What can you guys tell me about these?
You mean 88-91?
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/sprockets/learn-me-honda-hawk-gts/22490/page1/
Frick! My brain and fingers are off sync today. Yes I meant 88-91.
And frick again for not knowing how to search.
I found one looks to be pretty original with 31k miles.
And I am off to read the other thread.
I'm looking at one for a first bike, to learn to ride on, and maybe commute on.
I'm supposed to look at one tomorrow evening. It hits my budget right, I like the look, it's not liter bike power, but I think it would be better than a 250 Ninja or 250 CBR.
I am also supposed to look at a 2013 CBR 250R, granted it is less power, different ergos, and more money. But it is also 22 years newer...
These aren't the only bikes I am looking at, just the ones I am looking at tomorrow. I looked at a KLR650 the other day, I liked that one but it was taller than I was expecting.
In reply to octavious: An NT650 Hawk GT isn't too much bike for most beginners. It will definitely leave a lot more room for growth than the 250s. I would never recommend a KLR650 for a beginner, unless you are quite tall and muscular, not because of its power, but because of its high CoG.
I think the biggest problem with NT650s at this point is their age, they are all well over 20 years old now. Even though they were very well built, and not particularly high tech (except for the frame & swing-arm), they were not as stone simple as the air cooled UJM inline Twins and fours. Just like special interest cars, if you want to spend your time riding it, not fixing it, buy the nest example that you can find.
I have one and it is my first street bike. It is freaking awesome! Enough power to avoid trouble but not enough to screw something up front a twitch of the wrist. Mine has a cbr front end with a wider front rim. The stock front tire width is limited to 110. I love it. Yes it will be more work than a cbr250 but you should be fine. It is such a better bike and sounds like God's jack hammer.
Thanks guys. This is kind of what I was hoping to hear.
singleslammer said: Enough power to avoid trouble but not enough to screw something up front a twitch of the wrist.
I want something to learn on, but also something I won't get bored with right away. Mrs. Pookie has also said she rather me spend a little more and get something I will keep for awhile instead of be bored with and looking to sell within a few months to a year.
HappyAndy-those were my thoughts on the KLR650. I went to check it out because I thought it would be a slightly bigger version of the DR200 that I had in MSF. I did some reading up on the KLR650 and found they are kind of like the Jeep of bikes, and being a Jeep guy it means I had to check it out. I found that it was in fact a bigger version of the DR200. I think it fit me ok. By that, I mean I can flat foot the KLR650, and the riding position and controls seemed to fit me fine. But the weight seems to be all up top. And it does seem like one you would have to muscle around from time to time.
I'm trying to sit on and ride as much as I can. And I need to just be patient and try a bunch out before I buy.
Thanks again. I found the other thread helpful as well.
They are cool, but I would get an SV650 instead. Get a 2003+ for fuel injection. They are like an improved version of Hawk, minus the ssa.
In reply to rotard:
While that is not un-true, I have ridden both and the SV is so clinical and characterless whereas the Hawk feels much more like a Ducati that doesn't have silly maintenance requirements.
The Hawk feels like a slower, worse handling SV, mainly because it is slower and doesn't handle as well. The only character I experienced was related to a dirty carb and worn suspension. It was fun, but not as fun as an SV with an aftermarket can.
A well-sorted Hawk feels about the same as a well-sorted SV. I'd say that the SV is more like an improved Monster than the Hawk is, mainly because the Hawk came first haha. There is a reason the SV650 is the Miata of the motorcycle world.
I do love the Hawk. But, it is the kind of bike you get because you specifically want a Hawk. Don't get it because you want the best bike you can get under $3k.
In reply to rotard:
While I never liked my sv.....in all honesty, I find the 690 duke to be a better bike in that size/power range.
I like the 690 Duke, but I can't imagine that they are in the same price range as an SV650 or NT650. I've never actually seen a used one for sale.
I'm guilty of having spent thousands of dollars on my SV650, then taking a ride on a buddy's CBR600 and wondering why I wasted my money.
In reply to rotard:
Once inflation is factored, they sell new for about what the sv did. Currently I've seen a few around the 5k range(new I've seen 7k ish), but the oldest ones are '06-07....so they'll be down there eventually. Basically the same power/torque with 100+lbs hacked off, better chassis, and built by a company that isn't a step away from extinction.
rotard wrote: I do love the Hawk. But, it is the kind of bike you get because you specifically want a Hawk. Don't get it because you want the best bike you can get under $3k.
There are a heck of a lot of rational reasons to consider an SV over a Hawk for someone looking for a commuter motorcycle. It's newer, the 03+ models have FI, there are more parts and aftermarket, etc. The Hawk is definitely a cool bike, but do you really want to be putting weekly mileage on something that is now a borderline collectible?
I had an SV, an 06 S model that I got brand-new. I had some complaints about it at the time, mainly related to the budget suspension. But now I see decent SV's with reasonable mileage for $1800-$2400. At those prices I would bet that a new rider using it to commute would never even notice the suspension's shortcomings.
So I went and looked at the Hawk last night. Surprisingly (not really) it was a little more beat up than the CL photos showed. Even more surprising was how small it was. I'm 5'11 185lbs, and I felt cramped just sitting on it. It was also very short. Short enough that when I put my feet on the foot rest I felt super cramped and very uncomfortable. I also thought the back shock was really soft, like bouncey soft. I attribute this to it probably being the original shock on a 24 year old bike with 33k miles.
It had the stock exhaust and sounded really good...
And it was red just like the one in Woody's advertisement.
Saw one just a couple minutes ago and it is very small. I actually thought it was a café'd 350 or something when I saw it coming up in the mirror. It surprised me when he pulled up beside me at the light and I saw what it was.
They are tiny. Mine has race pegs and clip ons which makes it feel like a compact sport bike than the stock upright standardish position. I am 6'2" 220lbs and it works fine due to how narrow it is. If the tank was the width of most newer bikes, it probably wouldn't work. That sucks that one was so beat up. Just find something in your price range that is in well cared for condition and is comfortable to you.
Check out the middle-weight bikes. They are very fast, but dont have so much torque that they'll kill you if you twitch your wrist.
After riding the 10r for a year, I question why anyone would want to deal with the peaky rpm bands of middleweights. The good middleweights aren't easy to ride fast.
That's part of the reason I think they make decent beginner bikes that have room to grow. The extra power is only there if you want it, and they still have more than enough low end for a beginner. You can pick up an early to mid 2000's 600 for less than what you'd pay for a semi-decent NT650.
Besides, the much better suspension and brakes certainly helps with riding faster. Riding an SV650 pogostick in the middle of a turn is a little disconcerting.
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