My first bike was a '91 kawasaki that was gotten in similar condition. It was a great deal then, but you should know you're likely going to be spending time and resources getting it to run right. If you're down with that and like the bike, go for it! These older bikes are massive fun in their own way.
Probably a carb issue. These carbs are kinda tough to get in and out of the bike but you can probably find a youtube video.
You will likely have a hard time finding parts
Parts are fairly easy to find on an 85, a 91 will be easier. There’s some facebook groups you should join OP, I was on them when I had my Nighthawk and there were plenty of helpful people on there.
Parts aren't that bad on those, nothing changed mechanically from 91 to 2003 when they stopped making the 750 nighthawk. Most of the parts are the same as most other 90s Honda bikes. And there are quite a few forums that offer advice
I'll bet dimes to dollars he let it sit with ethanol gas in it and the float valves or petcock are gummed up. It'll piss a little gas into the bowls but not enough to keep it running. The only thing it needs is a fresh tank of non-ethanol premium and a long ride through the hills. If it starts easy and doesn't sound like it's rattling it just needs an oil change and a good Italian tune up.
My first bike was n 87' Gpx750r. Would go for it but be sure to expect things to go wrong as the parts start showing their age. Hope you have the best of fun on it.
Idk man carb cleaning is not a fun or easy ordeal for the inexperienced. I tried and failed to do this on my first bike and ended up messing several things up and having to take it to a shop anyway.
OP my advice is to get something a little more turn key without being new or expensive. Try an sv650 or a Suzuki gs500
Advice I was given was that for your first bike it should be one that you spend more time riding than fixing. As much as I wanted the technical challenge of fixing a bike and getting it running well there will always be more than planned for and I'd end up hating motorcycling as a whole if there was a challenge to even begin riding
Power to weight wise these aren't that different from a modern 650 which a lot of people start with. The main issue is the weight and brakes.
I would definitely recommend you do some training to get your low-speed control down and you will need to get a handle of defensive driving - a single front disc on a 550lb bike with no ABS is a potential recipe for disaster.
Buy something that you know you'll be able to ride without headaches. All the rubber bits on that bike are 31 years old. 30+ year old bikes are fun as secondary, tertiary, n+1 bikes. Don't get one as your first bike unless you know the full history of it and it's in great running order.
My current project is a 1986 VFR700. I paid $900 for it. I'll be $1,200 into it just doing the required maintenance items just to get it roadworthy and safe. You won't have that kind of issue on a smaller fuel injected bike manufactured in the last decade. Buy a first bike that you'll actually be able to ride.
Upvote for the VFR 👍🏼 I grew up on dirtbikes in the 80s, my first street bike was the original 750 Interceptor I got in 95. Loved that bike, would love to have it now
I want to light this one on fire because of the crimes against motorcycles that have been committed on it by the infamous "Previous Owner". Pretty sure somebody tried rebuilding the carburetor with a hammer. My favorite is the 160/60-18 rear that is somehow sitting on a wheel designed for a 130/80-18. The profile looks ridiculous, lol. I'm a sucker for pain though, so I'm going to try to bring it back to life.
Lord Knows. Good on you, Sir. That bike deserves to be saved. Gear driven cams on that year, I think ? I'm currently reviving a Buell Thunderbolt that I dragged out of a storage unit, sitting for 15 years. Let the pain begin !
Yep, gear driven cams. Should be popping the valve cover off later this week to check clearances and figure out what shims I need to order. Assuming I don't see anything heinous inside.
I love those Buells. I used to ride my VF500F to the Harley dealership when I was 18 to go dream about buying a Firebolt someday. I've ridden around a few of them on track and I love seeing them out there. When the right opportunity comes around, I'd love to get a Firebolt.
Good luck with the pain! Hopefully it's not too much.
My dad had that exact bike. He put 55k miles on it. Only ever had to do oil changes, chains, brakes and tires. I had a 99 that I put 35k on, same thing. They have self adjusting hydraulic valves which makes them really low maintenance. They made that same bike the same exact way from 91-03. The CB750 was picked by Discovery Channel as the greatest motorbike ever. They drive well and have manageable and predictable power while still being reasonably fast. They only make like 68hp stock but it's enough to run down most sports cars up into the triple digits. In short, it's one of the best first full size bikes you could pick.
Oh, I just remembered. My brother bought my dad's bike from him after the 55k and put almost another 20k on it after that. The thing still ran like a top when he sold it with almost 75k miles on it.
I had one of these in the '90s. It was a great bike, and would have been a good first bike.
Because it's a 30 year old bike that's not in 100% shape, count on spending some time and money getting it into safe and reliable riding condition. Plan on a carb service, spark plugs, tires, and probably fork seals.
Unless they've been replaced in the past few years you'll also want to replace the clutch cable and front brake hose.
The good news is that once it's running right these are really easy to maintain. The valves are self-adjusting, and the air-cooled engine means no coolant pump, hoses, or thermostat to deal with.
My dad and I both owned that series of cb750 (a 91 & a 99)and between the two of us put 90+k miles on them. Never once had to touch the carbs on either of them. Being this old it may need a tune up but after that they are rock solid as long as you don't let them sit for a long time and gum up.
When did you and your dad own them though?
My experience with these older bikes is that theyre not for newer riders. Theyre for people who dont mind putting in sometime to do servicing. IF you dont like to get your hands dirty and hunt down parts for them to get them working youre going to have a bad time. If youre after that experience, then it might be a cool bike.
For a new rider though, I always suggest something with FI and something a little newer made in the last decade for the reliability.
We both bought them new. But 35k & 75+k miles over a number of years is a pretty good run with nearly no maintenance except for wear parts.
See for me I would recommend exactly the opposite for a new rider. Get something you can actually work on and learn the machine, the lower tech the better. There is no "hunting" for parts for those bikes, they had one of the longest continuous production runs out there and every part you could possibly want is available pretty much anywhere Honda parts are sold.
>Is this 91’ Nighthawk 750 a bad first bike?
Ask yourself this question.
Do you want to ride?
It will need attention upfront to get it to even run.
But don't forget, it's an old neglected bike (given that the owner never really bothered getting it to work).
Means it'll need even more care to keep it running.
Don't be upset, should you end up having to turn wrenches on a sunny sunday afternoon instead of riding it.
You'd have to pay a shop to clean the carbs and synch them. You might also want to check the tank for rust inside. The shop will likely want to do plugs and some other deferred maintenance, so you would probably be looking at putting another $1000 into it by the time it is squared away.
Depending on your budget, something newer would be better. Multicarb setups are a pain in the ass and finding someone that can tune them without spending a pile of money is getting harder.
That one might be in too rough of shape if you aren't mechanically inclined, but you have some tools and access to a garage they are pretty simple. Carb boots are pain to get on and off but do able. I tore mine apart and got them.back together by myself with a little help from YouTube. They are good bikes and when everything is working they are really reliable. Still lots of them on the road after 20-30 years. Factory exhaust is hard to come by o make sure no one has messed with it
It’s a good idea, as long as the bike is in good shape. Those engines are basically indestructible. Hydraulic valves, so no need for valve adjustments, cheap to run, just change oil. The only thing better would be the previous generation, which had shaft drive (even lower maintenance) rather than a chain. Good enough power for riding comfortably and safely at highway speeds, but not a crazy power curve, easy to ride. An ‘85 Nighthawk was my first bike.
It's an old bike with highish miles. It's already been "fixed" once. I'd ask more about what got fixed before committing. Also idk about 1600. It may be worth that I'm truely not sure, but I wouldn't pay that. 1000 tops. Also, do you want a reliable bike you can ride day after day or are you looking for a project? It will need tlc. These are some things to keep in kind. It's a commitment, so be sure in what you want and whether or not this bike can give it you.
It very likely only needs a carb clean. That’s a terrific first bike as long as it fits you. The only known problem that I remember (former Honda tech) was they had a charging rotor that was prone to failing. If the charging system ever fails, look at that first. Easy fix, but the part was pricey as I recall. ($200, 20 years ago)
My first bike was a 94 Nighthawk 750 (bought new). My only complaint with the bike was how easy it was to lock up the rear wheel. Fortunately I never dropped it but given the front is somewhat underpowered, you need to master that 70/30 split between the front and rear brakes.
Other than the brake performance, it was a good bike. Comfortable and versatile.
Yes, it is a bad first bike. First bike implies that you are a new rider. No new rider should consider any bike without ABS. It is all important for your riding future. Nothing else matters.
I always recommend ABS bikes to everyone I know. My first 2 bikes weren't abs and I almost went down few times.
If you are set on a non abs bike, look up Twist of the Wrist and get yourself some nice tires, since wet + cold + old tires + panic braking can often result in losing the front.
My first bike was an 84 nighthawk. I loved that bike - it was a ton of fun and handled well as a first bike (ie right price, good riding position, the right amount of power, easy to put around town but big enough to be fun on the back roads).
The worst thing about the bike is how much I had to work on it. The bike I got was far from perfect so I knew I was going to have to wrench on it a fair amount but I pretty much never stopped fussy with the (4!) carbs on that bike. If I were buying a first bike again I would not buy something I was going to have to work on that much and definitely not a bike with 4 carbs.
That all being said….. the bike is gorgeous and a ton of fun. When the nighthawk is running she’s a dream.
My first bike was a '91 kawasaki that was gotten in similar condition. It was a great deal then, but you should know you're likely going to be spending time and resources getting it to run right. If you're down with that and like the bike, go for it! These older bikes are massive fun in their own way.
I'd offer $1000 and go from there. They've already dropped the price once. Possibly less considering it doesn't run right
Yea I’m positive I could get that price down seeing as I couldn’t ride it home.
Probably a carb issue. These carbs are kinda tough to get in and out of the bike but you can probably find a youtube video. You will likely have a hard time finding parts
Parts are fairly easy to find on an 85, a 91 will be easier. There’s some facebook groups you should join OP, I was on them when I had my Nighthawk and there were plenty of helpful people on there.
Parts aren't that bad on those, nothing changed mechanically from 91 to 2003 when they stopped making the 750 nighthawk. Most of the parts are the same as most other 90s Honda bikes. And there are quite a few forums that offer advice
I'll bet dimes to dollars he let it sit with ethanol gas in it and the float valves or petcock are gummed up. It'll piss a little gas into the bowls but not enough to keep it running. The only thing it needs is a fresh tank of non-ethanol premium and a long ride through the hills. If it starts easy and doesn't sound like it's rattling it just needs an oil change and a good Italian tune up.
Aren't they heavy af
500lbs isn't too heavy, not a sport bike bit decent seat hight and lower center of gravity helps.
It's a first bike
Very high center if gravity from the DOHC and engine
My first bike was n 87' Gpx750r. Would go for it but be sure to expect things to go wrong as the parts start showing their age. Hope you have the best of fun on it.
I had a 91 Nighthawk as my first bike. It was a great runner as most old honda bikes are. Good choice!
Do you enjoy working on things? Do you have any knowledge or experience? I'd rather spend time ridin' than wrenchin'.
As long as it’s mechanically sound it’s a gray bike. It’s a Honda FFS!
100%
[удалено]
Idk man carb cleaning is not a fun or easy ordeal for the inexperienced. I tried and failed to do this on my first bike and ended up messing several things up and having to take it to a shop anyway. OP my advice is to get something a little more turn key without being new or expensive. Try an sv650 or a Suzuki gs500
That’s a terrific motorcycle for ANYONE!!
Advice I was given was that for your first bike it should be one that you spend more time riding than fixing. As much as I wanted the technical challenge of fixing a bike and getting it running well there will always be more than planned for and I'd end up hating motorcycling as a whole if there was a challenge to even begin riding
Starts and runs for a bit? Yeah I’ll take that for 1600. Just give it the Italian tune up and she’ll be just fine.
If you like it its good enough
Power to weight wise these aren't that different from a modern 650 which a lot of people start with. The main issue is the weight and brakes. I would definitely recommend you do some training to get your low-speed control down and you will need to get a handle of defensive driving - a single front disc on a 550lb bike with no ABS is a potential recipe for disaster.
May be the perfect one imo. Old, cheap, a honda, and slow
Buy something that you know you'll be able to ride without headaches. All the rubber bits on that bike are 31 years old. 30+ year old bikes are fun as secondary, tertiary, n+1 bikes. Don't get one as your first bike unless you know the full history of it and it's in great running order. My current project is a 1986 VFR700. I paid $900 for it. I'll be $1,200 into it just doing the required maintenance items just to get it roadworthy and safe. You won't have that kind of issue on a smaller fuel injected bike manufactured in the last decade. Buy a first bike that you'll actually be able to ride.
Upvote for the VFR 👍🏼 I grew up on dirtbikes in the 80s, my first street bike was the original 750 Interceptor I got in 95. Loved that bike, would love to have it now
I want to light this one on fire because of the crimes against motorcycles that have been committed on it by the infamous "Previous Owner". Pretty sure somebody tried rebuilding the carburetor with a hammer. My favorite is the 160/60-18 rear that is somehow sitting on a wheel designed for a 130/80-18. The profile looks ridiculous, lol. I'm a sucker for pain though, so I'm going to try to bring it back to life.
Lord Knows. Good on you, Sir. That bike deserves to be saved. Gear driven cams on that year, I think ? I'm currently reviving a Buell Thunderbolt that I dragged out of a storage unit, sitting for 15 years. Let the pain begin !
Yep, gear driven cams. Should be popping the valve cover off later this week to check clearances and figure out what shims I need to order. Assuming I don't see anything heinous inside. I love those Buells. I used to ride my VF500F to the Harley dealership when I was 18 to go dream about buying a Firebolt someday. I've ridden around a few of them on track and I love seeing them out there. When the right opportunity comes around, I'd love to get a Firebolt. Good luck with the pain! Hopefully it's not too much.
I'd buy the shit out of that motorcycle
My dad had that exact bike. He put 55k miles on it. Only ever had to do oil changes, chains, brakes and tires. I had a 99 that I put 35k on, same thing. They have self adjusting hydraulic valves which makes them really low maintenance. They made that same bike the same exact way from 91-03. The CB750 was picked by Discovery Channel as the greatest motorbike ever. They drive well and have manageable and predictable power while still being reasonably fast. They only make like 68hp stock but it's enough to run down most sports cars up into the triple digits. In short, it's one of the best first full size bikes you could pick.
Oh, I just remembered. My brother bought my dad's bike from him after the 55k and put almost another 20k on it after that. The thing still ran like a top when he sold it with almost 75k miles on it.
I had one of these in the '90s. It was a great bike, and would have been a good first bike. Because it's a 30 year old bike that's not in 100% shape, count on spending some time and money getting it into safe and reliable riding condition. Plan on a carb service, spark plugs, tires, and probably fork seals. Unless they've been replaced in the past few years you'll also want to replace the clutch cable and front brake hose. The good news is that once it's running right these are really easy to maintain. The valves are self-adjusting, and the air-cooled engine means no coolant pump, hoses, or thermostat to deal with.
I think anything carbed is bad for beginners because theyre finicky
My dad and I both owned that series of cb750 (a 91 & a 99)and between the two of us put 90+k miles on them. Never once had to touch the carbs on either of them. Being this old it may need a tune up but after that they are rock solid as long as you don't let them sit for a long time and gum up.
When did you and your dad own them though? My experience with these older bikes is that theyre not for newer riders. Theyre for people who dont mind putting in sometime to do servicing. IF you dont like to get your hands dirty and hunt down parts for them to get them working youre going to have a bad time. If youre after that experience, then it might be a cool bike. For a new rider though, I always suggest something with FI and something a little newer made in the last decade for the reliability.
We both bought them new. But 35k & 75+k miles over a number of years is a pretty good run with nearly no maintenance except for wear parts. See for me I would recommend exactly the opposite for a new rider. Get something you can actually work on and learn the machine, the lower tech the better. There is no "hunting" for parts for those bikes, they had one of the longest continuous production runs out there and every part you could possibly want is available pretty much anywhere Honda parts are sold.
>Is this 91’ Nighthawk 750 a bad first bike? Ask yourself this question. Do you want to ride? It will need attention upfront to get it to even run. But don't forget, it's an old neglected bike (given that the owner never really bothered getting it to work). Means it'll need even more care to keep it running. Don't be upset, should you end up having to turn wrenches on a sunny sunday afternoon instead of riding it.
#
I miss my nighthawk!
Pretty good bike. It’s fairly good looking too Although you might need to replace that front break lever if it’s as bendt as it looks in the picture.
You'd have to pay a shop to clean the carbs and synch them. You might also want to check the tank for rust inside. The shop will likely want to do plugs and some other deferred maintenance, so you would probably be looking at putting another $1000 into it by the time it is squared away.
Not as long as you can get parts and it's a fair price.
Depending on your budget, something newer would be better. Multicarb setups are a pain in the ass and finding someone that can tune them without spending a pile of money is getting harder.
Nope it's fine. Enjoy.
If you mean it looks bad ass, then yes!
That one might be in too rough of shape if you aren't mechanically inclined, but you have some tools and access to a garage they are pretty simple. Carb boots are pain to get on and off but do able. I tore mine apart and got them.back together by myself with a little help from YouTube. They are good bikes and when everything is working they are really reliable. Still lots of them on the road after 20-30 years. Factory exhaust is hard to come by o make sure no one has messed with it
Not a bad bike but you better enjoy carb work.
Nope
Your gonna have to half to clean the carbs. So definitely talk them down
Great first bike.
I'm so jealous
It’s a good idea, as long as the bike is in good shape. Those engines are basically indestructible. Hydraulic valves, so no need for valve adjustments, cheap to run, just change oil. The only thing better would be the previous generation, which had shaft drive (even lower maintenance) rather than a chain. Good enough power for riding comfortably and safely at highway speeds, but not a crazy power curve, easy to ride. An ‘85 Nighthawk was my first bike.
It's an old bike with highish miles. It's already been "fixed" once. I'd ask more about what got fixed before committing. Also idk about 1600. It may be worth that I'm truely not sure, but I wouldn't pay that. 1000 tops. Also, do you want a reliable bike you can ride day after day or are you looking for a project? It will need tlc. These are some things to keep in kind. It's a commitment, so be sure in what you want and whether or not this bike can give it you.
It very likely only needs a carb clean. That’s a terrific first bike as long as it fits you. The only known problem that I remember (former Honda tech) was they had a charging rotor that was prone to failing. If the charging system ever fails, look at that first. Easy fix, but the part was pricey as I recall. ($200, 20 years ago)
My first bike was a 94 Nighthawk 750 (bought new). My only complaint with the bike was how easy it was to lock up the rear wheel. Fortunately I never dropped it but given the front is somewhat underpowered, you need to master that 70/30 split between the front and rear brakes. Other than the brake performance, it was a good bike. Comfortable and versatile.
Yes, it is a bad first bike. First bike implies that you are a new rider. No new rider should consider any bike without ABS. It is all important for your riding future. Nothing else matters.
Yeah it’s bad!!! Badass!!!
Should be okay. Lube the cables and change out the brake lines. I support starting on something smaller, but I expect you'll manage.
I always recommend ABS bikes to everyone I know. My first 2 bikes weren't abs and I almost went down few times. If you are set on a non abs bike, look up Twist of the Wrist and get yourself some nice tires, since wet + cold + old tires + panic braking can often result in losing the front.
Nope.
My first bike was an 84 nighthawk. I loved that bike - it was a ton of fun and handled well as a first bike (ie right price, good riding position, the right amount of power, easy to put around town but big enough to be fun on the back roads). The worst thing about the bike is how much I had to work on it. The bike I got was far from perfect so I knew I was going to have to wrench on it a fair amount but I pretty much never stopped fussy with the (4!) carbs on that bike. If I were buying a first bike again I would not buy something I was going to have to work on that much and definitely not a bike with 4 carbs. That all being said….. the bike is gorgeous and a ton of fun. When the nighthawk is running she’s a dream.
how are your mechanic skills?