n00b needs pre-purchase inspection checklist
 

Guys, I'm looking at a couple hawks, all in the '98 -'00 range. Anything in particular I need to watch out for? I found one CHEAP, but it seems like the PO might not have been the best with maintenance, and he has claimed on several occasions the he's done 165mph on it. I guessing it will need a speedo-healer first off.;)

Only thing that makes me concerned is it seems to run pretty hot, although the temp guage doesn't reflect overheating, and it is working. It has a little studder right off idle, but he has installed a Vance and Hines exhaust with 5" cut-off and I'm guessing thats just a carb jetting issue.

Anyway, if ya'll could enlighten me on the nuances of these, I'd sure appreciate it. I am working my way back through the thread history, but need to make a decision on this one pretty soon.

Make sure it's red, they are the fastest ones and you can get plenty of backup to that since it has been proven a gadzillion times.:bananadance:

Oh come on Adam, we all know Yellow is fastest, the pearl color reflects more light so you aren't absorbing all those photons making the bike lighter, thus faster. :D

iyaoyas98: Really there are only two failure points on the bike. The CCTs and the R/R. If the bike already has manual CCTs it is good to go, if not, see if you can find out if they were ever replaced since they became a wear item according to honda, long after the bike had been in service. (in other words if you follow the maint recommended originally by honda they don't get replaced and eventually fail)

Other than those two items, if the bike rides ok with no scary sounds it should be solid. (normal used bike rules apply)

Welcome, give us more detail on what you ar looking at and we'll chime in.
Hot is a relative term, what has you concerned? The fan will generally kick in with the temp gauge at just over half way. A minute or two on the fan should bring it back down unless its really hot where your at.
What is cheap? Shawks tend to be on the low end - they don't apeal to squids

and yellow is the color to have. Some say fastest!

It's a red '98 for $2000. 24k miles. The fairings are in rough shape, but I'm going to fighter it anyway. It does have Ape's and he did the Pair, or de-pair, or whatever. I'm working on that thread now... :D

Just seemed to be cranking out the heat at the footpegs. I don't know, it may of just been me. He was doing One Million MPH on the way to meet me.... :rolleyes:

He's a little squidy.... that's my real concern....

What's the Valve schedule? It probably hasn't been checked in at least 6k.

Hmmm... I would suggest going for a ride and see whats doin.
$2k is not high but it is not cheap for a Shawk either. Generally you can get a really nice examples for $2400 - $3k for earlier bikes. I get concerned when the plastics look rough. I know they are easily replaced or removed, but I wonder what else has been neglected.
As Lazn says the CCT & R/R are the areas of concern, otherwise its a Honda - keep it in oil and it will take you a long way
I think the valve check is at 12k (just coming to that on my bike). From what I've read they generally stay in spec. If they are out you will need shims to adjust

Cheapest hawk I can find in decent shape is around $3.5k. I figure I can do a bunch to a $2k bike with $1500. Like you, I don't like bikes that have taken naps, but, I'm after cheap until I decide the hawks are right for me.

I went on a quick ride on it, got it up to about 75 in a parking lot, no shakes or shimmies. It has excessive travel in the brake lever, so I figure new pads are in order.

Ya'll see one in better shape for less than $3k, help a brother out...:cool:

Well before you spend a lot on new pads, see about upgrading to F4i or GSXR calipers and MC. Huge improvement over stock, and more options in performance pads. (and not super pricey off ebay)

A quick search here will find plenty of threads on this topic.

So I went another direction....

2000 Yellow with Leo Vince pipes, Interated Tail/Signals, Lower Fairing, Corbin.

$3200

I'm picking it up tomorrow.

I'm afraid I've yet begun to spend, I'm a farkle groupie.... :)

Well at least it is the right color this time ;)

Check out the CCT on this one too.. and welcome to the forum!

Around here we don't call it farkle. You will enter a whole new world of OCMD (Obsessive Compulsive Modification Disorder). Check out Tweety, Mikstr and Hawk8541 for example of EXTREME cases of OCMD. The rest of us are showing early signs. Upgraded brakes, shocks and front suspension, are just the start.

Good luck. Glad you picked the fastest color.

VTS and KaiJu also qualify for OCMD but haven't submitted their applications for membership into the club yet.

(I don't quite qualify.. the rear end and internals of my bike are fairly stock :P )

Yeah, I knew there were others, and there are still more that we haven't mentioned yet.

I don't quite qualify. Front end is fairly common (although, I do believe I'm the first completed GSXR600), rear shock is common, superbike bars are common, my MotoVoltage R/R is not very common, sprockets are common.

Hmm, after compiling a list, I am definitely in the early stages of OCMD, just getting the basics done, and all that will be left is the internals.

I'm Baaaaaaack.


'98 that needs a bunch of love is coming home tonight.


If you are thinking about parting out some goodies, please do so NOW. :D

wait... Super Hawks have fairings?

Yellow? Aw man, did you get some cash knocked off the price for that? You know that stonkin' vtwins should be RED. Yellow, you may as well ride a TL. They were all yellow.

Although, yellow is good for racebikes.

I had a yellow. It took a little trip off the side of a mountain in 2010.


Just picked up a '99 that's been rattle canned black (frame and tank) and has ABS black fairings. I'm gonna start stripping it down and re-working her as my winter project. PO made it sound like it was ridden to church on sundays, but when I went to get it the tire were balled up on the edge like only a track bike can be. :cool: