Yet another Bike Rec. 1982 Honda Nighthawk CB450SC

[ghostofdavid]

A local gentleman has this motorcycle for sale:

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/mcy/365485360.html


I'm going to try and get an ASE mechanic to go with me to check it out. He said the bike leaks a bit of oil and that concerns me, but for 750 bucks, I am guessing I should not expect much.

Reading reviews of the motorcycle as we speak...

Let me know what you gents and ladies think, all sincere forms of shared knowledge is most appreciated.

[Ian522]

I have an '82 CM450 which is very similar and probably shares the same motor. Its a good reliable bike and very easy to handle. I get about 50-60mpg and it does handle the highway pretty well for a little bike. Not a speed demon but plenty of grunt to entertain a beginner.

[ghostofdavid]

Does yours have any oil leakage problems similar to the one mentioned in the listing? Should I post this in a Honda Bike forum?

[rwp]

Try to track down the source of the leak. Most aren't that hard to fix. Watch the exhaust when he starts and revs the bike. Blue/black smoke means burning oil which is more serious.

Pump the fork a few times to see if the seals leak. Check all the switches and make sure all the lights/horn works. Make sure it charges while running (you'll need a voltmeter). Tracking down electrical gremlins in old bikes is a real pain.

Talk to the owner and look around at his other vehicles and at his garage if you can. You'll usually be able to tell if he's the kind of guy who takes care of his stuff or not.

Best of luck, the Honda twins are usually good reliable bikes.

[gsJack]

My 1st bike was a 81 CB400T that I only put 6k miles on before trading it on a 82 CB750 back in 84-85. Around 1990 I picked up a 81 CM400A that had only 2k miles and looked like brand new. Same engine as the CB450SC your looking at except the bore was increased a bit between 81 and 82 to make it 450cc.

I gave that 81CM400A to a friend a couple years ago with about 98k miles on it and it now has over 100k miles, 96k approx that I put on it. It was reliable and trouble free all those years except for a oil leak. I had to put a head gasket on to fix the oil leak at about 30k miles, not an uncommon thing on a old bike with low milage, the seals dry out from all the years of being mostly parked.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy another bike with that 400/450 Hawk engine even if it had an oil leak. Fixing the head gasket wasn't that hard and it could be as simple as a leaking oil seal on the oil filter cover under the engine, right front corner. Would determine where the leak was before buying.

[TorontoBoy]

Old bikes need care, but 80s Honda engines are very reliable. $750 may be too much or a good buy, depending on the condition and maintenance of the bike.

Expect to replace tires, chain, battery at minimum unless it's been done recently, budget $400 minimum. Ensure a straight frame and no crash/drop damage. Fork seal replacement add $200 unless you do them yourself. Rebuilding the front brake caliper will add more.

Then go through and see what else isn't working. Gaskets need to be replaced. If it's leaking oil then you'll need to tear down something and replace, so bargain down.

Initial prices of old bikes are lower and can mask the cost of getting them on the road. You could end up spending more to fix it than you pay for the bike. It all depends on the care the bike received and if it's been regularly ridden. like our bodies, bikes that sit too long fall apart. Use it or lose it.

Also note that most stealerships won't work on bikes older than 10 years old, citing a lack of available parts, or they'll work at $80/hr. Expect to wrench your own bike, which with a Clymer's repair manual is very doable. You should also get on eBay to see if parts are available for this bike.

Ensure the owner has the proper title for the vehicle, or you'll end up wrassling with the DMV.

http://www.motorera.com/honda/h0450/nig ... ghthaw.htm