Sell or keep the Superhawk?
05-03-2005, 07:58 AM
#1
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Sell or keep the Superhawk?
Alright, so ive had my superhawk for about a year and a half now and have put just under 9 thousand miles on it. Well, now that the new season is starting, my bike is starting to feel slower and slower, so im thinking i might sell it and buy an older GSXR1000. The main reason i pick the GSXR1000 is because that seems the be the most universal bike. It is fast as all crap, i could take it to the drap strip and run nines with just suspension lowering mods, than i could take the suspension links and tie downs off and ride it around on the street normally. What do yall think, should i sell the VTR or not? Or does anybody not reccomend a GSXR1k for any reason?
05-03-2005, 08:15 AM
#2
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 1,315
Re: Sell or keep the Superhawk?
We're a bunch of narrow-minded bastards on this site. If you're dumping the 'Hawk then it's over. See ya!
OK, just kiddin'. Far as the GSX-R...I wouldn't call it universal, unless by that you mean good for both hardcore sport riding & the Strip. It's a sharply focused machine.
This sport is much about passion & so you'll probably be happier making a change. "Course you could keep the 'Hawk & add a Gixxer to the stable, too!
OK, just kiddin'. Far as the GSX-R...I wouldn't call it universal, unless by that you mean good for both hardcore sport riding & the Strip. It's a sharply focused machine.
This sport is much about passion & so you'll probably be happier making a change. "Course you could keep the 'Hawk & add a Gixxer to the stable, too!
05-03-2005, 08:55 AM
#3
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Re: Sell or keep the Superhawk?
haha, i deffinetly can't afford two bikes, i am 18 and going to college. From what ive been reading, people are saying that for what it is, the GSXR1k isn't outrageously uncomfortable for decent rides. And the big thing for me is not really being able the drag race the VTR because of the stupid clutch problem that they have (well, ive drag raced it a bunch, but the problem only gets more and more worse, and its seems like no matter what i do, i will not be able to pratice and learn to drag better). And i was thinking of keeping the hawk and building a budget drag bike, but then i realized, that if i were to just buy a GSXR1000 i could have it all. It would run well into the 10s and prolly 9s with a few suspension mods, than at the end of the day, i could ride it home, or just take the lowering mods of and race it around the road course. Its seems much more pratical than my vtr, and it gets way better gas miliage.
05-03-2005, 03:23 PM
#4
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Superstock
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 318
It seems like you are asking us to answer a question that you can only answer for yourself. If you are into drag racing, and if you know GSXR is better for that, then I say just sell the superhawk and get what is best for the drag racing. I would even go further and say that for drag racing, you are probably better off with a used ZX12 or a Busa than you are with gsxr.
05-03-2005, 04:09 PM
#5
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Re: Sell or keep the Superhawk?
I say stay with the Hawk and just learn how to clutch it off line. ya it's not as fast as a gixxer1000 but it can hold it's own in the twisties.
FWIW: My brother used to own a 99 CBR1100 Blackbird so I got to ride it a lot. I had more close calls on that bike than on my hawk simply because it was so fast that you almost forget just how fast it is. at 55 you just sneeze and you are at 100. I think on the street anything faster than the hawk it just overkill. But hey I did have a blast riding such a fast bike, you just really need to practice reserve in the city or the coppers will get ya...
FWIW: My brother used to own a 99 CBR1100 Blackbird so I got to ride it a lot. I had more close calls on that bike than on my hawk simply because it was so fast that you almost forget just how fast it is. at 55 you just sneeze and you are at 100. I think on the street anything faster than the hawk it just overkill. But hey I did have a blast riding such a fast bike, you just really need to practice reserve in the city or the coppers will get ya...
05-03-2005, 04:19 PM
#6
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Squid
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Woonona
Posts: 84
Re: Sell or keep the Superhawk?
One word.... Nitros!
The VTR is a modern classic. When ridden well, will carve up the gixxer/R1/Blade guy's...& you can't beat the sound.. :wink:
You can't beat the feeling of coming around the outside of some dude on a "faster" bike at the track either....
Keep the VTR & add some bling & gas!
The VTR is a modern classic. When ridden well, will carve up the gixxer/R1/Blade guy's...& you can't beat the sound.. :wink:
You can't beat the feeling of coming around the outside of some dude on a "faster" bike at the track either....
Keep the VTR & add some bling & gas!
05-03-2005, 05:56 PM
#7
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I would even go further and say that for drag racing, you are probably better off with a used ZX12 or a Busa than you are with gsxr.
Well, the thing is, i still want a nimble bike that i can ride on the street for fun. I don't want some big boat of a bike, I want something that i can still do wheelies and stoppies on, and stay nimble, and very responsive feeling.
I say stay with the Hawk and just learn how to clutch it off line. ya it's not as fast as a gixxer1000 but it can hold it's own in the twisties.
well, have you ever really tried drag racing the vtr? Do you know of the clutch problem of which im speaking of? If not, go out and try to launch your bike HARD off the line, like rev it to like 4-5k and try slipping the clutch. I know how to ride a bike, i took it to an 11.3, with my 240 lbs ***, with the stupid clutch problem, which, btw, is better than Motorcyclists best of 11.6. So i know how to ride, thats not the big issue here. And the gsxr1k would be much better in the twisties than the superhawk. When pushed hard around corners, my superhawk starts to get all weird, plus my foot pegs are all worn down because they hit the ground sooo early.
One word.... Nitros!
The VTR is a modern classic. When ridden well, will carve up the gixxer/R1/Blade guy's...& you can't beat the sound..
You can't beat the feeling of coming around the outside of some dude on a "faster" bike at the track either....
Keep the VTR & add some bling & gas!
Yeah, i was thinking nitrous, but that **** gets expensive. Ive had it on three different cars i had(didn't blow up, just switched the kit over between cars to see how each would react, haha) and it just gets really expensive. And once you run out, you vehicle feels DOG SLOW and you can hardly ride it until you get nitrous again. Its like cocain, its addictive, and without it **** seems depressing, haha. Plus, with the suspension mods needed on the vtr to keep up with the big boys, that cost would make the difference between the cost of the bikes. I do LOVE the sound of this bike, and it has a really cool, fun feel, but...... haha, im contimplating.
Well, the thing is, i still want a nimble bike that i can ride on the street for fun. I don't want some big boat of a bike, I want something that i can still do wheelies and stoppies on, and stay nimble, and very responsive feeling.
I say stay with the Hawk and just learn how to clutch it off line. ya it's not as fast as a gixxer1000 but it can hold it's own in the twisties.
well, have you ever really tried drag racing the vtr? Do you know of the clutch problem of which im speaking of? If not, go out and try to launch your bike HARD off the line, like rev it to like 4-5k and try slipping the clutch. I know how to ride a bike, i took it to an 11.3, with my 240 lbs ***, with the stupid clutch problem, which, btw, is better than Motorcyclists best of 11.6. So i know how to ride, thats not the big issue here. And the gsxr1k would be much better in the twisties than the superhawk. When pushed hard around corners, my superhawk starts to get all weird, plus my foot pegs are all worn down because they hit the ground sooo early.
One word.... Nitros!
The VTR is a modern classic. When ridden well, will carve up the gixxer/R1/Blade guy's...& you can't beat the sound..
You can't beat the feeling of coming around the outside of some dude on a "faster" bike at the track either....
Keep the VTR & add some bling & gas!
Yeah, i was thinking nitrous, but that **** gets expensive. Ive had it on three different cars i had(didn't blow up, just switched the kit over between cars to see how each would react, haha) and it just gets really expensive. And once you run out, you vehicle feels DOG SLOW and you can hardly ride it until you get nitrous again. Its like cocain, its addictive, and without it **** seems depressing, haha. Plus, with the suspension mods needed on the vtr to keep up with the big boys, that cost would make the difference between the cost of the bikes. I do LOVE the sound of this bike, and it has a really cool, fun feel, but...... haha, im contimplating.
05-04-2005, 12:34 AM
#9
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Squid
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Woonona
Posts: 84
Re: Sell or keep the Superhawk?
Guy's here in OZ regularly run 10.2's over the quater with a dead stock motor & 1 tooth down on the front sprocket!
05-04-2005, 01:22 AM
#10
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Join Date: Aug 2004
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Posts: 203
Re: Sell or keep the Superhawk?
Beware, my story is a loong reading ! 
I'd say that if we talk big boys, like busa etc. it probably makes more sense to go for Blackbird.
But here is different prospective to it (beware - long reading):
last summer we went to France southern High Alps, and we had group of people on different bikes.
Now, we had: 2 blackbirds, CBR600 f4i, Hornet (CB) 919, FZR1000 of 1995 with full power, CBR600 F2, and me on Hornet 600 (what is later turned into Honda 599 in US).
And, despite all riders were more or less same level (except 1 guy) I can easily outrun ALL those bikes except guy on CB919, who was professional riding teacher and several heads above my level of riding, and had 919 with it's train-like midrange.
Of course my Hornet had some mods - Ohlins rear shock, sorted forks and brakes. Engine - untouched except open exhaust.
When it came to wide curves Blackbirds had me on every run, but in tight corners I felt like a "king" ;-)
Guy on CBR600f4i struggled. Guy on CBR600 f2 was fine - seemed that older CBR had more midrange. FZR was surprisingly neutral (except for consuming oil in liters).
One day when we went with smaller group to seaside we met group of guys on "big boys" like Busas and ZX12 - they been useless on those roads, just totally useless - they could not fit those barges into corners that still was bearable for Blackbirds! ZX was particularly useless with heavy handling, Busa had just slow handling. After this trips two guys with Blackbirds changed their decision about selling Birds for "newer" kind of big bikes, like Busa or ZX.
And what I did? I planned back then to sell Hornet, but was thinking of getting something like older GSXR, or may be older Blade etc.
But after that trip I started to lust after midrange ;-) and it HAD to be V-twin.
So, I sold Hornet and bought Storm (with profit!) and first thing I did? I had 200 km ride on Storm and was amazed by midrange and ability to ride in 6th for most of the time, but was spooked by handling - a bit slow-ish and with tendency to tighten up curve towards internal kerb side, and a bit too soft brakes. But it ad Arrow exhaust on it, + original cans, and sound was unbeleivable.
So, with profit of 800 Euro I got from this bike change + 200 from unused Hornet tuning parts I still had I went and bought:
1. Goodridge braided brake hoses
2. Wilbers shock absorber with 4 adjustements, including SEPARATE low-speed and high-speed (meant shock rod speed) compression adjustement.
3. Hyperpro springs (long ones, throw spacer away), Hypepro oil.
4. Crash pads, CBR1000F clip-ons.
And that was it - after first ride with new suspension I was absolutely blown by how much handling and comfort has changed. Above anything I expected. Front was well planted, tail got raised a bit by preload settings for my weight set at shock manufacturer, so I only adjusted compressions and damping, and bike started to turn so quickly I was scared at beginning. And all this with still confortable ride.
I do honestly beleive that now in road riding good rider on my VTR can keep up easily with sportbikes, and I have VTR-riding friend who proved that to me - nobody can get him in twisties, even guys on R1s, and I myself was sooo behind him. He got suspension upgrade too.
In one of issues of Performance Bikes (UK, good mag) they had story on
Revlution Racing-modified VTR that as they say "was coolest ride they ever had" and that "have RSV Mille against the wall with hands on behind it's head" (citate ;-))
Now - if you want drag bike - you need completely different approach, may be GSXR1100-like thingy. GSXR1000 is a great and nasty bike, there is nothing sane about it and yes, it can take **** of most of 1000cc sportbikes in real life, but it is ultimate sport, no kidding. Shawk never was focused track carver, and you can spend bucks and make it into it, but if you overdo it shawk will lose it's touring side completely and you will end up with...well, slower and less powerful GSXR1000
So - in case you target is that - better to buy GSXR.
If you keep shawk - may be just find way to modify clutch or adapt RC slipper clutch to solve both probs at once etc.
But I'd say that IMHO point of sport-ish V-twin is twisty roads and roll-ons, not drag race. BTW - loads of these drag races I saw in Moscow been won by Honda X11, which is actually Blackbird-based roadster and Busas, which are actually barges - too long to flip
I'd say that if we talk big boys, like busa etc. it probably makes more sense to go for Blackbird.
But here is different prospective to it (beware - long reading):
last summer we went to France southern High Alps, and we had group of people on different bikes.
Now, we had: 2 blackbirds, CBR600 f4i, Hornet (CB) 919, FZR1000 of 1995 with full power, CBR600 F2, and me on Hornet 600 (what is later turned into Honda 599 in US).
And, despite all riders were more or less same level (except 1 guy) I can easily outrun ALL those bikes except guy on CB919, who was professional riding teacher and several heads above my level of riding, and had 919 with it's train-like midrange.
Of course my Hornet had some mods - Ohlins rear shock, sorted forks and brakes. Engine - untouched except open exhaust.
When it came to wide curves Blackbirds had me on every run, but in tight corners I felt like a "king" ;-)
Guy on CBR600f4i struggled. Guy on CBR600 f2 was fine - seemed that older CBR had more midrange. FZR was surprisingly neutral (except for consuming oil in liters).
One day when we went with smaller group to seaside we met group of guys on "big boys" like Busas and ZX12 - they been useless on those roads, just totally useless - they could not fit those barges into corners that still was bearable for Blackbirds! ZX was particularly useless with heavy handling, Busa had just slow handling. After this trips two guys with Blackbirds changed their decision about selling Birds for "newer" kind of big bikes, like Busa or ZX.
And what I did? I planned back then to sell Hornet, but was thinking of getting something like older GSXR, or may be older Blade etc.
But after that trip I started to lust after midrange ;-) and it HAD to be V-twin.
So, I sold Hornet and bought Storm (with profit!) and first thing I did? I had 200 km ride on Storm and was amazed by midrange and ability to ride in 6th for most of the time, but was spooked by handling - a bit slow-ish and with tendency to tighten up curve towards internal kerb side, and a bit too soft brakes. But it ad Arrow exhaust on it, + original cans, and sound was unbeleivable.
So, with profit of 800 Euro I got from this bike change + 200 from unused Hornet tuning parts I still had I went and bought:
1. Goodridge braided brake hoses
2. Wilbers shock absorber with 4 adjustements, including SEPARATE low-speed and high-speed (meant shock rod speed) compression adjustement.
3. Hyperpro springs (long ones, throw spacer away), Hypepro oil.
4. Crash pads, CBR1000F clip-ons.
And that was it - after first ride with new suspension I was absolutely blown by how much handling and comfort has changed. Above anything I expected. Front was well planted, tail got raised a bit by preload settings for my weight set at shock manufacturer, so I only adjusted compressions and damping, and bike started to turn so quickly I was scared at beginning. And all this with still confortable ride.
I do honestly beleive that now in road riding good rider on my VTR can keep up easily with sportbikes, and I have VTR-riding friend who proved that to me - nobody can get him in twisties, even guys on R1s, and I myself was sooo behind him. He got suspension upgrade too.
In one of issues of Performance Bikes (UK, good mag) they had story on
Revlution Racing-modified VTR that as they say "was coolest ride they ever had" and that "have RSV Mille against the wall with hands on behind it's head" (citate ;-))
Now - if you want drag bike - you need completely different approach, may be GSXR1100-like thingy. GSXR1000 is a great and nasty bike, there is nothing sane about it and yes, it can take **** of most of 1000cc sportbikes in real life, but it is ultimate sport, no kidding. Shawk never was focused track carver, and you can spend bucks and make it into it, but if you overdo it shawk will lose it's touring side completely and you will end up with...well, slower and less powerful GSXR1000
So - in case you target is that - better to buy GSXR.
If you keep shawk - may be just find way to modify clutch or adapt RC slipper clutch to solve both probs at once etc.
But I'd say that IMHO point of sport-ish V-twin is twisty roads and roll-ons, not drag race. BTW - loads of these drag races I saw in Moscow been won by Honda X11, which is actually Blackbird-based roadster and Busas, which are actually barges - too long to flip
05-04-2005, 08:25 AM
#12
Senior Member
SuperBike
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 1,315
Re: Sell or keep the Superhawk?
Guy's here in OZ regularly run 10.2's over the quater with a dead stock motor & 1 tooth down on the front sprocket!
Isn't that Aussie 1/4 mile like 100 feet shorter than the US strips?!!!
05-04-2005, 09:20 AM
#13
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Posts: n/a
Re: Sell or keep the Superhawk?
Guy's here in OZ regularly run 10.2's over the quater with a dead stock motor & 1 tooth down on the front sprocket!
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