Just waiting for the snow to clear so I can get back to riding.
Sabre is such a great bike
Rayne said:
Sabre is such a great bike
Thanks. I really enjoy it, and it rides smooth.
That windshield on your Nighthawk looks great. Who makes it?
Lawson said:
That windshield on your Nighthawk looks great. Who makes it?
It’s made by Tracey. Took me about four years to find this exact colour with the correct hardware.
Your bikes are in amazing shape
Pax said:
Your bikes are in amazing shape
If you look close, they’re not perfect. I ride them a lot, so they show some wear. Had the Nighthawk for 36 years now.
Pax said:
Your bikes are in amazing shape
If you look close, they’re not perfect. I ride them a lot, so they show some wear. Had the Nighthawk for 36 years now.
That’s impressive. How reliable are they, and what’s the maintenance like? I assume it’s just oil, filters, and basic checks?
Thinking of picking up an 80s Honda and wondering what I’d be dealing with.
@Harley
The Nighthawk is pretty low maintenance. Usual stuff like brake pads, fork seals, oil, and filters. I did have to swap the engine at around 96k miles. Not sure what failed, but I still have it to take apart someday.
Replaced the brake lines with stainless because the old rubber ones fall apart over time. The Sabre has been solid, and I ride it more now. One thing to check on any older Honda is the hydraulic clutch near the motor. The seals tend to leak, but there are kits to fix it, and it’s not too hard.
@Kim
Appreciate the info. That all sounds manageable.
Thinking of buying one this summer. I do most of my own maintenance anyway, so none of that worries me.
That engine swap, though… did the old one seize, or was it just making noises you didn’t like?
@Harley
It had a top-end rattle. Sounded fine at idle, but when I revved it, I could hear something was off. Rode it home about 100 miles and parked it to avoid any damage.
Ended up finding a complete ‘85 engine with only 10k miles in New Jersey, so I swapped it out. Basically got myself a fresh bike.
Would love to ride a Guzzi sometime. Never had the chance.
@Kim
Sounds like you went the safe route. Some folks would have run it until it quit, but if you were keeping it long-term, swapping was probably the better move.
Owning these old bikes takes patience, money, and constant attention, especially if you want to ride them for years. But learning the mechanical side of things is part of the fun.
The Guzzi V85 has been great, but I think it’s time for me to sell it. If you ever get a chance to test ride one, I’d recommend it. They’re unique.
@Harley
I didn’t want to tear into the engine without knowing what I was doing. Figured it was better to swap first, then take the old one apart when I had time. Now I’ve got a reliable bike to ride while I figure out the problem.
@Kim
Makes sense. Everyone has their own way of doing things, no right or wrong approach.
That was a great time for bikes. I had an ‘86 Nighthawk S. Shaft drive, just like your Sabre.
Amory said:
That was a great time for bikes. I had an ‘86 Nighthawk S. Shaft drive, just like your Sabre.
The S models look amazing. I’ve always liked shaft drive bikes.
Amory said:
That was a great time for bikes. I had an ‘86 Nighthawk S. Shaft drive, just like your Sabre.
The S models look amazing. I’ve always liked shaft drive bikes.
Took a bit of getting used to, especially downshifting, but it was a fantastic bike.
@Amory
I always rev match while dragging the rear brake. Helps smooth things out.