New guy here !!
04-17-2005, 09:51 AM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
New guy here !!
Just want to introduce myself. I'm about to aquire a bone stock '03 and want to get some ideas on what to do first as far as modifications. I'm sure the forks will be the first thing. Then I'll probably want to shed some weight (from me and the bike).
I look forward to spending some time here.
I look forward to spending some time here.
04-18-2005, 03:51 PM
#2
Senior Member
Superstock
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 318
Re: New guy here !!
welcome aboard! you will like it here!!!
(you probably recognize me from another local board).
Great choice of bike, the superhawk is. I was on a 250 mile long group ride with a few guys yesterday, and swapped bikes with a couple of people: one was FJR1300 Yamaha, and the other was Triumph Sprint 995. Superhawk was by far faster and better performing than both (as expected, of course.) And the other owners had nothing but praise for the ride they had on my bike.
You will need to fix the front spring, and the front brake lines first, before moving on to other mods. This is my personal opinion though.
(you probably recognize me from another local board).
Great choice of bike, the superhawk is. I was on a 250 mile long group ride with a few guys yesterday, and swapped bikes with a couple of people: one was FJR1300 Yamaha, and the other was Triumph Sprint 995. Superhawk was by far faster and better performing than both (as expected, of course.) And the other owners had nothing but praise for the ride they had on my bike.
You will need to fix the front spring, and the front brake lines first, before moving on to other mods. This is my personal opinion though.
04-18-2005, 08:00 PM
#3
Member
Squid
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Woonona
Posts: 84
Re: New guy here !!
The forks (revalving) are a good mod (as has been said),
The best mod you can do for the least amount of money is to lose 1 tooth on the front sprocket. Should cost around $20 US & you can do it yourself in around 20 minutes.
Off idle response is improved & you can see redilne in top!
The best mod you can do for the least amount of money is to lose 1 tooth on the front sprocket. Should cost around $20 US & you can do it yourself in around 20 minutes.
Off idle response is improved & you can see redilne in top!
04-18-2005, 08:03 PM
#4
Senior Member
SuperBike
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,015
Re: New guy here !!
Welcome aboard
Mods in order
RaceTech Front fork springs and Gold valves (do both as a set if you do just the springs, you will never feel the true forks that the superhawk has, be sure to get RaceTech Fork Oil)
Steel Front Brkae lines (I have the Double HH Vesrah Pads - They Fantastic)
Double Bubble Fairing screen to kick the air up over your helmet
Rear shock spacer (5mm) to raise the rear and make the bike turn a little quicker
Mirror extenders
Slip-on's (High mount or none at all - of course this will require a jetkit and tuning) I would reccomend the Factory-pro jet kit and the K&n filter
Carb mod to allow carb sync without removing the tank
Oh the list goes on and on just takes money
Mods in order
RaceTech Front fork springs and Gold valves (do both as a set if you do just the springs, you will never feel the true forks that the superhawk has, be sure to get RaceTech Fork Oil)
Steel Front Brkae lines (I have the Double HH Vesrah Pads - They Fantastic)
Double Bubble Fairing screen to kick the air up over your helmet
Rear shock spacer (5mm) to raise the rear and make the bike turn a little quicker
Mirror extenders
Slip-on's (High mount or none at all - of course this will require a jetkit and tuning) I would reccomend the Factory-pro jet kit and the K&n filter
Carb mod to allow carb sync without removing the tank
Oh the list goes on and on just takes money
04-19-2005, 03:28 PM
#6
Senior Member
Superstock
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Southeast PA
Posts: 409
Welcome to the board
The 1st mods you should make are getting the right gear (if you dont already have it)
Next do the front brakes, SS lines and HH pads really help alot!.
Then just ride it. As you feel the need do the forks, (Some people like them the way they are for touring, if your doing more "sport" riding your going to want to stiffen them up)
Once the front is done, then the rear shock will need to get tossed (expect $600-1100 for this one)
If you feel you need alittle more power do the exhust & jet kit. Again lots of $$$.
If your doing sport riding make sure you get some sticky rubber, it helps alot also.
Dont forget the TPS mod, it helps alot in throttle response.
But for now, just ride the bike and get used to the handling and power.
The 1st mods you should make are getting the right gear (if you dont already have it)
Next do the front brakes, SS lines and HH pads really help alot!.
Then just ride it. As you feel the need do the forks, (Some people like them the way they are for touring, if your doing more "sport" riding your going to want to stiffen them up)
Once the front is done, then the rear shock will need to get tossed (expect $600-1100 for this one)
If you feel you need alittle more power do the exhust & jet kit. Again lots of $$$.
If your doing sport riding make sure you get some sticky rubber, it helps alot also.
Dont forget the TPS mod, it helps alot in throttle response.
But for now, just ride the bike and get used to the handling and power.
04-20-2005, 08:15 PM
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: New guy here !!
Well I got the bike today and looking forward to doing some mods to this thing. It sounds like a lawnmower.
The only mod the first owner did was to hack off the fender with a butter knife or some thing so I'm looking for a stock rear fender ( should be plenty of those around ). The suspension feels pretty good as far as stiffness but without riding it it's hard to say. Very big compared to my 954.
Pics tomorrow.
The only mod the first owner did was to hack off the fender with a butter knife or some thing so I'm looking for a stock rear fender ( should be plenty of those around ). The suspension feels pretty good as far as stiffness but without riding it it's hard to say. Very big compared to my 954.
Pics tomorrow.
04-20-2005, 08:42 PM
#9
Moderator
MotoGP
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: South Texas
Posts: 2,553
Re: New guy here !!
Yeah, put the money in suspension first. Can't stand the lawnmower sound, eh? 
Do a bafflectomy (do a search) on the stock pipes and save yourself a lot of money thus you can get the suspenders fixed ASAP.
Do a bafflectomy (do a search) on the stock pipes and save yourself a lot of money thus you can get the suspenders fixed ASAP.
04-21-2005, 08:05 AM
#10
Member
Squid
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 62
Re: New guy here !!
Get better springs up front, dont worry about the gold valves, the standard ones can be shimmed and revalved to perform better in the bike than the gold valves (unless you want it setup for comfy highway riding) this will save you some cash for the rest of the mods...
The other change I highly recommend is a 6mm spacer mod for the top of the rear shock. This really makes a huge difference to the flickability of the bike... : )
Regs,
Beefa
The other change I highly recommend is a 6mm spacer mod for the top of the rear shock. This really makes a huge difference to the flickability of the bike... : )
Regs,
Beefa
04-21-2005, 11:02 AM
#11
Senior Member
SuperSport
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Nananimo, B.C.
Posts: 764
Re: New guy here !!
dont worry about the gold valves, the standard ones can be shimmed and revalved to perform better in the bike than the gold valves
04-21-2005, 02:05 PM
#12
Member
Squid
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 62
Re: New guy here !!
You find a very good suspension mech : )
I was going to get the gold valves and this is what he told me.
He has a fair amount of cred in the industry so knows his stuff. Also used to have an earlier model VTR so has good first hand knowledge.
Said the holes on the gold valves are larger hence let more oil through, which = less damping.
to quote" The damping on the VTR is not bad at all, but its the springs that are way too soft and really let the package down...You cant walk on oil, its not the oil holding your bike up, hence its not the valves at fault. Its the springs that support the weight of the bike and thats what stops it from bottoming out. The valves just slow the process, but the fork will continue to move until the spring reaches a load that is enough to stop the downward force."
He set mine up the same as he set his up, "good for some fast sport riding" without sacrificing comfort.
I have to say I am really really impressed. I ride 100miles to and from work each day as well as a bit of a scratch on the weekends, and this feels like a new bike.
I was going to get the gold valves and this is what he told me.
He has a fair amount of cred in the industry so knows his stuff. Also used to have an earlier model VTR so has good first hand knowledge.
Said the holes on the gold valves are larger hence let more oil through, which = less damping.
to quote" The damping on the VTR is not bad at all, but its the springs that are way too soft and really let the package down...You cant walk on oil, its not the oil holding your bike up, hence its not the valves at fault. Its the springs that support the weight of the bike and thats what stops it from bottoming out. The valves just slow the process, but the fork will continue to move until the spring reaches a load that is enough to stop the downward force."
He set mine up the same as he set his up, "good for some fast sport riding" without sacrificing comfort.
I have to say I am really really impressed. I ride 100miles to and from work each day as well as a bit of a scratch on the weekends, and this feels like a new bike.
04-21-2005, 03:38 PM
#13
Senior Member
SuperSport
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Nananimo, B.C.
Posts: 764
Re: New guy here !!
I've got the Racetech springs so your telling me I'm good, which makes me happy.
A friend tells me I should get the Gold valves. This is my first sport bike and I don't know good suspension from bad. The rear stock shock seems too firm though. I'll crank it down a couple more notches.
A friend tells me I should get the Gold valves. This is my first sport bike and I don't know good suspension from bad. The rear stock shock seems too firm though. I'll crank it down a couple more notches.
04-21-2005, 09:39 PM
#14
Member
Squid
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 62
Re: New guy here !!
Springs are definately a good start.
As for the valves, ask 10 people and you are sure to get at least 5 different answers : )
If you have access to someone who is a bike suspension specialist I'd ask them.
I trust the guy who told me as he does the suspension for quite a lot of the Australian Superbikes, and the Dirt bikes as well. He has first hand experience with this bike and is reasonably respected in the industry.
He could have happily sold the gold valves to me cause i asked for them, but instead gave me a cheaper and in his eyes, more effective solution.
Whoever does the work on your valves would have to know what they are doing otherwise you may be wasting money. He didnt leave the standard valves as standard..... : )
As for the valves, ask 10 people and you are sure to get at least 5 different answers : )
If you have access to someone who is a bike suspension specialist I'd ask them.
I trust the guy who told me as he does the suspension for quite a lot of the Australian Superbikes, and the Dirt bikes as well. He has first hand experience with this bike and is reasonably respected in the industry.
He could have happily sold the gold valves to me cause i asked for them, but instead gave me a cheaper and in his eyes, more effective solution.
Whoever does the work on your valves would have to know what they are doing otherwise you may be wasting money. He didnt leave the standard valves as standard..... : )
Sounds like I'm back to the Goldvalves then. I doubt very much anyone around these parts is a suspension specialist. The nearest track is in another country.
04-27-2005, 10:04 AM
#16
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: New guy here !!
If you want more grunt for cheap you can remove the baffle from the stock cans. I have a set of stock cans with the baffles already taken out and Id be willing to part with them for VERY little cash. Im in SJ not to far away, all of the mods mentioned above are done to my bike including a Sargent seat and a few other mods for creature comfort.
We should ride sometime, possibly get a VTR group ride sometime.
Ashby
We should ride sometime, possibly get a VTR group ride sometime.
Ashby
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