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I've been thinking about taking a trip down to Lenoir City, TN (S of Knoxville) to visit some friends this march. I used furkot.com (GREAT road trip planning site) to come up with a nice twisty, non-interstate ride, but It's about 350 miles long and the site is telling me it'll take 10 hours *per the speed limit*. I've done 120 mile per day trips that were dirt easy and a 200 mile loop from Cincy, around KY10 / 22 and back - I was pretty good ti'll the end, but it wasn't nearly as warm as I had anticipated and the chill got to me. This isn't a pure sight seeing trip but I also don't want to slab it. Also, not looking for any iron butt, but wouldn't mind pushing myself just a bit. I could split it up, but don't want to make the days too short. Thoughts? Thanks

Put some cheap-ass Chinese running lights on DumpsterHawk, mainly to be seen better. Holy hell, mission accomplished!! Six watts (total) of LED lights completely swamps the 55 watt H4 low beam.

Sorry, it's completely my fault. I got the ol' DumpsterHawk all bolted back up. The weather went to shit the very next day.

What if you can't feel any play but there's a noticeable detent when you move the bars (wheel off the ground)? I'm guessing it's time to replace the bearings, but thought I'd ask. Ol' BeaterHawk (NH 750) gets a mild wobble while decelerating through 40 MPH or so with hands off the bars. Thanks, Doug

It only works if you wear skinny jeans, have a handlebar mustache, thick rimmed glasses, drink Genesee beer and smoke American Spirits...

Since the EGR valve flows exhaust back into the intake, my guess is "no". Carb cleaner is a fair bit more aggressive. You have to remove the valve and spray it in there to loosen up all the scum that is preventing it from operating correctly. No worries, I wasn't being critical of you, just annoyed at what a dealer charged you to fix this. Was the head of their service department wearing a stetson hat, cowboy boots and carrying a six shooter? Highway robbery...

Did I read you paid $300 to have the EGR valve replaced? WOW. I always just pulled 'em off, sprayed / doused with carb cleaner, let sit, dry, reinstall and drive another 25,000 miles.

I finally got the old Nighthawk 750 buttoned up and back on the road Saturday. I kind of missed that bike. Since I *JUST* fixed her, blame me for the inevitable 3 months of unridable weather.

Yeah, that's the problem with the signals I installed. I discovered the hard way that a normal 1157 won't fit them - they take those crappy mini-bulbs. I have LED bayonet lights in them which are OK, but nothing like big ol' 1157s in the original Honda signals. I was thinking kludging an array into them would work well. Oh, thanks for the advice about the bucket. Since it's plastic, Krylon fusion? I want them to run all the time as regular running lights and blink with the turn signal. The Honda is wired as such that if I use the running light circuit, the light'll just go off and stay off when the signals are blinking. If I use the blink circuit, they'll only be on as turn signals. I've noticed I'm much more invisible on the old black Honda as compared to my red and chrome Vulcan. It's kind of creepy - I want to make sure folks SEE the 'hawk. Thanks

I learned that the hard way when I purchased LED bulbs a while back. They're pathetic compared to their incandescent cousins. Regardless of how (not) bright the turn signals are, I thought a pair of fog/running lights below the headlight (or maybe on the engine guard) would increase my conspicuity. And having the appropriate side light blink in unison with the signals would be even better.... I'm sure I'll replace the turn signals again in the future. I just hate how clunky looking and expensive the stock ones are and true LED signals all seem to be styled for an R6 - would look stupid on the 'hawk. I like the cheap Buell style smoked signals, but they only take a small bulb. Maybe I'll gut 'em and install a matrix of high power LEDs I'm not putting anything in the back for now - the bike came with aux red LED strips that blink when the brakes are applied. THOSE get attention.

I'm fixing up Dumpsterhawk again, replaced the bars, most everything attached to 'em on the left (to rider's) side and am in the process of wiring up the new turn signals. Yeah, I need to take a hammer to the headlight brackets... I like the way the new signals look, but aren't too impressed with how bright they are. I was thinking about getting some LED running lights to mount to the forks near the lower triple tree / side reflectors and relaying them up so when the turn signal comes on, the appropriate side light goes off in unison. Sound like a good idea? White or yellow? Too damned irritating? Attract the police? I'm also thinking about replacing the rashed up headlight bucket with a chrome one. Sound good or leave it black? What do you think? Thanks P.S. Another view - beater bike porn. All naked and such.

Dawn dish soap mixed 50/50 with liquid Tide, wash by hand.

I've never had an issue with torque on my Vulcan 500 LTD. Wind the engine up and it will spank a lot of cruisers. The Vulcan S looks interesting. Doesn't look like it's trying to copy anything.

Currently, I have the following on order: Ride Hard, Ride Smart: Ultimate Street Strategies for Advanced Motorcyclists The Upper Half of the Motorcycle: On the Unity of Rider and Machine - got that one from and ADV rider. Sport Riding Techniques: How To Develop Real World Skills for Speed, Safety, and Confidence on the Street and Track I might look at the other books later, but the above is plenty of reading. Also re-watched most of Twist of the Wrist II last night. Yeah, I've experienced moments of smooth zen, but on the balance still make plenty of dumb mistakes like turning in too early, being lazy on the turn in, being too abrupt with the throttle. My lane departure on the Nighthawk was pretty much a perfect example of what not to do. Need to get on the machine more and just do it. Taking a dirt class has been on my bucket list too. Doug

Oh, I don't think I'm experienced by any means, but I'm pretty happy with that start. I've been putting off getting to work on the the 750 since my garage is detached and horrible in the dead of summer. It has been sitting in there a while - I cranked her over the other day and despite the tumble, she sounded good. I just got a little shook by the accidents, but I just can't see quitting as an option. I think it has driven me to consider amping up the training, even if it's self training. I also should look more carefully at my gear. I think I have a good start with the Joe Rocket Comet Jacket, full face helmet, leather gloves, and leather (jump) boots, but I need to look at my legs better. I have a pair of sliders jeans, but they're damned hot in the summer and still offer no impact protection. My general motorcycling budget needs to include a bigger percentage for safety gear. So far I've been lucky, neither exit rashed through my jeans, but this last one came really close to breaking my leg. I'm still sore with a super bruised, possibly microfractured tibia and sore wrist. Thanks for the links, I'll check out those books. I don't see wanting to be a street racer, but yes, swooping through the bends is fantastic. Even on the Vulcan 500. I'm not in a rush to get to the bigger bike; the Vulcan still has plenty to teach me. Though I did sit on an FZ07 last week - yeah, OMG. I can't imagine wasting my life staring at the boob toob, wondering "what if". I'd rather be out there. Doug

The 750 is in no need of being *more stable* on the highway! I feel like a pygmy guiding and elephant riding it on the slab.

Hmm... It's currently wearing Metzler 880s. Slightly oversized at that to make 'em fit, I believe. Previous owner put them on.

I had to look up the numbers, it's the engineer in me. They say the NH has sportier geometry, right? Too bad no manufacturer lists the center of gravity. Can't argue with the numbers, they just reinforce my inexperience... Nighthawk 750 Wheelbase: 59.3 Curb wt: 498 Seat Ht: 30.7" Ground Clearance: 5.5 Rake: 29 Trail: 4.6" Vulcan 500 LTD Wheelbase: 62.8" Curb wt: 471 Seat Ht: 28.1" Ground Clearance: 4.7" Rake: 33 Trail: 5.9"

Damn I hate the limit on editing!!! Yes, I'm interested in basic track training, BTW. At the moment, the Vulcan is ridable, the 'Hawk is not. Anything semi-close to SW Ohio?

The Nighthawk has *much* heavier steering than than the little Vulcan. The first time I got it on the highway, I felt like I was fighting it to get around curves. I got used to it, but always feels overtly heavy. Actually, that has been a big question in my mind, "How hard can I press the bars?". I don't want to find out "too far" by putting the bike down. It's an entirely different feel with the different position and higher CG. Generally, riding puts a huge smile on my face. Just going for a lazy "point that direction and get lost" cruise, going down to KY 10 / KY 22 or taking a road/camping trip are an amazing time. Even the crap, highway ride to work and back is at least a much nicer way to bookend the work day than being stuck in my POS car. Because of life, $$$, etc., I'm probably not going to get to fly any time soon - motorcycling is a pretty damned awesome "runner up". I can't say I'm having a doubt crisis so much as, "Am I doing it right" or "Am I screwing up more/worse than the average new rider" moment? Thanks

Yes, it is....

As for my "no business" comment, I meant, "It would have been smarter to get more experience with the new bike before getting aggressive with it, a heavier, more powerful machine. I'm much more comfortable on the Vulcan 500 LTD. The LTD is a surprisingly flickable little cruiser - the Nighthawk feels like a heifer in comparison.

The Nighthawk 750 got pretty bent up (not frame, but bars, lights, tank, exhaust), so I've been back on the Vulcan 500 as I slowly fix it. Though the Nighthawk technically is faster/more powerful and can lean deeper, the Vulcan is more predictable, lighter, feels peppier and surprisingly, is way more nimble. Could I take the 500 (small cruiser) to a basic track day class? It takes quite a bit of lean to get the pegs to kiss, for a cruiser. I'm not looking to race, just get experience. I have watched Twist of the Wrist a couple times. It has helped, for sure.

Most everyone says, "There are two types of riders, those who have crashed, and those who will". I have a year and a couple months under my belt. I took the MSF class, have tried to be careful, practice quick stops, go to the parking lot to practice on occasion, ride defensively, but have had 3 mishaps so far in the the past year / 4000 miles or so. 1) Got the NH 750 mainly because it was available and cheap. Looking back, I definitely moved to the bigger machine too soon. I was in KY this spring following my friend on his DR650 and got lulled into following him instead of picking my own lines. Went into a sweeping left leading directly into decreasing radius right. He trail braked into the right turn - I was too close, had no chance of slowing down and getting the top heavy 750 to chicane fast enough and ran wide across the lane into a berm. I kept the bike upright, but had a car been coming, I'd be chum. I had no business taking that machine on those roads so soon after getting it. 2) Same bike, a slow speed sharp left. Didn't see the oil scum patch and went down. Should have been keeping my eye on pavement condition better. Busted my knee a little, blackened a pinky, but was fine. Gear did the job 3) A couple weeks ago, after changing the front pads on my Vulcan 500, went to bed them in on a quiet street in my neighborhood. They locked and stayed locked. It was dark, I didn't see the scum/tar snake and *stupidly* didn't check the fluid level. Contusion on my left tibia, sore shoulder and a ruined helmet (impact of the chin bar). Gear did the job. I love riding, want to dust myself off, learn from my mistakes and press on, but can't help but think, "Should I"? I waited until later in life (40) mainly because, yes, I was an aggressive driver. I used to get tickets all the time. In flight training, we learned 200 to about 600 hours experience is the most dangerous because you feel experienced and confident, but aren't yet. I have a feeling that's where I am now on the motorcycles - as I mentioned, I have about a year and 4000 miles under my belt. Any sage wisdom? I'd appreciate it.

Another link: http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/local/butlercounty/2014/09/27/seven-transported-to-hospital-in-massive-motorcycle-wreck/16342013/