My two wheeled rides

[DJ0820]

Well, here she is...it started as a 1983 Nighthawk 650 that my krustin and drifte's dad and uncles rode...and wrecked. She sat for probably the better part of two decades. I thought it'd be a good first motorcycle and my first good greasy mechanical project in a couple years. I got her in my possession back in June of 08 and have been slowly ebaying parts that I find don't swap over from the 650 to 550 frame. Which by the way there are a lot that don't swap over! I went into this project wanting a good knowledge of my bike in case I broke down or whatnot, and I sure got an education! Anyways, here goes..
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt358/dj0820/nighthawk1.jpg?t=1232070724
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt358/dj0820/nighthawk4.jpg?t=1232070756
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt358/dj0820/nighthawk6.jpg?t=1232070774
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt358/dj0820/nighthawk3.jpg?t=1232070803
Suzuki SV650 bars...

http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt358/dj0820/nighthawk8.jpg?t=1232070831
Painted lower fork tubes...ballin

oooooo shiny...
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt358/dj0820/nighthawk9.jpg?t=1232070862
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt358/dj0820/nighthawk5.jpg?t=1232070900
CBR F2 rotors...
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt358/dj0820/nighthawk7.jpg?t=1232070998
The exhaust stud that won't come out.
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt358/dj0820/nighthawk11.jpg?t=1232071033
Painted 550 tail section.

And my 1980 CM400T that I picked up not too long ago...Bike is complete not all parts are on it. I need to go through the carbs yet.
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt358/dj0820/cm400t1.jpg?t=1232071118
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt358/dj0820/cm400t2.jpg?t=1232071134

So to recap:
1983 Honda Nighthawk 550 frame (titled as this bike)
83 650 engine/tranny
650 swing arm
550 gas tank
650 front end/brakes
Suzuki SV650 bars
ebay bar end mirrors (~$30)
CBR F2 rotors
550 Seat
Ebay Pod air filters (Still need to up the jets)

[Drifte]

good stuff. you need to show WHY you had to swap everything! Reminds me we need to do some work on the trail 70 so I can join the crew. lol.

[krustindumm]

650 frame was fucked
650 tank doesnt fit 550 frame
bars were bent
650 seat/tail don't fit
650 shocks make it sit like a dual sport

[DJ0820]

Let me tell you about ebaying parts for a bike that was only made for one year. It's not fun.

[Ricky]

do tell

[DJ0820]

Well, either everyone wants the part you do or no one does....I got my taillight and rear section for 99 cents and I have seen many other go for $25+ easily. Just got lucky I guess and no one needed one at the time. I waited a while to buy a seat and gas tank after passing up several that I didn't want to fork up the cash for, and I ended up getting good deals on both of them. I paid less than $20 shipped for a set of front forks because mine were bent. Paid less than $20 shipped for the CBR rotors. Front wheel was bent and I needed a new tire anyways, so I waited and found a good front wheel with a great tire on it and that was less than $50 shipped. The exhaust has been the most expensive part so far I think, and that was only $80. Everything is cheap for the most part if you've got the patience to wait for a deal...but a lot of the time you don't really know until the final seconds of the auction and I have been outbid by a dollar or so multiple times. That sends me into an ebay rage. Then again the side panels that I need, everyone and their mother needs; they regularly go for $100+ for a decent set of 2. For 2 damn pieces of plastic! Stupid. It's been a good project thus far and I haven't even gotten to enjoy the benefits of it yet.

[Drifte]

fit of ebay rage. so angry, you but more stuff.

[Mufflover]

RAttle can work..lol

[DJ0820]

RAttle can work..lol

It's no show bike, I'm doing this on the cheap. That and I know I going to scuff the paint/drop the bike/spill gas on the tank, most likely this first year I have it. Easy touch-up work :rock:. The tank had a huge dent on the front right that I filled but didn't care to waste the many hours it would take to get the true curve back. If I throw good paint on it now it will just be more noticeable. This is a rat/streetfighter inspired bike. I'd rather jerk off with a handful of sand than do more bodywork.

[Roosterk0031]

Should have found another 650 frame, it was made atleast 3 years 83-85, would have made the part searching easier and kept the airbox to avoid those problems.

Poor bike was totaled at about 6 weeks old, 1500 miles. Picked up and ridden for another 10,000 miles, back tires lasted about 1000 miles each, to say it was ridden hard would be and understatment. I dropped it one night spinning it up in the rain, still spinning in 3rd when it kicked put and went tumbling at about 45 mph. It wasn't ridden much after that the rear end went solid and was tough to ride far.

David

[DJ0820]

I know I should have found a 650 frame, but I couldn't argue with the deal I got on the 550 frame. Saw it on ebay, ended up being an hour away and it was only $50 with a clean title. I had the airbox mounted up in the 550 frame but the rubber boots did not want to go back on as they had been shriveled by age.

You guys sure did a number on that bike, bent frame, both front forks bent, front wheel bent, and one of the rear shocks looks tweaked. Not to mention the road rash/bent levers. Let's hope the engine is in better shape.

A few things I could have done differently but I'm content knowing that I very well could be one of the first to do this swap crap to a 550. The online nighthawk community seems to be scared to mod their bikes.