Hello everyone,
I've been trolling around as a guest for about a week now and decided to join because there is a plethera of good information here.

Here's my situation...
I've got the oppurtunity to buy a uperhawk with a few extra cosmetic goodies from a friend of mine that will be moving away to Texas. The catch? It's in a billion pieces and I'd have to put it back together, and finish fixing the body parts. It's coming with a set of Mario Nava's first gen upper and lower fairings and the forks have been completely rebuilt according to the seller. I won't own the bike for about another 4 months or so, but I thought I'd start gathering info now so that I could hit the ground uuum well, not running but at least knowledgable.

The only other thing I'd like to do so far is probably go with a SSS, and a custom head light.

I kinda figured if there was anyhting else as for mods, now would be the time to find out and do them.

So, if you got any info or advice, Feel free to post. In the mean time I'll be around reading eeveryone elses threads and the other info here.

Cheers

P.S. this will be my first bike, and my first time working on one.

 

You leave out a couple details that may be important. How good are you around a shop? Got all the tools? What are the million pieces. Is the engine disassembled or just the body parts and the engine out of the frame? Sounds like a tall project to me but one that could have great results.

 

Well I'm pretty good I guess. I've turned a bolt or two on cars and trucks and have done a little bit of fabrication. But as for this project, it's something I've always wanted, and wanted to do so I'm excited about it.

The engine I believe is still in one piece except the carbs have been removed so that the old gas would not sieze them up.

The last time that I saw it the frame was completely bare... I saw fairings wheels and parts all tucked away in the corner of his garage. I think he installed an aftermarket clutch as well.

The one thing I'm not looking forward to is putting things back together in the wrong order and having to take it apart again to do it right, wire and cable routing and which bolts go where. hopefully there wont be any missing hardware. If I take it apart I can put it back together, but since I wasn't arround for the disassembly... makes things a bit more interesting.

 

Oh and I'm pretty sure that I don't have all the tools if they are specialty type specific tools. But I usually work on volkswagens and have a lot of odd metric stuff.

 

Your shop is going to be important too. At times the bike is best suspended from overhead. Lighting is essential. Other than that it sounds to me like you're the right guy for the job. The online microfiches are a huge help. Also a manual avail for download here at the forum. Assume parts missing. Fastenal might have a "collection" of metric stuff prepackaged. I gotta ask, what are you paying for this?

 

Take & post some pics. To me this sounds like buying a big headace/ liability. The trick is that usually stuff is missing in these box jobs & you wont know what w/o a complete bike to look at. Good luck.

 

My shop, I'm actually in the middle of building a 16x20 box. I'll be using it for painting and projects such as this. He has a stand that he is going to throw in with the deal but I'll probably suspend it for extra support.

As for the price... Right now I have 2 options. He sold me a "71 chevy C10 that I've thrown about $3500 dollars into just to get it mechanically sound, I traded him my bug for it and $2000 about 2 years ago. Well... Now that it's running he's been drooling and desires to have it back. So I can either trade hime the truck and some cash back to me, or I can pay him $800 for the bike outright.

As for it being a headache, kind of depends on how you look at it I guess. It'd be therapeutic for me. Especially having a shop to work in. My previous projects were out in the weather, heat, cold, rain, sleet and snow. With it indoors I can actually take my time. I don't have any pics, and even if I wanted some right now I couldn't get any cause the parts are behind his other project that needs to be finished. But I saw everything previous of him moving from the city that I live in.

 

This is EXACTLY what I was thinking. But, that's why I'm here studying photos, and other bikes. It seems pretty simple as for putting it back together. I just need torque specs, advice, and a LOT of exploded diagrams. The hard part is getting it to run. It was running before it was taken apart though and none of it has sat outside ever. So technically speaking if everthing is reconnected the way it's suppose to be it "should" start...

 

I think $800 is way over the top. I wouldn't offer a dime over $500. It's really a lot of unknown stuff so I would be prepared for the worst.

 

+1

Especially since you had to put so much into that C10 to get her going... sounds like he owes you. He might say something about selling the parts for more than that, but if he was really willing to do that, he probably would've already done it. For the right price, you've got an interesting project.

 

He offered to sell it for $500 with out the body work and $800 with the body work. I do wan the body work and he's letting me make payments, If I had cash in hand then I would have made him an offer of about 650-700...

I think about it like this as well. Judging from other threads here, once it's all together and running the value jumps to maybe $3-4000.

When I bought the truck it was in WAAAAAY worst condition. but he was able to find and give me everything for it. I think it would be in my best interest to get it before he moves at the end of the year though.

 

This is what is known as a basket case. Everything may be there but you have to assemble it. If you do purchase it be prepared to spend a LOT of time and efffort putting it back together.


The more important queston: Why was the bike disassembled in the first place?

 

If he's letting you make payments you are kind of flexible in your purchase price. BUT how many payments? 3-4 months or a year? If it's 3-4 months that should be as good as cash. You've worked for everything you got - don't get worked-over.

This bodywork when new, with ALL the hardware back in its day was prob an $800 investment. I grant you the new bodywork from Nava is much more expensive now but guess what? Mario sees very little of it because the lion's share goes to currency exchange rates and shipping. He's prob operating on less profit now than 5 years ago.

And let's face it. The Superhawk is the proud bull that will fade from the landscape - not without a fight - but it will perish. The bodywork for Nava is almost a one off now. Oh boy, if only he could stock pile orders for three years he might be able to cast 40 units. It's not worth it and he's a talented guy. He will move on as well.

The bodywork is a gimme. When I wrecked my Superhawk in 07 I bought all new factory plastics for the front and it only cost $426 including shipping. Then I turned around and sold the one good side to a member here for a hundred bucks. Wade in on this one - don't dive in.

If you drive a hard bargain with this guy, if he's like me, he will respect you for the thought you have put into the project thus far more than the money. Tell him after you get it all back together - like the truck - he can come over and ride it.

I don't mean to lecture so don't take it that way at all. I was nineteen once too. At that point in my life I had been up on two for 5 years, I was a licensed pilot, I had a Cutlass and a Harley. I had accomplished nearly every stupid move in the shop in all of the above except the aircraft. I forgot about the boat. ****!

Look at the big picture. You got time for a two year project? What about that sweety at the end of the road. She don't wanna hear ride soon or next spring. She wanna ride now. Be safe.

 

My first bike in a box project was a dirt bike. You might want to start small, and work your way up, .... virgin. I revived a wrecked hawk this spring and it was more that I initially thought and I have done 3 bike in box / not rolling rebuilds. Good luck. Don't pay too much for those parts.

 

Thanks everyone for all of the replies and good information. Here's a bit of info I neglected to add.
I've asked him over a course of about 3 years to sell me the bike and he finally gave in. Otherwise he would be hauling it to Texas with him. His wife and 2 kids, and 3 other projects probably weigh in on the desiscion as well.

The bike was torn down to rebuild the forks, install a new clutch, and to check the swing arm to see if it was out of balance.

I'm not 19, but I still appreciate the info and input all the same.
When I first saw the project I just wanted it because it was a motorcycle. Now I want it because I realize that once it's done I will have a semi rare bike that I will know inside out.

I'm pretty thorough when it comes to builds. The first engine I built fired up first try and it had all sorts of add on goodies. I'm not doubting anyones words here. So far what I gather is that I need to offer him less than the asking price, and do a lot more research.

Oh yeah, and convince my buddy that he needs to buy epleeds bike. (then I can use it for reference.) and have a riding partner

I've already fell in love with the idea so not getting it at this point is not an option...

 

I've done this with a 1967 Mustang, and I'm here to tell you it's not as hard as some would make it out to be. My wife still says that it came home in 40 boxes. I think it was more like 60 boxes. But they're right when they say that pieces will be missing. With something like the Superhawk though, finding the replacement pieces is cake. I know exactly what you mean about the project being therapeutic and I think many others here will share that feeling also. Take your time, use a manual, and look at pictures here on the forum and you'll have a great time. There's a lot of knowledge and great people here to help. Enjoy!!

 

onward through the fog!