No Nighthawks allowed

[bajakirch]

Last night I was in bed and this idea came to me:  What if I had to replace my NH...but couldn't get a NH?

Maybe it's because I've seen so many bikes showing up during my daily trolls of CL. Maybe it's because I saw so many cool older bikes at my recent group ride. Maybe that beer I had before going to bed was making my mind do funny things. Who knows?

So here's the question I pose:

If you had the exact same money to spend today that you spent on your current (or previous) NH, what would you get? What do you feel would offer the same reliability, user-friendliness, fun, cost-efficiency, etc. as your trusty NH?

[tbante]

I dont think there is a bike that for the same $$$ offers the reliability, user friendliness, fun, cost efficiency and rideability as my NH. 

[Wahrsuul]

When I bought my original '02, I was also considering the Magna and Spirit 750.  The '96 was cheaper, but at the same $ amount, I'd probably be riding something older - maybe  Silver or 1200 GoldWing?

[DesignFlaw06]

A 919. I've always liked that bike.

[detdrbuzzard]

a bigger nighthawk

[muttstang]

98-01 VFR    :drool: 

[fishball]

When I was looking for my bike my budget was $2k or less.  They were all 80's vintage.  Some of the other bikes that I looked at were -

Yamaha Seca 650
Suzuki Bandit 600s
Honda Interceptor (500 - 700)
Suzuki GS600ES
Honda Super Hawk
Yamaha Raiden
Yamaha Maxim

There were a few more but those are the bikes I remember.  I preferred the Nighthawk over all of them.  Still part of me wishes I could have found an Interceptor in decent shape.

[ariwhiteboy]

a bigger nighthawk

Ahem...



If that was out of budget I would go for a VFR like mutt said.

EDIT: I paid $1500 for my original NH750 so I guess if you held a gun to my head and said I couldn't have another I would buy an old Yamaha XS650...I know enough about them to keep it reliable and under budget.  Maybe if I was lucky I could find an old KZ1000 in need of rescue.

[Bumblebee]

$600 won't get you very far nowadays. Wrecked, as in mechanically destroyed, stuff is out so: Dirt bike? Moped? Scooter? 18 speed mountain bike?

Does adding in a few $$$$ thousand after the purchase cost to get something operational count?

[gammer]

Thats kind of a hard question for me to answer. As I spent little on my nighthawk as its a combination of 3 parts bikes and 1 parts engine. But if I totaled those up and was looking for a replacement bike that was not a Nighthawk, I'd look for this:

a 1979 or 1980 Suzuki GS1000e





The local online classifieds for Ontario has several of these for sale at any given time. I'd be patient and go for one in good shape with low Km's. No more projects for this kid...for now.

[muttstang]

ahh, I missed the cost limit in the OP.....

not going to get much for $280....

I could get what I want for 10 times that

[Laminar]

SV650.

[muttstang]

Ahh, the SV is an excellent choice.

[gammer]

So does the SV apply if...

If you had the exact same money to spend today that you spent on your current (or previous) NH

[JordanA]

98-01 VFR    :drool: 

[Burgi]

Motorcycles aren't really cheap here so my NH was a good deal. There are one offs but it isn't easy to find much besides dirt bikes and little Chinese scooters in that range.
I put $300 in repairs into the NH so at that range '80's cruisers (Shadows, Viragos and the like) start coming into play. I have no interest in a cruiser, even the more upright older style ones, but I have a problem reaching the ground on many standard bikes (balls of my feet only on the NH).
Only other bikes that might have played in were a older CB's, a Ninja or a Buell Blast. I liked my 650 quite well but wouldn't get one again as long I was living in this area of heavy stop and go traffic.

[bajakirch]

Now that I've primed the pump, I'll share my thoughts.

My 550 was $1200. OK, it didn't cost me $1200 -- I traded even-up with the guy for a rifle I wasn't using -- but that's what the PO was selling it for on CL.

In that price range, I'd be pretty much relegated to 80's bikes as well. I would have probably gone for:
Yamaha Seca XJ750
Yamaha Maxim
Suzukie GS550
Kawasaki Ninja 500

[hppants]

While shopping for my 700 (since sold), I was looking for a metric inline 4 standard.  Boy am I glad I found the nighthawk.

[JordanA]

I got my Nighthawk CB650SC for $700.00, running, with title, and with a bit of cam chain rattle.

I invested LOTS of time into the bike, but only around $500.00 including tires, paint, and a factory sissy bar/rack.  Sold her and accessories (seperate) for right around $2000.00... it was only on Craigslist for 4 hours!

[Laminar]

So does the SV apply if...

If you had the exact same money to spend today that you spent on your current (or previous) NH

Nope. Although a low dollar SV650 is on par with a later NH750. My NH was $400, but I really don't know how much I put into it to get it running right (electrical system completely replaced, new tires, clutch, etc.).

[muttstang]

Yes Jordan... I want your bike.  want to trade even up for a 700?  I know you miss having one!!

[Snoopy]

A Suzuki GT750 aka Water Buffalo. My father has one... FFUUNN bike to ride. 3 banger 2 stroke with no baffles.... screamin fun there.

my fathers current setup, seat is up tho, we changed the fluids and charged the battery...the new fluids we put in...the bike didnt like and literally rejected them... right onto the floor.. put new but same brand of what was in before...and no problem.

[gammer]

the bike didnt like and literally rejected them... right onto the floor..

That sounds an awful lot like the Harley Puke Valve. But I know Suzuki would be silly like that 

[JordanA]

Yes Jordan... I want your bike.  want to trade even up for a 700?  I know you miss having one!!

Not at this time.  There are things about the nighthawk that are better... turning radius, weight (even if only slightly), driveshaft (matter of personal opinion), and a few other things.

Mutt, are you making it all of the way down to the rally in NC?

[muttstang]

Naw, it would be fun, but I'm way busy this year