What's your ideal light, nimble, inexpensive project?

I'm bumping this up again. Supermotos sound like a lot of fun... but this just hit me.

Convince me I should(nt) buy it.

CL said:

1988 Honda Hawk GT 650 20600 miles Good condition Supertrapp exhaust Custom driver rearset pegs

Recent work includes..... Carb rebuild and jet kit Clutch Chain and sprockets Michelin Pilot Sport tires New tank from Honda

Has been laid down on right side no marks besides two inch mark on exhaust header Has a mystery electrical issue that comes and goes.

Bike runs and drives Not registered Need to sell best offers heard

$1600.

Ignition pickup coil

Get what you want. But, if you're asking what my ideal light, nimble, inexpensive project would be, I'd have to say late 80's 883 punched out to 1200 or 1300, maybe with a Cafe Racer front end on it. Big cams. And a Megasquirt. And Metzlers.

Dr. Hess wrote: Get what you want. But, if you're asking what my ideal light, nimble, inexpensive project would be, I'd have to say late 80's 883 punched out to 1200 or 1300, maybe with a Cafe Racer front end on it. Big cams. And a Megasquirt. And Metzlers.

I heard you ran into my father on the internets the other day.

Yeah, talked Esprits with him. I hear he's lookin'. Did you see my pics from Wednesday?

How about a tubular frame triumph as a starting point. I think I saw a tube frame 750 and those things are light and powerful. I don't know where you'd go from there though.

Dr. Hess wrote: Yeah, talked Esprits with him. I hear he's lookin'. Did you see my pics from Wednesday?

No, where can I find them?

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/tire-pressures-the-track/11132/page1/

Re: the Hawk GT

Although 'mystery electrical issue' is a pretty vague statement (What is it? Turn signals? Regulator/rectifier?), Hawks are some cool bikes. But I'm biased - it was my first, and I still have it (in my dining room).

It's a great platform for upgrades, but it is thoroughly outclassed by modern machinery in terms of performance. Not that it matters on the street. A Hawk with dialed suspension - even stock - and sticky tires will keep up with just about anything on a twisty road.

The electrics on these things are pretty basic, and the factory manual is quite good. And, that's a good price for a Hawk these days, for sure.

If you have specific Hawk questions, I may be able to help you out.

Right now...the Hawk is my "target bike" for the long term. The looks and size are very appealing to me.

What is the "GT"? I've done enough research to find them called the NT650.

Thanks, Clem

Just in case you guys wanted to know what the happy ending was....

1990 Kawasaki EX500 (Ninja 500R)

8000 miles, Been dropped a few times, Stainless front brake line, telefix fork brace, corbin seat, metzler lazertecs

$1200 + about 12 EX500 worth of parts available within 5 miles of my house in the dudes garage

Fun bike. Way faster than me.

I just spent four bills on Lasertecs for my wife's Sportster, so I'd say you did OK. Don't get yourself killed. And remember that the V8 Esprits prefer to out-run crotch rockets in 3rd gear.

ClemSparks wrote: What is the "GT"? I've done enough research to find them called the NT650.

The NT650 is the Hawk GT. Every japanese bike seems to have two names. Just like my CB650SC is also a Nighthawk 650, and Taiden's EX500 is also a Ninja 500r. Don't ask me why one name wasn't good enough, that just seems to be the way it is. This convention is really, really irritating when you are trying to find stuff on ebay or craigslist.

In reply to Josh:

So, when are we going to go ride?

How about when it stops berkeleying raining?

stuart in mn wrote: I really, really like the Bandit 400, especially the nekkid red one with white wheels. Unfortunately they're pretty rare and I've never been able to find one for sale for a reasonable price. The GS500 is a vertical twin. Outside of the SV, I don't think Suzuki ever built any small bore V-twin sporty bikes (at least not that were sold in the US.)

Bumping from the dead, my Bandit 400 bought for cheap with a rusty tank and junked carbs, cleaned everything out and took it for a test spin (still needed to sync the carbs, so the idle was off).....sounds like an indy car!:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=cs8N4aWp3H4

I have no idea why I like this but man is it fun.

If I did not live in the land of the free.

wearymicrobe wrote: I have no idea why I like this but man is it fun.

What the hell is THAT???

• Cheap dual sport (xr650, klr650, maybe drz400) or Ducati chassis
• Sport bike forks and tripple tree modified to fit
• Super moto or sportbike 17in wheels
• Either some sort of light weight but relatively powerful single or twin motor or... Aixro Xr50 Rotary motor (really $$$ dreaming) but at 17kg (~38lbs) and 33kw (~44hp), 39nm (~28lb ft torque) its a pretty compelling and very light weight motor. (probably the easiest transmissoin solution would be running a primary drive to a divorced harley 6sp trans If it fit Aprilia's 450/550 v-twin would be a potentially cool solution too ~60-70hp no clue on the weight or how much it would cost to obtain.
• Custom subframe and seat
• Hopefully a pretty cool looking junk yard gas tank

I would hope it comes in at well under 250lbs and therefore a ~50hp motor should be quite fun.

As much as i like the size of the Ninja 300 or CBR 250 those bikes full of fluids and batteries start getting close to ~400lbs for only 30hp. The hopeful KTM Duke 390 is expected to be just over 300lbs but only putting out 45hp. And the new Honda 500's are over ~400lbs dry. While i havent seen one yet the Grom looks like it could be great very ~225lbs but only puts out a few hp.

and finally looks something like this:

stroker wrote:

wearymicrobe wrote: I have no idea why I like this but man is it fun.

What the hell is THAT???

Funduro with a different light?

Why not take your xs400 and put the money into it? Cartridge emulators up front and a set of works shocks in the rear would liven up the handling a lot and they look pretty good with a solo seat and clipons.

Holy zombie thread, Batman!

DRINK!!

In reply to stroker:

I still see two-strokes for sale all the time. In the past year I have picked up a Suzuki GT380 and a T250. The problem with two-strokes is not finding them, or even finding affordable bikes. It is dealing with parts and leaky crank seals.

stuart in mn wrote: I really, really like the Bandit 400, especially the nekkid red one with white wheels. Unfortunately they're pretty rare and I've never been able to find one for sale for a reasonable price. The GS500 is a vertical twin. Outside of the SV, I don't think Suzuki ever built any small bore V-twin sporty bikes (at least not that were sold in the US.)

I had one about 5 years ago. Naked, red with white wheels. It had 21,000 on the clock and I bought it from a pawn shop in Dothan, AL for 200 bucks. Ran like hell for a 400. I sold it for 1500 bucks with no cash invested and wish I kept it. Wheelie machine, mine had a full yosh with a jet kit and Air pods

brrrrraaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiins

After about 12 bikes, the XS400 being my first, i am now riding a 74 Honda CB360.

That's some serious full circle E36 M3, boys.