captainchaos

That's exactly why I like mine...you hardly see them anywhere. I hate bellybutton cars or bikes.

Hotbrakes

Yeah, gotta be different for sure. I wouldn't mind an RC51 but I couldn't beat what I got for the money. I have no problem showing up kids on 600s, especially on the back wheel. I love V-twins and I love my Superhawk.

Edwards07

Cheers to that! I couldn't agree with you more. I get laughed at for having a superhawk when i should be laughing at those who get the same bike everyone else has. Rock on man!

nuhawk

And when you get them really tricked out (like some of you are learning) it takes months and years of scrounging parts to get one there. But by the time you get a Superhawk modded up you have a nimble corner carver that in the right hands will trounce 90% of the squids out there regardless of what they ride - except an RC51.

It also takes someone with either unlimited coin or mechanical ability to own one properly. It's not a maintenance intensive bike but the mods need to be done. They also need to be done by somebody that has some respect for the bike. It is a Honda. I'm more paranoid about a hack mechanic than I am about leaving a fastener untightened.

One of the guys that went to bike week in Daytona this year reported here that he met a guy on a Superhawk. They got to talking and this guy turns out to be 73 yo. My point is (yes, there is still hope) once you get the bike just fine - the rest of it will take care of itself.

This is such an easy bike to ride and it has soooo much power. Yeah, it's a little like racing a '74 Hemi Barracuda on a go-kart track but all of us wanted to be the big fish just once - every once in a while.

cliby

[QUOTE=nuhawk;127913]And when you get them really tricked out (like some of you are learning) it takes months and years of scrounging parts to get one there. But by the time you get a Superhawk modded up you have a nimble corner carver that in the right hands will trounce 90% of the squids out there regardless of what they ride - except an RC51.
:knel:[/eQUOTE]

That part is really priceless: with the newest bikes there is little room to improve. and that tinkering and individualizing it is huge part of the connection for me. Its probably why people chrome busas too, or customize cruisers, so I've stopped criticising those trends.

rnb

you guys all make good points about the hawk. while it may not be the fastest bike its got more power than i really need,i'm 42 and my reflexes arent as good as they once were. what makes me feel good though is my son has asked to ride my bike & let his cbr sit. also its cool when somebody says "hey i like your bike".

RK1

I think Mikstr is right about the "spec sheet specialists".

Sure, there are guys who race, or do a lot of track days, or are just really serious about pushing their luck in the canyons. Those guys can appreciate the capabilities of a front line sport 600 or 1000.

But for every guy like that, there is a pile of guys who just have to have the bike that ran a .05 second faster E.T. or made 1.7 more hp on the dyno, even if they can't ride for it ****.

The moto-mags drive a lot of it. Every year they have a "Wild 600cc Comparo!" and a "Monster Literbike Shootout!" Even if the only difference from last year's bikes is the tank decal or choice of paint. Anything that isn't a Wild Monster SuperSport gets tested when it first comes out (maybe) and ignored for the next 5 or 6 years.

It was a tick behind the supersports when it came out in '97 and Honda did nothing to upgrade since then. It is a little short on the "tour" part of sport tour.

It is a little too lean foward uncomfortable for most middle aged guys looking for a naked bike.

What is it? A really cool sporty bike for the street and a total gas to ride almost anywhere.

I'm not complaining that it is underappreciated. I never could have bought mine brand new for sixty-two hundred and change if all those other guys were as smart as we are.

Chuey

I could have bought a 2000 RC51 with just a little more than what I paid for the Hawk. In the end I chose the Hawk. The Hawk needed a full fairing, 25HP and a slightly upgrades brakes and suspension to have been a true winner in the popularity contests. In the end I think the half fairing was the largest deterrent for most people. Although, with this said, this is the first time in 4 years that I am nearing the end of the season and have no desire to sell my bike which I have done in the past four years....and they weren't all crap bikes either. GS500, '99 YZF600R, '00 ZR7, '99CBRF4 and '03 R6. Out of them all I do miss the F4. This is really the first year though that I have not had a desire to switch bikes.

Back to the question, I really don't think its the specs that brought the Superhawk down. It was the half fairing!!! Most people don't know what to make of it and wouldn't call it a sportbike, when shopping around and first saw the superhawk, I didn't even think it could push the ton quickly due to the half fairing, lol.

Hardhead

Good thread, always wondered myself. I went to look at a project gsxr 750 and came across the Hawk. Didn't know what to think about it (appearence or otherwise) but for the price I couldn't pass it up. Once I saw what some of you guys did to your bikes (mods, appearence) and started working on mine I've grown attached.

ghopki1

I often wondered the same thing. I am glad as a buyer but it must suck to be a seller.

Randman

Suppose that depends on the salesman!! LOL

ghopki1

Yea, whats up with you? I see that you are selling yours now. I work in Statesville and hoped that we could hook up sometime. I just got mine.

drew_c14

My resaon is the cookie cutter thing, I never have liked having the same thing as everyone else. People talk crap, they always will, but when I take their lunch money in the corners they shut up pretty quickly.

Randman

Statesville...well your just a hop, skip, and a jump from here...We need to get together with Cleve and do a ride soon...like real soon..LOL...

Ever been to Interstate Cycle in Cornelius? They do Dinner rides on Wed nights... How about he CSB forum? Pretty good group, they are the ones that do the dinner rides... check it out at charlottesportbikes.com