Its a Keeper - Maintenance Questions
 

I Love my Super Hawk!!!

This bike is awesome minus the daily trips for fuel! I want to keep it for as long as possible so I figure I better do some maintenance to it while its to cold for me to ride.

My questions:

1 - how many miles to you all have on your Hawk?

2 - for general maintence do I need any special tools?

For getting the carb set up I am taking it to the dealer I am hoping I can do everything else myself.

I have 26K miles on my bike.

I also plan on mounting a phone mount and charger for my phone (GPS AND MUSIC) any suggestions?

Powerlet & Ram mount have you covered for the phone mount/charger.

Basic tools should get you by if carbs are too technical. I would say a torque wrench is a must if you don't already have one.

I'm not exactly sure of my mileage, it's always on trip!

1: 38,342 miles.. I bought it second hand in 2005 with under 3k

2: Special tools? depends on what you consider special and general maintenance ...

If your talking changing the oil or coolant, then no basic hand tools will do....If you want to sync the carbs, than a carb sync tool is needed.. Check the valves? feeler gauge required.. adjust the valves? High quality 1/4 tq wrench is recommended. Install new chain and sprockets.. going to need a master link press tool... The list goes on and on.. Better you tell us what "basic maintenance" tasks you want to undertake and folks can name off the "special" tools needed.

3: I use a water resistant USB port for power.. made for marine installation... it has two ports, both suitable for charging an iPad and the like, and cell phone, ect.
Everything I use or charge on the SH uses USB.. so I decided not to install a powerlet or other generic power port, only to need an adapter to charge USB items.

Consider posting what city you live in or near in case someone here could help you directly with local knowledge of dealers, tools, techniques, etc. Good luck with everything.

I'm at 57k on my bike. I would look around the forum for hawks carb set up, and a few of the how to's on carbs before shelling the money out to a shop. If you have the time to do it, it's an easy process and gives you the knowledge to tune it later.

Thanks for the replies.

I live in Mount Holly N.J.

I will read about carb set up.

Here a list of what I want to get done this winter.

change spark plug

oil change

change all fluids (clutch, brake and coolant)

change brake pad

air filter change

I checked the sprocket and had the chain replaced already.

It already runs great but do you guys think I am missing anything?


I want to add sliders, two finger brake and clutch levers as well.

Ron,
Please read the posts about installing manual cam chain tensioners. See "New kid on the block cam chain tensioners" thread. The stock ones are known to crater after about 20K miles depending on use. The V twin is very hard on the stock Honda auto tensioners.
There is a good pictoral thread on www.vtr1000.org • Portal the British VTR site.

I will read about carb set up.
Carb Scyn set
change spark plug
Basic hand tools and a spark plug gap gauge
oil change
Basic Hand tools
change all fluids (clutch, brake and coolant)
Basic Hand tools, but a vacuum bleeder shur is nice.. Google mity Vac
change brake pad
Basic Hand tools
air filter change
Basic Hand tools

E -Thanks

Robert - will do!

Any other suggestion are welcome!

Download the Workshop Manual PDF (searchable) http://www.mediafire.com/?5u5qsfqgh9f9ejg

Is there a Clymers manual for it in the US?

or get a copy of the Haynes Manual for the VTR1000F >

Honda VTR1000F Firestorm Repair Manual from Haynes

For the fluid changes a $2 large syringe works too. Not as well but much cheaper. I've used the same one for 5 fluid changes so dad and still doing great.

+1 on manual cam chain tensioners. Only thing that broke when I bought my hawk. Krieger makes awesome ones and best price and customer service.

Oh btw mine only had 11k on it when my auto tensioners went.