First, thanks to everyone for their input. This might move me from digest stalker to contributor.
Center Stand: Not much chance my bride is going to stand shotgun on the other side while I learn how to bring the bike up on it's center stand so it may have to keep until I have other help nearby. I do like the idea using the wood to help, especially while learning. SeaFoam: This was the recipe I was talking about. http://hildstrom.com/projects/seafoam/index.html I just reread it and decided to give it a try. I'll let you know what I learn. Daughter's Bike: I was just looking at the S40 online, I'll add it to the list. -Joey, "your 21 year old girlfriend", that hurts. I have sweaters older than her. Odometer: I guess the only solution is to jump in. I planned on doing it this spring but it warmed up to fast and I hate the idea of taking the bike off the road, (I'm known for starting lots of projects, but slow to finish). All input on the questions welcome and appreciated. -Wynn, I live in Scituate near Cohasset's Beechwood baseball park, you near there? Rick On Apr 26, 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/Y3m6VKaRw635DLrLXZFADEacE5vr8hf... > > 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 [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en.
