Hawk GT-vs-GS500

[Xanderj13]

My next project will be a Lucky Strike replica and I am trying to decide if I want to do a Hawk GT or go Suzuki with a GS500. My fear is I'll like one more than the other. Any one have experience comparing a Hawk GT to the GS500?

[joel]

Get a GSXR or ZX7 and make a replica







In every single way the Hawk is a better bike than the GS.


oooh or FZR600s are really cheap,lots of fun and one would look the business in this scheme

[wildwhl]

Joel is 100% not wrong.

WW/R

[Xanderj13]

When you're right you're right. The GS500 sounds like an old washing machine anyways.

[Captain 80s]

I agree with joel, a solid bones, aesthetically challenged, FZR600 would be nice choice. Get the look with the Deltabox frame and swingarm, racy dual headlight and can be found reasonably.

[Kurlon]

Stock for stock, I prefer the GS500's mill over the Hawk. Sadly, building the GS500 motor isn't viable. The chassis despite being made out of stamped steel instead of aluminum castings is actually pretty damn good, I loved the way my 500E handled at Loudon. Beat the shit out of the EX500 in that dept.

[6]

Stock for stock, I prefer the GS500's mill over the Hawk. Sadly, building the GS500 motor isn't viable. The chassis despite being made out of stamped steel instead of aluminum castings is actually pretty damn good, I loved the way my 500E handled at Loudon. Beat the shit out of the EX500 in that dept.

Idk, I've seen video of that GS being punted off track by an EX500.. and ex seemed to to better in the dirt too.

IMO, the GS, like the EX and a lot of other steel framed budget twins are creatures with no soul... But really fucking fun to beat the piss out of. Really fun.

I haven't got on a gs at the track, or a well set up one in general. But the times I have ridden them I was not impressed.

[Kurlon]

The Hawk feels like it's got an agricultural motor to me in stock form. The GS liked to be spun, made it a more entertaining machine to me to street ride. I agree, the GS didn't have innate 'character' or 'soul', but I think that's perfect for what it's meant to be as a starter bike. It was stone reliable, easy to work on, predictable and consistent. My Suzuki Savage has more character, which in some ways is a negative as a starter bike. Again, I'm talking all these machines in bone stock form. I think Hawk owners have rose colored glasses at times for their bikes as they think about various levels of modded ones and attribute those good feelings back to stockers.

As for Loudon, as I said the handling on the GS beat the EX no contest. Sadly, a handling advantage doesn't help much with a 20% power disadvantage... or in the punting incident having next to no offroad experience at the time. The current Ninja 400 puts both of those antiques to shame, and will likely trounce a stock Hawk as well. Time marches on.

[Yoshihns]

How about C. None of the above. Better bikes than a GS or hawk for that kind of build out there.

Had an 01 GS500. Don't miss it. Ever.

[joel]

The Bandit 400 is a much better Suzuki comparison to the Hawk than GS500. They sold about 1000 times more GSs though.

A Ninja 400 had better be at least as good as a stock Hawk. Is it better than a Hawk that could be built/bought for the same money? I don’t think so. Would I tell a new rider to buy a modified Hawk over one though? Nope.

[6]

The Hawk feels like it's got an agricultural motor to me in stock form. The GS liked to be spun, made it a more entertaining machine to me to street ride. I agree, the GS didn't have innate 'character' or 'soul', but I think that's perfect for what it's meant to be as a starter bike. It was stone reliable, easy to work on, predictable and consistent. My Suzuki Savage has more character, which in some ways is a negative as a starter bike. Again, I'm talking all these machines in bone stock form. I think Hawk owners have rose colored glasses at times for their bikes as they think about various levels of modded ones and attribute those good feelings back to stockers.

As for Loudon, as I said the handling on the GS beat the EX no contest. Sadly, a handling advantage doesn't help much with a 20% power disadvantage... or in the punting incident having next to no offroad experience at the time. The current Ninja 400 puts both of those antiques to shame, and will likely trounce a stock Hawk as well. Time marches on.

I agree with everything you just said.

[Kurlon]

The Bandit 400 is a much better Suzuki comparison to the Hawk than GS500. They sold about 1000 times more GSs though.

I never got to ride a 400 Bandit, but I did get seat time on a 600 and 1200. The 1200 would motivate, the 600... didn't have any character to me either. Serviceable but... unremarkable.

[RealDeal650]

Before I bought the New 89' Hawk and the 2019 GSXS 1000S ( which I'm loving a lot ), I rode my 90' Hawk for fun ( 80,000 miles ) and a 2006 GS500 for transportation ( converted back to naked).
The GS is blah, corners for shit, roller cam chain is noisy as hell, accelerates...if you wanna call it acceleration like poo. No comparison, the Hawk while not putting out high HP makes torque early and maintains peak Torque to redline. corners like a dream once you update the Suspension. Hawk all the way OP.

[squirrelman]

I agree with everything you just said.

das right, bro

[Kurlon]

Springs plus emulators in the GS forks, shock in the back and the GS will handle just fine compared to a Hawk with updated suspension. Sheesh, at least keep the comparisons fair. New data point, SuperSport legal Ninja 400s, aka clipons/rearsets/modded OEM forks and a shock have hit 17s at Loudon this year.