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just got it last week,went up the street down the street and down ON the street,scraped knee and bent brake handle.
apparently speed has something to do with keeping the bike up when not using the side stand

FNG wants to know if there is anything i should know about this model of bike?
make sure to do or not to do maintainence wise,when some thing goes wrong with it is there a typical problem inherent to this model?
i've only ridden it the one time and decided to wait until after my BRC to use it.
it's in great shape and i'd like to keep it that way.
thank's all

Good choice, Oxbow (see my sig.). Did you get the blue one or the red one?

The Nighthawk is just about as maintenance free as a bike can get. Other than oil changes and chain maintenance, there's not a whole lot you need to do. I bought a K&N reusable air filter for mine. For the cost of two replacement paper filters, it will last indefinitely with an occasional cleaning and oiling.

I also picked up the Haynes maintenance manual for this bike. Normally, I stick with factory manuals, but the Haynes was a lot less expensive and very complete.

The only thing I'd warn you not to do is put in too much oil at the oil change. I made that mistake (4 qts instead of 3) and I quickly got a seeping gasket.

i got the red one,it only has 6900 miles on it.....heh heh 69

one ding in the gas tank and the brake handle i broke trying to bend it back

paid 1700, i think i got a good deal,how's that sound to you?

what do you fly? i have some experiance flying my step fathers 172, right seat of course.

$1700 is an excellent deal for that bike. I was looking for one for a buddy of mine last year and most of the good ones were in the $2000-$2500 range. If you like the standard UJM, you'll probably hang on to it forever. I bought my new, out of the crate in '96. Haven't bought another bike since.

I fly Piper Cherokee 180. Used to own a 172 before that. See :

http://www.johngalban.com/

oxbow1 wrote:the brake handle i broke trying to bend it back

Welcome to the wonderful world of aluminum.

Check ebay- generally someone milling these things out for $10 less than the stealership.

I just took my BRC last weekend, and I rode a Nighthawk. I liked it a lot. I have a Ninja 250 waiting at home, and so I definitely thought that the Honda Rebel was wrong for me. When I got home and rode my bike, it was very similar to the Nighthawk. I am a new rider, too. 42YY. My Dad started when he was 49, and became a MSF RiderCoach soon after. Have fun!

Again, great choice on your bike. And a great deal, too.

My '93 750, (red, of course), had 14,700 miles on it and I paid $1700. You have super low miles...good grab.

Keep your chain lubed up. I let mine get a little too dry and it gave me an odd feeling in both foot pegs. After some chain lube, it went away and has not returned.

Like flynrider said above, buy a good manual and just a little maintenance will go a LONG way.

Enjoy it.