Around 2,000 a friend and I were at a Rider Rally in (I believe) Kentucky and had demo'd an assortment of motorcycles a Shadow, DR650, Sportster 883, and a couple others. Late afternoon with just enough time for one more demo we went back to see what Honda had available. Most of the "desirable bikes" were spoken for but there were 2 CB750 Nighthawks so we signed up for them.
We both came away very impressed with just how well those UJM bikes worked. They were smooth, powerful enough, comfortable, shifted like butter, handled and rode nicely, and switch gear and controls felt high quality.
I never got that bike out of my mind and around 12 years later when I stumbled on a low mileage 2000 Nighthawk 750 I bought it. I rode that motorcycle for a few years and about the only thing I wished it had was just a bit more power and FI would be nice.
By this time (2016) I had eyed the CB1100 and actually rode my Nighthawk to the dealer with the intent of trading it on a 2014 CB1100 leftover that they had on the floor. But after sitting on it and my Nighthawk back and forth and pondering, the CB1100 would have the power and FI, but just wasn't as roomy, seat not as comfortable, it had a smaller tank, didn't have self adjusting valves, and would cost a good bit more than my Nighthawk was worth, so I rode back home on the Nighthawk. After a couple more years I needed to sell something as I was out of room, was getting a little bored with the Nighthawk, and it was using a little oil, so I sold it.
Well after a few years I missed having a UJM and started rethinking a CB1100. I could always put on an aftermarket seat and pegs which'd solve the comfort issues I had with it so I started searching the classifieds. I wanted the overdrive 6th gear so I focused on 2014+ and eventually found a 2014 with 2,000 miles about 3 hours away.
The owner in his 20's bought the bike from the original owner (who aged out of riding) with the intent of riding with his father and his father's friends. It was his first motorcycle and my impression was he never felt comfortable so after a few rides it just sat in his garage until his wife finally convinced him to sell it. The original rear tire had plenty of tread but oddly the front was bald in areas and badly cupped. They needed replaced just from age anyway. It had been dropped twice in his driveway backing it out so there were light scratches on the bottom of stator and clutch covers, and it was covered in dust like it hadn't been washed in years. But the gas smelled ok and no moisture or rust in the tank. So I bought it paying a little too much, $5,500 IIRC. I had $6,100 in it after replacing the two covers and tires.
The first image I have is it on the lift after I had cleaned it and was changing oil, brake and clutch fluid, and detailing it but before I replaced the covers, tires, and added a Corbin seat, and foot pegs. The rear tire had 22 and the front only 13 psi, no wonder it was cupped and worn.
![[Image: IMG_7465.jpg]](https://i.postimg.cc/zfQRbMSc/IMG_7465.jpg)
I ride this motorcycle mostly local, around northern WV, western MD, and SW PA. I did take it to the CB1100 gathering in Bluefield a couple years back. Being old myself I like these kind of motorcycles and it's one of 3 "retro bikes" I enjoy, the other two being a 2008 Sportster XL1200R and BMW R100R.
We both came away very impressed with just how well those UJM bikes worked. They were smooth, powerful enough, comfortable, shifted like butter, handled and rode nicely, and switch gear and controls felt high quality.
I never got that bike out of my mind and around 12 years later when I stumbled on a low mileage 2000 Nighthawk 750 I bought it. I rode that motorcycle for a few years and about the only thing I wished it had was just a bit more power and FI would be nice.
By this time (2016) I had eyed the CB1100 and actually rode my Nighthawk to the dealer with the intent of trading it on a 2014 CB1100 leftover that they had on the floor. But after sitting on it and my Nighthawk back and forth and pondering, the CB1100 would have the power and FI, but just wasn't as roomy, seat not as comfortable, it had a smaller tank, didn't have self adjusting valves, and would cost a good bit more than my Nighthawk was worth, so I rode back home on the Nighthawk. After a couple more years I needed to sell something as I was out of room, was getting a little bored with the Nighthawk, and it was using a little oil, so I sold it.
Well after a few years I missed having a UJM and started rethinking a CB1100. I could always put on an aftermarket seat and pegs which'd solve the comfort issues I had with it so I started searching the classifieds. I wanted the overdrive 6th gear so I focused on 2014+ and eventually found a 2014 with 2,000 miles about 3 hours away.
The owner in his 20's bought the bike from the original owner (who aged out of riding) with the intent of riding with his father and his father's friends. It was his first motorcycle and my impression was he never felt comfortable so after a few rides it just sat in his garage until his wife finally convinced him to sell it. The original rear tire had plenty of tread but oddly the front was bald in areas and badly cupped. They needed replaced just from age anyway. It had been dropped twice in his driveway backing it out so there were light scratches on the bottom of stator and clutch covers, and it was covered in dust like it hadn't been washed in years. But the gas smelled ok and no moisture or rust in the tank. So I bought it paying a little too much, $5,500 IIRC. I had $6,100 in it after replacing the two covers and tires.
The first image I have is it on the lift after I had cleaned it and was changing oil, brake and clutch fluid, and detailing it but before I replaced the covers, tires, and added a Corbin seat, and foot pegs. The rear tire had 22 and the front only 13 psi, no wonder it was cupped and worn.
I ride this motorcycle mostly local, around northern WV, western MD, and SW PA. I did take it to the CB1100 gathering in Bluefield a couple years back. Being old myself I like these kind of motorcycles and it's one of 3 "retro bikes" I enjoy, the other two being a 2008 Sportster XL1200R and BMW R100R.