In good company

...so as captain 80's has said " ...I couldn't afford not to buy it..."
Had a bike for sale on my watch list. 1985 450 nighthawk ( I know, I know, it isn't a vfr. Still when the price goes from $300 to 'contact for pricing' I get interested). Messaged the owner (a very pleasant young lady) who responded she was moving and just wanted it gone. Being a gallant, my response was I can at least pay you $100. Long story short it followed me home. This was Friday afternoon. Today (Sunday) I've cleaned it up, installed a battery, and put a little fuel (after a quick rinse, virtually no rust in tank) in the carbs, attempted to start. Someone has removed the air box, replaced with two pod filters. Ran just enough with 20cc of gas to tell me it was well worth it. Number of minor issues, and the main one is the custom head light. Obvious issues are rear drum brake linkage bracket is bent, fork seals toast, minor rust on some chrome, Right signal not working (blue wire and green orange connected instead of two black). Probably need a new headlight loom, bucket, and ears.
All things considered though some parts are pristine. Left and right controls look minty fresh.
So why did I buy this? Well, easily $300 worth of parts. Same year as my mini-ceptor so at least some parts are compatible. Badging is off but is there. Came with a key, papers and a spare rear brake linkage -- minus bent bracket. Not sure what I'll do with this yet -- could be the start of a sideline -- pick up/fix/sell/repeat. Make a cafe racer? Next step though is carb cleaning. A shout out to so many of you who have posted on this site. Great ideas and so much more knowledge out there. I'm a ticketed millwright, and non-papered moulder by trade. Worked in a sawmill -- mostly bearings, chains, power transmission. That said my only machining experience was making a hammer head at trade school and my welding is terrible. Still I don't need to fabricate a lot, I just envy some of the posts where I see some interesting processes going on. This bike has just under 14,000 miles on it. So far $180 into this project. May post more as I move along.

 

i've always wanted one of those too.

 

nice find there Oakunsheyld. keep us posted with what you do with it.

 

Nice find. A bit of fixin up and it'll be road ready. Even at the original $300 it would have been a good deal. Enjoy the ride.

Sent from my moto z4 using Tapatalk

 

Many thanks. I Had no intention of buying a bike when I got up that day. If you look closely at the front view, I believe that's a tractor's back up light, inverted.
Not pretty, but pretty creative.

 

So... ongoing work on this project. Pulled carbs,cleaned, installed -- ran like garbage. Was hoping carb settings were okay, but apparently a previous owner has fiddled with it. Removed carbs, more fine cleaning and bench sync. Located most wiring issues except; neutral light always on,; overdrive light never on;
Oil light works, but female end stops near battery and, if power supplied there (after initial turning over engine), will light up oil light.? Replaced twisted rear drum brake bracket, straightened threaded linkage. This bike is the same make, same year, and close to same displacement as my vf 500. You would think I could just use my vf as an example and walk through the wiring issues. No. Unlike the interceptor, this bike has only three fuses, and are of the glass tube style. Labelled Main, Headlight, and Brake light/Signals. Some wires are also not the same colour scheme as wiring diagrams, yet still appear to be original.
Ordered screws for badging (still available and cheap), and need float drain o rings, some small clamps and a length of fuel hose to use tank remotely while fiddling with settings. If anyone wants to add/commandeer on this thread, feel free to post your own successes and challenges

 

Just be glad you don't have to decipher a ECU with traction control & ABS.. LOL

Great deal