$1500 for Nighthawk 750 Good Deal?

SpeedCostsMoney · 11-27-2006, 6:54 PM

All,

My wife's brother in-law has a 1997 Honda Nighthawk 750 with only 2,000 miles on it. It's not running due to a gas leak.

The story is he left sitting in the garage and the gas went bad. After it sat for a great while he had the tank cleaned and the 4 carbs rebuilt by Honda, which cost him $500. The bike ran for a time until it started to leak gasoline. The bike has been sitting in his garage for a year with no gas in it ever since.

He is ready to get rid of it and told me he would sell it to me for $1,500. I looked it up on Bluebook and it seems to be a fair price. From the looks of it might need $500 to get it running again. That includes a new gas tank. Sound like a good deal? The bike looks brand new other then rust in the tank.

sheepofblue · 11-27-2006, 8:59 PM

The tank got pinholes rusted in the back near the seat probably. It sat so long the gas collected water and it settled on the lowpoint. My Ascot was that way when I got it. Fun bike and good comuter I would offer a bit less since it will just sit in his garage dropping in value if he doesn't sell it.

Repeater · 11-27-2006, 9:05 PM

Look on ebay for a a used gas tank in good shape. IS it just the Tank or are the carbs leaking?

gt702 · 11-28-2006, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpeedCostsMoney

He is ready to get rid of it and told me he would sell it to me for $1,500. I looked it up on Bluebook and it seems to be a fair price. From the looks of it might need $500 to get it running again. That includes a new gas tank. Sound like a good deal? The bike looks brand new other then rust in the tank.

$1500 (good price for a good bike) minus $500 (to get it fixed up to the level of that good price) = $1000

If there is rust in the tank, I'll bet there is rust all the way into the carbs which will require a complete cleaning ... including any little inlet screens (don't ask how I know

). If you can find a good tank and are willing to work the carbs yourself, you might negotiate a price in between that would be fair.

Purpdust · 11-28-2006, 1:25 PM

I could not help but notice the Irony between your Handle and your question

As far as a nighthawk, if you can fix it up cheaply they is would be fine.

SpeedCostsMoney · 11-30-2006, 10:04 AM

I talked to my wife's brother in law and we agreed on a $1,000 price for the bike. He told me the story of his last ride with it. The bike just quit running and when he went to work the next day there was gasoline under the bike.

He removed the air filter assembly and found it was saturated by gasoline. I think the bike may have a carb issue instead of a leak now. Anyways it's still a good deal, even if I do have to fix the carbs.

I’ll be driving up there to pick it up sometime in the next month or so, hopefully before Christmas. I’ll keep you guys posted. I’m a motorcycle owner now, it’s time to work on being a rider.

Purpdust · 11-30-2006, 10:13 AM

Congrats, Hope the repair goes well and ride safe

steingar · 11-30-2006, 6:36 PM

Congrats, the Nighthawk is a sturdy beast. Mine had 37 or 38K miles on it before I sold it to get the Fireblade, and it ran like a watch. Even if you spent another $1K fixing it up you would have a good deal on a really good bike.

sheepofblue · 11-30-2006, 7:18 PM

Add www.Helminc.com to your Christmas list for a shop manual

SpeedCostsMoney · 12-11-2006, 7:41 AM

I got my bike this weekend and pulled the tank off. The tank was full of rust and garbage. My friend and I put gas in the line and the bike fired right up. So it looks like all I have to do is treat the tank and I got perfectly good bike for 1000 clams minus what it costs for the tanks treatment.

jetbdude · 12-11-2006, 7:49 AM

Post some picture of the bike when you have a chance, congrats

SpeedCostsMoney · 12-28-2006, 7:45 AM

I ran into a snag with my bike. After getting the tank treated and getting the bike to run for longer then a couple of minutes, an issue arose. The number one carb is leaking gasoline, then finally floods out. The gas then backs out into the air box.

It looks like the carburetors have to be rebuilt. Trash must have gotten into the bowls, maybe even sunk a float or something.

I have a question for you all. After I get the carbs running again can a fuel filter be added in the fuel line prevent trash from getting into the carburetors? The strainer in the petcock is not doing the trick and I want to make sure no more trash gets in the engine.

steingar · 12-28-2006, 9:33 AM

A filter can be plumbed into the fuel line fairly easily, although you are unlikely to need it in the continental US. Rebuilding the carbs after a long sit is not that uncommon, and other things may come up as well, like the fork seals. At the end you'll still have a nice bike cheap.

allred · 09-25-2007, 6:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpeedCostsMoney

I ran into a snag with my bike. After getting the tank treated and getting the bike to run for longer then a couple of minutes, an issue arose. The number one carb is leaking gasoline, then finally floods out. The gas then backs out into the air box.

It looks like the carburetors have to be rebuilt. Trash must have gotten into the bowls, maybe even sunk a float or something.

I have a question for you all. After I get the carbs running again can a fuel filter be added in the fuel line prevent trash from getting into the carburetors? The strainer in the petcock is not doing the trick and I want to make sure no more trash gets in the engine.

It does sound as though you have a leaking float needle(s). Strip the carbs and clean them thoroughly, replace all of the float needles, and any gaskets that look suspect. Also be sure to check the rubber "O" rings that seal the gasoline supply between each carb (these can leak and give the false impression of a leaking float needle).

You should not need an additional gas filter once you have cleaned out the tank, the filter in the tank should do the job fine.

Good Luck