I would add: (I have the same difficulty) With the bike on the side stand: Step down on the center stand and rock the bike slightly side to side to insure both legs are firmly on the ground. With the left grip in the left hand, grasp the opening/”handle” in the rear frame just above the muffler attachment bolt. “Jerk” up with the right hand while pressing hard down on the center stand.
It is much easier (about half the effort) if you raise the front of the bike by driving the front wheel up on a 12” to 24” length of 2” (or more) x 12”. This raises the center of the bike and increases the angle of the center stand and lessens the effort required. You may also wish to place a piece of similar thickness wood under the side stand to keep the bike from leaning too far to the left. From: Jason King Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2012 12:18 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Nighthawk Lovers] Bunch of Questions Rick, 1. As far as the center stand goes I do it by grabbing the left handlebar with my left hand and right under the left turn signal light with my right hand. Then I step on the center stand with my left foot and with one pull/lift/press I lift it on the center stand. It takes a little bit of leg strength but lifting woth the right hand and pulling with the left as you almost stand on the center stand push pad. 4. Rain traction varies at best just use caution. 7. How about a 250 Nighthawk for your daughter. Jason On Thu, Apr 26, 2012 at 12:56 PM, Rick, Scituate, MA, 82 650 NH <[email protected]> wrote: Good afternoon. I read this digest everyday but tend not to write in very often. I’m a C+ shade tree mechanic, ok maybe C-, so I defer to the better experienced. I have a 1982 650 Nighthawk with about 22,000 miles on it. I’ve had the bike since 06 and it’s been great fun and way more reliable than I deserve for a 30 year old bike. Other than maintenance items, tires, brakes, fork oil seals, sprockets and chain my only big issue was hitting a deer the October before last. https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Y3m6VKaRw635DLrLXZFADEacE5vr8hfSGu6ounjurXo?feat=directlink I’ve been meaning to write for a while and accumulated a few questions. 1. Center Stand – The bike has one but I cannot get it on the center stand without help. How do you do it alone? I’m always afraid the bike will tip away from me. 2. Speedometer/Odometer problems - As long as I’ve had the bike the speedometer has been pretty sketchy. Using a GPS, when I’m driving at 35 the speedometer reads 50. But the odometer was always dead on. Same cable operating both. Now the odometer and trip odometer stopped working at 20,947. It doesn’t appear to be at the wheel or cable so I looking for any insight before tearing the instrument cluster apart. 3. As you can see the bike was repainted by a PO. They did a good job but I’m seeing the paint bubble around the tank mouth. I think in part caused by gasoline. Last fill up after sitting out in the sun, the fuel expanded to where it leaked out and seemed to get under the paint softening and bubbling it. Any suggestions? 4. Traction in the rain - I started riding again back in 2006 after a 30 year break. I find I’m a lot more tentative riding in the rain, slow way down, very upright in corners, etc. How much traction do we lose in the rain? 30% on wet roads, maybe 50% in puddles? I know my age is showing, and I’m OK with that but I don’t like getting beat in the corners by bicycles either. 5. Sea Foam – Like everyone here, I love it. However at $9/pint it gets pretty dear. About a year ago there was discussion and recipes for a “home made version” that sounds like it would be about 1/5 the cost. Has anyone ever tied it? I’m will to give it a try, (on the lawn mower, gas trimmer, chain saw, etc. not the N’hawk) but wanted to know if anyone has experience. 6. N’hawk badges - There was discussion on N’hawk badges a while ago. Did they ever happen? Are there any around? 7. Any bike suggestions for a 20 yr. old woman - My daughter took the safety course and got her license last summer. However she finds the N’hawk too tall to ride safely. She took her course on a 250 Rebel and liked that but I’m looking for a few others we can be looking for as well. Thanks for any ideas, suggestions and guidance. Ride safe. Rick -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to mailto:nighthawk_lovers%[email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en.
