So, I happen to be a poor college student, rode a friend's sport ster and then his brothers CBR and really didn't fit into either category, finally set my sights on an 84 Honda Nighthawk 700s... I got a lot of S**t from friends for wanting a bike older than I am (23) anyways; surfing craigslist in class as usual, cam across this beauty, and decided this was it! Had to be mine! Got a road to the twin cities and drove away with my practically brand new gs! Loving every mile on the 90-mile ride home. Granted I froze to death!!! But nothing was going to stop me from enjoying that... anyways I digress, she's a 97e all stock, with a mere 4,000 miles on her, for the tune of 1,600 bucks!!! I was in the process of researching mods that I could do and different ideas from other users when the fuel that sat in it finally caught up to me... needless to say brought it right into the shop, another 90 dollars and I felt like a king on the mountain again. (This was all before I found this amazing website) So about 1700 into the bike so far and I'm still a happy camper, I'm now looking to really make this bike mine, though on a low budget kind of way... I read about the indicator led mod through superbrightleds.com and bought those within hours of reading/researching, cant wait to see em. But I'm looking for other ways or creative CHEAP ideas that anyone might have tried out that came out way better than expected. On a second note, I had a friend of mine, rode my bike; four days later bought a 94 gse! In the same boat as I am in terms of mods. I am hoping to do an aftermarket pipe sometime this summer, not sure which one though... I'm open to suggestions. Anyways, here she is! (Hopefully I got the picture thing right)





Afterbooster

Looks great man!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE that blue color.  Glad your happy with the bike so far.  Check out the wiki for some of the more popular mods.  I'd recommend a "fenderectomy" right away!  Welcome to the board, feel free to ask any questions you might have just make sure you attempt a search first lol

Thanks,

NIck

Wow she hardly looks broken in.    Nice snag.

Put 3000 miles on it. Then get to the modifications - you'll have a MUCH better idea of what you want...

Welcome to the site! You made a great choice 

Quote from: utgunslinger13 on May 21, 2009, 07:31:11 PM
Looks great man!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE that blue color.  Glad your happy with the bike so far.  Check out the wiki for some of the more popular mods.  I'd recommend a "fenderectomy" right away!  Welcome to the board, feel free to ask any questions you might have just make sure you attempt a search first lol

Thanks,

NIck

Yea, flipping through the forum board, there's tons of information, though to get to the stuff I want its like sifting through sand trying to find a pebble... It's there somewhere, there's just a lot of sand... the fenderectomy is on the list of to doos this weekend... I'm really going to try to document all the "mods" as big or small they may be, my buddy is plannin on his also this weekend. along with that, we are probably taking off the front reflectors (and refletorectomy), My friend with the sportster told me that harley sells fork reflectors that look really slick for like six bucks, so I'm thinkin I might give those a shot... Heres the link he gave me http://www.moccsplace.com/images/reflectors/reflectors.htm  I think, they'll work really good

I like those I believe they'd do quite well on my "f" model! I did the gsxr pegs from Ebay and they turned out nice for me but yeah the Wiki is a great place to get ideas.

Nice bike and thanks for the tips!

Mary

Quote from: Toogoofy317 on May 21, 2009, 08:46:29 PM
I like those I believe they'd do quite well on my "f" model! I did the gsxr pegs from Ebay and they turned out nice for me but yeah the Wiki is a great place to get ideas.

Nice bike and thanks for the tips!

Mary

I've read about a couple different issues with pegs not aligning correctly, the gsxrs are just "plug and play" so to speak? like no drilling or crazy configs?

great choice!! welcome to the family 

PS that blue color is great!!

Check the wiki on the pegs, I believe they bolt on but need some grinding for a direct fit.  Also IIRC you need some modification for them to fold up and stay up.

besides the fenderectomy, you can lower the profile on the bike with new handlebars ($20) and bar end mirrors ($30) as well as replace the stock turn signals with something smaller/brighter ($30).

good find on the bike.  it seems you got a good deal. Welcome to GSTwins.

Quote from: tripleb on May 22, 2009, 07:11:46 AM
besides the fenderectomy, you can lower the profile on the bike with new handlebars ($20) and bar end mirrors ($30) as well as replace the stock turn signals with something smaller/brighter ($30).

good find on the bike.  it seems you got a good deal. Welcome to GSTwins.

I've been poking around and read that the older bikes (89s) had clip on handle bars, I've read about how different people and mounted them, but any suggestions on a certain type... or a different bar style handle bar, turn signals are definatly on the list probably within the monthish, there's nothing around where I live/work for about two hours, so everything I do has to go through online sources. Then I sit by the mail box, and wait for it! not quite that bad, but ya get the idea.

clip-ons aren't cheap (around $100).  the cheaper and easier route is to buy either clubmans, superbike or some other low bar from bikemaster for around $20. http://www.bikebandit.com/bikemaster-handlebars/c/a685889a623818  Install is pretty easy and shouldn't take more than 30 minutes.

Save yourself the headache, if you like the look of clip-ons and the sportier riding position then spend the bucks and get a set of clip-ons.  The installation is VERY easy and you won't be happy with those replacement bars if you really want the clip-ons.

My first GS was an 89, now I own a 90 and my first part sourced was a set of clip-ons.  Wouldn't ride this bike any other way lol  But that is just my oppinion, some here say its to "sporty" and hurts their backs.  Thats just because half the board is over the hill.....lol JUST JOKING.

Nick

That's a good looking bike! I'd get that ugly dude off it though. Also, putting the side stand down while on the center stand seems kinda redundant...you might forget its down while taking the bike off the center stand and end up dropping it by accident.

I talked myself out of a couple of Nighthawk 750's on Craigslist before buying my bike. Glad I did.

DOD#i is right...I wouldn't sink a ton of money into this thing until you ride it awhile first.

Quote from: DoD#i on May 21, 2009, 07:36:18 PM
Put 3000 miles on it. Then get to the modifications - you'll have a MUCH better idea of what you want...

I agree. When I started riding, I wanted something different than I want now. Get to know the bike for a while, then decide what you don't like about it.

Very good looking bike though. I wish the paint on my bike looked that good...

Wow no way!  I just got the same year/model/color stock just three weeks ago with 6,000 miles for $1500!  Hahah wow, that's ridiculous.  I'll be keeping an eye on this topic now.  I've been itching for some mods as well!

it's not too often you get a matching bike w/ a matching scooter.   

unfortunately, mine came without the scooter. 

congrats, love my 97 too