Nighthawk S

[Liteitup]

In 1984 I bought my first new bike, a Honda Nighthawk S. Also the first bike I rode more than I worked on and pushed. Sold it a couple of years later and moved on to different hobbies. I came back to motorcycles in late 2010 with the purchase of a 2005 FZ1. From there it was a Super Tenere, a couple of KTM EXC's, the RS, the XR, 390 ADV, 890 Duke R, and finally the GSA.

Last week this showed up. This one is a 85 model.


Pretty nice survivor, 30k miles.
These bikes had hydraulic lifters, shaft drive, fuel gauge, gear indicator, 700cc inline 4 (thanks Harley).

Here's a pic of the original 84 model circa 84/85ish

not sure about that shady looking fellow, hopefully he grew up ok.

[Grumpy Goat]

Nice ... feeling nostalgic, eh?

[maxredline]

Nice looking bike at the time with some good engineering ideas. I remember then the shaft lift effect was nasty. My dad bought one, didn't keep it long.

[Duccrazydave]

Love the Nighthawk S !!!

[Rotorwrench]

I had an '84 that I brought back to the states with me when I transferred from Japan. It was a daily driver for me and would frequently ride it from San Diego to Tucson when I had the chance. Solid bike.

[runnerhiker]

Very nice, I like it.  I came very close to buying one in '84.  My final short list was a Sportster and the Nighthawk.  I went with the Sportster because I wanted to own a Harley before they went broke.  I should have bought the Nighthawk and Harley stock. It was at about that time that Willie G and other Harley insider bought the company from AMF and had their huge, successful revival.

   
   

[Liteitup]

Nostalgia? I suppose.

There's certainly no logical reason for buying it. I swore I'd never buy another bike with carbs. Or that instead of buying old technology, I'd stay with newer ones with all the do-dads and safety features. Guess I busted that one.

Thanks for the comments, I'm pleased with it so far.

[Ray]

I should have bought the Nighthawk and Harley stock. 

Ahhh..., nostalgia with a tinge of hindsight. 

We all should have bought the Nighthawk and some Harley stock.... From a penny a share in '86 to close to $80 in 2011. That kind of sensible move would have provided financing for some great bikes later on.

I recall great marketing on the Nighthawk - a great all around bike, and I also came very close to purchase of a used Nighthawk in '86..., but managed to scrounge the funding for a used BMW.

   

[36654]

The shaft-drive was definitely appealing, in my opinion.  In retrospect, it's interesting how many shaft-drive Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha models were available at that time.

Carbs?  Haven't had on a bike since I purchased a K75 in 1986.  I would never, ever go back..........

[Grumpy Goat]

The shaft-drive was definitely appealing, in my opinion.  In retrospect, it's interesting how many shaft-drive Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha models were available at that time.

I would love to know what their actual failure rates were, based on data ...

Carbs?  Haven't had on a bike since I purchased a K75 in 1986.  I would never, ever go back..........

Same here. Carbs are fine for the technology of the day but fuel injection is far more precise, fuel efficient and lower maintenance ... win-win-win, in my book.

[Lee]

  In retrospect, it's interesting how many shaft-drive Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha models were available at that time.

I would love to know what their actual failure rates were, based on data ...

I had a 1978 Yamaha and 1980 Suzuki with a drive shaft.
I don't remember hearing much about drive shaft or final drive problems back then.
Without the internet you did not hear about all the problems.

[36654]

The shaft-drive was definitely appealing, in my opinion.  In retrospect, it's interesting how many shaft-drive Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha models were available at that time.

I would love to know what their actual failure rates were, based on data ...

I think it was cost-cutting that killed them.

[Grumpy Goat]

I had a 1978 Yamaha and 1980 Suzuki with a drive shaft.
I don't remember hearing much about drive shaft or final drive problems back then.
Without the internet you did not hear about all the problems.

This is true, and also in all fairness, the relatively few failures reported on these fora compared with the majority of non-failures tend to distort the problem, unless it happens to you. If it were not for that appreciation for that fact, I would have moved from shaft driven BMWs by now given the apparent lack of acknowledgement of a problem and also the fact that it is not even mentioned as part of the maintenance schedule. As it is, I will admit to a bit of disappointment with BMW Motorrad over this issue.

[36654]

It's just my perception, but I don't recall many BMW shaft problems beyond spline lubing before the ParaLever units. Maintaining rigidity while allowing rotation of the final drive housing is an interesting design problem for the shaft, the universals, the bearings and seals.