IF YOU HAD THE CHOICE
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Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 677
From: Rancho Cordova, California
IF YOU HAD THE CHOICE
So I'm already kind of tired and frustrated with the carbs and the "scary" (if you've had failure, you'll understand) noises that seem to come and go with the superhawk. I hate feeling paranoid. So here's a thought. If I could trade + cash for a good condition RC51, should I? How many of you would give up your hawk for an RC51 in a minute?
Senior Member
Superstock
Superstock
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 293
Yeah, that RC is going to be a punishing ride anywhere but the track. Just not a livable day-to-day bike for me, so I'd not do it. With the full exhaust on mine SH and all of the mechanical noises of the VTR, (though none of them scary really, though I'll admit to paranoia while waiting for my APE CCT's a few years back) I agree, it can get a bit tiresome on the ears. Really though, with a decent set of earplugs (I won't do any more than 25mi without em anyway) or a good set of sealing in-ear earbuds, it's no biggie. Sometimes I miss having a stealthy bike... Never enough to put the stock exhaust back on though. 
-R
-R
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 617
From: In a van down by the river (I wish!)
If you like the SH because it's a great road bike, this would be a bad trade. But if you like the SH because it's a sporting twin, you might be ok. It really depends on why you ride. It might make sense to trade down to a moped for you, in your circumstances. Only you can know.
I know what it's like to lose that feeling on confidence you had in a bike. You COULD bring it in to a shop and tell them to go through it. If the only thing preventing you from sticking with the SH is that feeling that you might hear a big pop noise, I'd just get a good wrench to look it over.
I know what it's like to lose that feeling on confidence you had in a bike. You COULD bring it in to a shop and tell them to go through it. If the only thing preventing you from sticking with the SH is that feeling that you might hear a big pop noise, I'd just get a good wrench to look it over.
ole dirty bastard
SuperSport
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 976
From: my house
how old is it how many miles?
im buying my project back from my brother in law.
when i was riding it before the mods i whipped her but good.
am i paranoid about it?....no i took care of it also.
no probs with carbs or tensioners.
and i ran it hard along with bikes like gsxr 1000's
zx11's and hyabusas.
if you are paranoid about it ,it isnt the bike for you.
oh by the way,the rc makes a whole bunch of other sounds it self.
im buying my project back from my brother in law.
when i was riding it before the mods i whipped her but good.
am i paranoid about it?....no i took care of it also.
no probs with carbs or tensioners.
and i ran it hard along with bikes like gsxr 1000's
zx11's and hyabusas.
if you are paranoid about it ,it isnt the bike for you.
oh by the way,the rc makes a whole bunch of other sounds it self.
Out of my mind, back in 5
MotoGP
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 6,109
From: Skurup, Sweden
If you are going to trade the SH for a RC on the reason of scary noises alone, go listen to that RC first... Trust me, it's no any more confidence inspiring that regard... You have chain driven cams that makes noise, just an example...
Bytes
Back Marker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 105
From: This side of hell
My buddy has an RC51 and I really do like riding it. It is a fun bike, but IMHO it doesn't compare the the SH as far as an all around great bike. I commute on the SH, take slow rides to take in the scenery, take fast canyon runs, and have done a couple of fairly long trips on it. The hawk does all of those pretty darn well. I changed my front end springs out a week or so ago which I thought was a major improvement. Other than that my bike is completely stock. I don't want to change the pipes because I hate dicking with carbs. Carbs are pretty much yesteryear technology. I really wish they would have upgraded the hawk to FI in the later years. Oh, now to your question. No way. RC is way too track oriented to be enjoyable for the other reasons I like to ride. If you want more of a race bike, I would check out the newer 1000cc models, name your brand.
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 243
From: Toronto, Ontario
just so u guys know the new cbr1000rr has a very easy going riding position. i sat on one at a dealer once and it reminded me very much of VTR's riding position. u guys thinkg the rc51 is bad? go sit on a a zx7 from late 90's early 2000's....torture rack.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 677
From: Rancho Cordova, California
I absolutely love the comfort, torque, feel, sound, look, everything. I had a failure shortly after I bought it. $2500 later for a new piston, head work, seat, exhaust, jets, tps, yada yada it has ran perfect no longer than 3 weeks at a time. I had apes put in it from the shop and NEVER could get the sound to go away. Compared it to another hawk with yosh cans and mine sounded as if it was about to snap a valve any minute. I had them put new stock cct's in and it purred like a kitten. Totally different sound. Yes (before I get the, adjustment coments) I tried adjusting the ape's and so did the shop. Anyway, sucked debris from a broken fuel line into the pilot again (I think) so I have a huge flat spot again. On top of that, when it's hot, it makes a noise simmilar to the noise it made with ape's in it. I'm just ranting and it's depressing as hell when the bike runs like ****!
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 740
From: Pa
I absolutely love the comfort, torque, feel, sound, look, everything. I had a failure shortly after I bought it. $2500 later for a new piston, head work, seat, exhaust, jets, tps, yada yada it has ran perfect no longer than 3 weeks at a time. I had apes put in it from the shop and NEVER could get the sound to go away. Compared it to another hawk with yosh cans and mine sounded as if it was about to snap a valve any minute. I had them put new stock cct's in and it purred like a kitten. Totally different sound. Yes (before I get the, adjustment coments) I tried adjusting the ape's and so did the shop. Anyway, sucked debris from a broken fuel line into the pilot again (I think) so I have a huge flat spot again. On top of that, when it's hot, it makes a noise simmilar to the noise it made with ape's in it. I'm just ranting and it's depressing as hell when the bike runs like ****!
Hmm-sounds like it wasn't maintained properly - before U bought it.
Dump it & buy something else - FZ-1? RC is not street friendly ride.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 677
From: Rancho Cordova, California
It sat for 9 years before I got it. It is a 98 and I got it with 1439 miles. Yes that's one thousand four hundred! It now has a bit under 5k on it and it just seems super tempermental.
Banned
MotoGP
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,942
From: Lake View Terrace, CA
As for the noises, whichever cylinder is having the jet problem is going lean and running hot. Fix the carbs and the noises should go away.
I know you've been through a lot but I think you are very close to having a good running bike. Change the other fuel line, if you haven't already, when the carbs are out and it should run good.
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,452
From: San Clemente, CA
I've got about 190,000 miles of street riding, 40,000 on my SuperHawk. With all of its quirks and warts, I love my VTR...best bike I've ever had.
I sat on an RC at the dealer before buying my VTR, and I knew I wouldn't have been able to handle the riding position for very long. Having said that, I think it's absolutely the most sexy looking bike ever. I could have bought one and put higher bars on it, but that would alter the handling, in my opinion. Besides, since I'm not Colin Edwards or Nicky Hayden, I couldn't ride it like it was intended anyway.
And after pulling the tank and the carbs a few times...it's kind of fun.
I sat on an RC at the dealer before buying my VTR, and I knew I wouldn't have been able to handle the riding position for very long. Having said that, I think it's absolutely the most sexy looking bike ever. I could have bought one and put higher bars on it, but that would alter the handling, in my opinion. Besides, since I'm not Colin Edwards or Nicky Hayden, I couldn't ride it like it was intended anyway.
And after pulling the tank and the carbs a few times...it's kind of fun.
Moderator
MotoGP
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,213
From: Gettysburg, Pa
You should definitely spend some time on the RC before you pull the trigger. Great bike but the riding position isn't long term friendly. If you do long rides, the RC will punish you.
Ya know, I just demo'd one yesterday (along with a new R1 and a Concours). That bike was an absolute blast to ride. The I4 geared the way they have it, had plenty of low end. My only complaint was that the bars were too straight. They need to bend back a little toward the center line of the bike. I think the front wheel came off the ground at least 5 times during the 30min ride.
Ya know, I just demo'd one yesterday (along with a new R1 and a Concours). That bike was an absolute blast to ride. The I4 geared the way they have it, had plenty of low end. My only complaint was that the bars were too straight. They need to bend back a little toward the center line of the bike. I think the front wheel came off the ground at least 5 times during the 30min ride.
Senior Member
SuperSport
SuperSport
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 524
From: Tarpon Springs, FL
That's funny, when I sat on one at the dealer, that was the first thought that popped into my mind too...
Senior Member
SuperSport
SuperSport
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 524
From: Tarpon Springs, FL
Know what else is funny/strange/maybe just a co-inkydink? My buddy's Superhawk (also a '98, bought new then) didn't blow the front CCT until after the first time he let it sit un-ridden for a couple of years due to crash damage/shoulder injury/birth of his first baby. Those things left him unable to ride it for a spell, and it wasn't until he got her back on the road after a long hiatus that the CCT went out... he swears that was a major factor in the causation. Only difference was that his had ten times the amount of miles as yours.
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