Hawk 250 Gear lever

ChrisWNY · 07-16-2018, 10:36 AM

Can anyone recommend a gear shift lever for the Hawk 250? The MSR lever on Amazon looks like it's no longer manufactured by MSR, so it's unavailable (I've looked everywhere including eBay)…

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...tag=hawk250-20

I'm looking for something that is more rigid and hopefully longer than the stock shift lever. Any info appreciated. I tried an IMS lever from Amazon but it was too short and didn't fit around the spindle anyway. Thanks!

Megadan · 07-16-2018, 12:47 PM

It's not really longer than the stock shifter, but this is the shifter I use. The peg sits more inboard than the stock one, buying room for your foot and gets the peg more out of harms way from direct impact. I have size 14 EEEE feet, so room matters to me! I found it quite agreeable.
https://www.amazon.com/IMS-312223-Fl.../dp/B000UKO37Q
I had one on my last Hawk and it went down and then under a truck. The tip folded away and had just the slightest scuff to show for it. No broken or bent shaft.

In this post of mine you can see how the peg moves inward.
http://chinariders.net/showpost.php?...9&postcount=70

The only hitch with this shifter is that the bolt goes through the top of the shifter, making it a pain to install with the front sprocket cover in place. I got around this by using a stainless steel button head allen bolt, which has a smaller diameter and lower profile head to it, and a washer.

ChrisWNY · 07-16-2018, 01:23 PM

Thanks for the link - I will order and give it a try.

DaveinOC · 07-17-2018, 05:46 PM

I used Dan's link a couple of weeks ago and this shift lever feels just right. I managed to get the lever and sprocket cover on together but it is a bit of a hassle.

ChrisWNY · 07-17-2018, 09:00 PM

I knew this would happen...the stock shift lever is a P.O.S...any doubt that this shift lever was garbage has been removed. Had about 10 miles on the Hawk before the shift lever failed. Good thing the new one arrives tomorrow via Amazon Prime.

ChrisWNY · 07-18-2018, 09:36 PM

Big improvement...the spindle that the shift lever sits on seems longer on the newer Hawks. I've seen other photos showing that the shift lever barely clears the front sprocket case on the 2016's. No issues with the install and no need to change bolts. Thanks for the suggestion to go with the IMS lever, Dan!

Megadan · 07-18-2018, 09:54 PM

That doesn't look like it installed correctly to me. The shifter shaft should be nearly flush with the outside of the levers hole with the bolt centered in the groove on the shaft.

ChrisWNY · 07-18-2018, 10:09 PM

I'll tap it on there - plenty of room for it to move so the lever is flush to the shaft. It has a solid grip on the shaft even though it's not flush, it's not going to come loose on its own.

07-16-2018, 10:36 AM	#1
ChrisWNY Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 212	Hawk 250 Gear lever Can anyone recommend a gear shift lever for the Hawk 250? The MSR lever on Amazon looks like it's no longer manufactured by MSR, so it's unavailable (I've looked everywhere including eBay)… https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...tag=hawk250-20 I'm looking for something that is more rigid and hopefully longer than the stock shift lever. Any info appreciated. I tried an IMS lever from Amazon but it was too short and didn't fit around the spindle anyway. Thanks! Last edited by ChrisWNY; 07-16-2018 at 10:40 AM. Reason: typos
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07-16-2018, 12:47 PM	#2
Megadan Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 8,042	It's not really longer than the stock shifter, but this is the shifter I use. The peg sits more inboard than the stock one, buying room for your foot and gets the peg more out of harms way from direct impact. I have size 14 EEEE feet, so room matters to me! I found it quite agreeable. https://www.amazon.com/IMS-312223-Fl.../dp/B000UKO37Q I had one on my last Hawk and it went down and then under a truck. The tip folded away and had just the slightest scuff to show for it. No broken or bent shaft. In this post of mine you can see how the peg moves inward. http://chinariders.net/showpost.php?...9&postcount=70 The only hitch with this shifter is that the bolt goes through the top of the shifter, making it a pain to install with the front sprocket cover in place. I got around this by using a stainless steel button head allen bolt, which has a smaller diameter and lower profile head to it, and a washer. __________________ 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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07-17-2018, 05:46 PM	#4
DaveinOC Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 27	I used Dan's link a couple of weeks ago and this shift lever feels just right. I managed to get the lever and sprocket cover on together but it is a bit of a hassle. __________________ 1978 Husqvarna 250 WR 1991 Husqvarna WXE 250 2018 CSC TT250
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07-18-2018, 09:36 PM	#6
ChrisWNY Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 212	Big improvement...the spindle that the shift lever sits on seems longer on the newer Hawks. I've seen other photos showing that the shift lever barely clears the front sprocket case on the 2016's. No issues with the install and no need to change bolts. Thanks for the suggestion to go with the IMS lever, Dan! __________________ 2018 RPS Hawk 250cc Mods so far: 1. Mikuni VM26 Carburetor w/#115 main jet 2. 17T/45T JT sprockets 3. JT 428 X-ring chain 4. Air box mod 5. Hawk Digital Cluster 6. Aftermarket IMS shift lever 7. Performance Aftermarket Exhaust 8. 295mm Nitrogen Gas Monoshock, 20W oil front forks
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07-18-2018, 09:54 PM	#7
Megadan Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 8,042	That doesn't look like it installed correctly to me. The shifter shaft should be nearly flush with the outside of the levers hole with the bolt centered in the groove on the shaft. __________________ 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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07-16-2018, 01:23 PM	#3
ChrisWNY Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 212	Thanks for the link - I will order and give it a try.
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07-17-2018, 09:00 PM	#5
ChrisWNY Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 212	I knew this would happen...the stock shift lever is a P.O.S...any doubt that this shift lever was garbage has been removed. Had about 10 miles on the Hawk before the shift lever failed. Good thing the new one arrives tomorrow via Amazon Prime.
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07-18-2018, 10:09 PM	#8
ChrisWNY Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 212	I'll tap it on there - plenty of room for it to move so the lever is flush to the shaft. It has a solid grip on the shaft even though it's not flush, it's not going to come loose on its own. __________________ 2018 RPS Hawk 250cc Mods so far: 1. Mikuni VM26 Carburetor w/#115 main jet 2. 17T/45T JT sprockets 3. JT 428 X-ring chain 4. Air box mod 5. Hawk Digital Cluster 6. Aftermarket IMS shift lever 7. Performance Aftermarket Exhaust 8. 295mm Nitrogen Gas Monoshock, 20W oil front forks Last edited by ChrisWNY; 07-19-2018 at 12:09 PM.
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