My travels around Kentucky

[OldF7Guy_imp]

I always enjoy looking at pictures from others so I thought I would post some of my own and update it as I go along. Yesterday, with 50 degrees out I decided to go out to do a quick shake down run on my new used 750. I ran about 60 miles just trying to stay fairly close to home.

I stopped by old Abe Lincolns boyhood home. The cabin is not original but is as close as they could make it. Talk about hard living back in those days. Abe grew up basically out in the middle of no where and there is still not much close by. Here is the soil Abe walked on as a young boy and the field they farmed. Its rumored that ABe nearly drowned as a kid in knob creek next to the cabin and his cousin pulled him out with a tree branch.

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[Mick65_imp]

Thanks for posting, really broadens the mind looking at great places.
Is this a big tourist spot in summer.
Also love that bike.

[OldF7Guy_imp]

Thanks for posting, really broadens the mind looking at great places.
Is this a big tourist spot in summer.
Also love that bike.

Mick, quite a few people stop by that are from out of state and right up the road about 6-7 miles is where Abe Lincoln was born and its a pretty decent tourist attraction. I am going to get by there when I can as its been years since I have been there. Any presidential history is a pretty big deal but Lincoln was probably one if not the most important of all.

[Mick65_imp]

Is that Hodgenville,

[Cormanus]

Thanks for posting the pictures, OldF7guy. As Mick says, it's great to see pictures of such interesting places. Lincoln was a dude in any estimation and to see where he was young and influenced is fascinating.

Nice bike too.

[the Ferret]

Beautiful setting for a beautiful bike. Glad you were able to get out and get some miles under your belt on the new ride. How does it feel?

[OldF7Guy_imp]

Is that Hodgenville,

Mick, the knob creek farm is about 6-7 miles out of Hodgenville. Hodgenville however, is where Lincoln was born. From where I was at its a solid 5 miles in either direction just to get a gallon of gas or loaf of bread. 200 years ago, the knob creek farm really was in the sticks. Abe was said to have walked about 2 1/2 miles to go to school from there up through the hollow.

Beautiful setting for a beautiful bike. Glad you were able to get out and get some miles under your belt on the new ride. How does it feel?

I freaking love it. Remember, my point of reference is a rigid mount Sporty. There is nothing in common about them except they both have 2 wheels and a motor. The Honda is so smooth. I have a few things I need to address. I cant see out of the mirrors because they dont come out far enough. Mirror extensions are on the way. But oh, what a wonderful thing not to have them vibrating off the stem!! I can actually see out of them! Its a tad tall for me but so far I am managing. I am going to give that some more time before I consider shaving the seat a little.

I was a bit concerned about losing so much torque compared to the 1200 Sporty but its not an issue. This will sound strange but the Honda has more usable torque than the HD. in fact, I am scratching my head here thinking it might be geared a tad too low. I may go up 1 tooth on the front. Its perfect for 2 lane roads though. Places I had to down shift before I dont now. It makes no sense when you look at it on paper but in reality the Honda will just pull you out of a turn in high gear like its nothing. Of course, I am a pretty easy rider too these days. I think in an all out drag race the Nighthawk would take the Sportster but its pretty close. A 1200 Sportster is no slouch when you really flog it.

I know people talk about the drum brake not being that hot but boy its worlds better than what I was used too. Both brakes are a major upgrade for me so I am happy with them. Handling is predictable and feels planted. I am not a sport bike rider but this motorcycle gives me some confidence I didnt have before. It will out handle the rider on it in my case.

The chain is louder than a belt but I can live with it. Its pretty minor plus the Honda is so quiet that I am hearing things I never heard before. Its cold blooded as all get out it seems but I can live with that too. My complaints are pretty minor stuff. I took it out on a local parkway and had it up to 75 and the wind beat me to death. A fly screen may be in my future soon. Turns about 5K between 70-75 which I would like to lower just a bit. But it seemed like it would run like that all day long if it had to. The question is can I take it all day long at those speeds?

Overall, I am a very happy camper with it and this is what I should have bought back in 03 but I feel into the HD trap and had to have one. Its a mistake I wont repeat again. The NH works good in town and is at its best on 2 lane state roads. It will do interstate duty if it has to. Its the swiss knife of motorcycles imo. I love the big gas tank and no valve adjustments and especially like how smooth everything is on it. Its a major upgrade from what I have been used to and I can only imagine how good a CB1100 is.

[the Ferret]

Don't know if you remember but I did a ride report about a ride on my CB 1100 down the Blue Ridge Parkway with a buddy on his 1200 Sportster. We switched bikes on the Blue Ridge and when we traded back he said the exact same thing..the only thing his 1200 Sportster and my CB1100 had in common was that they were both motorcycles. The CB 1100 was superior in every way.

That is exactly how I would describe the Nighthawk 750 as well. It's one of the easiest bikes to ride, or work on, but you never have to work on them lol. No epa crap in the way. 1 vent hose you have to drain fairly often down by the right footpeg I believe. Black vent cap on a clear hose. Collects evaporative overflow. Hard to get the cap off without getting the stuff on your hands, be forwarned. Air cleaner is a snap to get to and replace. Battery is easy to get to as well. Plugs easy to get to. Oil drain plug and filter easy to get to. Easy to bleed and replace front brake fluid. Easy to hit painted parts with some spray polish or pledge and make it all shiny.

The CB 1100 is a lot like the Nighthawk, only with more power and better brakes...and you have to adjust the valves lol

The 16 tooth mod is a common and easy one and the sprocket is readily available. I think I got mine at Sprocket Specialties. I thought I had a new one out in the garage, but I just looked and it's not there...I must have given it to the gentleman that bought my Nighthawk. Anyway they are about $20 or so and will drop the rpms about 400 at any given speed. The caveat is, I thought I wanted to drop my rpms as well, but for back roads riding the 15 tooth sprocket just makes more sense. Easier to pull out of corners in 5 th without having to downshift. On a lot of Kentucky backroads ( and I know because I ride a lot of them) getting into 5 th and just using engine braking to slow and throttle to pull yourself out is like riding an automatic. Just ride, not much to do except enjoy the scenery....and Kentucky is a beautiful state to ride in. So I bought the sprocket, but I never put it on.

Glad to hear you are happy with your bike.

[OldF7Guy_imp]

Ferret, I think I am at least going to try the 16 tooth. A big part of my business is in Louisville Ky so that means heading up I65 in that mess fairly often. You are right though that the stock gearing is nearly perfect for the back roads. I dont think I down shifted yesterday but maybe once or twice and was on some fairly twisty roads. But, I kept trying to shift into 6th gear all day long.

This is just my opinion but I paid a fraction for this 750 for what I sold the Sportster for and got twice the motorcycle. I am just really happy with it and glad to be back in the 2 wheeled world on something.

There are several interesting places right here in Kentucky to visit and I am going to try to make some stops along the way and share some pictures. Not sure where the next one will be but I hope to get up to the George Patton museum soon for a visit. Stay tuned.

[redbirds_imp]

Great pics from a beautiful state. Thanks for posting.