stickers in tack.  That bike spent it's life garage kept.

From the pictures, the front brake fluid looks a tad dirty.  Consider bleeding and flushing it though.

Also, we are planning a Rally at the famous Deal's Gap in May.  Read about it in the Technical Day's Board.  Perhaps you could join us?

[johnnyhawk]

drdubb, I'll PM you on the bars, thanks!
Vespas are quick, nimble and alot of fun. I rode in a rally in Cincinnati a couple years ago with 300 or so others...talk about a swarm.
My truck is a 1955 Chevy 3200 (longbed). 1955 is the year Chevy switched from "Advanced Design" models to "Task Force"; mine is a "Task Force" or "second series". My dad rebuilds old Chevy trucks in Boulder and I bought it from him. Moustache, I think the Apaches started in '57, but not totally sure. Right now dad has a '59 Apache that is finished and a '58 with NAPCO 4 wheel drive. My '55 is sweet, but not a show truck; I haul my scoots in it when need be.
hppants, my NH has 11k on the clock. I plan on adding a few clicks to that tally soon.
I would love to hook up with you guys in May.

[gammer]

Hi johnnyhawk and welcome 

Nice looking 750.

I would wait and change the grips when you do the bars. I would think that bars of roughly the same size, but straighter might be better. As others have mentioned if you go too crazy, then you have to worry about cable lengths and such.

Enjoy it!

[Munkey]

Does the '82 750 have a normal one piece handlebar?

The '82 650 has a odd 2 piece handlebar that makes it kinda hard to replace the bars. Maybe they used a more conventional setup on the 750.

[bajakirch]

  to NHF. I really like the color on that bike. And getting an 82 with 11k on the clock is rare. I picked up my '83 550 with 9k on it. It's great to discover those gems.

[Bumblebee]

Great looking NH!  I had no idea a Vespa would go over 60 mph... I still don't want one to pass me on the road 

I don't know about you however if doughnut tires blows past me like I'm stopped, I'm just going to let his crazy butt go.

[HandsomeSteve]

Bumblebee, great vid.  Makes me want to see more.

We need the context though:  was he delivering a heart transplant or pizzas?!? 

[LOKi]

  to the forum. Nice bikes. I stated off with the Vespas too. They are fun little bikes. That is one big ass pope mobile windscreen on the P200. Bet it goes over 60 if you take that off. My commuter P200 (1985) did almost 70 if I tucked in tight and wasn't fighting a head wind. That thing was rusted and loose with structural stickers holding it together but man did it fly. One day I'm going to pick up another just for the fun of fixing it up.

Hope to see you at the rally.

[Bumblebee]

We need the context though:  was he delivering a heart transplant or pizzas?!? 

No clue. It's the opening scene to some movie.

There seem to be three primary types of scooter riders:
1; The snobbish business suit guy that can barely ride at all hoping desperately to save gas money until the first day there's a thin overcast that might mean rain eventually sometime in the next 6 months.
2; The sensible typical college girl/guy that uses it as primary transportation.
3; The hard core get it done types like in the video that will leave you eating his dust in the twisties with no hope of catching up.

One of the theatre students at the community college was deep in the #3 category. He rode the nuts and bolts off that thing, stopped at the hardware store (quite literally - I caught him doing it one afternoon) to replace them once too many fell out and kept going like the hounds from hell were biting the back of his seat off. One day I was vaguely considering switching into 4WD in the snow for the upcoming icy hill and he passed me with both feet on the ground like I was going backwards.

[TDodge7]

That is one SHARP looking 82 , and I'm a HUGE fan of raised white letter dunlop qualifiers .