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Post by kz1000st on Oct 8, 2016 17:08:35 GMT -6
What did you say Pete?
It's a honda are you kidding??!! Easy peasy baby
Okay, I'm a worry wort. You were right. I rode the Nighthawk on the 156 mile ride. It did great and ran the whole way like a Champ. Funny thing though. You know how most speedometers read optimistic? This runs the other way. I was chugging along at an indicated 55 mph and my wife (Yes, I married the Danbury Lady) told me I was doing 60 to 65. The previous owner put an oversize front tire that has it reading lower than it should.
The bike rocked. It pulled the hills fairly easily and has a throaty sound from the modified pipes. I also love the standard seating position and it doesn't have shift linkage like a Rebel. It has a solid mounted shift lever and shifts are positive and solid. I liked it and it gets 60 mpg. Not bad for a 25 year old bike.
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Post by cyborg on Oct 8, 2016 19:29:56 GMT -6
Told you baby boy,,,, I would take it apart get a disc front brake set on eBay cheap and call it the every day ride,,,, it's a gimme dude,, those things are stones,,, I'm not even joking about that bike being Hondas biggest seller behind the super cub,, that engine /trans combo is legendary,,,, I personally wouldn't blink an eye or hesitate for a moment to take that thing as it is ( with a good go through that is) on an around the world trip,,, literally around the planet,,, and it would do it too,,
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Post by cyborg on Oct 9, 2016 8:39:05 GMT -6
As a side note I follow your blog on yolasite two wheeler and sent you a few messages ,,, don't know if you got them or not,,, but congratulations,,,I think it's great you remarried,,, and as another side note get a disc front brake on the hawk ,,, it'll be twice the bike,,, that thing is a keeper,,, I loves me a good honda
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Post by kz1000st on Oct 9, 2016 9:52:06 GMT -6
Thanks Pete. The Honda surprised me with how strong it was. I know it only has 15,000 miles on it but the poor thing was neglected in its past and I always nursed it along carefully on the short rides I took before this. I kept it going at 55 starting out because I didn't know how it would fare on the long ride. As the miles progressed I pushed it a little bit more up to 60mph occasionally. It still rocked and was stronger than my daughter's bike accelerating and on hills. I love the gearshift connected directly to the transmission. It shifts so much better that either Rebel and finding neutral was a darn sight easier.
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Post by cyborg on Oct 9, 2016 10:52:47 GMT -6
I always switch to metal hime joints ( spherical rod ends) on all long linkage shifters they take all lateral movement out of the equation,, had a few ducatis with loose shift linkages,,, and I try to engineer direct shift shaft levers whenever I can,,, I prefer them,, I'm not a fan of forward controls either and consider them dangerous actually,, if I can't stand on a bike while moving I don't own it,,, if the hawk had a disc front brake I'd take it over the rebel every time ,,, the rebel ( cruiser style) bike is an American anomaly the hawk is the world selling bike,,, the rebel is a USA model,, don't get me wrong the rebel is still a great machine,,, with the stellar engine /trans,,, but easychair position riding isn't my cup of tea,,,also if you count the rear sprocket teeth you'll find the rebel is geared lower than the hawk,,, giving the impression of greater power,,, but in fact the hawk is a better overall machine with a slightly better top end and better mileage on the freeway,, but at a cost of less excelleration,,,if it had a disc front brake it would be the hands down winner by far,,, at least in my opinion
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Post by kz1000st on Oct 12, 2016 14:08:45 GMT -6
Even more stunning news Pete. I just refilled the tank since it had close to a hundred miles on it. Doing the math gave me 68.7 mpg. Holy Cow! That's what I get with the much newer Rebels on a good day! A 25 year old flogger with 15,000 miles? Not bad.
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Post by cyborg on Oct 12, 2016 18:59:11 GMT -6
I hate to keep beating this whole "IT'S A HONDA!!!!" Thing but after all it is A HONDA!!!!!!!!!,,,they aren't the largest motorcycle company in the world for nothing you know,,,,I know that some think Chinese scooters are great and they are fun don't get me wrong but they have their place,,,and can't hold a candle to even a 250cc 5 or 6 speed gearbox manual shift motorcycle,,,I wouldn't dream of trying to take a Chinese scooter no matter what the cc's around the world,,,I wouldn't blink an eye to take the little honda there,,,,there's simply no comparison ,,,the gearbox bikes are where it's at,,,you stole that hawk for $400,,,even if you had to put $800-900 in it,,,where you going to get a bike of that quality for $1200-1300?,,,,let me tell you with eBay at your fingertips $900 buys a he11 of a lot of parts,,,you absolutely can get 100,000 miles out of any of your little Hondas ,,that was their target since 1967 when they started developement on the 750 4 cylinder,,,,smooth powerful 100,000 miles with regular maintainance,,,cheap,,,that's been their goal for decades now,,,,just saw a 1978 175cc scrambler today,,,a little worn but still proud,,,started first kick,,,no smoke,,,runs and shifts as new,,,51000 on the clock and still strong,,,,now that's quality,,,it's a honda
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