06-23-2018, 08:18 AM | #1 |
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Milford, IN
Posts: 27
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disappointed Hawk owner
Ok so I finally made time this morning to work on my hawk and install the 17 and 45 sprockets and chain. At the same time I installed my new wheel bearings and heavy duty Kenda inner tubes and rim strips. Let me say that I am not impressed with the performance after the sprocket change. Before, I had tons of torque and grunt throughout all RPM range. Now it is as if I have completely lost my first gear. Granted, top speed has significantly improved to the point where I haven"t even pegged it yet. I'm considering other sprocket options now since my hawk is practically useless in the dirt now because of no low gear and the loss of torque. If anyone has any suggestions feel free to let me know!
Rant over... lol
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2017 Hawk 250 2007 Honda VTX1300R 2016 Kawasaki Vulcan Voyager |
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06-23-2018, 08:51 AM | #2 |
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Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Houma, La.
Posts: 11,707
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Have you do anything with the carb and exhaust yet? That's were you will get the biggest hp improvement .
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2024 Linhai 300 ATV 4x4 2023 Lifan Lycan 250 Chopper 2023 Venom Evader 2022 Lifan KPX250 2020 Kawasaki Vulcan S (Sold) 2004 Honda ST 1300 2016 Black Hawk 250 (sold) Keihin PE30 carb,125 main,38 slow.Pod filter,ported & decked head 10:1 CR,Direct Ignition Coil,15/40Sprockets,NGK DPR8EIX-9,De-Cat,Dual Oil Cooler,Digital Cluster 2016 Cazador180 XL 2014 Coolster150 JerryHawk250.com My YouTube Channel |
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06-23-2018, 09:10 AM | #3 |
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: ChCh , NZ
Posts: 2,265
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They really need a 6 speed box...
you have a clutch... make use of it.. most think the clutch plates ware out if you fan/slip it all the time is not the case.. you will be suprised how much abuse a clutch will take.. the clutch is one of the tools to ride a bike in the dirt it's not just for starting/stoping and gear changeing well it's not even for gear changeing... I know theres nothing like having the correct gearing.. but a 5 speed box and low HP just dosn't give you that option... slipping the clutch will over heat the oil is BS... sitting in a line of traffic will heat the oil more than slipping the clutch while moveing.. you are not slipping it for 100s of metres... it's a half second at a time.. .
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06-23-2018, 11:23 AM | #4 |
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 8,100
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I had even taller gearing than you, and I probably weigh a good bit more than you, and I found my Hawk to have more than enough grunt to go off road.
As Jerry said, intake and exhaust mods and proper carb jetting will help quite a bit in the grunty department. Especially in the mid range. In the end you will still have to find the right gearing combination that works for you. I changed rear sprockets 3 times before settling on a 43 tooth rear sprocket and just simply swapping front sprockets out depending on what I was planning to use the bike for. 17 front for commuter duty. 15 front for off-road. A front sprocket swap takes a matter of minutes.
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Hawk Information and Resource guide: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=20331 2018 Hawk 250 - Full Mod list here. http://www.chinariders.net/showpost....62&postcount=1 2024 Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 https://chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=34124 |
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06-23-2018, 11:46 AM | #5 |
Join Date: May 2018
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 45
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Ok from my experience i had done all the mods exhaust, air box, mikuni carb, and sprockets . Like you i was disappointed in the lack of torque so i switched back to a 15T front with the 45T rear, and ordered a 16T so i can find some compromise.
But what i think it really came down too is the engine wasnt broke in yet, as i couldnt get over 55mph with the taller gearing. But all of a sudden after 100 miles on the engine, she started to open up and was getting more torque and top end speed (all of a sudden she became peppy). Finally i have settled on a 16/45 combo as i am mostly going to be 50/50 riding. My main point is wait for the engine to break in, i can get up to 74 mph now (still stock guages) with my current setup and still have enough torque to get the front wheel off the ground from start with a snap of the throttle.
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2017 Hawk 250 1998 Harley Dyna |
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06-23-2018, 12:08 PM | #6 | |
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Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Houma, La.
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Quote:
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2024 Linhai 300 ATV 4x4 2023 Lifan Lycan 250 Chopper 2023 Venom Evader 2022 Lifan KPX250 2020 Kawasaki Vulcan S (Sold) 2004 Honda ST 1300 2016 Black Hawk 250 (sold) Keihin PE30 carb,125 main,38 slow.Pod filter,ported & decked head 10:1 CR,Direct Ignition Coil,15/40Sprockets,NGK DPR8EIX-9,De-Cat,Dual Oil Cooler,Digital Cluster 2016 Cazador180 XL 2014 Coolster150 JerryHawk250.com My YouTube Channel |
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06-23-2018, 04:12 PM | #7 |
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: N Texas
Posts: 706
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I have the 17 45 sprocket combo. I did loose some low end but I would give that up any day for the top end. I guess if it was used 90% off road I might stick with the stock but I ride on the street 90% of the time. So what it is used for. I love it
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06-24-2018, 05:48 AM | #8 | |
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Milford, IN
Posts: 27
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Quote:
I have installed and tuned the mikuni clone and have done the air box mod. The bike runs perfect it just doesn't have that grunt anymore
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2017 Hawk 250 2007 Honda VTX1300R 2016 Kawasaki Vulcan Voyager |
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06-24-2018, 05:55 AM | #9 | |
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Milford, IN
Posts: 27
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Quote:
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2017 Hawk 250 2007 Honda VTX1300R 2016 Kawasaki Vulcan Voyager |
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06-24-2018, 05:56 AM | #10 |
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Milford, IN
Posts: 27
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I have tossed around the idea of putting the 15 tooth back on until I get 500 miles on the bike and then switch back and see how she rolls. I currently have 150 miles on it
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2017 Hawk 250 2007 Honda VTX1300R 2016 Kawasaki Vulcan Voyager |
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06-24-2018, 07:22 PM | #11 | |
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 237
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Quote:
Top speed is useless if it takes all day to get there. Latley when I hit a big jump, or big enough bump, the kick starter will slam to full extension and the bike will whine like a pig until I stop and kill it. The kicker then slams back to normal, and the bike works like nothing happened. I think somethings gone awry in the case. Anyone seen anything like that? |
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06-24-2018, 08:59 PM | #12 | |
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 8,100
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Quote:
Fwiw, I would say try a 47 to 50 rear with athe 17 front. You may like it more. 17/50 is what the tt250 comes with as standard.
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06-24-2018, 09:18 PM | #13 | |
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 214
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Quote:
small bumps,where you live,the the fact that your a big guy ,i meen i am 260 myself i think you right at the weight limit for the bike too like you said ,big jumps on this bike got to hurt lots of things ,its a china bike too ,may want to upgrade the rear shock for that an go back to stock set up for gearing weight capacity for the hawk 250 is 330lbs,
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06-24-2018, 09:43 PM | #14 | |
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: akwesasne, NY-13655
Posts: 2,220
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