Update on Hawk 250 and life and the future.

[Zapkin]

Feeling much less paranoid since getting my security situation under control. Russian hackers annoy me! (As does everything that POS country does.)

Hawk is over 10,000 miles now. Still runs great and kicks over even in well-below-freezing temps (the battery can’t handle it that low). The Kenda rear tire is already showing a lot of wear, which is a bummer, but the front tire is still okay.

I’ve lost over 30 lbs on the carnivore diet, so the bike is literally faster now (lol). The tachometer died, so I replaced it with an aftermarket one that includes a temperature gauge. Still saving up for a used KLR 650, but I’m very happy with my purchase from PowersportsMax.

The Hawk has never left me stranded, never cost much to fix, and no matter what anyone says, it’s a reliable and inexpensive form of transportation. I still love her!

Crankcase vent hose rotted away and had to be replaced. Kill switch died 4,000 miles ago, so I replaced it. Running a 17/42 sprocket setup with an X-ring chain. Nibbi carburetor is annoyingly sensitive, but after rejetting, it finally has a stable idle and runs less lean. The Nibbi filter wasn’t the best idea in hindsight, but it works for now. About to install a Nibbi ignition coil.

If you’re a Chinarider, I suggest stocking up on parts now. Tariffs are coming, and prices are going to rise. Don’t expect China to pay for them—you will. Our "Orange Leader" doesn’t understand global economics, so be ready for a rough few years on imports.

[Mumen Rider]

How do you know it was Russians? Anyone can easily spoof their geo IP location. Maybe you should work on having better InfoSec. Biden himself has been adding more and more tariffs on Chinese products in the last 30 days yet you don't mention that at all. Odd, it's almost like you're only targeting one political side while ignoring the other.


So much for deleting your account huh?

[Bill Hilly]

Feeling much less paranoid since getting my security situation under control. Russian hackers annoy me! (As does everything that POS country does.)

Hawk is over 10,000 miles now. Still runs great and kicks over even in well-below-freezing temps (the battery can’t handle it that low). The Kenda rear tire is already showing a lot of wear, which is a bummer, but the front tire is still okay.

I’ve lost over 30 lbs on the carnivore diet, so the bike is literally faster now (lol). The tachometer died, so I replaced it with an aftermarket one that includes a temperature gauge. Still saving up for a used KLR 650, but I’m very happy with my purchase from PowersportsMax.

The Hawk has never left me stranded, never cost much to fix, and no matter what anyone says, it’s a reliable and inexpensive form of transportation. I still love her!

Crankcase vent hose rotted away and had to be replaced. Kill switch died 4,000 miles ago, so I replaced it. Running a 17/42 sprocket setup with an X-ring chain. Nibbi carburetor is annoyingly sensitive, but after rejetting, it finally has a stable idle and runs less lean. The Nibbi filter wasn’t the best idea in hindsight, but it works for now. About to install a Nibbi ignition coil.

If you’re a Chinarider, I suggest stocking up on parts now. Tariffs are coming, and prices are going to rise. Don’t expect China to pay for them—you will. Our "Orange Leader" doesn’t understand global economics, so be ready for a rough few years on imports.

I bought a used KLR 650 back in Summer, and it's just fine, but once " the new" wore off, I got tired of riding it as often, and actually enjoyed my Hawk, and KPX more for my ordinary riding. To me the main advantage of the KLR would be more range, as in hundreds of miles from home, and honestly if one planned to ride pavement exclusively, then a used Cruiser or street bike may be better. I see 650 Shadows selling for pretty good prices a lot, and see the Savage/S40 for really cheap at times, but I personally didn't care much for my old Savage. If you do decide to buy a KLR, ride it first, because you might not like the feel. I rode the one I bought, and I could feel the weight, but attributed a lot of it to the hard suitcase bags. I took them off the next day, and they were surprisingly heavy, but the bike is still heavy, especially with a full tank of gas. It's not really an issue on pavement, but it's definitely a lot more to handle once the pavement ends. Mine is a Gen 1 which is the lightest, and tallest. They lost some ground clearance, and gained some weight with both the 2nd, and 3rd generation..

[Thumper]

Welcome home Zap. Nice to hear from you and I am really glad you sorted out the hack. Whole hospital databases are ransomed for millions when one employee clicks on a link and provides user/pass to false IT/security hackers, so these things happen. I don't even open emails or texts from unknown sources anymore. Too much risk!

[carlN]

Nah we good. It's on $800 or more and targeted vs everything tariffs. Which is good cuz I just bent a brake pedal and don't even have 50 miles on it.


https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/13/politics/china-tariffs-biden-trump/index.html




How do you know it was Russians? Anyone can easily spoof their geo IP location. Maybe you should work on having better InfoSec. Biden himself has been adding more and more tariffs on Chinese products in the last 30 days yet you don't mention that at all. Odd, it's almost like you're only targeting one political side while ignoring the other.


So much for deleting your account huh?

[OldGuy]

CNN as a news source ... as 2024 winds to a close, it amazes me that anybody still pays attention to legacy media! While tariffs as the solution to international trade is past its time, everyone on this board ought to be grown up enough to realize that we ARE buying motorcycles that are built, at least in part, with slave labor. Okay, back to riding:



KLR 650 - never understood the appeal of these bikes, it does NOTHING well. My Yamaha FJ09 is competent on gravel to worse roads, and is FAR better one the pavement. The Paladin will be FAR more "road & trail worthy" than the KLR could ever be. Yeah, not optimal for long road rides, but that's why I have a road bike.

[Thumper]

The paladin has the range to do well on a stretch of 4 lane pavement when needed, while still handling remarkably well in tight rocky steeps and mucky wash interludes on the trails. AND it absolutely rips up the berm in sections of trail with ease, and brakes nicely for the trees. Fun with a capital F'ing :hi:

[Hawks & Turkeys]

A few years back around Christmas time, the headquarters of a large retailer was hacked and huge quantities of credit card info was stolen. It seems the employees at headquarters would order lunch online from a nearby Chinese restaurant. Well, the hackers found their way into the retailer's computer system by: going in through the Chinese restaurant's link.

So in very cold weather you're able to kick start your Hawk? That's pretty good to know, especially since its hard to use the kick starter in warm weather!

Last thing: earlier this year I saw an obscure video that suggested installing a charging port from the battery terminals, saving me the trouble of removing the annoying side panel with it's one screw that is just waiting to strip. I have my charging port cable secured within that locking thing that's right by the tool compartment.

[TominMO]

KLR 650 - never understood the appeal of these bikes, it does NOTHING well. My Yamaha FJ09 is competent on gravel to worse roads, and is FAR better one the pavement. The Paladin will be FAR more "road & trail worthy" than the KLR could ever be. Yeah, not optimal for long road rides, but that's why I have a road bike.
The KLR is not great at anything--but it can do anything, with appropriate tires. short of serious offroad or motocross. That has a certain appeal all its own, whether it is for everyone or not.

[Thumper]

CNN as a news source ... as 2024 winds to a close, it amazes me that anybody still pays attention to legacy media! While tariffs as the solution to international trade is past its time, everyone on this board ought to be grown up enough to realize that we ARE buying motorcycles that are built, at least in part, with slave labor...
...
...

Some slave labor perhaps (mostly in the past really), but China has grown (GDP) at more than TWICE the rate that the USA has grown for decades now. Wages in China have quadrupled (not so much here). It turns out that offshoring labor costs and technology has consequences in the long run. Offshore business investors can make lots of money for a while...But if you are wondering why these bikes are getting better, and why the US no longer makes any motorcycles, here is one "theory":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0lPWGlwPvk