New Project: 1986 Honda Nighthawk 700 S

[KaJuN]

Looks like mechanic kitty approves!

[Spectre]

Well, I got the last parts I need to make the bike run (as opposed to make it pretty) today.

Tonight is bike assembly night! I'll post updates as I take breaks.

I've got the bike torn down to replace the airbox (big PITA). Here's where it at right now:





I should have it all back together tonight. And yes, I am assembling it on the front porch. I would have brought it inside, but it won't fit through the door.

[Spectre]

I'm taking a break while some paint dries. In the meantime, I have installed a new brake lever, clutch lever, and some integrated turn signal mirrors that I picked up off eBay.



Carbs go back on next.

[Spectre]

Carbs are on, trying to figure out how to adjust the throttle cables now. Pic coming....

[BlaRo]

See here, the difference between you and I is that you can strip a bike in a day and reasonably expect it to be put back together tomorrow, because you know what you're doing.

Me, on the other hand, it's been since oh I don't know, last summer...

Anyway, those carbs look pretty sexy painted up like that. You didn't disassemble them? How are you not getting paint in sensitive areas?

[Spectre]

Like all things, it comes with experience and time. I think I'm a few years older than you (IIRC), I've got a lot more experience, and I've always been a quick study.

If it makes you feel better, it took me the better part of two years to build up my old CB*450* DOHC (lol torsionbarvalvesprings) from a box of parts back in the 90s. It didn't go at all well and I encountered every single one of the classic problems - but you know, after that I had a lot more experience and confidence in attacking my next bike project. We all have to pay the price our first time out.

As for the carbs, I masked off the inlet and outlet of each, taped up all holes, and sprayed. That will do it, if you are careful. It is not optimal, and the paint will eventually come off, plus it will be harder to get apart next time. On the other hand, they will look cool in the interim - and I can see about doing up a spare set properly later.

[Spectre]

Had a bit of trouble reconnecting the throttle cables - turns out someone sent me the wrong push cable, so I'm going to do without for now. I am now installing the airbox, and then I can put all the bodywork back on.

[Spectre]

Tank on:



Seat, rear fairing and rear wheel back on:





The side covers are still off because unfortunately I had an airbox boot crack on me and I can't finish until that's replaced. However - it does seem to run!

I'm going to get a little sleep and then go get the airbox boots from the Honda dealer.

[KaJuN]

This thread is awesome! It's like seeing a bike being reborn right before my eyes.

[NooDle]

Epic bike.
Epic paintjob.

And I'm scared just looking at the first couple of pictures of just how dissassembled it looks. I'd be lost in a second. I'd probably be able to reassemble it all when given several years, but I'd still end up with a few bits left over in the end (like IKEA).

Or, more realistically, i'd give up after a day or so.

Kudos to you for doing the whole thing yourself

[BlaRo]

Just thought I'd chip in again: Honda Parts Direct are good people. I wasn't paid to say this, but I usually order from them because they have a comprehensive list, lots of fiches from the parts manual, and are priced cheaper than other places. This time they sent one of my orders within 2 weeks, but the other one I haven't heard from in 3. I emailed them last night and got a reply this morning telling me to expect a tracking number in my mailbox, and that the parts were being packaged from their warehouse today.

Lo and behold, my 80 spokes should be coming in on the 24th.

Another order I placed with them resulted in them telling me that the tach and speedo covers had been discontinued, so they didn't charge my credit card for them. They get a +rep in my book.






Of course, if they were really good, the package would have come last week.

[Spectre]

My local dealer has reinstated my old discount from when I had a lot more bikes. Cost + 5% for Honda parts for me, which beats the direct guys.

These came today:





The fairing's going to the paint shop, the lights will be going on the back of the bike as soon as I can figure out how I want to mount them on the lower fenders.

The dealer didn't have the airbox boots in stock, but there was a salvagable set at the local bike salvage yard. I'm reconditioning those and have the boots on order.

[Spectre]

The throttle push cable came Thursday; I put it and the airbox boots on and finished assembling the bike.

[BlaRo]

Originally Posted by KaJuN

Looks like mechanic kitty approves!

Sorry, I just had to.

[Spectre]

It runs.

Oh GOD, does it run. Faster than I remember the Nighthawk S as being. Sounds great, too. Not loud enough to wake the neighbors, thankfully.

I''ll be going riding tomorrow.

[Spectre]

Got the rear turnsignals on....

Now you see them:



Now you don't:



Nice and inobtrusive.

[tigger]

Nice work Spectre. Where'd you get those turn signals? The only ones I have for my Yamaha practically stick out a foot on either side; just waiting to get ripped off by a tree (or the ground ) the next time I'm in the woods.

[Spectre]

I got them from eBay, though your local indie motorcycle shop should carry them under the Lockhart Phillips name. You'll have to drill some small holes to mount them - they come with sticky tape and bolts, and the sticky tape is worthless.

[Spectre]

Better shot of the rear turn signals:






Unfortunately, the stator AND rotor of the bike's alternator are having problems. The rotor's magnetic charge is very weak for some reason (probably the result of the PO dropping it) and the stator's got some breaks in it. Even more unfortunately, these aren't cheap to replace, as the bike was only made three years. In addition, it turns out that the bike has a cracked left side case cover, so it's leaking oil. And the shift linkage is a little bent. Not that difficult to fix, but the parts aren't as available or cheap as I'd like and it would take quite a bit of time to resolve the issues. Each issue's parts cost is about $150, even used.

The good news is that I've tracked down another entire engine module for cheap locally - $350 - and it's far cheaper and faster to swap that in than deal with the charging system and other issues, believe it or not. It's also got less miles on it than mine does, so that will be going in this week.

Its definitely a keeper, or I would have sold it after discovering these problems. I love the thing dearly.

On the plus side, the last parts needing to be repainted should be back this week. That is, the fairing, the front fender, and the rear fairing. The replacement decals are on order and should be in about the same time, so I'll finally be back to stock on the paint scheme.

[Spectre]

Okay, got the "tins" back from paint.

Here's the parts before paint. The sidecover with the "Nighthawk S" decal is the exemplar so they can get a good paint color match:


And at home after paint:






Decals are coming, they were a little backordered but should be here soon.