Chinese or Japanese?

[willguy]

What would you guys pick, a brand new Hawk (or any Chinese bike) or a 8-9 years old Japanese bike (eg:CRF230L) for $300-$400 more?

The Hawk will be brand spanking new while the Japanese bike will have a better resale value and better reliability maybe.

[pistolclass]

If you can find a good condition Honda for $1,600-1,800 buy it. I searched for 6 months. The best I could find for a 230L was $2,500.

The fact is a Hawk is about $1,300-1,400 If you can get a group to buy them you can get them for $1,200. So the real question is a 8-9 year old honda worth 2 hawks. For me, no. Someone else may say yes. If I had to drive though death valley, I'd probably buy a new honda. but for what I use it for my hawk rocks.

[willguy]

Originally Posted by pistolclass

If you can find a good condition Honda for $1,600-1,800 buy it. I searched for 6 months. The best I could find for a 230L was $2,500.

The fact is a Hawk is about $1,300-1,400 If you can get a group to buy them you can get them for $1,200. So the real question is a 8-9 year old honda worth 2 hawks. For me, no. Someone else may say yes. If I had to drive though death valley, I'd probably buy a new honda. but for what I use it for my hawk rocks.

I found a CRF230L for $2000 before negotiation and could get a hawk for $1400 including tt&l. So, still deciding which way to go.

[2LZ]

I'd check parts availability. Believe it or not, the Japanese companies discontinue quite a few parts when bikes are only a few years old. Just a couple years ago I was fixing a Yamaha for a buddy that was only about 5 or so years old at the time and the throttle assembly had been discontinued, according to the dealer. There are a million 230's out there though and Honda may be different regarding parts.

[lefty]

I Searched for a Tw200 First then, opened it to jap enduro's found this fourm via Spuds few post. Landed a wounded 2015 Hawk, Bought, Repaired Registered, and insured (a year) $800

Best,
Lefty

2015 Hawk 250
1972 Honda CT70
Past
1982 GS1100L
1983 Honda ATC 185s 2ea.
1974 Puch 175mx

[SeerAtlas]

IF u read this site's tech postings on the buildups and preps of the HAWK, specially wolftracks prep of his bike for an extreme duty adv trip, AND you don't try to plate one in Calif, you just MIGHT end up with a better general purpose NON race bike in the HAWK compared with a used Honda. With just a little work, they are surprisingly good bikes. We are all waiting to see how much better the TT250 might be

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by willguy

I found a CRF230L for $2000 before negotiation and could get a hawk for $1400 including tt&l. So, still deciding which way to go.

If the CRF230L is in good running condition, I would strongly consider getting the Honda. You can probably negotiate the price at least $100 to $200 lower.

[SeerAtlas]

replacement parts on the Hawk r dirt cheap

[Weldangrind]

Originally Posted by willguy

What would you guys pick, a brand new Hawk (or any Chinese bike) or a 8-9 years old Japanese bike (eg:CRF230L) for $300-$400 more?

The Hawk will be brand spanking new while the Japanese bike will have a better resale value and better reliability maybe.

Why are we having this conversation? You clearly need both of them.

[2LZ]

Originally Posted by SeerAtlas

replacement parts on the Hawk r dirt cheap

...and many parts for Hondoids of all types are readily available on Amazon for cheap and delivered right to your door. It's a wonderful thing!

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...torcycle+parts

[SeerAtlas]

AND, there's nothing quite like birthing your own baby building your own, tho not difficult, gives you a certain self satisfaction, understanding, confidence and pride in your NEW addition that you just don't often get from being handed the keys to what was someone else's bike. Plus the anticipation of the crate arriving, then peeling it open and catching your first glimpse, reminds you a lot of your first remembered christmas morning

some things are simply priceless

[willguy]

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

Why are we having this conversation? You clearly need both of them.

I will need a burial plot and a casket too if I get both as my wife will kill me since I already have a sportbike sitting at home that I bought without her knowing.

[willguy]

Originally Posted by SeerAtlas

AND, there's nothing quite like birthing your own baby building your own, tho not difficult, gives you a certain self satisfaction, understanding, confidence and pride in your NEW addition that you just don't often get from being handed the keys to what was someone else's bike. Plus the anticipation of the crate arriving, then peeling it open and catching your first glimpse, reminds you a lot of your first remembered christmas morning

some things are simply priceless

I won't be building it as I'll get one assembled locally. I get a better price buying locally than having them ship to me. Plus, they'll apply for the title and everything for me as well.

There's actually a guy selling a month old Hawk locally for 1k that I might be looking at as well.

[Louis Angel]

Originally Posted by 2LZ

There are a million 230's out there though and Honda may be different regarding parts.

You can still get most of the parts from Honda for a 1995 Helix SCOOTER. Honda, in general, keeps parts available for a very long time.

If there is only $600 difference between them, and the Honda had less than 10,000 miles on it, I would not think twice about buying the Honda.
Well, OK, So I DID do just that some time ago. Trading in a China DS in on it. Andy did too. Sooooooooooo,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, take that for whatever it is worth.
.
Best of luck!!!!
.

[BlackBike]

All making great points! Preach on brothers!