My Touring Rig!

[n5tbu]

Richard...those hand guards look sweet!. I envy your workshop!
Anywho,I am ready to take your pics to the machine shop for my hitch....only prob is your hookup to the grag rails...is it close to your bag mounts? or is it  more substanial? I would gladly pay the 500.00 and not have to deal with it,but I turn up empty on searches. would you take 300 for yours?lol
mark

[Deadly]

Richard...those hand guards look sweet!. I envy your workshop!
Anywho,I am ready to take your pics to the machine shop for my hitch....only prob is your hookup to the grag rails...is it close to your bag mounts? or is it  more substanial? I would gladly pay the 500.00 and not have to deal with it,but I turn up empty on searches. would you take 300 for yours?lol
mark

$300 is tempting for me to just make one for you but I just have to much going on right now. When I first started looking for a hitch this was the only place I could find that seemed to make one for my bike (you would have to call and talk to them to be sure though).
http://www.dauntlessmotors.com/hitch-pages/hondahitches.htm


My hitch mounts to the lower part of a set of brackets I made that attach to the lower rails on the bike. By removing the silver tie-down from the ends of these brackets I can attach a set of plates that I made to hold my saddle bags. (I went riding last weekend so please excuse all the dirt)




Here is a photo of my hitch off the bike:




I hope this helps.   

[MrF]

(I went riding last weekend so please excuse all the dirt)

Heh. . . that bike is nearly spotless. 

Nice work on the hitch! 

[n5tbu]

Thanks way much,Richard! I loaded all those pics on a CD and went to the cheaper of two shops. He wouldn't even look at them! He was concerned about liability issues. Soooo,I went to the better of the two,and he was very interested.
He guesstimated 300-400 bucks all inclusive but closer to 300. I have an appointment next tuesday to drop off the bike.
Question tho....2003 -2002 are the same bikes ,but how far back are the alike?1995?
If anyone else here wants one,I can see if he does credit cards or Paypal. Maybe if he knew he could sell a few the price would come down.
Only drawback tho,he is not equipped to do powder coating. I know of a place that will do it for me,not sure on cost tho.
mark

[nodaclu]

For your (and most) purposes, the last generation Nighthawk was basically the same bike from 1991-2003. Color changes (paint and engine) were among the only changes over that span IIRC.

[Deadly]

..........Only drawback tho,he is not equipped to do powder coating. I know of a place that will do it for me,not sure on cost tho.
mark

I didnt powder coat mine because my oven is to small.. 

I'll be curious as to how it all works out so keep us posted. 

[Deadly]

I'm now out of commission for a week or so while I upgrade the suspension... 

[luckylindy]

Are you going to install Progressive springs?  Let us know how that turns out.  My riding buddy put Progressive shocks and springs on his VTX 1300 and says it's a great improvement over the stockers.

[DesignFlaw06]

Are you going to install Progressive springs?  Let us know how that turns out.  My riding buddy put Progressive shocks and springs on his VTX 1300 and says

I'm kinda curious too. I'd like a little stiffer suspension as well for 2 up riding, and I'm wondering how much effort is involved.

Tim

[Deadly]

Are you going to install Progressive springs?  Let us know how that turns out.  My riding buddy put Progressive shocks and springs on his VTX 1300 and says it's a great improvement over the stockers.

Im was going to have my local dealer install a set of Progressive fork springs but I changed my mind today and am going to install them myself.  I also have a set of Progressive rear shocks on order.

[Deadly]

I got the front end back together on my Nighthawk this past weekend.  I added a set of DL-1000 hand guards and heated grips while I was at it now I just have to finish the rear section of the bike.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?p=6806321#post6806321

[Deadly]

I got the rear tire today and mounted it this afternoon.

[n5tbu]

Finally got my hitch made...not too pretty,but it will do.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/n5tbu/Nighthawk%20750/100_1214.jpg
Thanks for the help Richard!
mod

[Deadly]

Finally got my hitch made...not too pretty,but it will do.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/n5tbu/Nighthawk%20750/100_1214.jpg
Thanks for the help Richard!
mod

That doesn't look to bad. Lets see some more photos and how did you end up mounting it?

[n5tbu]

I have more pics in the album here:  http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/n5tbu/Nighthawk%20750/

They made me two machined blocks for the top with a nylon insert(very close to yours) and the bottom mounts just like yours.
I have it off the NH now,sanded it and primed and painted glossy black,waiting for it to dry!
mod

[Deadly]

I have more pics in the album here:  http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/n5tbu/Nighthawk%20750/

They made me two machined blocks for the top with a nylon insert(very close to yours) and the bottom mounts just like yours.
I have it off the NH now,sanded it and primed and painted glossy black,waiting for it to dry!
mod

The only real difference I can see is that where I made currved bends in my hitch they made cut angles.  Should get the job done nicely though.

[Deadly]

I installed my new progressive shocks and new fork guards tonight and went for a short ride. The Nighthawk handles like a whole new bike now!

Here is a photo I took tonight after I got back from my ride with the new fork guards installed:

[Deadly]

I have more pics in the album here:  http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/n5tbu/Nighthawk%20750/

How much did the hitch end up costing you?...  also, what is this mounted to your handle bars and how does it work?

[luckylindy]

That's quite a nice WeeHawk you've got.  How do the Tourance tires handle the highway and twisties?

[Deadly]

That's quite a nice WeeHawk you've got.  How do the Tourance tires handle the highway and twisties?

They are not Tourance tires Tourance doesnt come in the size I need for the front so I had to go with Avon Distanzia's.  They seem to handle quite well but I dont have much riding time on them yet.
I went with a 150/70-17 radial on the rear but next time Im going to try a 140/80-17 bias ply on the rear. The bias ply tire has a lot deeper tread than the radial for some reason and I think it would be much better in the dirt.

[n5tbu]

That is a bracket I made out of aluminum for my XM/RoadyII sat radio,on the right is for my GPS and cig lighter power cord.
I use ear plug style speakers,because helmet speakers just aren't loud enough(even with a boostaroo) but the cord does the loop de doos while you ride!)
I did a test pull with a junk trailer I use on my 4 wheeler.....not bad at all! the bike drives the same,but the roll on acceleration from 70mph is much slower.
Here's a pic of the setup:
http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/n5tbu/Nighthawk%20750/?action=view&current=100_1231.jpg
mod

[n5tbu]

Sorry,my memory sux! The hitch was 400 bucks.....he guestimated 300 and actually had 550 in it,we setteled for 400 and I would forget who made it, for liability issues.
I could have done a neater job tho,if I still had access to a torch and welder. Pipe fitting always looks better than angle cuts/welding does. It is stronger than I could ever stress it tho.
Now on to the trailer and gettin the hell outta here!lol I am swaying towards an Aluma MCT,about 1900 bucks,12" aluminum mags,led lights and all aluminum construction with cooler carrier and jack stand and rooftop rack/carrier as standard equipment
Man,I am getting pumpted up at this trip I am planning from La to Tx to NM to Co to Kansas to Ok,To Ar to Tn to Ms and back about 2 to 3 weeks!
mod

[Deadly]

.....Now on to the trailer and gettin the hell outta here!lol I am swaying towards an Aluma MCT,about 1900 bucks,12" aluminum mags,led lights and all aluminum construction with cooler carrier and jack stand and rooftop rack/carrier as standard equipment
Man,I am getting pumpted up at this trip I am planning from La to Tx to NM to Co to Kansas to Ok,To Ar to Tn to Ms and back about 2 to 3 weeks!
mod

Where abouts are you going to go through Kansas at?  Depending on the timing I might ride over and meet you for lunch somewhere. 

[n5tbu]

Richard,this is gonna be one of those trips with no plans...just head out and ride! I will bring my laptop so maybe when it gets closer I can post. It would be nice to have lunch and ride together for a while.
mark

[Deadly]

I ordered two of these today from Cabela's. They are small but I think they might be just the right size to use as lockable luggage for the Nighthawk..... I hope I didnt waste my money.