New Superhawk... What needs to be done with it?
Thread Starter
Member
Squid
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 53
New Superhawk... What needs to be done with it?
Hey,
I'm buying my friend's superhawk in 2 weeks... It'll be my first bike so I'm planning on taking it very easy for a while (already taken msf, got gear, etc). I rode quads back in the day too.
Anywho, my question; I'm a bigger guy at 6'6" 320 or so. I've got a lot of muscle and can move well, but should probably be down around 275. What do I need to do to the bike to make up for me being a huge fatass? I would love to bring my girl along once I'm used to the bike, she's small/hot so it'd be like an extra 130 or so... Is this going to even be possible?
I'm buying my friend's superhawk in 2 weeks... It'll be my first bike so I'm planning on taking it very easy for a while (already taken msf, got gear, etc). I rode quads back in the day too.
Anywho, my question; I'm a bigger guy at 6'6" 320 or so. I've got a lot of muscle and can move well, but should probably be down around 275. What do I need to do to the bike to make up for me being a huge fatass? I would love to bring my girl along once I'm used to the bike, she's small/hot so it'd be like an extra 130 or so... Is this going to even be possible?
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,844
From: Gainesville FLA.
With your weight the first thing I would do is re-spring the forks and shock. The superhawk stock is sprung for someone about half your weight, (like 140lbs, dumb if you ask me)so get some weight specific springs at the very least for the front, (race tech is popular). Once properly sprung I don't think riding 2 up would be a problem. Take it easy with it for a little while and get used to it, it has gobs of torque.
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 140
From: Richmond Virginia
Re: New Superhawk... What needs to be done with it?
I am there with you 6'4" and 299 ok ok 300 well i did the 1kg race tech fork springs and i also bought a new rear shock. I need to remember who made it but all in all i think i put $1000 into the suspension so i can ride 2 up or just ride myslf and gear. I will find out who made my rear shock. I am braindead after working 12 days in a row and i am still here.....
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 740
From: Pa
Re: New Superhawk... What needs to be done with it?
Ur a big Dude. Yep get the RaceTech springs, revalve it & get a Ohlins shockIt'll run U about 1300. for someone to furnish & install - But well worth it
Junior Member
Squid
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24
The superhawk... as a first bike???
Just promise us you'll be careful till you get used to it... I've been riding for 19 years... this thing still impresses me. Even at our size, it'll pull the front wheel off the ground, and will pull up the rear if youre too hard on the brakes.
Speaking of which... in addition to the suspension work mentioned... get steel braided frond brake lines if the bike dosen't already have it. Much smoother, and better stopping power.
Above all... enjoy.
Just promise us you'll be careful till you get used to it... I've been riding for 19 years... this thing still impresses me. Even at our size, it'll pull the front wheel off the ground, and will pull up the rear if youre too hard on the brakes.
Speaking of which... in addition to the suspension work mentioned... get steel braided frond brake lines if the bike dosen't already have it. Much smoother, and better stopping power.
Above all... enjoy.
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 474
From: Merritt,MI.
Re: New Superhawk... What needs to be done with it?
+1 on being careful.This is my 6th bike and9th year ridding street bikes not to mention growing up on dirt bikes. And this hawk gets my hands to shake on a regular bassis.Take it easy.Going down hurts+costs alot!!!! 
Thread Starter
Member
Squid
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 53
Re: New Superhawk... What needs to be done with it?
Well... I've put 400 miles on it this week. It hasn't scared me once. It hasn't tried to get away from me, I haven't lost control of the throttle, I've had no trouble turning with it. It's done exactly what I've asked it to do and not complained one bit.
To be honest, I'm starting to wonder if I'm good at this. Maybe I'm just feeling comfortable because I'm being careful... I dunno. I'm trying to be careful, but everything feels so natural and normal, I don't really have anything to base my definition of careful on. I don't speed too much, SUPER CAREFUL in traffic, not having any troubles with the clutch even up hills... How do I know if I'm good at riding a motorcycle?
To be honest, I'm starting to wonder if I'm good at this. Maybe I'm just feeling comfortable because I'm being careful... I dunno. I'm trying to be careful, but everything feels so natural and normal, I don't really have anything to base my definition of careful on. I don't speed too much, SUPER CAREFUL in traffic, not having any troubles with the clutch even up hills... How do I know if I'm good at riding a motorcycle?
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 547
How do you know you're good at driving a car, or flying a plane? It's all about confidence and how safe you are on the bike. Have you learned to anticipate what other drivers/riders are going to do on the roads? Do you feel like you are in solid control of your bike at all times? If something is out of sync on your bike, would you notice? There's a gazillion different ways to be a good rider, just envision a bad rider and don't do any of those things. 
Moderate-whore
MotoGP
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 9,052
From: Leander TX!!
Re: New Superhawk... What needs to be done with it?
And there was this one time, at Superhawk Camp when this girl......well um yeah....
Hey, this was kind of my first bike too, and yeah it is a lot of bike, but then again I am a lot of Man.....273lbs here....and loosing, of course that is a good thing...lol.....
It is funny as you go along, you become more confident in your abilities/skills....then again it only takes a split second to realize that you have only been riding for a short while, and a gazillion things that can go wrong at any second....ie the old fart in the Suburban tring to pass you in a corner doing 75 mph....wtf Loco you know, you saw it......lol....
I know that I still have many miles/years to go before I am doing it right, and that is what will seperate the biker that is riding, from the biker that is waiting for his ride to get picked up off the side of the road (that is if he can find all of the pieces) and hopefully he won't be waiting on an ambulance......Not that accidents don't happen, you just want to make sure you are conscience of your surroundings 100% of the time, more so than in a cage (car) or even riding dirt (4 wheelers or what ever).....
Welcome aboard, and have fun!!
Hey, this was kind of my first bike too, and yeah it is a lot of bike, but then again I am a lot of Man.....273lbs here....and loosing, of course that is a good thing...lol.....
It is funny as you go along, you become more confident in your abilities/skills....then again it only takes a split second to realize that you have only been riding for a short while, and a gazillion things that can go wrong at any second....ie the old fart in the Suburban tring to pass you in a corner doing 75 mph....wtf Loco you know, you saw it......lol....
I know that I still have many miles/years to go before I am doing it right, and that is what will seperate the biker that is riding, from the biker that is waiting for his ride to get picked up off the side of the road (that is if he can find all of the pieces) and hopefully he won't be waiting on an ambulance......Not that accidents don't happen, you just want to make sure you are conscience of your surroundings 100% of the time, more so than in a cage (car) or even riding dirt (4 wheelers or what ever).....
Welcome aboard, and have fun!!
Junior Member
Squid
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7
Originally Posted by seattlesucks
To be honest, I'm starting to wonder if I'm good at this. Maybe I'm just feeling comfortable because I'm being careful... I dunno. I'm trying to be careful, but everything feels so natural and normal, I don't really have anything to base my definition of careful on. I don't speed too much, SUPER CAREFUL in traffic, not having any troubles with the clutch even up hills... How do I know if I'm good at riding a motorcycle?
If it's Reg Pridmore's CLASS you'll find out how not good you are. It happens when you think you're riding fast and he goes around you on the outside.
Riding a slower bike. Two up.
He gives rides in exchange for an unspecified donation to charity. For most all people it's a demonstration of how good the good guys really are.
The "take a class" recommendation is serious. Among others, MSF has an "experienced riders" class.
Thread Starter
Member
Squid
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 53
I've been humbled... lol. Floating around 6k or 7k miles a few months later. I've ridden with some really fast guys. I'm doing really well for my experience level, but I have no illusions about being god's gift to sportbikes. 
My bike still hasn't scared me, though I've scared myself a couple of times...
My bike still hasn't scared me, though I've scared myself a couple of times...
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
