Ducati Monster Forum

a friend is offering to give me a neglected nighthawk he found on the side of his house.  not sure how long it's been there, but I presume it's severely neglected.  No title, but it's free.

I plan to turn it into a bobber or cafe.  Not sure what all is included, but he said to me "Hey you want what's left of..." so I'm not sure what that includes.  Going to check it out tomorrow.


Any thoughts, concerns, caveats?

They were nice bikes, driveshafts instead of chains so maybe not the best candidate for a cafe racer.

Depending how long it's been unregistered, it may be quite expensive to get a plate/tag on it.

First bike was an '84 450 Nighthawk. Great bike, but it definitely was not shaft driven.

My 85  650 Nighthawk was shaft driven.  It was my first motorcycle 4 years ago.  I learned the stuff I should have learned when I was young and fearless on it.  I rode it for a year and then acquired the Monster - what an unbelieveable difference in handling.  Taking a curve with the nighthawk was a process of steps and some trepidation - when I got on the Monster, I turned my head to look through the curve and I was through it. 

The bike was stone cold reliable, started and ran every time without fail - no maintenance except oil and filters.

from what i've been reading last night/today they went to shaft in 85.  As soon as my buddy mentioned it, this is pretty much what I envisioned in my head:

(http://www.petespegs.com/Bobber%2017.jpg)

Now that is interesting.  Is that a hard tail?  So I'm wondering if a hard tail w/driveshaft has any kind of torque reaction?  I'd guess not.  I always wanted a Nighthawk S but it never worked out.

Do it.  My first bike was a '79 Yamaha XS 650 that had sat in my friend's dad's barn since 1985.  $1k later I had a great running, old but clean and functional bike, and learned how to wrench on motorcycles.  That part is priceless and worth it by itself.  Plus, since it's old you can be a little more "aggressive" or less trepidatious about experimenting with repairs or taking things apart, etc.  I'm not sold on the chopper/bobber style but if that's what you want to do why not.  You don't have to buy an expensive Ducati to have fun on a motorcycle...


PS Before putting any money into it, try and get it to turn over with kick starter to make sure the engine isn't seized, and if possible add clean gas and see about getting it running (even crappy) to make sure the engine isn't going to need a teardown which may make it more trouble/money than it is worth- or at least than your time is worth...

that particular one is a hardtail, but I probably wouldn't do that.  drop the seat, but keep the shocks.

May I suggest you checking this site ?
http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?board=43.0 (http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?board=43.0)

Also, "85 Nighthawk" can mean

85 Nighthawk 700s
http://hondanighthawks.net/700s.htm (http://hondanighthawks.net/700s.htm)

85 Nighthawk 650
http://hondanighthawks.net/650.htm (http://hondanighthawks.net/650.htm)

85 Nighthawk 450
http://hondanighthawks.net/450.htm (http://hondanighthawks.net/450.htm)

Google "Lien Sale Company" in your state.  Most states permit this.

If it was found on private property, then the owner of that property may place a lien on it for storage fees.

In most states, that lien can be sold (and therefore the bike) in 30-60 days, esp if the value is low.  After that period, you can take the purchased lien (bike) and get a title for it.

yeah that was one of my unanswered questions so far.  "what's the DMV status and what size engine is it?"  no answer to either, so I'm going to take a look at it and see what I can figure out.

I get the impression that him saying he 'found' it on his side yard means he forgot it was there.  My guess is it belonged to him or his older brother back when it was newer.  The house he owns now formerly belonged to his mother, the same house he grew up in.  But good things to consider, thank you. 

rolled it home tonight.  what a POS, but it was free.  Worst case scenario, I part it out.

84 CB700SC, according to the VIN decoder.

reg sticker says 97, so I'm hoping it's dropped off the DMV system.  That's my next step to run the VIN and make sure it's not reported stolen or something stupid.  But it has the original blue/yellow California plate.


It is a shaft drive, and I'm pretty sure I'll be keeping shocks on it, but getting a drop seat welded in.

wish me luck.

if you're in Cali, then the lien sale title is the way to go.

nice engine.  4-valver.  same keihin CV carbs (well, smaller ones)

Yeah those bikes are pretty fast- put some elbow grease in.  The shaft drive is sealed so that's prob fine.

Need pics!  Before and after when possible :)