Your Nighthawk - Page Six

Great site Paul.

This is a pic of my 1992 Honda Nighthawk 750 warming up on a cool morning just before a 5 day trip through Arkansas. I bought this bike about a year and a half ago for $1,200 with the intent of keeping it for a year or so while I saved enough money to buy something I really wanted. Well, as it turns out the Nighthawk is just about everything I need in a bike and it is here to stay (knock on wood). The bike already had highway pegs when I bought it and I added a steel braded brake line, other than that the bike is completely stock with about 29K miles.

Jim

Springfield, Missouri

Hi Paul,

Just wanted to drop you a line and let you know how much I enjoy browsing your website and learning more about the Nighthawk family. Here’s a pic of my ’83 650 I bought back in January. It’s actually my first “owned” motorcycle (I had friends that owned and let me ride until now). Right away I fell in love with this bike. I has just the right balance of power and handling capability. The only modification I have done since this pic was taken was to add a spitfire windshield (it’s small and unobtrusive, but needed since I drive the ‘hawk on my daily 30 mile each way commute). I would like to add a sissy bar because I keep trying to talk my wife into riding with me, but tracking one down has proven kinda difficult. I’m in the mountains of North Carolina, and this summer we’re planning on riding to the coast and hopping up the Outer Banks. Should be a great trip! Anyway, thanks for the great site!

Andy Greene

Lenoir, NC

The following 700S Nighthawks are owned by a couple of guys named Gary and Michael. Gary bought his 700S in beautiful condition, but Michael's was neglected and trashed. Both men got together on the restoration project, and I'll let them tell the rest of the story. [Note: click some of the images below to see larger views.]

Hi Paul,
I remember in high school when Honda released the 84 700s. I fell instantly in love with its stylish looks and vowed to myself that one day I would own one. Well, 23 years later after college, work, wife, mortgage & kids . . . I finally got the chance to make that dream come true. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time when I came across this beauty you see in the picture.

I bought it in January 2007 from someone who loved Nighthawks as much as I do, which is evident by its condition. I just cannot believe that I finally own my dream bike. It is such an incredible and enjoyable bike to ride. I’ve cherished every mile that I have put on it since I bought it. I see heads turn everywhere I go on it. Too bad Honda doesn’t make these anymore . . . they’re a legend!

This 84 700s has come a long way as you can see by the picture (see before and after pictures below). The bike was wrecked in 2003 by the previous owner and left sitting outside in the hot Florida sun until we discovered it. We bought it for $400 in February of 2006. This project was a combined restoration by Michael & Gary. Michael focused on the cosmetics while Gary handled all the mechanical. We found a wasp nest, cob webs etc all inside this bike. We got what parts needed replacing off of eBay and fixed what we could on our own. After a carb rebuild, new forks, gauges, gas tank, new rubber, factory emblems and a paint job, we ended up with a very impressive looking 84 700s by April of 2006. It was a total labor of love to resurrect this legendary bike from the grave andrestore it to its former glory. Oh, and by the way . . . it’s a ROCKET!!

Michael

Hi Paul,

I've really enjoyed your site and thought I would share my bike, a 2001 Nighthawk 750. It's pretty much stock other than I've added the windshield and had the seat redone. It had the sissy bar on it when I bought it, and I got the center stand from my Honda dealer. My wife and I rode it to Sturgis last year and we hope to do some more touring on it. It's also been my daily commuter bike for the last few years. So far it hasn't given me any trouble, about all I've had to do is change the tires and put a new chain on it. Too bad Honda doesn't make these bikes any more!

David

Windsor, Colorado

Added May 10, 2009

Paul,

Nice site! I purchased this '83 650 Nighthawk last summer based largely upon the content of this site. So, thanks for putting it together!

As you can see from the picture, it has a custom paint job that, in my opinion, really helps make the bike look as sporty as it rides. The previous owner did a nice job with the paint -- I really like the muscle car stripes! Other than the paint job, this Nighthawk is mostly stock, with the exception of a National Cycle Deflector windshield, a re-covered seat, and some new mirrors. It has just under 21,000 miles on the odometer, and I'm hoping to put quite a few more on. It was in good mechanical condition when I bought it, but I've been going through and fixing a few things to make it as reliable as possible. I'm in the process of obtaining a Hondaline luggage rack/backrest to make strapping down payload a little easier and hopefully getting my wife interested in riding with me.

Overall, I'm quite pleased with the features this bike (which is older than I am) has to offer. I occasionally research new bikes to see what I might be interested in when the bank account allows, but I'm always disappointed by the exclusion of certain features that I appreciate now with the Nighthawk. I'm convinced that if I ever buy a new bike, I'll have to sacrifice something. Where else can you find a gear indicator, fuel level gauge, hydraulic clutch & valve lifters, 6 speed transmission, anti-dive front forks, center stand, and shaft drive -- all in a reasonably priced, fast, and good-looking bike?

I've enjoyed seeing everyone's bikes! Thanks again for the site!

Ben
Amery, Wisconsin

Attached is a pic of my baby....she is a '82 750 Nighthawk. She has been raked in 6 degrees at the neck and her swingarm has been extended 1 1/2 inches to keep the wheelbase close to stock and to get more weight on the front end to handle better. The whole front clip is from an 1100F for the better brakes and 17 inch wheel. It has undergone significant internal engine mods and now displaces over 900cc's. and puts 102 horses to the road at the rear tire. We have been to Deals Gap, Thunder On The Beach and are trying to plan a trip to Indianappolis for the GP race this year. God willing it will go well...if not we will try again next year.

I think it is great to see the bike running and on the road again after years of sitting in the scrap heap of a garage and it is extra cool that this is a kid's first bike. I hope he will enjoy touring and relying on his mechanical abilities for years to come.

Thanks for a great website and a place for all of us Nighthawk fiends to converge. George Note: Click on the photo to see more pictures of this restoration project.

Added July 4th, 2009