Long-Distance Touring Nighthawk Complete!

[Warren]

Warren, really nice rig you got there. I am curious, you indicate you had or have a V-Strom
and a KLR but you are riding the N/H up to the end of the hemisphere, a particular reason why
instead of the other two? I look forward to ride reports both from you and Loki.

Paul

Well, I had a V-Strom 1000 and a 650 about 4 years ago - I liked it other than dealing with the head-buffeting (I understand the new MadStad bracket helps that). These bikes have no soul... Creamy smooth and boring... I don't know what to say other than the Stroms bore me. I might has well been driving a Honda Accord. Weird but they just didn't speak to me (especially like an inline 4 or a thumper).

Sold it and went back to riding KLR's for awhile. Great bike just not much power if you deal with a big load and headwinds/hills etc. Too many times I found myself at wide-open throttle and laying on the tank to hold 45-50 mph.

Sold it and actually stopped riding for a year and ran across this Nighthawk - Well at least the naked version of it... =)

Can't resist a Nighthawk - The '84 650 was my first bike...

I started adding this and that, then thought what the heck! Lot's of power, lower maintenance than the KLR or V-Strom, decent range and one of the most comfortable bikes I've owned.

Might as well take it to the Northern Territories! It'll do the job - Harley's and Goldwings do the trip so I'm not sweating it too much... 

But most of all... Nighthawks kick butt in all areas... If mine had shaft drive I'd be in heaven, and buy backup-Nighthawks for when I wear this one out.... 

[m98]

Warren, fair enough. I dislike the N/H above 65 mph. and I do not like the look of the
clear fairing/windscreens which is really the only way to deal with windblast on the N/H.

Having said that, I know the Strom is not a pretty bike to some, but I really like it and
I run it stock and have no issues with windblast. I had a Maier headlight fairing on my
N/H for a little while and it did nothing for me, so I took it off and sold it.

Warren, back on topic here, you will have to get that pretty Nighthawk of yours dirty
pretty soon so it can get "used" to it before going up north, ride safe!

Paul

[Warren]

Hey Paul ,

Put a 16T on the front and you'll like it at 75mph... 

Don't get me wrong, the Strom is an awesome bike - I just didn't feel like it had any character? Kind of a vanilla ride? Hard to explain but it bored me? 

That being said, if I didn't have my NightStrom - I'd probably have another VStrom. Very comparable bikes for my kind of riding, and no much out there for the standard bike lover....

[m98]

Warren, I will consider the 16t countersprocket. Once my N/H comes off it long
term lend/lease program I am still contemplating installing a smaller or lower
handlebar for a caferacer look.

It is funny you feel the Strom is too vanilla, I feel the opposite with the N/H!

Paul

[Warren]

It is funny you feel the Strom is too vanilla, I feel the opposite with the N/H!

Paul

That's great Paul!   

We're all different aren't we... 

[FocusPlayer]

envy...

Great set-up.   

[LOKi]

Warren,

Have you been taking the NH off road any sense you got those tires? I have been doing a little "training" for the ride next year. Almost every time I go out I find myself on dirt roads. I have even taking the bike out to the ATV trails next to where I work.  Bike does well on hard pack dirt, gravel, sand (up to about 2" deep). In the mud it's all over the place and terrifying. It dose much better off road if you air down those tires to about 18psi if there are rocks and 15 for just sand and mud. All I know is I want to be very comfortable in those environments on the NH before loading the bike up for a transcontinental trip.

It's also a great way to scrub in the tires. Air them down and blast around in gravel for a few miles. Be careful if you have to get out on the street for anything. It handles a lot different with no air pressure.

[JordanA]

I wish the 83-85 Nighthawk 650's could run some dual sport/enduro rear tires.  No one makes them in 16"!

[LOKi]

I wish the 83-85 Nighthawk 650's could run some dual sport/enduro rear tires.  No one makes them in 16"!

That sucks. I looked and they stop the distanzias at 17". Nothing out there at all? Just put some nobbies on it. 

[JordanA]

Nobbies are not street legal, I thought.

[LOKi]

aren't some?

[Warren]

Many knobbies are indeed street (DOT) legal - Though most of those are tube-type so I wouldn't trust the bead.

Loki, I've only done fire trails and sand and the NH does pretty good - The older I get the more I hate and respect mud...  

You have to keep the speed way down and the outriggers at the ready.  

If I hit bad sand or mud - I do air down to 15psi and crawl - I air back up with a few CO2 cartridges. More expensive long-term than a small pump but they pack away to nothing.

The challenge to Inuvik is the Dempster - It is mainly hard-pack gravel with a nice slippery-when-wet patina to it. But hey, Goldwings and Harleys tackle it every year, and most make it through so I know I can.  

[Wahrsuul]

I'm using a 17t front sprocket, but I also dropped 1 tooth on the rear (37t).

Lower bars are difficult with the late model 750.  Turn your bars lock to lock and see how close the switchgear and throttle cables are to the tank.  I bought a set of "superbike" bars; went thru all the trouble of drilling them for the switchgear pins and putting everything together before I realized that.

Warren, I will consider the 16t countersprocket. Once my N/H comes off it long
term lend/lease program I am still contemplating installing a smaller or lower
handlebar for a caferacer look.

It is funny you feel the Strom is too vanilla, I feel the opposite with the N/H!

Paul

[Eville]

I got my bars to rotate back about 1/2 of an inch before the break line hit the tank.

[Warren]

I noticed something very interesting today while checking the air in the tires.

Looking at the rotation arrow, right next to it, it basically says "When Rear Mounted" or something close to that.

Which means rotation is other way if used as a front tire!

Makes you wonder why it would say that if the rep that emailed me back said they are all supposed to face the same way...  

So Pointy end up for me - Just like LOKi...  

[Warren]

Okay - Today I raised the fender (about 1/2 inch was pretty easy):





And I also added a 12v outlet on the right side panel to take care of my phone or laptop when needed:

[hockeyhawk]

Hey Warren your bike looks great, or as my son would say "That's awesome". Have a great trip and I too look forward to your ride reports.

Ride safe, 

[Brittles]

Looks good. You'll be all set to go as soon as you get that front tire mounted properly.

Seriously, I'd be scared to death to ride in a heavy rain with that tire mounted backwards. Think about it. Looks to me like all the water would be channeled towards the center of the tire creating a hydroplaning risk. Might be better off road but, lets face it, 98% of your riding will be on the street and you will need to ride in heavy rain at one point or another. I could be wrong as I've been wrong before. Maybe Loki has ridden his backwards tire in a heavy rain and can report?

[Warren]

Looks good. You'll be all set to go as soon as you get that front tire mounted properly.

Seriously, I'd be scared to death to ride in a heavy rain with that tire mounted backwards. Think about it. Looks to me like all the water would be channeled towards the center of the tire creating a hydroplaning risk. Might be better off road but, lets face it, 98% of your riding will be on the street and you will need to ride in heavy rain at one point or another. I could be wrong as I've been wrong before. Maybe Loki has ridden his backwards tire in a heavy rain and can report?

I'm not totally convinced John. The Dunlop I took off was oriented the same way - Just not as deep of a tread... And was mounted according to the manufacturers listed rotation...
 

[Brittles]

Hopefully I'm wrong and all's good. I would just hate for something bad to happen to a fellow forum member.

[Warren]

No problem John - Appreciated.

Still thinking it over and scratching my head - Especially after reading the sidewall where it has the rotation arrow and says "When Rear Mounted" or something close to that.

So... Weird...   

[luckylindy]

Warren,

I've got Avon Roadriders on my NH and my front like yours can be mounted front or back.  If mounted on front the rotation is reversed.  I researched this before I did it and it rides great like this in dry or wet.

[Warren]

Warren,

I've got Avon Roadriders on my NH and my front like yours can be mounted front or back.  If mounted on front the rotation is reversed.  I researched this before I did it and it rides great like this in dry or wet.

Thanks for that input LuckyLindy!   

[FocusPlayer]

Impressive set up !   

I just got my fairing on * with help -  and tomorrow I get to see how it feels in the cold !

[LOKi]

I HAVE ridden in the rain and it gets great traction reversed. Only after looking at all the other bike tread patterns in the driveway did I decide to have the arrows pointing up. If you have a directional tire on the front of your bike look at how the tread is orientated.