superhawk vs hawk
Thread Starter
Member
Squid
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 42
From: new jersey
superhawk vs hawk
Does anyone know if the hawk gets better gas milage than the superhawk. I have my eyes on a 89 hawk that I would like for my daily commuter if it has a noticeable difference.
thanks
thanks
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MotoGP
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,553
From: South Texas
It's been waaaaay to long since I had a 650 so I can't give you specific numbers but yes it does get much better mileage (it don't make much power). Alas, it does have a smallish tank like it's bigger brother so range isn't anything to brag about.
A good cheap commuter is an old kawi concours: HUGE tank (6.5 gal IIRC), shaft drive, good mileage if kept out of the throttle, wind protection, reliable and cheeeeep. Cons: heavy and dated style.
A good cheap commuter is an old kawi concours: HUGE tank (6.5 gal IIRC), shaft drive, good mileage if kept out of the throttle, wind protection, reliable and cheeeeep. Cons: heavy and dated style.
Thread Starter
Member
Squid
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 42
From: new jersey
I cant decide what I want to get. I just came across the hawk on craigslist and thought it would be nice to have parked next to the SH. Only problem is its the slower yellow color. If its still around when I get back from some road work I may check it out.
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 416
From: North Central Indiana
It's been waaaaay to long since I had a 650 so I can't give you specific numbers but yes it does get much better mileage (it don't make much power). Alas, it does have a smallish tank like it's bigger brother so range isn't anything to brag about.
A good cheap commuter is an old kawi concours: HUGE tank (6.5 gal IIRC), shaft drive, good mileage if kept out of the throttle, wind protection, reliable and cheeeeep. Cons: heavy and dated style.
A good cheap commuter is an old kawi concours: HUGE tank (6.5 gal IIRC), shaft drive, good mileage if kept out of the throttle, wind protection, reliable and cheeeeep. Cons: heavy and dated style.
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 442
From: Little Rock, AR
I own a "lil Hawk" now, and they're great fun. WAY slower than a SuperHawk, but still fun. Mine feels like riding a bicycle after riding the "big Hawk", it's so light & manuverable. I actually prefer it on a very twisty road, since you can't use all the SHawk power.
Mine reliably gets over 50mpg, even when ridden hard, and over 60mpg @ steady cruise. Keep in mind, the gas tank is SMALL (<3gals), so it'll only go about 125mi before reserve (it has a switchable petcock & no fuel guage).
'Killer is right all colors are slow. Any yellow is NOT a Honda factory color....so beware of crash damage. The only colors Honda released in US were red, grey & blue; they had a nice black in Europe though. Also, only years released in the US were 1988 (mine) through 1991; they continued release of certain similar models in Europe past 2000. Parts are pretty easy to find online via eBay & the Hawklist (forum), however a lot have been raced/flogged, so beware.
If you're looking for better mileage with some fun, and you can get one for a good price....I'd buy. A word of caution, SV650s make more power and they weigh about the same, so I'd ride both. I know racers who loved the Hawk, until they rode an SV....then switched immediately.
Fly safe....
Mine reliably gets over 50mpg, even when ridden hard, and over 60mpg @ steady cruise. Keep in mind, the gas tank is SMALL (<3gals), so it'll only go about 125mi before reserve (it has a switchable petcock & no fuel guage).
'Killer is right all colors are slow. Any yellow is NOT a Honda factory color....so beware of crash damage. The only colors Honda released in US were red, grey & blue; they had a nice black in Europe though. Also, only years released in the US were 1988 (mine) through 1991; they continued release of certain similar models in Europe past 2000. Parts are pretty easy to find online via eBay & the Hawklist (forum), however a lot have been raced/flogged, so beware.
If you're looking for better mileage with some fun, and you can get one for a good price....I'd buy. A word of caution, SV650s make more power and they weigh about the same, so I'd ride both. I know racers who loved the Hawk, until they rode an SV....then switched immediately.
Fly safe....
Member
Squid
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 34
From: Central Jersey
One of my riding buddies rocks a blue '88 Hawk GT 650. He says it only has 45hp but keeps up with the rest of our crew including cbr's, ninjas, katanas, even my 996. It handles very well for an '88. Not a bad bike at all and yes he gets phenominal gas mileage.
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 190
Hawk GT is one of the greatest bikes ever.. I sold mine two years ago, and regret selling it.. So easy to ride, great on gas and corners like a BMX bicycle. I would highly recomend the Hawk GT as a second bike, and even more so as a commuter. There is a reason that it was sold as a Honda BROS in europe, and is still one of the top courier bikes in the world. The ergonomics are fantastic, you can ride it hard, and it will never do anything unpredictable,
I am actually looking for one from time to time, you won't be dissapointed!
I am actually looking for one from time to time, you won't be dissapointed!
Thread Starter
Member
Squid
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 42
From: new jersey
thanks for all the replys. I was aware of the small amount of power. Not concerned with that. I didnt know about the yellow not being a factory color. I thought I have seen more that color. Just looking for a neat little bike that wont hurt so much at the pump.
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 276
From: Ranson, WV
My first bike was a 1989 Hawk GT. I was able to trade-up almost evenly for my SHawk. I would have loved to keep that bike, but I can only have one at this point. I got 49MPG when riding conservatively. The only mods were RaceTech cartridge emulators, a flyscreen, headlight modulator, and a Corbin saddle. The stock seat absolutely sucks...
Senior Member
SuperSport
SuperSport
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 524
From: Tarpon Springs, FL
If you can find one, Transalps get about 135 miles out of a tank, and they go offroad, too... My transalp has over a hundred and eighty thousand on the odometer and starts right up every time.
Similar engine to the Hawk gt, but 600cc... I was never unhappy with the power it made for commuting.
Similar engine to the Hawk gt, but 600cc... I was never unhappy with the power it made for commuting.
Member
Squid
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 55
Absolutely get the little Hawk. They're awesome bikes. And who cares that it's slow, it's the rider that makes it go. And you get to use full throttle all the time, unlike the SuperHawk.
You're already used to the 100 mile tour of gas stations, so it'd at least be a relief to cut the cost of a tank by about 40%
CBR-F2 (or maybe F3) tanks are bolt-on and don't actually look as bad as you'd think if painted to match.
You're already used to the 100 mile tour of gas stations, so it'd at least be a relief to cut the cost of a tank by about 40%
CBR-F2 (or maybe F3) tanks are bolt-on and don't actually look as bad as you'd think if painted to match.
Redtail Raptor
Squid
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 43
From: Central Ohio
My second bike was an '89 Hawk GT that I bought new in '92. I kept that bike until 2005 when I finally sold all my bikes (had both the Hawk and a 1200 Bandit at the time). The Hawk was a heckuva lot more fun to ride than the Bandit and that little bike would throw down with any sportbike in the curves.
The Hawk's a great bike to ride and easily gets 45+mpg with spirited riding (as mentioned before, start looking for gas at 120 miles). Plus, it's got that sexy single-sided swingarm!
-sniff- I'm starting to miss that old Hawk, especially with gas prices approaching $4 a gallon! If it's in good shape, buy it!
The Hawk's a great bike to ride and easily gets 45+mpg with spirited riding (as mentioned before, start looking for gas at 120 miles). Plus, it's got that sexy single-sided swingarm!
-sniff- I'm starting to miss that old Hawk, especially with gas prices approaching $4 a gallon! If it's in good shape, buy it!
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