dhk@hp-pcd.UUCP (dhk) (03/11/85)
(Could not reach you through mail so I had to post this.) Ed, As an owner of a 1983 650 Nighthawk I thought that I would send you some comments, for what they are worth. First off, I love the bike and I doubt that I would trade it for another brand/type/model. The type of riding that I do is daily commuting (rain or shine), day trips (usually under 400 miles), and an occassional 1000 mile trek. For this type of riding the bike suits me well. I am not a canyon-runner although I do not mind tossing it around in the twisties on occassion. So here it goes: General: Have had good luck with the bike. Few minor problems from the factory (flakey gas gauge, small leak on the oil cooler); fixed by the dealer w/o any hassle. Mileage ranges from 45-50 MPG. Service is a snap since all that you have to do is change oil, filter, and spark plugs. Wish it did have the spin-on oil filter, though. About the same effort as any other bike to keep clean (at least there is no chain to get everything messy). Like the gauges; they are easy to read. Hydraulic clutch takes a little getting used to. The seating position is good and you have lots of room to move around on the seat. I think that it is comfortable but friends that are bigger than me (I am 5'6") look and feel a little cramped. I have no problem touching the ground although this depends upon where the shocks are set at. The six speed (5-speed w/overdrive) is nice for keeping the vibration down (very smooth) and the bike goes like a rocket. Daily: Starts easily and runs well when cold. Nice in stop and go traffic because it is not too big. Love them LOUD horns. Wish that Honda offered a decent rack for it (I put on an aftermarket one and now I cannot use the helmet lock). Also the rear fender is too short so the rear tire throws lots of water on your back when you ride in the rain. I recommend the Hondaline case guards to protect the engine but I painted mine black to match the bike. Day trips: Works great and it is not very fatiguing. Of course, having a a fairing helps (I have a Tracy Vortex). Two-up riding is decent. Handles itself in the curves well (has more ability than I do) but I'm sure that it is not an Interceptor or FJ. Treks: Would not want to ride more that 400 miles in a day. It has a small gas tank (3.2 gallons) which limits your distance between stops to about 150 miles. I wish it was bigger but it does give you a reason to stop and stretch. You might find that you are limited on luggage space if you need to take alot of stuff along (true for any bike this size). You will come to appreciate the fact that the passenger pegs are in a handy spot for you to use so that you can change seating postions. If you do the type of riding that I do (which is pretty typical) and you are around my size I would recommend the Nighthawk. It has run like a charm for me and I would buy another one. If you are bigger than me I would suggest checking out the Nighthawk 700s. I do not think that you could go wrong with either one. If there are any questions that I can answer just let me know. Dustin Kassman Hewlett Packard Co. Corvallis, Oregon hplabs!hp-pcd!dhk
ebh@hou4b.UUCP (Ed Horch) (03/14/85)
I am seriously considering the purchase of a Honda Nighthawk 650.
Since this model is relatively unchanged since its introduction
a few years ago, I was wondering what kind of experiences people
have had with it, especially after a few thousand miles.
As usual, if there's sufficient response, I'll summarize.
Thanks in advance,
-Ed Horch {ihnp4,akgua,houxm}!hou4b!ebh