Below is the Bikes and Gear that I own. I have put my general thoughts or experience with each and will put a link so you can get your own, if you like what you read.
1984 Honda Nighthawk 650 (Old Blue)
I Purchased this motorcycle in the summer of 2015. It has been down at least one time before I bought it. It was also not running and the paint was not great.
After I got her home, I spent a few months getting things cleaned out and replaced. Then when she was road worthy, she got a fresh new coat of paint, new decals, and a set of white walled tires.
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Helmet – Bell Qualifier with Transition Shield.
Pros – This helmet had a good entry level price tag for the features. I have owned two of these helmets, both in black, and I love them. My favorite feature in this helmet has to do with the cut-outs by the ears to allow you to install a audio system into it with ease.
I also like how you can get a Transition shield for it, so you don’t need to carry two shields. My eye glasses are also Transition and it is a feature I always get on my glasses without fail. I also believe that there are only one or two other helmet brands out there that have a shield like this.
Cons – The wind noise on longer rides gets very annoying. Wearing some ear plugs does help with this issue. However; for rides under two hours, the wind noise does not bug me.
The other minor annoyance has to do with the Transition shield. It is wonderful how you don’t need to carry two shields with you (one clear and one tinted) but if you go from a bright sunny day to a dark tunnel, you will not be able to see very well and will have to open it so you can see.
You can pick up the Bell Helmet and Transition Shield on Amazon.com.
Jacket – My jacket is just a basic black leather jacket with very little bells and whistles. It has two vents in the chest, 2 exhaust ports in the back, and two inner breast pockets. This is my favorite jacket so far. This is also the jacket I was wearing when I went down and it held together perfectly. The only damage was a grass/mud stain in the left arm.
Gloves – I actually have two pairs of gloves that I use on a fairly regular basis. I have my “Warm Weather” gloves and my “Cold Weather” gloves. I usually have both pairs with me (One set I’m wearing and the other set is usually in my book bag) My “Warm Weather” gloves are usually very light with a lot of ventilation and my “Cold Weather” gloves are heavier and waterproof. They are very similar to what snowmobile riders wear.
Warm Weather Gloves on Amazon.com
Cold Weather Gloves on Amazon.com
Misc.
Throttle Lock – I use this on my throttle, that is located on my right handlebar and I use this to set for short periods of time. This allows me to free my right hand so I can stretch it out and not have to slow down. To see the current price or would like to pick one up for yourself, you can pick The Go Cruise Throttle Lock up on Amazon.com
Backpack – I actually found this at Wal-Mart of all places and it is by far one of my favorite bags I have used. The two big things I like about this bag are first, it is water resistant and second it has straps so I can mount it to my backrest or sissy bar.
Sena 20s – This is probably the most used accessory that I have purchased. The Sena 20s is a Bluetooth communicator that mounts to your helmet and allows you to talk to other riders and use your phone.
It allows me to answer calls or listen to music while I’m on the bike. It also lets me talk to my riding friends that also have a Sena, which in turn allows us to ride safer together by knowing, or asking, what the other rider is doing. To see the current price or would like to pick one up for yourself, you can pick the Sena 20s up on Amazon.com
RAM X-Grip – This is a simple device that holds your phone, GPS, or whatever to your handlebars. I have used both my android and iPhone with this and it works flawlessly. It is great to be able to have your phone out for GPS directions in the even you get lost or just going to visit a place you have never been to before. To see the current price or would like to pick one up for yourself, you can pick up the RAM X-Grip on Amazon.com
A service manual for your motorcycle can be a life saver when problems come up. I have used my manual in almost every repair on my Honda. If you have a 1983-1985 Honda Nighthawk 650, I would use this 1983-1985 Honda CB650SC Nighthawk Service Manual. I recommend this Kindle edition of the book. It is cheaper and harder to lose than a physical book.
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