The air cooled 250 you are considering vs the 750: differences involve more than air vs liquid cooled. The 250 is not the usual 25 hp like way back when it was first introduced. It is probably around 15 or so, because I had a 160 that went faster (all day) than any 250 I've driven. Nighthawk, that is. Yes, the 250 will go 50 or 60 all day, and do it for a lot of miles with no hassles. But if it is long distances you are going, I would recommend the 750 Shadow instead, as it has power to spare (develops about 45hp) in threatening or hazardous situations on the road, gets about the same mileage, and will be still going longer than the 250. It is quieter as an engine - just the nature of liquid cooled. Liquid cooled have more strength, and that's the nature of liquid cooled engines in general also. Exceptions? Porsche, VW, and Honda's bikes. You can add aux headlights to the front, on each side of the main headlight, next to the signals, and people actually show more respect and don't try to pull out in front of you on short notice, like they will with the 250. That and crash bars make it - let me say assertive for lack of a better word - and assertiveness is a safety feature on a motorcycle, because cage drivers demonstrate respect to it by their actions. ' The 750 Nighthawk is a great bike, but a little top heavy, with its inline 4, compared to the Shadow. I have one with 44,000 miles on it and it is strong, reliable, and seems to handle better, although not as nimble, of course, as a light 250. Two up, it gets around 55 mpg. Just me and it's around 63 or 64. That's in town and not WOT a lot, although I do like the feel of that power from time to time, along with the healthy rumble of the exhaust when I get on it.
Cruising, it's quiet, relatively. I have a windshield, so I am aware of the exhaust, but it doesn't get noisy unless I get on it. That's a good thing, in traffic. Better than the whine of a 250, unless you take the baffles out... Anyway, this is my opinion, after riding Honda's step-thru 50, a 90, a 125, a 160, a 350 (CL - a nimble and fun machine), a 550 Four, a 250 Nighthawk, a 250 Rebel, and the latest - a 750 Shadow. My furtther opinion is it's worth the extra $1,000 ( Shadow), only if you're going to be driving long distances over the road. ________________________________ From: Ed <[email protected]> To: Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers! <[email protected]> Sent: Sat, June 25, 2011 9:54:08 AM Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Air Cooled vs Water Cooled Hello, I am on the fence on purchasing my first bike: Nighthawk 250 or Shadow 750. There is about $1000 difference in cost between the two. Any notable points of view on the either of the two? What are the pro/cons for an air cooled vs water cooled engine? Can the Nighthawk maintain constant 50-60 mph without any trouble day after day. What are some of the major maintenance concerns for the Nighthawk 250? Thank you -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en.
