Crazy!
2 days before I took of for Chicago to pick up my first ever hawk, I open my monthly AMA magazine to to see what is going on within one of my favorite groups. As I page on into the rag, I notice on Page 22 a sidebar titled "Cult Bike", featuring a red Honda Hawk GT, the exact same bike I am heading out to pick up!
I was absolutely stoked!
The History:
Honda's 647cc Hawk GT was available in the U.S. only from 1988 to 1991. The hawk had a unique mix of cutting-edge tech (a single-sided rear swing-arm, and a dual-spar aluminum frame), and obvious simplicity (a mildly tuned V-twin engine derived from previous Honda motors). The juxtaposition initially left potential customers scratching their heads.
Why it's Cult:
Hawks were (and still are) prized for their chassis' predictable handling, the motor's easy tunability and its general beginner-friendleness. For years, it was also a competitive beginner race-bike in club classes, with plenty of hop-up engine parts and even full bodywork kits available
How It Sold:
The Hawk cost $3,598 when it appeared in '88, only $500 less than the ultra-trick 600 Hurricane. That made it slow to move off dealer floors, until it discounted prices on holdover models dipped below $3,000.
What They Cost Now:
Prices of good hawks have held remarkably steady for more than two decades. A low-mile all-original machine today can still bring $3,000, though finding one is tough. A prepped race-bike is closer to half that.
2 days before I took of for Chicago to pick up my first ever hawk, I open my monthly AMA magazine to to see what is going on within one of my favorite groups. As I page on into the rag, I notice on Page 22 a sidebar titled "Cult Bike", featuring a red Honda Hawk GT, the exact same bike I am heading out to pick up!
I was absolutely stoked!
The History:
Honda's 647cc Hawk GT was available in the U.S. only from 1988 to 1991. The hawk had a unique mix of cutting-edge tech (a single-sided rear swing-arm, and a dual-spar aluminum frame), and obvious simplicity (a mildly tuned V-twin engine derived from previous Honda motors). The juxtaposition initially left potential customers scratching their heads.
Why it's Cult:
Hawks were (and still are) prized for their chassis' predictable handling, the motor's easy tunability and its general beginner-friendleness. For years, it was also a competitive beginner race-bike in club classes, with plenty of hop-up engine parts and even full bodywork kits available
How It Sold:
The Hawk cost $3,598 when it appeared in '88, only $500 less than the ultra-trick 600 Hurricane. That made it slow to move off dealer floors, until it discounted prices on holdover models dipped below $3,000.
What They Cost Now:
Prices of good hawks have held remarkably steady for more than two decades. A low-mile all-original machine today can still bring $3,000, though finding one is tough. A prepped race-bike is closer to half that.
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