Build a Honda Nighthawk 750?

[leclairk]

I have only owned a motorcycle for the past 5 years but during that time I have really enjoyed working on it myself. Through the help of online forums and the help of google I have been able to tackle just about any job needed to maintain a bike. I also enjoy car building shows and love the idea of taking something from nothing and making it a finished product. The thought came to me the other day that maybe I could build a bike. I love Honda Nighthawks and thought maybe that would be a good candidate? I consider myself mechanically inclined but really have little experience with engines, bike parts, etc. My question for people would be, where could I start with resources that might aid me in my journey. Is a service manual going to be sufficient to tackle a project like this? The beginning of my project would be studying material. Once I have an idea about what's involved I think I would buy a frame and start from there. Then slowly add the parts needed to make the engine run. Depending on the engine, once it was running, I would pull it apart and rebuild it. Any recommendations on nighthawk forums?

Kevin

 

[FJRay]

Are you planning on building a stock bike or a custom??? If doing a stock bike find one as complete as possible so parts chasing is at a minimum. Try to find one with unmolested wiring. Some japanese parts are getting hard to find.

If you're going for custom I would still find a donor just for the components and figure on making your own brackets and wiring harness to locate things where you want them.

Should be a fun project but be patient because it will take a lot longer than you think and don't consider cost cause your going to have more in it than you can sell it for. Just do it for the fun.

 

[leclairk]

I want to keep it stock. Maybe along the way I would change a few things but mostly stock. That was going to be another question, buy a complete bike or build one from parts. Sounds like I will go complete. My goal would be to make it look as close to brand new as possible when I was done. Thanks for the tip.

 

[PhilJet09]

So what you really want to do is restore an old bike? I've done this several times and it's very rewarding...just not in a financial kind of way. The ones I do are 30-40 years old, so parts are hard to find. New parts are rare and used parts seem to have all the same problems your project bike has. I have this bad habit (according to my wife) of buying several of the same used parts on eBay so I can choose the best of the ones available, that gets a bit expensive. In the end though, I know the bike inside and out and it's very satisfying returning a machine to its original condition.

 

[FJRay]

If you stick with the Honda Parts will be somewhat easier to find. The KZ1300 I'm doing for Don Carver has been a real pain to find parts. Most have come from Germany. Like has been said above the end result is worth it. Just don't fess up to how much you have in it.

 

[Panman]

I think you have picked a good machine, I watch for the later 750 as my son would like to start riding and I think the Nighthawk would be an a great bike to start with. Even if you have to pay a few extra for one that is good running and mostly there you then you could spend your time making it the way you want it. Good luck!

 

[Road_Runner]

I understand that you are going into this with enthusiasm... but you can get a Nighthawk 750 in pretty good condition for not too much $. You will have a ****-ton more money into the project when you get finished than if you just found a good condition used bike.

My advice is to purchase the best one you can find and put your time into fixing the small stuff, then polishing and minor touch-up... then upgrades to make it what you want it. Upgrade to the fork, cams, jet kit... whatever floats your boat. You will have a nicer bike for less money in the end... and your project will have a lot better chance of being completed.

 

[bwv]

This ^^^ is good advice...

Get a good one..spend the extra $$ on better bike.. then go ahead and take it all apart and put it back together if you like, cleaning stuff up, replacing rubber parts, and touching up missing paint... I did that with an 83 shadow...it was great fun, and i learned a lot about the bike, and had a safe reliable motorcycle afterwards.

If you start with a complete, well cared, for example, and then go through it, replacing things you want to, instead of have to, you will be much happier. (and richer) with the same feeling of accomplishment.

 

[DesignFlaw06]

Nighthawk-Forums.com

I'm an admin over there and there's a ton of information over there. I had two Nighthawks before my FJR. They are great bikes.

 

[hppants]

https://nighthawk-forums.com/h

(Edit - great minds think alike, 'eh Designflaw?)

I've owned a Nighthawk 700s (dam it I miss that bike as much as anything I've every owned in my entire life) and a late model Nighthawk 750 ('96 - yellow one). I know a few things about nighthawks. You've picked probably the easiest bike resto project there is:

1. There are a TON of them out there.

2. The thing just doesn't quit. You can abuse the snot out of it for 100,000 miles, and it will still start, run, and take you wherever you want to go. I know MANY people who have done this.

3. The nighthawk (particularly the '91-03' 750 is arguably one of the easiest motorcycles to work on. Seriously, join the forum and read it religiously. Buy a Cylmer's manual. Make sure you have a JIS screwdriver, a set of metric sockets and wrenches, a 12V test light, a set of pliers, a bottle of Pine Sol and a small bucket (to soak the carbs if when you have to "rebuild" them).a decent torque wrench, and a few zip ties. That's all you will need to rebuild the ENTIRE motorcycle, including diagnosis of ANYTHING that could possibly go wrong with it.

4. They are ridiculously reliable and so fun to ride. You can set them up for touring, day tripping, commuting, light dual sporting, or just a Sunday morning jaunt in the countryside.

5. Parts are extremely easy to find. I've still got a lot of 750 parts but here's the thing - you won't need much parts 'cause the darn thing just doesn't break.

PM me if you want to chat Nighthawks. Good luck.

 

[jmgrif]

Go to South Bay Riders forum. In Maintenance and Repair, Spit and Polish CB 400.....! There are 28 pages of detailed pictures and comments about this fellows trials and successes while working on his project. I came across the article quite by accident and like a good book couldn't wait for the next chapter! I think it leaves one with a clear picture of just how involved projects like these can get? The poster must have had an excellent resource for getting sometimes obscure bits and pieces!

 

[leclairk]

This is great info, thanks guys. I'm thinking 92-96 year range. It will take me some time to gently and cleverly ease this idea onto my wife, "why do you need ANOTHER motorcycle!" Maybe I will throw in one of my kids and label it a "bonding experience". It would be of coarse, but I don't think she could resist saying yes if my 6 year old is involved. That will give me enough time to wait for the right bike to come along. If I could pick one up that was in need of some TLC for 1500 bucks that would be great. Then take my time breaking it down and slowly building it back up. Thanks for the tips, I will keep you posted.

Kevin

 

[Big Sky]

I've always had a soft spot in my heart for the Nighthawk "S" models from the mid-1980's. These look great, had sporty handling, legendary Honda reliability and performance, and I think now have some coming collector value. Why restore a bike that isn't worth much when you're done, unless just for experience.

This looks like a good project. Not mine, don't know the owner.

https://greatfalls.craigslist.org/mcy/4441434016.html