Phreon

I rode the Vulcan 500 in to work today. I was a little squeemish in some curves, but just let the bike do what I know it can do. And yes, there's a big patch of scum on the road right where I beefed it on the Nighthawk. I picked a bad line on a "new" bike and paid for it. I do have a pair of Kevlar lined jeans, I'm wearing them right now. The problem is that in 80-90F weather, I'll die of heat stroke wearing them. Thick denim with kevlar reinforcement strategically placed doesn't breath. Plus, they really don't do anything to protect against impact like the pads in my jackets. These jeans do have pockets for knee pads, but with the loose cut, there's no hope they'd stay in place when you need them. It seems there are many more options for protecting one's upper body, with not much in an equavalent level of protection for the legs unless one jumps to full on riding pants or a suit. What is available to protect the legs that can be quickly removed or is cool and wearable all day? Are there quick donning overpants? I can't walk around the office looking like Speed Racer; I've considered getting a pair of Kevlar khakis, but I suspect I'll have the same heat problem. I'm thinking of taking the next MSF class (beyond the BRC). If I can get BeaterHawk fixed up in time, it'd be a good machine to take the class on and a way to get reaquainted with it. Thanks

What is average warm up time for street tires? Think 50 degree morning, 30 mph and under for 3-5 mins, 35-45 for 2 mins, then highway. Many thanks.

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm sure human error was to blame. Driving past the same spot on the way to work the next day, I noticed the pavement is darker in that spot - probably oil/scum. But I shouldn't have been in that zone anyway, on a "new" bike, cold tires... Jeeze HeavyDuty, that's one hell of a story. Mine is a tiny scuff in comparison - if the wx cooperates, I'm going to take the Vulcan to work tomorrow. Same route, different bike. I've read Proficient Motorcycling a couple times and was sure to take the MSF BRC last year. I've been thinking about taking the next course this year; the 'hawk wouldn't be a bad machine to do it on. Just need to get 'er back on the road.

I won't be getting on the same horse immediately. "BeaterHawk" needs some help, but the Vulcan 500 is waiting patiently in the garage. The "upside" is I went down on "BeaterHawk" (which is a bummer) instead of the '500 which would have been tragic (nice paint, in good shape). In typical bachelor style, I went rummaging through the dirty clothes pile. The jeans I wore that day have an oil stain on the butt I didn't notice. Pretty big clue - the only place it could have come from is the pavement. BeaterHawk don't have no stiiinking computer, just quad carbs.

This past Friday on my way to work, I headed down the hill out of my neighborhood towards the highway feeder road (west side of Cincy). I was on the Nighthawk 750 instead of my Vulcan as I leaned in to make a semi-hairpin left i have many times before. I completed braking, was in the right gear, had my hand off the clutch and didn't touch the brake at all in the bend. As I rolled on the throttle (no sudden moves), the back tire gave up in a "How the hell is this happening?" moment. It was a pretty slow speed moment (15 mph?) and my gear did it's job - I have a tiny rash on my elbow, a bigger one on my knee (jeans didn't burn through, but left me raw anyway) a sore shoulder from the impact and a purple, fractured pinky from being crushed between the clutch lever and bar. I got off light, but the Nighthawk predictably has bent bars, destroyed lights and clutch lever, rashed pipe, and absolutely mangled Hondaline luggage rack/seat (bummer, that part is hen's teeth). A guy stopped to help me; once we got the bike lifted and I cleared the flooded carbs, it fired right up and I limped it back home. Maybe I got the wheel on damp center line paint or the suspicious dark patch in that spot, but it happened so fast, I'll probably never know exactly what happened. Anyway, I've been telling myself I feel fine except for the bruises and such, but I've passed up a few fine days and chances to take the Vulcan for a spin. I'm ticked off that it happened in the first place, undid much of the work I put into the Nighthawk and and am kind of thrown for a loop in the mystery of what actually happened. I think being "spooked" is starting to set in. What the h3ll do you do with that? I love riding and am not going to quit. On a related note, once I got used to the Nighthawk's higher center of gravity, it actually seems more stable, planted and predictable than my Vulcan (but a pig when trying to transition from left to right at any speed). I have about a year's worth of riding under my belt. The power delivery feels smooth and pretty easy to manage on the NH 750, but are there any gotcha's to moving to a bike like this a newer rider like myself might not pick up on? Thanks, Doug

$1200 + cost of new chain, sprockets, mirrors and brake pads. It worries me that the top end could be worn at 23k *and* theres a pretty good lifter tick. Makes me wonder if the top end is starved for oil. Or what the heck else is wrong with it. It seems pretty smooth and strong otherwise. I wonder if I could find a complete head with cams and valves and do a direct swap. There are things about the 750 I really like and those I don't. It's smooth, is great on the highway, comfortable, has good power. But it also feels like a heavy pig and a gutless wonder below 3000 RPM and the stock front brake/pads suck. I'd just live with the burning oil if I knew it wasn't getting worse. I don't want to give up on it, but I also don't want a white elephant. I could probably sell it at a loss and buy another one in better shape if the engine is too far gone on it. Or just save up for a V-strom, like I should have... I don't mind wrenching on it, but I don't want to wind up with a $4000 beater. Thanks.

It's definitely the valve train and I think it's getting worse. The Nighthawk 750 blew blue smoke when I started her after sitting a while. It sat about a week while I took a road trip on the Vulcan 500 with my buddy. Even loaded up, the '500 did everything I asked of it. Anyway, the 750 seems to be burning oil now. I'm guessing the valve guides are shot, letting oil by when it sits. The question is, what the hell did I do to it to cause this? It didn't seem to burn oil when I drove it home. Oil clog? The Bosch oil filter killing it? Briefly running Syth (T6) oil in it do something terrible? 23,000 miles on it - I'm worried that if the top end has issues, what else is going? I like the bike and it seems to run strong, but don't want to toss $$$ at a lost cause. Anyone in Cincy know these engines? Thanks.

Hero 3+ time lapse:

FWIW, the Hero 3+ comes with a wifi remote, can do wide angle, high framerate modes the others's can't, better low-light performance, higher possible bitrate, etc. Just an experiment, 1080P 30 FPS - nothing earth shattering.

Hope this isn't a hijack: What horns can one reasonably upgrade to w/o installing relays? PIAA sport apparently. What about Hella Supertones? FIAMM freeway blasters? Bosch? A good stock car horn? Or just suck it up and use a relay? The Nighthawk would be pretty easy to wire, but my Vulcan's wiring is, how shall we say, "intellectually challenged".

This thread has gone horribly, horribly wrong. What I learned in class today: Ohioriders is full of degenerates looking for any excuse, even the tiniest, to perform the equivalent of gratuitous wanking on their bikes. I don't think my Nighthawk is capable of getting its 500lb lard butt off the ground. The Vulcan can lift a wheel going into 2nd, but again, I'd just as soon not find out how hard it is to blow out the fork seals. I've gained enough stupid habits over the years. I don't need any more.

MMO in the gas? You thinking a stuck valve? I already toss a glug of Technron in every couple of tanks. Thanks

Ha. If I get either of my bikes on 1 wheel, I've done something spectacularly wrong. And I'm generally am not prone to that level of douchebaggery.

I completely understand being cautious around unknown riders. It's simple common sense. I do however start from a different mental baseline when it's somebody on a weather worn 80s Goldwing rather than an 883 so new the tire molds are still visible.

I don't mean falling into a planned rally or a pack of "1 percenters", just hanging with another rider you happen to be near till the next exit or such. Seems to happen most often in city style riding. It seems like many bikers have a mild compulsion to catch up to other riders - maybe just to check out their ride. I do it sometimes. Every once in a while I'll wind up pacing another rider either because of traffic or I just sort of feel like falling into formation during a cruise. I always try to stay staggered and keep a safe distance. In slow traffic, I had no choice for a couple miles last time it happened. As the dude turned off, he gave me a quick right hand "pavement wave". I enjoy moments like that, hanging with a someone who enjoys being on two wheels out of pure chance. Feels like a fraternity of sorts. I also have done it on the highway, but only after the other guy gave me a nod about my bike. How do you do view this? I figure I'll leave obvious groups alone or hang back if I'm getting a negative vibe.

The funny thing is, my Nighthawk is cheap ol' 93 beater I've been wrenching on and slowly bringing back to life. It's road worthy, but has a junkyard quality to it at the moment. Are they upset because they don't know how to work on their chrome laden garage queens? Or the mega-payment killing their pocket book? Honestly, I'd think a group of bikers would avoid using the word "pirate" in their name. So much joke fodder - must resist. MUST RESIST!

Correction - pulling a *plug wire* should reveal if it's an exhaust tick.

The DOHC '750 has hydraulic tappets that the cam followers/rocker arms pivot on. I balanced the carbs a couple weeks ago - what a pain, each carb has it's own independent adjustment (except #2) instead of the nicer "ganged" 1-2, 3-4, then (1/2)-(3/4) adjustment procedure. They're close enough to be within the Clymer spec, though. It was mentioned to me that it could be an exhaust leak. it does seem to be almost silent at a 3500 RPM / 55 MPH cruise as compared to when I'm really working the engine and the exhaust is hotter (even at the same 3500 RPM for example). This might make sense since the #1 pipe has a dent in it. Are these double walled pipes? I figure if it's an exhaust tick, pulling a plug will reveal it. I expect the mechanical lifters in my '500 LTD to be noisy. That engine makes a racket until it's warmed up and even after there's still a mechanical cacophony going on. I'll break out the wrenches and feeler gauges when that bike gets quiet. But the hydraulic NH 750? I've driven cars for thousands of miles with valve ticks. Any particular danger doing the same on this Honda bike engine? Assuming it never grows into a nasty clang and I don't keep it pegged at 8500 RPM all the time? FWIW, I've worked on combustion engines since I was a kid and have rebuilt a few cars over the years, but motorcycles are relatively new to me. Thanks,

The bike was hot. I got back from a ride, got the recorder and restarted. That's why the old girl fired up in a single blip. The tick is nonexistent or barely audible when the engine is cold. I've heard cam chains before and they seem to make a rattly, grinding sound in my meager experience, not a perfectly regular tick. Am I way off base here?

I should have said it's smooth *compared to* my Vulcan 500 twin.

Man, these rules about waving are so cornfusing. I just do it when I feel like it, or to return a wave. Cruiser, sport bike, bimmer, whatever. Kind of weird though; riding my little Vulcan 500, I get waves more often than not, but when I'm on the ol' Nighthawk, it's almost nothing. It almost feels like I'm actually pissing off the Harley guys somehow. I'm just happy to be out there on wheels, aren't they?

I have a beater Nighthawk 750 I got for cheap I've been fixing up. It has a tick coming from #1 cyl. area that sounds like a stuck lifter or exhaust leak. These bikes have hydraulic tappets in them, so there should be no slack. I'm trying to decide if I really want to fully restore her - is it worth the money? Do I have to pull the lifters out? (I don't want to!) In the recording, I start with the mic over the tank, go back to the rear, over to the right near the valve cover, then around the back and to the left side valve cover. The tick seems loud, but the mic is an inch from the engine around minute 1:16. https://soundcloud.com/phreon/nighthawk-750-after-20w50-oil-change-and-hot I know these bikes have their own noises; worry about it or just ride? It runs pretty great for it's age. It's shockingly smooth coming from the '500 twin. If I ask for the redline, it accelerates to it right quick and delivers better than 45 MPG while being flogged. I catch a whiff of oil in the exhaust once in a while, but it's not visible nor is there perceptible consumption. I'm guessing these things just burn a little being aircooled? I'm in Cincinnati, any trusted shop you'd go to to get a health check for 'er? Thanks

Neither of us noticed you coming, but your engine sure got our attention. Sounded great! "DumpsterHawk" is down for the count for a while so I'm back to the Vulcan. The petcock is trashed - I'm waiting for a used one (and rebuild kit) to arrive. Thanks for the offer, btw.

All I know is the Vulcan *always* puts a smile on my face. A true sport bike probably isn't in the cards for me. I have a 40 year old neck that has absorbed auto crashes... I couldn't tell you what "fun" is to me, except pure speed isn't necessarily the end all, be all, but I do get supremely irritated getting stuck behind a bunch of Harleys on a windy road puttering along (yes, the Vulcan can spank most of 'em). And I'd rather *ride* a beater 'hawk I've wrenched on than a mega-buck, chrome art bike most folks treat as trophies Even the Nighthawk position is slightly forward and leg cramped for me ; 5' 11", 32" inseam. I don't care how "uncool" it seems, upright is just more comfortable. Honestly, the best ergonomics I've encountered so far are my friend's DR650. Since I already know the engine, I had considered a clean ol' Ninja 500. I'm not looking for a scorchingly fast bike, just fun to toss around, cruise and take trips on. Honestly, a Vstrom 650, as butt ugly as it is, is a strong contender. Yes, I semi-lust after an FZ-09, but a good deal on a well cared for bike that doesn't break the bank and is less than $150 a year to insure, full coverage, is hard to pass. And I'm not ready for a bike that is more than able to throw itself right out from under me. I've cleared *most* of the stupid from my system over the years, but not all of it. PS, the Vulcan has an inline twin. Same as the ol' Ninja 500, but cammed for a bit more lower end grunt and broader range. Still, it doesn't peak until 7800 RPM and redlines around 11k.