Jan/Feb 2023 MTOTM = Best Mod

[riot]

Happy 2023 everyone! I was having a little trouble waffling between winter project bikes (restorations etc.) and 6's long suggested best mod, but I had to choose, so here we go:

Best single modification or custom part for the Hawk:
Criteria...

+ Points for originality
+ Points for functionality that improves performance (of some aspect)
+ Points for the effort and cleverness of execution
+ Points for wide adoption or applicabilty
+ Points if you can now get your hot Tim Horton's home on your bike with 2 hands on the controls

- Points if you used a hacksaw.
- Points for cafe racer bump stop seats
- Points for painting your hawk to look like a John Deere Tractor.

Nominations close Valentines Day with voting to follow.

Note March/April will be Winter Project bikes, so start documenting those builds now.

[riot]

Also, please don't post a whole mod build thread here. Just describe the mod, with a picture or two, and then link to a thread with all the details.

[Captain 80s]

While I don't think this is a winning entry by any means, I'll get this started.

Relocation plates for the stock headlight with cowl.

20210121_153621.jpg
PXL_20230107_174541966.jpg

Originality: Not saying it hasn't been done, but I hadn't seen it before doing it. Plenty of custom headlights and brackets out there, but I wanted to move and use all of the the stock hardware.

Functionality: Allowed fitment of a cowl in just the right spot. Provides a lot more room for cables and wires on bikes with lower bars. The routing is so nice and doesn't bind (even with a blasphemous return cable). Everything doesn't have to be in the headlight now either.

Effort / Cleverness: Fairly low effort I suppose, but I did spend a lot of time getting the shape and position I wanted right and blending in radiuses. Cleverness? I don't know. A bit. I got me everything I wanted: room, position and looks.

Adoption / Applicability: High. Easily adopted and very applicable. Even on bikes without cowls. I think most bikes look better with the headlight lower. Look at a 1980 Hawk for an extreme example. The headlight looks downright goofy to me way up there.

Hot Tim Hortons: This mod does not interfere with my tank bag at all. Check.


PXL_20220905_220041133.MP.jpg

No hacksaws, cafe bump seats, or green/yellow paint used.

https://www.hawkgtforum.com/forum/ho...-semi-restomod

[6]

My entry. ..

By far the most useful and versatile modification you'll ever see. Unrivaled in the world of builds. And one that though well used, I personally am an unrivalled expert in it's use.

I give you..
IMG_20230108_131040.jpg

[squirrelman]

aug 1 2020 013.jpg i posted this years ago and will again.

THE SQUIRREL MOD

i don't carry passengers and wanted to see what became of the footpeg bracket if someone wasted a few hours grinding, filing, sandpapering and polishing. anyone could do this in 5 minutes with a mill.

very pleased with the results but it did take hours.


gallery_3647_3505_25403.jpg aug 1 2020 005.jpg

[riot]

I have so many to list:

• The Masanski original Duc Wheel Mod
• The Masanski original brembo brake kit (also improved by WildWhl)
• BTT's cush delete

Those are top contenders in my mind. Without getting into stuff that Hord used to do, or billet cranks etc...

I have 2 in the works, but I am not sure they'll be done in time (one for sure not).

It turns out we actually did this once in 2014 and here were the modfications nominated:
https://www.hawkgtforum.com/forum/ho...ive-mods/page3

Gotta love all the broken photobucket links. Ahh the old days!

[ricksax]

This clock is one of those little mods that I find very useful. It is a "Chopper Clock" from ebay. I modified the mount with a bolt and a plastic furniture plug. I just stick it into the steering stem in place of the stock plastic plug. So far it has kept good time, just change the battery every six months.

Hawk GT650 Bars CU.jpg

[Captain 80s]

This clock is one of those little mods that I find very useful. It is a "Chopper Clock" from ebay. I modified the mount with a bolt and a plastic furniture plug. I just stick it into the steering stem in place of the stock plastic plug. So far it has kept good time, just change the battery every six months.

Hawk GT650 Bars CU.jpg

And.... "mod" stolen. That's a cool idea, thanks for posting. Won't look right on every bike I have, but a few.

[6]

Brent's Coffee holder (as referenced already).

If we are getting right down to it. the GOAT of hawk mods.. Whom ever bolted on a good, long properly setup shock. They win.


Ill nominate nt650hawk for his roller. Im not sure he did it first, but he set the standard. or one i love that obsoletes the roller, Thors Hammer for removal of the entire lower fram section mod.


Also wildwhl subframe. a modern day GAME CHANGER.. .

[DrPMC]

Putting to one side all the obvious things like air filters, exhausts and a better shock, the mods that I’ve found most useful are those that have made it easier to remove the tank, handlebar fairing, seat and belly pan. I can take those four items off or on in just a minute and without tools.

The tank is secured by a single pin at the back, the front locating snuggly without any fasteners. With a QD fuel coupling this works great. The other three bodywork items all use Dzus type fasteners and a single electrical connector each for the seat and fairing.

F9888313-4441-4DEF-9B65-0279C6963377.jpg DBF3D95D-08DD-4AEA-AA42-00E238254F5D.jpg

[Shthawk]

Maybe not the most original idea, and I can't even take credit for the design (Thanks Jason!) 3d printed cowl savers. 20230108_130259.jpg 20230108_130234.jpg
P.S. The shock reservoir will find a better mount soon.

[ParcNHawk]

Integrate that into the one saver.

[Shthawk]

Definitely a possibility. It was just easy to mirror them when they were printed. I'm going to change the fitting on the shock and make a new line for it, so I'll have options as to where the reservoir will go.

[jspeed53]

Okay ... this was a simple mod to the stock chain cover/guard. No hacksaw used here. Benefit: reduced weight and air resistance especially in cross-winds!

Best of all ... didn't cost a cent to make!

[frinesi2]

I would like to submit:

Raising the forks 10mm and flipping the eccentric to the bottom.