New Hawk up and running in houston area

traygiddens · 03-16-2016, 08:15 PM

Just got the Hawk all put together.

Took a couple days between work and doing it kind of solo. Need to get the plates on before i can report any street kind of performance.

I had a good time going back and forth along the bayou. I only have ridden regular street bikes in the past so this is a little bit weird. The way it kind of just floats through the grass and ruts is neat.

The front brake and speedo cable needed to be ziptied to keep them away from the front tire..

Oil changed, valves set, brakes bled, locktite on a bunch of bolts and chain adjusted.

Think I'm gonna have fun with this thing.

BlackBike · 03-16-2016, 08:25 PM

As someone said, "don't ride faster than your angels can fly". You probably know this, enjoy.

traygiddens · 03-16-2016, 08:32 PM

This is the 4th bike in the garage now , i think the kids will think i got problems.

2002 goldwing gl1800- love this bike, i think as long as i have the means , there will always be a goldwing in the stable.

2015 honda ctx700 DCT- i bought this to reduce mileage on the Goldwing. it's lightweight , handles great and no clutching or shifter. The DCT is really great. it will cruise at highway speeds without issue. the idea was to make this a mini goldwing.

2007 FJR 1300- This if for when i feel the need to get up and go fast. the inline four cylinder just has a special feeling.

Hawk, to try a new riding experience. Was looking at honda's and the other big 3 , but jeez, here in Houston people thing they are gold plated. Was considering a dr400 or the honda 250 dual sport but there is no used market here and new with tags, tax and everything , they'll run about $6,000 out the door on the cheap..

BlackBike · 03-16-2016, 08:45 PM

This is exactly why I bought mine it's so inexpensive nothing to loose. Drop $8,000 or $5,000 into a bike that I may not have interest in in a few years anyways. This is my first owned mc so I was ready to purchase but being a cheap b. I was not going to pay a lot. Sorry Honda

BlackBike · 03-16-2016, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by traygiddens

This is the 4th bike in the garage now , i think the kids will think i got problems.

2002 goldwing gl1800- love this bike, i think as long as i have the means , there will always be a goldwing in the stable.

2015 honda ctx700 DCT- i bought this to reduce mileage on the Goldwing. it's lightweight , handles great and no clutching or shifter. The DCT is really great. it will cruise at highway speeds without issue. the idea was to make this a mini goldwing.

2007 FJR 1300- This if for when i feel the need to get up and go fast. the inline four cylinder just has a special feeling.

Hawk, to try a new riding experience. Was looking at honda's and the other big 3 , but jeez, here in Houston people thing they are gold plated. Was considering a dr400 or the honda 250 dual sport but there is no used market here and new with tags, tax and everything , they'll run about $6,000 out the door on the cheap..

Hey fellow Texan, That quite a stable, be proud and list them on your signature

SpudRider · 03-17-2016, 03:32 AM

Congratulations, and thanks for posting the nice photo. You Hawk looks great.

TXDSRIDER · 03-17-2016, 03:44 AM

Congrats on joining the dual sport club.
What part of houston do you live in I'm out hwy 6 and 290 area

Ron B · 03-17-2016, 06:15 AM

Great looking bike! I almost went with black myself. if I had known the new ones had black rims I would have.

Sport Rider · 03-17-2016, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by traygiddens

This is the 4th bike in the garage now , i think the kids will think i got problems.

2002 goldwing gl1800- love this bike, i think as long as i have the means , there will always be a goldwing in the stable.

2015 honda ctx700 DCT- i bought this to reduce mileage on the Goldwing. it's lightweight , handles great and no clutching or shifter. The DCT is really great. it will cruise at highway speeds without issue. the idea was to make this a mini goldwing.

2007 FJR 1300- This if for when i feel the need to get up and go fast. the inline four cylinder just has a special feeling.

Hawk, to try a new riding experience. Was looking at honda's and the other big 3 , but jeez, here in Houston people thing they are gold plated. Was considering a dr400 or the honda 250 dual sport but there is no used market here and new with tags, tax and everything , they'll run about $6,000 out the door on the cheap..

you sound VERY much like me. instead of the wing, I have a Nomad. Instead of the FJR I have a Concours. I have a superhawk when the need for sport riding arises. then picked up the hawk. My only problem is giving them all the time and attention they deserve!

congrats on the hawk!

2LZ · 03-17-2016, 01:12 PM

Many of us here suffer from "Multiple Bike Illness". Congrats on the new Hawk! Sharp bike! Sure like the black rims they come with now.....

Adam Rinkleff · 03-17-2016, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2LZ

Sure like the black rims they come with now.....

Yes, all the newer models RPS Hawk and RPS Viper are coming with black rims. No, you can't specifically request one or the other, but they are becoming increasingly common. I've been told I can sell replacement rims at $150 for both, including shipping.

traygiddens · 03-27-2016, 11:33 AM

Had the hawk for a couple weeks now..
Went out to some of the bayou's and power easment's this morning. lot of fun going through the grass, trails and mud.

ultimately wound up in one of the big giant land /house developments with all kinds of terrain to go through , gravel road, mud, some sand and stuff. no problems.

This kind if riding is new to me so still being a little cautious but having a great time going through these places. put-put-put.

i had half tank 87 octane and put in the other half in 93, that seemed to give me a decent mix.

it's like every mile i go , the bike performs just a little bit better.

Things to work on:
Carburetor i think is the biggest issue right now . At the higher revs it does a little coughing. the lower end has plenty of torgue for what i'm doing.
Sprocket: i put a 17 tooth on that is posted here in the forums but it is not as wide as the original. Got to figure out how to shim it or get a new one. I don't like that it's not a perfect fit. I've got a 45 tooth waiting for the rear.
Speed: right now the max speed i'm getting is about 50. she just wont give me any more in 5th. weird thing is that in 4th i'm getting to about maybe 45.

Still doing some break in , so i'm expecting it to loosen up a little bit more. I'm looking forward to getting on some of the FM roads around here but need just a little more break in and speed before i do that , I think.

traygiddens · 03-27-2016, 09:42 PM

link to a little trip around the block, the audio is windy when i get going. I have the baffle out.

2LZ · 03-27-2016, 10:22 PM

Thanks for the vid!

Those have a removable baffle? The only CB's I had that had removable baffles were my Hensim 150's years ago...but if the Hawk is a Hensim (Haosen) at heart,...hmmm....
Since then, all of mine have had welded up bazookas which prompted replacing the muffler.

Did you notice any run-ability difference? It noticably helped the Hensim 150's.

traygiddens · 03-27-2016, 11:28 PM

i'm pretty sure that if it sounds cooler, it runs better right?.. honestly i have no idea if it makes a difference . Not gonna get into the loud pipes save lives thing.. i don't care about that bit, it just enhances my experience.

Yup, the baffle slipped right out when i took the three screws off the back..

03-16-2016, 08:25 PM	#2
BlackBike Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: George West, Texas Posts: 4,097	As someone said, "don't ride faster than your angels can fly". You probably know this, enjoy. __________________ ***************************************** 2015 Bashan"Blaze" BS250GY-31 (DB-07K-250) GONE 2017 Suzuki V Strom 650 XT "We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid." ~Benjamin Franklin~
	0

03-16-2016, 08:45 PM	#4
BlackBike Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: George West, Texas Posts: 4,097	This is exactly why I bought mine it's so inexpensive nothing to loose. Drop $8,000 or $5,000 into a bike that I may not have interest in in a few years anyways. This is my first owned mc so I was ready to purchase but being a cheap b. I was not going to pay a lot. Sorry Honda __________________ ***************************************** 2015 Bashan"Blaze" BS250GY-31 (DB-07K-250) GONE 2017 Suzuki V Strom 650 XT "We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid." ~Benjamin Franklin~
	0

03-17-2016, 03:32 AM	#6
SpudRider Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 25,054	Congratulations, and thanks for posting the nice photo. You Hawk looks great. __________________ Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894
	0

03-17-2016, 03:44 AM	#7
TXDSRIDER Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Houston Tx Posts: 157	Congrats on joining the dual sport club. What part of houston do you live in I'm out hwy 6 and 290 area __________________ Brandon 2014 Hawk 250 Firehawk minibike Previous bikes~ 1995 Yamaha YZ125 1998 Yamaha YZ250 1981 Yamaha YZ465 1987 Honda TRX 250R X2 one stock one modified 2002 Buell Blast 2001 Buell X1 Lightning 2000 Kawasaki ZR7
	0

03-17-2016, 01:12 PM	#10
2LZ Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Volcano, Ca Posts: 7,078	Many of us here suffer from "Multiple Bike Illness". Congrats on the new Hawk! Sharp bike! Sure like the black rims they come with now..... __________________ "Light a fire for a man, and you heat him for a day. Light a man on fire, and you heat him for the rest of his life." 2007 Suzuki DRZ400S (SM convert) 2009 Q Link XP 200 1967 BSA B25 250cc Starfire 2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 2023 Royal Enfield Scram 411 1948 Royal Enfield Model G 350
	0

03-16-2016, 08:32 PM	#3
traygiddens Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Houston texas westside Posts: 40	This is the 4th bike in the garage now , i think the kids will think i got problems. 2002 goldwing gl1800- love this bike, i think as long as i have the means , there will always be a goldwing in the stable. 2015 honda ctx700 DCT- i bought this to reduce mileage on the Goldwing. it's lightweight , handles great and no clutching or shifter. The DCT is really great. it will cruise at highway speeds without issue. the idea was to make this a mini goldwing. 2007 FJR 1300- This if for when i feel the need to get up and go fast. the inline four cylinder just has a special feeling. Hawk, to try a new riding experience. Was looking at honda's and the other big 3 , but jeez, here in Houston people thing they are gold plated. Was considering a dr400 or the honda 250 dual sport but there is no used market here and new with tags, tax and everything , they'll run about $6,000 out the door on the cheap..
	0

03-17-2016, 06:15 AM	#8
Ron B Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Tuscaloosa Al. Posts: 433	Great looking bike! I almost went with black myself. if I had known the new ones had black rims I would have.
	0

03-27-2016, 11:33 AM	#12
traygiddens Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Houston texas westside Posts: 40	little ride around this morning Had the hawk for a couple weeks now.. Went out to some of the bayou's and power easment's this morning. lot of fun going through the grass, trails and mud. ultimately wound up in one of the big giant land /house developments with all kinds of terrain to go through , gravel road, mud, some sand and stuff. no problems. This kind if riding is new to me so still being a little cautious but having a great time going through these places. put-put-put. i had half tank 87 octane and put in the other half in 93, that seemed to give me a decent mix. it's like every mile i go , the bike performs just a little bit better. Things to work on: Carburetor i think is the biggest issue right now . At the higher revs it does a little coughing. the lower end has plenty of torgue for what i'm doing. Sprocket: i put a 17 tooth on that is posted here in the forums but it is not as wide as the original. Got to figure out how to shim it or get a new one. I don't like that it's not a perfect fit. I've got a 45 tooth waiting for the rear. Speed: right now the max speed i'm getting is about 50. she just wont give me any more in 5th. weird thing is that in 4th i'm getting to about maybe 45. Still doing some break in , so i'm expecting it to loosen up a little bit more. I'm looking forward to getting on some of the FM roads around here but need just a little more break in and speed before i do that , I think.
	0

03-27-2016, 09:42 PM	#13
traygiddens Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Houston texas westside Posts: 40	link to a little trip around the block, the audio is windy when i get going. I have the baffle out.
	1

03-27-2016, 10:22 PM	#14
2LZ Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Volcano, Ca Posts: 7,078	Thanks for the vid! Those have a removable baffle? The only CB's I had that had removable baffles were my Hensim 150's years ago...but if the Hawk is a Hensim (Haosen) at heart,...hmmm.... Since then, all of mine have had welded up bazookas which prompted replacing the muffler. Did you notice any run-ability difference? It noticably helped the Hensim 150's. __________________ "Light a fire for a man, and you heat him for a day. Light a man on fire, and you heat him for the rest of his life." 2007 Suzuki DRZ400S (SM convert) 2009 Q Link XP 200 1967 BSA B25 250cc Starfire 2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 2023 Royal Enfield Scram 411 1948 Royal Enfield Model G 350
	0

03-27-2016, 11:28 PM	#15
traygiddens Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Houston texas westside Posts: 40	i'm pretty sure that if it sounds cooler, it runs better right?.. honestly i have no idea if it makes a difference . Not gonna get into the loud pipes save lives thing.. i don't care about that bit, it just enhances my experience. Yup, the baffle slipped right out when i took the three screws off the back..
	1