Hmm pondering selling the hawk..

[Soul]

I went for a ride with my buddy the other day and took a spin on his 1000 cc fuel injected goodness..
Ever since I have been thinking about trading or selling the hawk to get a faster, better braking, better suspensioned bike..
So, i am thinking about finishing up the project, makin the hawk nice and putting it up for sale. Damn. Any of you get in this funk? What did you do?

[Makenzie71]

Re: Hmm pondering selling the hawk..

Any of you get in this funk? What did you do?

Always in it...even with my 1000cc fuel injected goodness. Everytime I think of offing the TL to get something else, I'm reminded of the fact that I can invest half the money I'd be out otherwise into my current ride and have something far superior.

A new SV1000S, for example. I want one...but they have pissier brakes and forks than my TL, but the rear suspension is better...oh and they're new. My bike runs fine, though, so I took the money into comparison...I'd be out $5000 to get a new SVS (after cash I'd get for my TL), then I'd have to spend at least $1200 to get her to the condition I want her in (brakes, forks, etc). My solution was spending $1000 on my TL and setting an SSSA, a better torque-bar linked suspension in the rear, TLR forks, 6-pot calipers and a full engine service. Happy customer.

[a13x]

A Hawk can brake and handle as well as, or better, than any modern bike out there without much trouble.

Faster, well that's a trick.

[dragonmojo]

And Why?

I've been there, but not for want of another bike (I have 3 others right now). Now that I got my Hawk back from the shop, taking care of fuel delivery problems due to not riding it enough, I find that it still has more potential than I am currently able to squeeze from it.

Sure, I may be faster in places with my BMW Rockster, but the Hawk is a reminder that it's the bike and not me. I want to someday be able to say that it's MY SKILLS that make me go faster (esp in the curves, as you have plenty of in Idaho... I've been near there from Boise to Missoula, MT). Yes, the Hawk reminds me that I still have a ways to go.

So, my goal one day is to be able to one-up those on their 1000cc machines on an underpowered Hawk because I have the skills to do so. And, when you do decide to add to or replace your Hawk, you will have the skills to extract more from the larger beast.

Hope this helps,
Alan

[Soul]

Dragon, welcome to the forums!
Yes, there are twisties up here, its the straights that are mainly not fun on the hawk, i admit...the twisties rock. I keep up with my riding buddies fine in the twisties for the most part, and I love my hawk to death. I have tons of riding improvements before I even consider myself a good rider, but some of my friends seem to have the best of both worlds, blasting fast straights and nice handling in the corners. Maybe Im just jealous and I will get over it???

[dragonmojo]

Time Will Tell

I think there's a real-world (i.e. non-racetrack) limitation on how fast you can accelerate through the twisties, which any bike should be able to attain. Unless your buddies are absolutely top-notch experienced, your skill improvement (practice without their knowledge) may surprise the hell out of 'em next time you're in the hills.

My Hawk reminds me that I still have plenty of room for improvement.

I used to own an Alfa Romeo Spider, which I drove fairly well. When I was able to pass Corvettes, Z-cars, Camaros, Mustangs (et al) on those contant-radius freeway onramps, I'd get a big grin, knowing that the little Alfa was not the superior machine. I just knew when to brake, shift and resume acceleration, gently applying heel-and-toe and getting into a slight 4-wheel drift.

Hope to hear about your grins in the near future!

Smiles,
Alan

[Makenzie71]

Dragon, welcome to the forums!
Maybe Im just jealous and I will get over it???

Thing is that if you put the effort into returning your hawk to stock and making her a bit prettier you could get enough from her to buy a Gen 1 SV650 or TLS...maybe a TLR. If you dumped another $2k on top of what you can dig out the Hawk you could get an EFI SV650, SV1000 or a rather nice TL1000R.

I think 10 minutes on a modern twin and you'll be screwed. I'd strongly suggest, though, that if you have "new bike itch" that you keep your Hawk and get something else...so you have your "rider" and your "tinkerer".

[Soul]

Dragon, welcome to the forums!
Maybe Im just jealous and I will get over it???

Thing is that if you put the effort into returning your hawk to stock and making her a bit prettier you could get enough from her to buy a Gen 1 SV650 or TLS...maybe a TLR. If you dumped another $2k on top of what you can dig out the Hawk you could get an EFI SV650, SV1000 or a rather nice TL1000R.

I think 10 minutes on a modern twin and you'll be screwed. I'd strongly suggest, though, that if you have "new bike itch" that you keep your Hawk and get something else...so you have your "rider" and your "tinkerer".

My bike is starting to look nice..and i went for a ride this morning after putting some new springs in front and the bike definately felt a lot better.
I will keep working on the bike up until the day I sell it, if I decide to..
I have actually been looking at rc51's and trying to find a wrecked one that has heavy cosmetic damage but hopefully still a good engine and frame, but I dont know. Im sure I will still have my hawk for awhile yet..
I wish i could keep my hawk forever though, but if i get another bike I dont think I could afford one without selling the hawk first.
Anyway, I will keep you guys posted and maybe by the time im done with my bike it will be so sexy I wont be able to sell it..

[dragonmojo]

I think 10 minutes on a modern twin and you'll be screwed. I'd strongly suggest, though, that if you have "new bike itch" that you keep your Hawk and get something else...so you have your "rider" and your "tinkerer".

That's why I still have my Hawk... to tinker with and get the weight down and handling up so that I can use it to practice and improve my skills. I don't believe bigger and faster bikes can teach me as much. Too many people are hung up on bragging rights and what their money is able to afford them; I'd like to see what my abilities can accomplish.

The cost of multiple bike ownership doesn't add too much to a budget; the Hawk is viewed by insurance companies as older, smaller and slower, hence good rates. Registration on my 18-yr old machine is low. Gas mileage is great (esp with prices near $3/gallon).

[dragonmojo]

I have actually been looking at rc51's and trying to find a wrecked one that has heavy cosmetic damage but hopefully still a good engine and frame, but I dont know. Im sure I will still have my hawk for awhile yet.

Hehe, instead of money on a wrecked RC51, maybe spend it on good track instruction and track time. Then when you are ready, find the twistiest road and challenge your buddies for pinkslips (but, you MAY also end up losing your ride).

Really, I do not advocate street racing. I just think too much emphasis is made on the machine and not the man.

[Makenzie71]

Never forget the machine. Timing and basics are all the rider compensate for, regardless of what anyone tells you (be it timing and basics can make have a tremendous effect). That's why a rider would turn considerably faster times on an SV650 than a Hawk GT. Just the way it works. Modern bikes are far more than pretty colors and undertail exhausts.

[dragonmojo]

Never forget the machine. Timing and basics are all the rider compensate for, regardless of what anyone tells you (be it timing and basics can make have a tremendous effect). That's why a rider would turn considerably faster times on an SV650 than a Hawk GT. Just the way it works. Modern bikes are far more than pretty colors and undertail exhausts.

True, and I will go as far as saying that most motorcyclists are probably better motorcycle riders than automobile drivers are at driving their autos. Yet there are still riders who are in over their heads on the bikes they ride (when I pass the SV650 guys up in the Sierras, I am sure that those Suzukis are not slow bikes). Given similar skill levels between two riders, the machine will definitely make a difference; that's technological progress. Street bikes these days have what were once only found on racebikes 10 years ago.

What's interesting is why we are here (at this forum, as Hawk owners). I think we have them because we are the type of riders who will strive to improve our skills to extract the Hawk's capabilities. But then again, the same can be said of the SV650 (and owners), which was once also hailed as the true successor to the Hawk.

I'm glad to see that there is still a community of Hawk owners out there, worried that this bike has disappeared into oblivion! I hope the Hawk GT Forum continues to flourish.

[icycle]

All this talk of selling a Hawk is Heresy!! While yes it is true that many bikes out there are better than the Hawk in their own ways, would anyone really want to part with their Hawk? Look at the money that you'd spend on a new bike, then look at how that can be invested in the Hawk. If the itch is still there then it might be worthwild keeping the Hawk (your not going to get that much for it by selling it) and keeping it around if anything for the looks you can get parking it somewhere and having everyone ooohing and ahhing at a 17y/o bike in great shape that they may have never seen. In 13 years of riding, many with the Hawk (although it was not "officially" mine for a while) I have seen one other Hawk and that was probably 8 years ago. I too have had the itch as my buddy flew past me on a Ducati 749, but I know I could still never let my baby go. I also know he still ogles at the Hawk. Besides, I can always get something new and keep the Hawk for the wife, then daughters, then grandkids....

[abenormal]

Of all the bikes out there, the one I've heard the most people say, "The one I wish I never sold..." was a Hawk GT.

That's why I _finally_ bought one. And they're right, it's a really fun bike to ride. I might be the wrong person to comment, though... I had a 1989 CB-1 for about 10 years. The newest bike I've owned is a 1990 VTR250. I currently own two first-gen VFRs, 1986 and 1987, the VTR250, and an '88 Hawk. So I really need to sample some modern hardware to know whereof I speak.

[Soul]

Well, I think I found my solution..I found a wrecked 900RR that I might work on rebuilding part of the summer while i ride the hawk, After i have it rebuilt I will see how i feel I guess...maybe keep them both or sell the 900 to make some money, something..we will see..
I Love this thread btw..the loyalty to the bike is one of the reasons why I do want to keep it forever!