Hawk Ideas.

[Megadan]

It's the cold months and I am bored. Me being bored means I have ideas in my head, usually bad ones. I figured I would toss some ideas around and see what you guys think.

Half of this whole thought process was removing the tank and side plastics, de-tabbing the frame, making a battery/eletronics box, and running a round headlight much like richinar did.
Thread: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=20343

But, leaving the rear plastic/tail light and grab handles like 95C1500 did with his. Picture: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b7/6c...3fb34ec126.jpg

All the while keeping the front fender in place unlike either of those. Kind of a mix of Tracker, meets dual sport in a way. One thing I would want to change is the oil cooler location. Without the plastics there I would want to run it lower down and closer to the down tube, and figure out a way to protect it better with a different kind of bracketry if needed.

Anyway, that's enough brain storming/bad idea having from me. I also can't quite decide if a 5 3/4" or 7" round light would look better. I am curious on your opinions, and don't be afraid to say you don't like it, or if you think maybe a different front fender style might look better. It challenging trying to mix something round with a bike that has so many sharp angles on it.

[Emerikol]

Dan, I would say "Put the angle grinder down and back away slowly!" I personally think that chopping up the Hawk will do much more harm than good. You're spot on when you say putting round headlights on an angular bike will really throw off the looks. I'm right in the middle of picking up another bike (Yes, another one... I'm not even through inventorying the parts I got with the Scrambler, and I've already got another one on the way... I swear it's an addiction), and so far I've not cracked the $1,500 range, even with the price of the bike and shipping from New York. What I'm trying to say is that finding something a little closer to what your vision is will help tie the whole build package together, rather than leaving you with a hacked up bike that may not turn out the way you're hoping. Being in uncharted build territory will always have huge obstacles to overcome both to try to get where you want, but then doubly so if you decide to try to go back to stock. One of my favorite things to say is "I've got a cutting torch and a welder; there's nothing I can't do." That's a perfectly valid response to the cookie cutter world we live in, but just because there's nothing we can't do, that doesn't mean there's a lot we shouldn't do, if you take my meaning. In the end, I would say keep your eyes peeled for someone else's abandoned project that you can pick up for a song, and then go to town. Hope this helps with your decision making!

[Megadan]

The problem is, nobody really makes a bike even close to what I want. I don't really have a "vision" so to speak either. Removing a bunch of stuff costs nothing. A couple cans of chassis paint are cheap. Honestly the most expensive part of that whole idea would be the headlight setup, and I could even pull that off for less than $100,maybe even less than 50. Plus, with the plastics removed, most of the angularity is gone, especially the tank plastics.

Plus, me spending a little on my Hawk like this would keep me from pursuing far more expensive projects or buying another bike. Believe me, I have lots of ideas that will cost way more than this lol.

Besides, it's not like I am going to hurt the resale value of my super cheap chinese motorcycle. The reason I bought a Hawk in the first place was kind of as a "whatever" bike that I would ride until it returned to the earth.

I would accept the argument of wasting money on it, but I do that with nearly every bike I end up owning. My GL1000 is a GREAT example of that lol. I think my VFR1200 is the first bike that, besides sorting out the suspension and tuning the ECU, I am more or less completely happy with the way it is.

[PaiN]

Since I joined this forum I've been looking at the pic galleries, that come up on the banner and I have say I like the look of the stripped down Chonda bikes.
To my eye, they look "right" in the minimal....
You're on the right track Megadan

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by PaiN

Since I joined this forum I've been looking at the pic galleries, that come up on the banner and I have say I like the look of the stripped down Chonda bikes.
To my eye, they look "right" in the minimal....
You're on the right track Megadan

That is kind of my thinking as well. They just look better without all of the extra cheap plastic.

Even if I kept the stock headlight and front fender, the lack of tank and side plastics is a look I have started to really appreciate. That would bring the cost down to literally a cutting disc, a can of paint, and some sheet metal to make a box for the battery and electrics.

[JerryHawk250]

Dan, I think you're a mad man wanting chop up a beautiful, rare, exotic bike like the Hawk. I had plan on removing the tank plastic and smoothing out the tank until I got the oil coolers. Now the plastic serves a purpose so I scratch that off the list. I do like the round head light idea though. 5 3/4"

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by JerryHawk250

Dan, I think you're a mad man wanting chop up a beautiful, rare, exotic bike like the Hawk. I had plan on removing the tank plastic and smoothing out the tank until I got the oil coolers. Now the plastic serves a purpose so I scratch that off the list. I do like the round head light idea though.

You should see some of the other bikes I have chopped up! I am out of control I tell you!

I already have my oil cooler kind of tucked up under the plastic, but for me I can simply shorten my bracket, or change it, and shorten up my lines as needed. I would love to have dual coolers, but with them being exposed like that the right side would be really hard to get tucked up close to the frame. A single cooler is effective enough for me. I will just have a spare cooler on hand in case I damage the other one.

I would really love to come up with a mounting bracket similar to this. http://www.suttoncycleworks.com/imag...l_Cooler_7.jpg

I have toyed with the idea of using an XR400 oil cooler, but mounted low around the down tube where the front motor mount plates are, or just above. They aren't cheap, and I would be worried about it getting damaged by a rock though. I could probably make some sort of cage, but I just don't see it being that necessary.

[JerryHawk250]

I like the mounting bracket. Shouldn't be hard to fabricate out of aluminum.

[Ariel Red Hunter]

Originally Posted by Megadan

It's the cold months and I am bored. Me being bored means I have ideas in my head, usually bad ones. I figured I would toss some ideas around and see what you guys think.

Half of this whole thought process was removing the tank and side plastics, de-tabbing the frame, making a battery/eletronics box, and running a round headlight much like richinar did.
Thread: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=20343

But, leaving the rear plastic/tail light and grab handles like 95C1500 did with his. Picture: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b7/6c...3fb34ec126.jpg

All the while keeping the front fender in place unlike either of those. Kind of a mix of Tracker, meets dual sport in a way. One thing I would want to change is the oil cooler location. Without the plastics there I would want to run it lower down and closer to the down tube, and figure out a way to protect it better with a different kind of bracketry if needed.

Anyway, that's enough brain storming/bad idea having from me. I also can't quite decide if a 5 3/4" or 7" round light would look better. I am curious on your opinions, and don't be afraid to say you don't like it, or if you think maybe a different front fender style might look better. It challenging trying to mix something round with a bike that has so many sharp angles on it.

I've always thought that the Hawk looked better without all of those plastic bits all over the tank. The 7 inch headlight has benefits besides more light than a 5 3/4 job if it is mounted high enough. It raises the air blast higher at speed. I'd go all the way, front to back in order to get a cohesive look, including the saddle...ARH

[Red Hawk]

I saw that Sutton cycle works bracket too. Not hard to cut a few out on the CNC. The oil lines have to be shorter and need some where to put the oil catch screen. It would be a stronger mount then the angle iron.

I was going to make a tank vest with molle webbing. That would cover the old plastic tabs.

[roundhouse]

I have just left mine unadulterated mostly because i am a poor mechanic at best. But i did do all my hawk mods solo following yours and other members DIYs on youtube or here.

I say do it and make vids.

Look forward to seeing what you do.

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by JerryHawk250

I like the mounting bracket. Shouldn't be hard to fabricate out of aluminum.

Originally Posted by Red Hawk

I saw that Sutton cycle works bracket too. Not hard to cut a few out on the CNC. The oil lines have to be shorter and need some where to put the oil catch screen. It would be a stronger mount then the angle iron.

I agree that a bracket of that style wouldn't be technically difficult to fabricate, it has couple of things about it that I also don't like when applied to this application. Chief among which is the potential of damaging the holes in the engine case, and thus the engine case half itself, where the stator cover bolts on if that outer bracket were to take an impact. Even with the spacers in place for the bolts, I know how soft that case aluminum is. I would rather smash up my cheap oil cooler than bust apart the engine case.

The simplest method I have come up with to at least make a slightly more stable/rigid mounting system would be to make a plate that uses all three front mount bolts on the frame and engine for the bottom mount, and then a section off of the top that acts as the backing plate to one of the U bolt mounts that came with the coolers. Not ideal, but it should make it at least a little more sturdy. It wouldn't be hard to make it a 1 piece bracket out of 1/8 or even 3/16 plate. Plus, with my skid plate in place it should be fairly well protected unless a rouge rock or other object sticking out of the ground happens to hit it.

I also happen to have the stacked plate style cooler instead of the tube and fin, so it is a bit sturdier.

Originally Posted by Ariel Red Hunter

I've always thought that the Hawk looked better without all of those plastic bits all over the tank. The 7 inch headlight has benefits besides more light than a 5 3/4 job if it is mounted high enough. It raises the air blast higher at speed. I'd go all the way, front to back in order to get a cohesive look, including the saddle...ARH

woul

I would love to try and go full retro front to back, but at this point I don't feel the motivation to cut up the frame as much as would be needed to pull that off. The Hawk's rear frame section is so angled and long that to effectively pull off a more cohesive retro look it would require hacking a good majority of it off. That being said, the Hawk does lend itself heavily to being able to pull off a late 80's to early 90's XR250 look with fenders and seat.

Originally Posted by roundhouse

I have just left mine unadulterated mostly because i am a poor mechanic at best. But i did do all my hawk mods solo following yours and other members DIYs on youtube or here.

I say do it and make vids.

Look forward to seeing what you do.

I think it would be a fun thing to video, if not overly complicated. If I kept it as simple as possible - tank and side plastic delete with tab removal, rear fender trim, and an under seat tray, the only real fabrication would be the tray. Otherwise, it is just remove and smooth.

[ChipToothy]

This is what I got based on the OP description. Nice Hawk!!

[Emerikol]

Gah! I can honestly say I'll never own another Ducati... I had a 996 when I was stationed in Aviano, Italy. Fun bike, but when it needed maintenance (which was pretty much whenever it wasn't moving under it's own power), it got really expensive, really quick. I like to do a lot of my own wrenching, but the Ducati's all have special tools that you absolutely must have to get them to work properly. Too much of a headache for me... In any event, Dan, go ahead and do what makes you happy. As you mentioned, even if everything goes Tango Uniform, you're not out an incredibly tall stack of cash. Just keep us posted as to what you're up to.

[Sochin]

Going to Harbor Freight for an angle grinder...........