Author Topic: Has anybody cafe'd a Nighthawk?  (Read 1172 times)

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Offline robdrobd

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Has anybody cafe'd a Nighthawk?
« on: January 09, 2014, 09:29:35 AM »
Hey folks, I was wondering if anybody has cafe'd a more recent model than the cb's? They are getting harder to come by. Maybe a Nighthawk? Any other suggestions that can be had for a song?

Offline DustyRags

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Re: Has anybody cafe'd a Nighthawk?
« Reply #1 on: January 14, 2014, 02:36:23 PM »
Try the Nighthawk Forum (nighthawk-forums.com), but they're not huge on anything non-stock over there. Some "tasteful mods" (read: minimal) are encouraged, but cafes are rare, and bobbers, choppers, etc, are frowned upon. Still, if you tread lightly, there's some good info there, and some fantastic bikes.

That having been said, the Nighthawks have a weird teardrop tank shape with low-hanging tabs, and a cover tail cowel that makes them hard to cafe effectively without major surgery. Not saying it can't be done, but expect frame and tank work.

The 250s are a bit easier than the bigger ones.
1976 CB550K- sold
2005 Kawasaki Vulcan 500- sold
2000 CB750 Nighthawk - sold
1975 XL350 - crashed
2004 Suzuki Vstrom 650 - sold

Offline robdrobd

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Re: Has anybody cafe'd a Nighthawk?
« Reply #2 on: January 14, 2014, 04:03:53 PM »
I saw this one online. It's a 250


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Offline DustyRags

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Re: Has anybody cafe'd a Nighthawk?
« Reply #3 on: January 14, 2014, 04:11:24 PM »
Gorgeous, but not much of the Nighthawk left. New front end, tank, tail, looks like they may have re-welded the back of the frame (don't know enough about the 250s to make that call), definitely new bars, light, controls... I'd say the engine and the frame are the only thing that's original. Maybe the back wheel, maybe the headers, maybe the shocks.
1976 CB550K- sold
2005 Kawasaki Vulcan 500- sold
2000 CB750 Nighthawk - sold
1975 XL350 - crashed
2004 Suzuki Vstrom 650 - sold

Offline robdrobd

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Re: Has anybody cafe'd a Nighthawk?
« Reply #4 on: January 15, 2014, 06:01:07 AM »
Yeah, looks like a lot of work to do in a 250


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Offline DustyRags

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Re: Has anybody cafe'd a Nighthawk?
« Reply #5 on: January 15, 2014, 09:16:25 AM »
If the goal is the journey, then I get it. Especially if you live in a part of the world where a 250 is a different license than a larger bike.

My brother ran a NH250 for a year and a half as his only vehicle. Loved it. His coworkers called it the "lawnmower on crack."
1976 CB550K- sold
2005 Kawasaki Vulcan 500- sold
2000 CB750 Nighthawk - sold
1975 XL350 - crashed
2004 Suzuki Vstrom 650 - sold

Offline robdrobd

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Re: Has anybody cafe'd a Nighthawk?
« Reply #6 on: January 15, 2014, 09:44:11 AM »
Gorgeous, but not much of the Nighthawk left. New front end, tank, tail, looks like they may have re-welded the back of the frame (don't know enough about the 250s to make that call), definitely new bars, light, controls... I'd say the engine and the frame are the only thing that's original. Maybe the back wheel, maybe the headers, maybe the shocks.

Seems easy enough  ;D

Offline 750K

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Re: Has anybody cafe'd a Nighthawk?
« Reply #7 on: February 13, 2014, 09:38:07 AM »
Friend of mine took an 80's nighthawk and cafed it, wish I had a pic of it. It was pretty fugly, although it was an improvement over stock. He rode it for a bit then sold it and got something else.
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Offline Doggie

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Re: Has anybody cafe'd a Nighthawk?
« Reply #8 on: February 14, 2014, 07:51:53 PM »
Has anyone seen a Cafe'd CM400T? I have one that i'm not sure what to make it into. Any suggestions???
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Offline cb650

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