psuvm%jif@psuvax.UUCP (05/03/84)
<Munch>
I also plan to make my nighthawk into a "sport tourer". I was looking
at the official Hondaline catalog today. I was very disappointed.
They have a set of hard Saddle bags that are made to match the bike that
don't look too bad. They also have leather and cloth soft saddle bags.
These didn't seem like such a good deal. Their engine guards and luggage
racks are both chrome! This is for a bike with no chrome at all from the
factory!! They don't even offer black. I guess I'll do without engine
guards, and I'll buy aftermarket bags.
There is no Hondaline fairing for the bike yet <maybe next year>. I'm
also want to find out about this as I ride about 8000 miles a year,
12 months a year in PA. My old Hawk has a Quicksilver that I'm very
happy with, problem is, it just won't look right on this bike.
So who makes the best Saddlebags?? And just how am I supposed to carry
around my extra helmet without a sissy bar?? The manual says not to
use the helmet lock while riding.
Jim Foster
255 E. Beaver Ave. #1210
State College, Pa. 19046
(814)-237-2617
BITNET: :allegra, akgue, ihnp4:!psuvax!jif@psuvm.bitnet
JIF@PSUVMan@hou2h.UUCP (A.NGUYEN) (05/07/84)
-- > There is no Hondaline fairing for the [Nighthawk S] yet .. The CBX style fairing that Honda offers for the 750/900/1100F series and the Sabres is quite stylish. However, the Honda parts people I talked to seem to think that the fairing is too big for the Nighthawk and would not be made for that bike. > So who makes the best Saddlebags?? Bagman used too, until they are eclipsed by Eclipse. My Bagman's work fine, but the Eclipse bags work equally well, and have many more thoughtful features besides. > And just how am I supposed to carry around my extra helmet without > a sissy bar?? Try the Eclipse Helmet Bra (!). For $10 you can't beat it with a dipstick! (Dipstick?! Whatsa dipstick? Don't everybody have viewing windows?!) Au "Sissy bars are for pansies!"
kar@ritcv.UUCP (05/07/84)
After two years of riding my 1982 Nighthawk without one, I've finally added
a fairing to it. I chose the Windjammer because it looked like it would do
what I wanted it to do, and it happened to be on sale at the time. It took
me about 3 hours to install it myself (including changing the wiring har-
ness inside to make the running lights in the turn signals work correctly
with the bike), and I'm quite pleased with it.
I got a silver fairing and have a blue bike. Some day I'll take the gold
striping off of the fairing and replace it with blue -- I think that will
make it look almost as good as a factory fairing.
As for saddlebags, maybe in another couple of years....
Ken Reek, Rochester Institute of Technology
{allegra,seismo}!rochester!ritcv!karhsc@hogpc.UUCP (H.COHEN) (05/07/84)
Jim Foster asks, "And just how am I supposed to carry around my extra helmet without a sissy bar??" MY STARS AND GARTERS!!! I hope that doesn't mean he's using the sissy bar like a dress dummy, with the bar supporting the helmet from inside. As we all know, this compresses the crushable liner, and makes a sophisticated save-your-life system equivalent to a WW II Army helmet. Use a Helmet Bra, Jim; they only cost about ten bucks.
dhk@hp-pcd.UUCP (05/14/84)
I agree with you about the chrome case guards. The first thing I did when I got a pair for my 650 Nighthawk was take them down to a local chrome shop and have them black powdercoated which is electrostatically applied paint. I haven't had any problem with it peeling or scratching even though it is over the chrome. The black looks great and it really blends in with the bike. I would think twice about not getting a set because I wrecked on my Nighthawk before I had them on and it cost me $400 to replace the head when the $36 case guards would have saved it from damage. As a personal opinion, I think that the Eclipse Saddle-Paks (I, II, III) are a pretty good soft saddle bag. They have some nice little touches and run from around $99 for the IIIs to $140 for the Is. How about using an Eclipse Helmet Bra to carry your extra helmet? I have seen them for $5-10. Ads for both of these are in the back of any cycle magazine. Dustin Kassman !hplabs!hp-pcd!dhk