i have a 98' hawk in the fastest color there is (red) but i notice that the engine itself makes a medium pitched recipricating sound in keeping with engine rpm. nothing you can hear from 5ft but to me it sound cheap. is this something i should be concerned about or is this something common to all hawks?

 

+1 on Red = Fastest Color!

I suggest you do a search on this site for CCTs (Cam Chain Tensioners) cuz that could be your noise...lot's of folks here change theirs out from the auto CCTs to manual CCT to avoid auto faulure...

Good luck bro!
Rick C.

 

Are you talking about the whinning sound? If so both the VTR and the RC51 make that noise(I kinda like it)

 

My old (commuting) F2 started making that sound about 15k miles ago (55k total) too. I'd be curious as to what it is...

 

VTR clutches are loud. If u have an f2 with 55K miles and it makes noise at 5K rpm, replace the ccts. Real easy to hear. Get a good screw driver and put it up to the engine and put your ear on the handle.

seriously. this works.

Put near the crank u should hear a whine (bearing?). Put near the head and all u should hear is the friggin explosions. If u have any other noises that stand out... Think about where its coming from. Seriously.

 

It's hard to diagnose without hearing the actual sound.... can be even with hearing the actual sound.

 

What mileage should cct's be replaced 10,000 or less?

 

Honestly, ccts dont need to be replaced near as often as people think. If the bike is gettin riden hard (track days, lots of wheelies, rev limiter stuff) id say no earlier than 25K

 

The ccts were just replaced on the F2 actually and it still makes the sound. It gets higher in pitch as the rpms increase. I've heard that balance shafts can be the culprit, but honestly thats above my mechanical know-how so I'm lost. It doesn't seem to have any effect on the performance though, but I really don't ride the thing hard (commuter). I guess I'll ask down at the local shop and see what they have to say... Thanks!