[Nighthawk Lovers] CB250 Nighthawk 70 mile Daily Highway Commute -- Bad?
Hi All, I'm looking for some input from anyone with long term experience with the Nighthawk 250. I have a 2008 nighthawk that I bought with 3k miles from a dealer. Since August 2011, I have put 8k miles on it with my daily 50 mile commute, 20 miles of which is highway. So far this little bike has held up great and saved my a ton of money on gas versus my '97 Dodge Durango V8. However, I was just offered a better teaching job that will require 72 miles on the freeway. It will be a longer (but faster) commute for me with no lights, but I am worried that I am going to prematurely destroy my little 250 by running it @ 70mph for 72 miles a day. So my questions are these: 1. Can my Nighthawk hold up in the long term for this commute? 2. If not, any suggestions on a bigger bike with great fuel economy? I will have to go through a dealer if I need to get a new bike, because I don't have any cash on hand, so older used bikes are probably not an option. I really want to hang on to this little bike as it has treated my well, but if I'm going to destroy it, I will just have to trade it in. Thanks for your input. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to nighthawk_lovers@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to nighthawk_lovers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en.
[Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Replacing cb250 cylinder head
Just an update. I had a buddy contact his friend that works at a different Honda shop. He looked up my VIN and told me that the cylinder head IS under warranty until August 2012, despite being told the opposite by the Honda dealer that I got the bike from. Basically, I should have a working bike right now. Instead, I have a bike with JB weld and an exhaust leak that was created by the Honda dealer, as well as a used cylinder head that I didn't have to buy in the first place. I have already spent $200 on something that was under warranty to begin with. I am calling Honda customer service today and getting this straightened out and taking it to a different Honda dealer. My question now is, why would they bother trying to drill out the cylinder head and risk screwing it up, when the whole thing is under warranty? Are they just trying to get my $$ for labor? Crazy. At least I am off the hook for swapping the head out myself. Phew. On Jan 6, 11:33 am, BoonesDaddy wrote: > Hi All, > > I had a bolt from the exhaust shear off in mt cylinder head. It was > drilled out by the honda dealer, but it required a "helicoil." > Unfortunately, there ended up being a crack that has resulted in an > exhaust leak. I have acquired a used (but in good condition) cylinder > head for replacement. The question is this: should I try replacing the > cylinder head and swapping valves myself, or have the honda dealer do > it. He estimates the labor at $600, which is steep. Is replacing the > head a tough job? > > Thanks, > Brandon -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to nighthawk_lovers@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to nighthawk_lovers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en.
[Nighthawk Lovers] Replacing cb250 cylinder head
Hi All, I had a bolt from the exhaust shear off in mt cylinder head. It was drilled out by the honda dealer, but it required a "helicoil." Unfortunately, there ended up being a crack that has resulted in an exhaust leak. I have acquired a used (but in good condition) cylinder head for replacement. The question is this: should I try replacing the cylinder head and swapping valves myself, or have the honda dealer do it. He estimates the labor at $600, which is steep. Is replacing the head a tough job? Thanks, Brandon -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to nighthawk_lovers@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to nighthawk_lovers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en.
[Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Dead Spot on Throttle When Engine is Cold/Cool
Ok. Thanks guys. Guess I need to ask my mom if she still has her Dolly Parton tapes. Lol. I'll warm it up longer. Thanks. On Sep 16, 11:00 pm, surfswab wrote: > +1 on the warm up. > > All Hondas exhibit that tendency -- cold blooded, because of the too- > lean nature of the air-fuel mix. Typical warm up is more like 5 > minutes or more. Good measure to determine when the bike is ready to > ride is: full choke on start up, then wait till idle starts to drop. > Then decrease, and so on, till decrease in choke no longer produces > higher idle. > > I use the Dolly Parton recipe. Your bike needs a cup of ambition > before it's ready to take on the 9 to 5. Crank it, put on your > protective gear and chair dance to the tune while it's warming up. > > When you've finished with the music in your head, it'll be pretty much > ready to ride. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to nighthawk_lovers@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to nighthawk_lovers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en.
[Nighthawk Lovers] Dead Spot on Throttle When Engine is Cold/Cool
My 2008 Honda Nighthawk 250 starts up and runs great. However, there is a dead spot on the throttle right after I start the bike. The dead spot in in the low RPM's. I can gas it past this and get going, but it takes at least 5 minutes of riding for the problem to go away. Am I not warming the bike up enough? I start it up with the choke open for about 30 seconds, and then close the choke and give it a little gas to keep it going. Should I let it warm up with the choke open longer? Is the low RPM jet clogged? It doesn't seem like the jet would be clogged if the issue goes away after the bike is warm, however in normal riding situations I imagine I am throttling past that jet most of the time. (I have limited knowledge of this stuff, so I apologize if this doesn't make sense). Any suggestions? Thanks. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to nighthawk_lovers@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to nighthawk_lovers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en.
[Nighthawk Lovers] Alternator & Crankcase Caps
I adjusted my valves on my 250 this weekend. However, I had to move the camshaft by putting the bike in gear and rotating the wheel. I was totally unable to get the crankshaft and alternator caps off. I scuffed them up pretty good in the process, so I am ordering new ones, but I have no idea how to get these off. Any suggestions? Would the dealer have a special tool for this? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to nighthawk_lovers@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to nighthawk_lovers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en.
[Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Cb 250 valve clearance noob
Thanks. On Sep 1, 1:40 pm, Javier Garcia wrote: > No, just close the petcock and remove the hoses from it... > Javier. > > On Thu, Sep 1, 2011 at 4:36 PM, BoonesDaddy > wrote:> Thanks for that. Does anyone know if I > need to empty the fuel tank > > before I remove it in order to get to the valve cover? > > > Thanks. > > > b > > > On Aug 28, 4:44 pm, Allen Thomas wrote: > > > Here are some youtube links, not for your specific model but show how it > > is > > > done. > > > CB900 (shim over bucket) http://youtu.be/elKilUuKM8U > > > > A series on it for a shim under bucket style.http://youtu.be/Ugk1trA9UXA > > > > On Sun, Aug 28, 2011 at 4:22 PM, Brandon Bogardus < > > brandonbogar...@gmail.com > > > > > wrote: > > > > Just got my first bike, a demoed nighthawk with 3,700 miles on it, to > > save > > > > money on gas. So far, everything is great. However, the bike is on > > schedule > > > > for a valve clearance check. My Honda dealer quoted me $300, minimum. I > > > > don't have the cash right now, so I am thinking of trying to check (and > > > > adjust them if needed) myself. I have zero motorcycle maintenance > > > > experience, but I'm not a total idiot as far as I know and i just got a > > > > service manual. Is this doable? I need to learn how, regardless, so > > should I > > > > do this myself or am I going to screw things up for certain? Any advice > > or > > > > suggestions would be greatly appreciated! > > > > > Thanks, > > > > B > > > > > Brandon Bogardus > > > > > -- > > > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > > Groups > > > > "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. > > > > To post to this group, send email to nighthawk_lovers@googlegroups.com > > . > > > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > > > nighthawk_lovers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > > > > 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 nighthawk_lovers@googlegroups.com. > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > nighthawk_lovers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > > 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 nighthawk_lovers@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to nighthawk_lovers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en.
[Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Cb 250 valve clearance noob
Thanks for that. Does anyone know if I need to empty the fuel tank before I remove it in order to get to the valve cover? Thanks. b On Aug 28, 4:44 pm, Allen Thomas wrote: > Here are some youtube links, not for your specific model but show how it is > done. > CB900 (shim over bucket) http://youtu.be/elKilUuKM8U > > A series on it for a shim under bucket style.http://youtu.be/Ugk1trA9UXA > > On Sun, Aug 28, 2011 at 4:22 PM, Brandon Bogardus > > > > > > > > wrote: > > Just got my first bike, a demoed nighthawk with 3,700 miles on it, to save > > money on gas. So far, everything is great. However, the bike is on schedule > > for a valve clearance check. My Honda dealer quoted me $300, minimum. I > > don't have the cash right now, so I am thinking of trying to check (and > > adjust them if needed) myself. I have zero motorcycle maintenance > > experience, but I'm not a total idiot as far as I know and i just got a > > service manual. Is this doable? I need to learn how, regardless, so should I > > do this myself or am I going to screw things up for certain? Any advice or > > suggestions would be greatly appreciated! > > > Thanks, > > B > > > Brandon Bogardus > > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > > "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. > > To post to this group, send email to nighthawk_lovers@googlegroups.com. > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > nighthawk_lovers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > > 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 nighthawk_lovers@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to nighthawk_lovers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en.
