Hey everyone, new to the forum and was wanting advice. I still consider myself a novice rider but I started with the Honda Hawk GT back in 2012. I had private riding lessons to make sure I was competent and I only rode the bike on weekend. I would say maybe about one or two years of weekend riding is my experience. Last time I rode was prob in 2018. I wanted to get another bike and have always looked at the superhawk but since it has been so long since I rode and the hawk only has about half the power of the superhawk, would the superhawk be too much for me? I was also looking at the ninja 650r. I am not a wreckless rider and I am well over 30yo. It would mostly be city riding because I never liked the freeway feel on a bike. Any suggestions for me? I know there are other threads similar and I have read them but I feel like each person's experience is different and will warrant different responses.

 

I'm kinda in the same category.
My 2003 superhawk is the first street legal bike i've ever owned. Previous street bike experience was a 1981 Suzuki GS250T.
I had that for a couple years after HS, but never got my endoresement, just ridden on country/farm roads for the most part.

I was excited when a low mileage 03 SH fell into my lap 3yrs ago. I wasn't looking for a street bike, but i couldn't pass up the deal, despite it's non-running fixer-upper status.

I soon got my MC endoresement on, coincidently a Suzuki TU250, and suddenly felt the VTR1000F, at 4x the displacement would be way too much bike for me.

After i fixed the damaged side case and took it to a more competent mechanic than myself to get it running ( historically terrible at rebuilding carbs) I took it for a few mild test rides around the neighborhood roads.

It was heavy..much more than i was used to. The low angle of the handlebars, like most agree, was a bit too low. Gas sitting for weeks at a time in the float bowls would give me anxiety. My inseem is about 1" too short.

But..I love riding it around town now. I mostly commute a short distance on surface roads to work and back, and have taken it for a few casual cruises and one +100mi round trip with friends that ride.

Freeway riding isn't yet in my comfort-zone either and around town i rarely get out of 3rd gear.

I apreciate the more mature sound of the V-twin compared to a lot of the high revving rockets that are so common. It's like a civilized weapon from another era in an uncivilized world, lol.

I've done the RR upgrade, MCCT's, brakes, high mount exhaust, Scotts stabilizer (incase i do ever see a freeway), LED lighting and a INNOVV camera system to it to make it my own,
currently fitting a Ebay belly pan. Even though i probably will never ride it to it's full potential, it's definitely fits my casual style...despite the occasional carb anxiety.


2003 Superhawk fitting belly pan.

 

Thanks for responding. Coming from the Hawk gt, the weight of the bike isn't too much different but the power is double. I def wouldn't be riding all crazy either but it's good to know that you coming from a more beginning background find it manageable. I really like that sound of the Vtwin as well. The ninja 650r has decent hp but the torque was less than my Hawk GT was, that is what was making me hesitant. I got used to having more torque and since I am not trying to push the bike to it's limits, I feel like the 650r might be less than what I want at least on the low and mid end range.