The 750 is def. a faster machine when riding hard even on public roads...the top end is killer too..I'd say from 60-180 the hawk would have no chance...especially since I have a stock SH vs my stock 01 750 and switch daily. Maybe if you upgraded all the suspension stuff on the hawk.

Yet I drove the hawk this whole week because torque rocks for around town.

 

Went for a little ride today on the SH with a few buddies - 07 1000RR, 03 R1, 06 GSX-R750 (with pillion). I taught them all a lesson in cornering. T'was fun! I'll give benefit of the doubt to the guy with the passenger though. She was pretty hot so I don't blame him for being careful.

Also got to ride a buddy's Monster S2 today. He was one of my students in the MSF course I taught yesterday and today. Nice bike. Shakes more than the Superhawk. Nice midrange torque - probably close to the VTR but the bike feels about 50# lighter. Top end is comparable. Nice bike overall but I wouldn't own one.

 

Ducatis are nice bikes to look at, pretty fun to ride, terribly expensive to purchase and maintain. Part of the reason why I got rid of mine.

 

I own one of each. It's an apples and oranges comparison. Each bike was meant for different purposes. However having said that, I had a lot of fun on the Superhawk (with fork and shock work) on a track. It surprised the hell out of me. On the street it's probably one of the most versatile machines I know of. And pictures never do them justice for some reason.

But to compare a current year race bike like the Gixxer to the trusty 'Hawk isn't fair. The GSX-R has much more adjustable suspension, a much firmer chassis and swingarm, a slipper clutch (!), and the engine revs to the moon. With a nice pipe on it, at full honk, it stirs my blood just as my twin does (For a 750 with that short pipe, it is a very "throaty" in line four!). It is lighter and faster than the Superhawk, and less work to get around a track. On the street it's a more committed seating position, but only because of the clip on height. The reach to the bars and seat height are pretty short. That coupled with a very narrow seat make it easy for short guys like me to keep my feet planted. Adjustable pegs are a sweet option that hardly any other bikes have. The cable clutch pull is heavy though IMO, and it's a lot more evident on the street. All in all, not too bad, but I wouldn't want to tour on it.

Then there's the price difference... it's hard to beat the value of the Superhawk.

 

Sorry it's not the SH, but hope you guys like it...

 

Superhawk or not, that's F'ing NICE!

 

Yep, looks fast standing still

 

I'll stick with the superhawks twin- we've go a lot of twisties and I enjoy not having to downshift on fast curves - I went riding with the local Ducati club recently and the hawk was just about as fast on the turns and could run the Ducatis down real quick on the straights (except the rich guy on the new 160 HP 1098.)
Besides, nothing sound like that twin when you roll down the street setting off car alarms.

 

I gotta tell ya, I've always had a place in my heart for Ducati, but never owned one. So last week I was in my local bike shop and see a S2R 1000 on the floor. A 2006 with only 3200 mi. Acropovic carbon can, Sargent seat, that great ss swingarm, the sexy wheels...but isn't there a law against painting a Ducati grey? Thought BMW had the grey paint thing all hemmed up. Anyway, sat on it, loved it, and was half seriously thinking about trying to work a trade.

The moral of this story-spoke to the sales mgr, who I've known for quite a while. Turns out the bike is his. I told him I had a SH (was riding the other bike that day) and he used to have one. He said "I loved my hawk. It's as fun as the Ducati but without the headaches". So thanks to an honest salesman, I went home happy and saved some substantial $$$. It's pretty hard to buy something else when you factor in the grin/dollar ratio.

 

Apples and oranges.

I had my '98 Super Hawk for a couple of years, loved almost everything about her: ergos, grunt, looks. Suspenders and brakes being negatives.

After the SH, I got an Aprilia Mille R, all the bells and whistles 'cept the ergos blew and was heavy. So I went to an SV for comfort.

So, I have been a V twin junkie.

Recently I rode my bud's new at the time '06 Gix 750, the last bike in the world I would have ever thought my bud would own...he lived, and nearly died on Super Hawks.

I was blown away about the entire Gix 750 package, ergos, suspension, weight and chasis. A Stellar out-of-the-box motorcycle.

Yeah, grunt was down, but not by much and the engine spooled up very very quickly.

After a year, my bud still raves about the Gix 750, which still remains in stock form. Me, I traded in my SV 650 one month ago for a black '07 Gix 600, and so damn glad I did!

Apples and oranges.

My garage is big enough for a second motorcycle, and it will be another Super Hawk (best twin I've ever rode), the 'orange' to my Gix (best inline I've ever ridden) 'apple'...

 

I just rode a freinds 05 GSXR600 which was also my first experience on an I4. It suprised me just how much fun that particular bike was. Yes, it didnt have the grunt of the hawk but it was smoother on and off the throttle than the SH. Also it was about 45 lbs lighter and had much quicker steering. Downside, I felt really big on the GSXR and not as many people come up and say "Superhawk great bike I used to have one or Man those V twins sound great". Friend also said he forgot just how much fun it was to ride the Superhawk.