saving weight

[HypnoToad]

What useless item that can be removed from the bike to save weight.
I don't want to bring it down to race weight but would like to remove some extra pounds.

[jaysun0ne]

the hawk is an older naked bike so it doesnt have much that can be taken off.

the only thing you can do is replace stuff with lighter stuff

ally subframe loss the under tail
different cush drive
modfied or custom rear brake disc and smaller rear caliper from an r6
smaller battery
mag or cf wheels
modern front end will save you a pound or two but offers much better feel
pod filters will be less than a stock air box
ally bars vs. the stocks or f2 must be lighter
ally rear sprocket vs steel

thats just a few things i would like to do or have done for weight reduction
theres still the motor. i remeber twobrothers used to make titanium valves and cams but im not sure where or if you can still get that stuff.

theres not much to the bike so its hard to make it lighter

[Doc]

Take off the centerstand, chain guard and front sprocket cover... Change the stock exhaust, get aftermarket rearsets...


What is this R6 rear caliper you speak of? Direct Bolt on?

[jaysun0ne]

not sure but i know the rc51 guys go for that mod because its almost half the weight of the stock 51 rear caliper might be something worth looking into.

[jaysun0ne]

see im not even sure what bike they take from. i think it might be a zx6 not r6

[tkm433]

Re: saving weight

What useless item that can be removed from the bike to save weight.
I don't want to bring it down to race weight but would like to remove some extra pounds.

I always ask this question: Lets say you remove 10 to 20 pounds of so called useless weight from your bike is it going to really make a big difference?

Does your bike really go that much faster on an empty tank of gas than when it is full?

A gallon of gasoline is close to 7lbs if I recall and usually when I fill up the Hawk it takes about 2 gallons or close to 14lbs of weight is added on a fill up. Does the bike really feel any differnt? Not really. Is it quicker traffic light to traffic light? Again not that I can really tell but I would guess it might be 0.002 seconds or so quicker from 0-60mph and if I did a lap on some race course it would be just a wee quicker per lap if it was lets say 20lbs less.

As for a diet: rear passenger pegs, center stand, part of the rear fender, reflectors on forks, chain guard is all that I can think you can take off that you could live without. Not really that much in saved weight.

Now you could begin trading out items with ones that do not weight as much but that begins to cost money and again not a big savings.

Install a quality set of tires, work on the suspension and brakes and live with the bike for what it is.

[MrDude_1]

Re: saving weight

What useless item that can be removed from the bike to save weight.
I don't want to bring it down to race weight but would like to remove some extra pounds.

I always ask this question: Lets say you remove 10 to 20 pounds of so called useless weight from your bike is it going to really make a big difference?

Does your bike really go that much faster on an empty tank of gas than when it is full?

A gallon of gasoline is close to 7lbs if I recall and usually when I fill up the Hawk it takes about 2 gallons or close to 14lbs of weight is added on a fill up. Does the bike really feel any differnt? Not really. Is it quicker traffic light to traffic light? Again not that I can really tell but I would guess it might be 0.002 seconds or so quicker from 0-60mph and if I did a lap on some race course it would be just a wee quicker per lap if it was lets say 20lbs less.

As for a diet: rear passenger pegs, center stand, part of the rear fender, reflectors on forks, chain guard is all that I can think you can take off that you could live without. Not really that much in saved weight.

Now you could begin trading out items with ones that do not weight as much but that begins to cost money and again not a big savings.

Install a quality set of tires, work on the suspension and brakes and live with the bike for what it is.

while i agree with your point........ i gotta admit i can feel a diff in how fast/easy the bike leans over between a totally full tank, and a almost empty one.


realisticly.... you're probably better off going to the gym to remove weight then you are stripping down a streetbike.

[motorcycleman]

There is something to power to weight ratio- put that same engine in a 100 pound bike and it will be quicker. Take a few extra pounds off yourself and it will be quicker Make it more powerful (700 kit, cams, etc) and it will be quicker!

[NT696]

FWIW:
I have spent a lot of time tinkering with my Hawk. (as others have) Over the years a lot of parts have been removed entirely, or replaced with something lighter. Now, I'm no Thorsten Durbahn, concerned about every gram of weight, but I consider it. (Thorsten is the guy who made the run of rear GFK seat covers a group of Hawk owners purchased. - A real mad genius by all accounts, Cycle world had a good article last month about him.) But on my Hawk I have removed all of the 'extra' useless to me bits.
There is a digital truck scale at my work, and with all fluids and a half tank of gas, my Hawk is down to 175kg (385lbs). Without getting too exotic like Titaniun parts or CF bits, That is probably close to where all of the weight reduction will end.

[MrDude_1]

i never weighed my hawk before hand, but i suppose i should weigh it now.
i have taken off alot of stuff... used a lighter battery/subframe/tail.... i think the only part ive put on that is heavier is the headlight. lol.

[HypnoToad]

Its on my list of things to do...
going to try the weighting scales approach before I remove the extras.

[thebaywayceo]

I took off all my emissions equipment(CA model) removed my stock radiator overflow and moved the battery behind the rear shock. It moved the weight of the battery lower in the chassis.

[thebaywayceo]

I took off all my emissions equipment(CA model) removed my stock radiator overflow and moved the battery behind the rear shock. It moved the weight of the battery lower in the chassis.