slmjim n Z1BEBE
CB750 Enthusiast
Long post to follow. Thinking cap suggested.
We're on multiple fences re: keeping our His n Her pair of '93 Nighthawks we bought new. Both have 70,000+ relatively trouble free, adult touring miles on them. We never wailed on them & they're always garaged. Very well maintained by us. We're Kawasaki Z1 collectors & restoration hobbyists with 40-+ yrs. experience.
We're both over 70. The Lovely Z1BEBE decided to hang up her keys last year, so I pickled her red '93 Nighthawk for long-term storage. My blue '93 Nighthawk needed the carb diaphragms replaced this year, as one was holed. A cheap rack of very-low-mile 750 Nighthawk carbs from fleabay solved that.
I'll continue Ridin'; Joyrides solo on my 750 when the spirit moves me, and Z1BEBE is happy doing the passenger thing on our ST1300A, with a rarel two-up on my Nighthawk, although we'd both like a top box w/ backrest for her.
So, we have two '93 'Hawks, I'm in the autumn of my Ridin' career, and I don't know how many more years I'll be Ridin'. My Ridin' will be split between my Nighthawk, the ST1300A, and whichever of our Kawasaki Z1's we prep for a given season.
Caveat - we're out of room. Garage is full with two vehicles and three bikes, lawn care equipment, and a Honda Hobbit PA50-II moped. The basement shop has six bikes in it. Another one cannot be squeezed into the shop without completely blocking the bike service area. One more bike isn't gonna happen anywhere here at home.
In all cases mentioned below, we keep our collection of Kawasaki Z1's.
Fence 1 - Keep both Nighthawks & prep one alternately each year for maybe, maybe, 2,500 mi. per season. Likely less. This bring up the question of longevity. The CB750 motor is one of the most robust ever manufactured. But, like any machine, there are certain 'high mortality' parts within. "High mortality' is not to be confused with consumable hardware such as spark plugs, chains/sprockets, wheel bearings, brake pads, cables & such.
Upside - We know the model well, know the exact 70,000+ mi. history of our bikes, and have all the docs & most spares we're likely to need.
We have irrational sentimental attachment for our Nighthawks. We've spent 30 yrs. of our 34 years marriage & 70,000 mi. all over two-lane America on them. They mean something to us.
Cost - essentially nil.
Cheap to insure.
Reasonably deep interwebs knowledge base.
Downside - 70,000+ mi. Brings up the longevity Q1 & Q2 questions below.
Not easy to set up for comfy passenger two-up Ridin' + storage due to most accessories NLA.
Q1) We see anecdotal evidence the CB750 Nighthawk motor typically runs trouble-free for 100,000 mi. with good care & maintenance. What sat ye about longevity? Is 100,000 mi. a reasonable estimate based on history of this motor's design?
Q2) What are the (relatively) high-mortality parts in the '91 - '03 750 motor, or the bike in general? Our list so far is:
Turn signals (stalks breaking).
Switchgear, particularly the start switch itself becoming intermittent in the 'RUN' position re: the headlight not always coming on after the motor starts. May be NLA.
Tach. Won't break the bike, but aggravating. Later tachs seem to have solved the problem. We have a late NOS tach on the shelf just in case.
Valve cover gaskets. We replaced both @ ~50,000 mi. or so due to slow weeping developing. Easy.
O-rings at the fuel 'T' & junction pipes. Easy.
Petcock - one failed years ago. Leaked in the 'OFF' position & motor went into hydraulic lock. Rebuild kit failed. Replaced with new OEM. Not exactly high-mortality, but still...
That's about it for our high-mortality list. Any suggestions, parts we've missed?
From here down we're mostly talking to ourselves. It just helps to see things in print sometimes for thoughts to jell. We're most interested in the above. Feel free though, to chime in on how you've managed similar considerations.
Fence 2) Sell both our 750's & replace with one, nice, much-lower-mileage '91 - '03 Nighthawk. They're out there.
Upside - much newer bike we're very familiar with, & have the service manuals & some spares on the shelf.
Still cheap to insure.
Downside - We have irrational sentimental attachment for our Nighthawks. We've spent 30 yrs. of our 34 years marriage & 70,000 mi. all over two-lane America on them.
Unknown history.
Not easy to set up for comfy passenger two-up Ridin' + storage due to most accessories NLA.
Cost.
Fence 3) An friend & fellow vintage bike resto hobbyist has a one-owner, low-mile (800 mi. !) 2017 CB1100EX for sale. We sell both 'Hawks, replace them w/ the CB1100 set up w/ top box/backrest.
Upside - Much newer bike. Current OEM parts support. More power than any 750.
Can easily be set up with a top box using currently-available rack & box for backrest & storage for short two-up day / weekend Ridin'.
Known history of this CB1100.
Reasonably deep interwebs knowledge base.
Downside - We start from scratch on parts stock, documentation and a learning curve of a different, much more complex (ABS, fuel injected) bike.
Spoke wheels (tubes) & uncommon tire sizes.
Also, irrational 'Hawk attachment & etc.
More expensive to insure.
Cost++
Fence 4) Realistically, how many more 3+ week, 2,000+ mi. tours are we likely to do on the ST1300A? The older I get, the taller & heavier it gets. It's a top heavy beast even without a passenger. Her natural parts & single bionic part are making themselves more & more known after a few hours in the saddle. Only stamina issues (so far) I have is typical numbbutt.
Sell the 'Hawks and the ST. Set the CB1100 up w/top box for day / weekend trips.
Upsides & downsides - same as Fence 3. Insurance increase becomes a wash due to fewer bikes.
That's enough for now. The main focus is the longevity considerations & suggestions. Further thoughts welcomed for the talking-to-ourselves portion if the spirit so moves you.
Crossposted to a couple other forums.
Good Ridin'
slmjim & Z1BEBE
We're on multiple fences re: keeping our His n Her pair of '93 Nighthawks we bought new. Both have 70,000+ relatively trouble free, adult touring miles on them. We never wailed on them & they're always garaged. Very well maintained by us. We're Kawasaki Z1 collectors & restoration hobbyists with 40-+ yrs. experience.
We're both over 70. The Lovely Z1BEBE decided to hang up her keys last year, so I pickled her red '93 Nighthawk for long-term storage. My blue '93 Nighthawk needed the carb diaphragms replaced this year, as one was holed. A cheap rack of very-low-mile 750 Nighthawk carbs from fleabay solved that.
I'll continue Ridin'; Joyrides solo on my 750 when the spirit moves me, and Z1BEBE is happy doing the passenger thing on our ST1300A, with a rarel two-up on my Nighthawk, although we'd both like a top box w/ backrest for her.
So, we have two '93 'Hawks, I'm in the autumn of my Ridin' career, and I don't know how many more years I'll be Ridin'. My Ridin' will be split between my Nighthawk, the ST1300A, and whichever of our Kawasaki Z1's we prep for a given season.
Caveat - we're out of room. Garage is full with two vehicles and three bikes, lawn care equipment, and a Honda Hobbit PA50-II moped. The basement shop has six bikes in it. Another one cannot be squeezed into the shop without completely blocking the bike service area. One more bike isn't gonna happen anywhere here at home.
In all cases mentioned below, we keep our collection of Kawasaki Z1's.
Fence 1 - Keep both Nighthawks & prep one alternately each year for maybe, maybe, 2,500 mi. per season. Likely less. This bring up the question of longevity. The CB750 motor is one of the most robust ever manufactured. But, like any machine, there are certain 'high mortality' parts within. "High mortality' is not to be confused with consumable hardware such as spark plugs, chains/sprockets, wheel bearings, brake pads, cables & such.
Upside - We know the model well, know the exact 70,000+ mi. history of our bikes, and have all the docs & most spares we're likely to need.
We have irrational sentimental attachment for our Nighthawks. We've spent 30 yrs. of our 34 years marriage & 70,000 mi. all over two-lane America on them. They mean something to us.
Cost - essentially nil.
Cheap to insure.
Reasonably deep interwebs knowledge base.
Downside - 70,000+ mi. Brings up the longevity Q1 & Q2 questions below.
Not easy to set up for comfy passenger two-up Ridin' + storage due to most accessories NLA.
Q1) We see anecdotal evidence the CB750 Nighthawk motor typically runs trouble-free for 100,000 mi. with good care & maintenance. What sat ye about longevity? Is 100,000 mi. a reasonable estimate based on history of this motor's design?
Q2) What are the (relatively) high-mortality parts in the '91 - '03 750 motor, or the bike in general? Our list so far is:
Turn signals (stalks breaking).
Switchgear, particularly the start switch itself becoming intermittent in the 'RUN' position re: the headlight not always coming on after the motor starts. May be NLA.
Tach. Won't break the bike, but aggravating. Later tachs seem to have solved the problem. We have a late NOS tach on the shelf just in case.
Valve cover gaskets. We replaced both @ ~50,000 mi. or so due to slow weeping developing. Easy.
O-rings at the fuel 'T' & junction pipes. Easy.
Petcock - one failed years ago. Leaked in the 'OFF' position & motor went into hydraulic lock. Rebuild kit failed. Replaced with new OEM. Not exactly high-mortality, but still...
That's about it for our high-mortality list. Any suggestions, parts we've missed?
From here down we're mostly talking to ourselves. It just helps to see things in print sometimes for thoughts to jell. We're most interested in the above. Feel free though, to chime in on how you've managed similar considerations.
Fence 2) Sell both our 750's & replace with one, nice, much-lower-mileage '91 - '03 Nighthawk. They're out there.
Upside - much newer bike we're very familiar with, & have the service manuals & some spares on the shelf.
Still cheap to insure.
Downside - We have irrational sentimental attachment for our Nighthawks. We've spent 30 yrs. of our 34 years marriage & 70,000 mi. all over two-lane America on them.
Unknown history.
Not easy to set up for comfy passenger two-up Ridin' + storage due to most accessories NLA.
Cost.
Fence 3) An friend & fellow vintage bike resto hobbyist has a one-owner, low-mile (800 mi. !) 2017 CB1100EX for sale. We sell both 'Hawks, replace them w/ the CB1100 set up w/ top box/backrest.
Upside - Much newer bike. Current OEM parts support. More power than any 750.
Can easily be set up with a top box using currently-available rack & box for backrest & storage for short two-up day / weekend Ridin'.
Known history of this CB1100.
Reasonably deep interwebs knowledge base.
Downside - We start from scratch on parts stock, documentation and a learning curve of a different, much more complex (ABS, fuel injected) bike.
Spoke wheels (tubes) & uncommon tire sizes.
Also, irrational 'Hawk attachment & etc.
More expensive to insure.
Cost++
Fence 4) Realistically, how many more 3+ week, 2,000+ mi. tours are we likely to do on the ST1300A? The older I get, the taller & heavier it gets. It's a top heavy beast even without a passenger. Her natural parts & single bionic part are making themselves more & more known after a few hours in the saddle. Only stamina issues (so far) I have is typical numbbutt.
Sell the 'Hawks and the ST. Set the CB1100 up w/top box for day / weekend trips.
Upsides & downsides - same as Fence 3. Insurance increase becomes a wash due to fewer bikes.
That's enough for now. The main focus is the longevity considerations & suggestions. Further thoughts welcomed for the talking-to-ourselves portion if the spirit so moves you.
Crossposted to a couple other forums.
Good Ridin'
slmjim & Z1BEBE
Solid, reliable and part of the family!