Need some bike advice

[Goggles Paisano]

Hey all. I'm thinking its time to make a motorcycle upgrade. A little background; I've been riding for about three years now approximatley 30, 000 kms on my first bike, a 1984 Honda Nighthawk 450. Great bike, but alot of my riding is my commute, 66 kms each way.

The Nighthawk is great, but at highway speeds is a little wound out and I'm really getting tired of strapping my lunch bag to the back seat and wearing a back pack. Looking for something a bit bigger, with bags and a windscreen/fairings to get me out of the wind as to extend the riding season a bit before that white stuff falls from the sky . Came across this beautifully ugly beast:





A 1983 GL650i Silverwing and I've talked to the dude on the phone about it. Seems to be in good operating order from what he's told me.

My questions are as follows;

Any of you folks had one before? What should I look for when checking it out? Typical issues with these bikes? Is that fairing removable? I know its a Honda so its reliable, but how are the motors? I like the look of it; kinda Guzzi on the cheap. How are the shaft drives on these?

I showed the pic to my wife and she said "Why do you want to ride an old person bike?" Is it an old person's bike? (I'm 35 if it matters.)

Thanks in advance and sorry if this in the wrong forum, mods please move if it is.

Also....anyone interested in a nighthawk?

[elementalg20]

I cant tell you alot about it being I've not owned one. That fairing technically could be removed, but it'd likely be a hassle as the headlight is built into it, you'd likely have to buy a headlight bucket and do some wiring. I think someone once mentioned these being a little top heavy, but I wouldnt suspect it to be too bad. All in all I'd thin it'd be a little step up from the 450 and having full luggage and fairing it'd be a great cheap commuter bike. I wouldnt look for it to be a 'thrilling' machine but a good work horse type of a bike. The old person thing is totally subjective.....this coming from a guy who is 27 and doesnt mind riding my father in law's 76' cb750 with a wind jammer :)

[Goggles Paisano]

Yeah, riding is thrilling enough and my 450 is plenty thrilling when I want it to be. The luggage is removeable so I couild just pull it off when not in us. Never ridden a bike with a windsheild, could be interesting.

[frog13]

The one I had I think was an 82,plus it was a 550cc...exact same color as the one your looking at.Yes, the fairing is removable,but I believe you'll like it alot.The removable hard bags and tail unit were great!!!!...for obvious reasons. Never had issues with the engine.

[Goggles Paisano]

Well, I went and checked it out this aft. I'm gonna pass. Great bike, in great shape, great guy selling it and I loved the bike. I'm gonna stick with my Nighthawk for a while longer. Seems the clutch on my cage is going out and the exhaust is about to fall off, so there goes that money...winter coming and all. Gonna save up some dough for awhile and see what else I can find.

Thanks for the advice.

[frog13]

Sound judgement!.

[Goggles Paisano]

Originally Posted by frog13

Sound judgement!.

Sucks getting old and responsible. The look on my wife's face when I told I was gonna pass was a mix of surprise and relief. Made me chuckle.

[teachnsurf]

When the time is ready, keep your eyes open for a used Bonneville.

You'll love it!

[RedRocket]

Oh well. Seeing as you mentioned the word "winter" it probably would've made a real good cheap commuter.
Those bikes are pretty much bulletproof. The only real weak link ( which is common for Hondas of the era ) is the stator, and on that bike they're a bitch to reach.

[Goggles Paisano]

Originally Posted by teachnsurf

When the time is ready, keep your eyes open for a used Bonneville.

You'll love it!

Oh my. I love Bonnies, a Triumph is definatly on my wish list...one day. Sigh...sooo many bikes, so little money.

[Stumpifier]

You know I've always heard the Silverwings were under powered. They were suppose to get a turbocharger but due to some fudgeup or another they never got them.

I hear you about the 450. I've had my '82 as my first bike for about 9 months now and it is a fantastic bike for city and back roads but the motor just doesn't quite have enough cubes for freeway riding. I actually changed the sprockets on mine to bring the rpms up to 5400 in 6th at 70. It helped a lot but it just doesn't have the torque. That and the factory seat is stuffed with nails and broken glass

[mike-s]

Originally Posted by Goggles Paisano

Sucks getting old and responsible. The look on my wife's face when I told I was gonna pass was a mix of surprise and relief. Made me chuckle.

I've been married for just under a year (one year tomorrow) and yet i have seen that look many times .

As to the 650, not a bad bike iguess. But i can understand you having to hold off on the purchase.

If you are a slight short-arse like me (174cm tall, with most of that unfortunately being in the torso) and want something a little sporty, perhaps you could consider a RF900. I've got one with a ventura rackon it, which can easily take a backpack inside it, which makes taking mybag plus a laptop to work quite easy. My particular one just ticked over 100,000km the other day and aside from regular oil changes and a new chain,it hasn't needed much in the way of upkeep at all.

I have a 35km commute to work and take the bike to work one in 4 days, although less often lately as we've just come out of winter over here. Hopefully i'll take it more often now it's warming up.

The only downsides to the bike is the fact that 1) the stock gearing is a bit tall for stop start traffic, so i've gome up two teeth on stock at the rear. And the one thingi can't change is the fact it has a 5 speed gearbox. 6 gears aren't reall needed, but a slightly different spread of gear ratios could have been nice.

The upside to this is it has a gsx-1100 bottom end, whic is absolutely bulletproof (they use gsx-1100's as the basis for many a drag bike and the gearbox and a lesser degree the clutch can take a pounding from 1300cc turbocharged monsters).

Lots of luck with the clutchb.t.w.

[Goggles Paisano]

Originally Posted by mike-s

Lots of luck with the clutchb.t.w.

I've had a ton of luck with that clutch, but I guess its getting due. 425,000kms isn't extreme on a clutch, is it? Congrats on being married for a year, that first one is the toughtest. My lady and I will celebrate nine years on the 27th of October. Nine years mariid, but 15 together. Oh, and three kids later . I see that look on her face alot.

[Goggles Paisano]

Originally Posted by Stumpifier

I hear you about the 450. I've had my '82 as my first bike for about 9 months now and it is a fantastic bike for city and back roads but the motor just doesn't quite have enough cubes for freeway riding. I actually changed the sprockets on mine to bring the rpms up to 5400 in 6th at 70. It helped a lot but it just doesn't have the torque. That and the factory seat is stuffed with nails and broken glass

You know, I changed the plugs and put an inline fuel filter on mine this morning and rode it into work tonight...completely different bike. It likes to rev and doesn't miss a beat. I'll keep pounding on it for a few more years. Weird thing is, mine is at aobout 5500 doing @ 80 mph. Maybe a previous owner did change the sprocket.

[Goggles Paisano]

Originally Posted by RedRocket

Oh well. Seeing as you mentioned the word "winter" it probably would've made a real good cheap commuter.
Those bikes are pretty much bulletproof. The only real weak link ( which is common for Hondas of the era ) is the stator, and on that bike they're a bitch to reach.

Winter here is not like your winter. Oh, how I wish that it were. No, here my bike goes to sleep aroun November and doesn't wake up again until March or so. Great White North, you see.