Faults:

Nothing has gone wrong. Stone reliable.

General Comments:

I bought this for my son to learn on. He moved on but I kept the bike. I had one in the early 1990s after I gave away my 450 Nighthawk with nearly 80,000 miles. Back then I commuted 45 miles round trip to work on the 250, so I decided to do the same with the newer one.

It's a comfortable bike, but the seat was low. I added a born-behind-barz gel seat and it fits me better. It accelerated and held 65 MPH, but I switched out the front sprocket to a 15T. It now cruises much more comfortably at 65, and I've even held 75 MPH for many miles. My record so far is 250 miles in a day. I can still walk afterward. Haven't carried a passenger, but plenty of luggage.

I average 70 to 80 MPG, with lower results the faster I go. It hasn't needed any work and I don't expect it will. It's a Honda, after all. I plan on using it for short tours and it's small enough to throw in my van and take with me if I go farther or the weather is bad. I have driven it in thunderstorms and it is remarkably stable. A keeper for a man who will enter retirement soon.

Faults:

None.

General Comments:

Bought this for my son to learn on. After he got his license, he took my 250 Ninja, leaving this to me. I've done a couple of 200 mile days on the Honda with no problem. You can't beat a Honda for reliability. I'm considering buying a 500 Ninja or a Suzuki GS 500F for the extra power, but I may see if I can add a rack to the back of the Nighthawk to carry some luggage. I owned a 450 Nighthawk in the 1980s. That bike was the perfect size, and I drove it over 70,000 miles without an issue. I think I can make the 250 work if I don't have to carry a passenger, or get where I'm going too quickly. Why don't they make standards anymore?

Faults:

Bought it with the right fork seal in bad condition.

General Comments:

Awesome motorcycle. Easy mechanic and inexpensive parts.

I came from a 125cc so this is a little heavy for me, but I got used to it.

Faults:

Just fixed and cleaned from the previous owner.

General Comments:

I wanted a second smaller lighter bike to ride to go with my ST1300.

Found this one with 3k miles and got it for $1300. Needed the carb cleaned, fixed a few minor things, etc.

Mods for more power: It's really lean from Honda. I've got a 118 main with a 38 pilot now. 1 washer under the needle. Stock air box snorkel removed and several holes in the airbox lid. Stock filter. After removing severe bluing from the pipes, they now don't even try to blue. Unaltered mufflers. Don't know what power you'll get from altering mufflers, but I don't want the noise. Intake noise is already increased.

Up 1 tooth on the front sprocket. 7% less RPM. Just seemed geared too short.

Valve adjustment: really simple and the best power is at .002 in. on both valves. I found them at .006 so they appear to grow with wear anyway.

Remove spark plug wire resistors then open the gap to .035 in.

With the above mods I've got more power, it's smoother, cooler running, no hesitation, quick cold starts, can take right off without wait. Gets 60 MPG on the one tank I checked.

Running Delo 10-30 oil. Changing it every 1k miles.

I got what I wanted; a light, fun, ride around bike when I don't want the big bike. It will go on the highway, gets up to 75 mph on level ground fairly quickly. But that's what the big bike is made for.

I'm 6'2 in. and 340 lbs. Anyone smaller will get much more performance.

I am looking for a 750 Nighthawk casually.