I GOT THE BIKE HOME!!!!!! (with difficulty)

"themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles" (themanwithsauce)
01/31/2015 at 01:45 • Filed to: None

Okay first things first, what the honest hell is the nighthawk 650 made of? It weighs more than one of the moons of Mars yet wets the panties of every girl from here to coney island. Seriously, every human being who identifies somewhat on the feminine side of gender that I know has been talking to me tonight and wants to know when they get to ride with me on it. And it gets better - this bike broke both the ramp I used to load it, the U-haul van I loaded it in, the back of the seller when he helped me load it, the ramp I used to unload it, more parts of the van I loaded it in, my own hands, and the pavement it inevitably landed on when it tumbled off of the broken ramp. The bike? Let me put it this way - the mirrors are in perfect shape despite denting the interior of a cargo van.........Anyways, onto the pictures!

Not bad for 800$ eh? It still needs a new battery, a good buffing, and a conversion to a round front headlight. Other than that, pretty much ready to ride.

DISCUSSION (18)

Spoon II > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
01/31/2015 at 01:48

Haha, probably the same thing my Shadow 750 is made of. It weighs about 600 lbs, and survived quite a hefty crash with fairly minimal damage.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Spoon II
01/31/2015 at 01:50

I see why everyone loves these things as basic bikes to commute on. I'm pretty sure I could take potholes on it quite well.

bob and john > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
01/31/2015 at 01:52

NICE!

my SV is ~ 425 stock..after the fender removal, new forks, removing old exhaust...probably more like 400 now.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > bob and john
01/31/2015 at 01:54

Seriously WHAT THE HELL ARE GOOD BIKES MADE OUT OF?!?!?!?! I've driven coupes that seemed to be made of worse metal.....

bob and john > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
01/31/2015 at 02:01

a good sport bike these days is almost all aluminum. mine is ally frame and (I think) engine.

then they go and stick on cast steel wheels. derp

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > bob and john
01/31/2015 at 02:02

Pretty sure this bike is made of lead. It breaks everything and just doesn't give a good god damn.

bob and john > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
01/31/2015 at 02:03

probably steel. friend had a cb900 i help rebuild...god dam what a pain in the ass

E. Julius > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
01/31/2015 at 03:43

Awesome bike! Hoping to pick one up myself this summer. It is funny how, while the fancy-car-attracts-women stereotype is completely overhyped (at least according to my girlfriend/girl friends/Doug Demuro), the motorcycle thing is substantially less so. Obviously it varies from person to person, but I wouldn't be surprised if a broad survey supported those statements.

Adognamedbash > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
01/31/2015 at 04:13

Nice. I had an identical one for two years in like 2009. Sold it after graduating from grad school. So so identical, that I have to ask, are you in or near Indiana?

AdverseMartyr > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
01/31/2015 at 04:57

Congrats on the bike. I would recommend not taking any passengers (No matter how cute) until you are really solid on the bike. A passenger who isn't a good rider is one of the most dangerous things I have ever done on a bike. "oh, I'm just going to lean down and scratch my ankle."

Though, I'm guessing it will be a few months before you can take it for a spin, since - winter.

DiExMachina > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
01/31/2015 at 07:11

I have rebuilt a couple of older bikes. Most of the pre 1990 bikes are made with steel frames, unless specifically stated as a super sport bike. Then they liked to use aluminium. My 78 GS1000e is around 550lbs(wet), all steel except the motor and wheels.

Girls like Hondas because they probably rode one. Honda makes great bikes that almost everyone likes and everyone can be comfortable on. Bikes for the masses!

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
01/31/2015 at 09:31

god yes, please replace that headlight

also you said it dented the van, it doesn't look tied down too well. compress the shit out of the forks when you do it, shouldn't have any movement on the bike. if its swaying its not tied down enough. I've tipped over a few bikes before I figured that out.

The Compromiser > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
01/31/2015 at 09:39

I have a 1300 that weighs more than an HD Bagger. We compared VIN labels. The other guy was freaked out.

I think it was made from pure mutated Godzilla testicular fortitude and rice.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Adognamedbash
01/31/2015 at 10:13

I'm in west Michigan so it is possible.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > itranthelasttimeiparkedit
01/31/2015 at 10:16

It was actually tied down very well, but when my ramp decided to not be a ramp anymore, the mirror caught the rear door frame and mangled it a little bit. The mirror is fine.

vic06 > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
02/03/2015 at 11:43

Congrats!

Actually, you don't have to tie it the hell down, just compress the forks between half and 2/3 of the travel so they can help absorbing big bumps. More will stress the seals.

Try to find a better spot for the rear tie downs, as the grab bar doesn't make for a long-term anchor. I usually loop the straps around the top of the rear wheel and pull them just enough to avoid fishtailing. That way the rear suspension works during the haul.

vic06 > bob and john
02/03/2015 at 11:47

I'm pretty surehe wheels on your SV are cast aluminum.

bob and john > vic06
02/03/2015 at 18:42

sure dont feel like it. the front wheel weighs like twice as much as the GSX-R rim on it now.