Nude Hawk
1 Attachment(s)
Hi! been lurking for awhile, finally got my 'hawk roadable, time to show it off~
It's a salvaged 2005 I got in a straight trade for a wr426. I'd ridden a 999 and RC51 before, but this is my first immersive V-twin experience. Overall I'm fairly satisfied-- The engine is fantastic, the ergos are okay, and the looks aren't bad. On the other hand the geometry is lazy, the fuel economy/range is poor, and the ground clearance is unacceptable. The looks aren't good, either... I took off the cracked fairing/windscreen and bent stay, and replaced them with a delkevic universal headlight. The idea is that the buffeting will keep me out of heinous speed most of the time, and so far it seems to work. The gauges still aren't sorted, but it hasn't bothered me. I may spring for a trailtech computer. 'Mods' planned-- ground clearance! The pegs aren't really the problem, it's the exhaust that makes me pucker. I'd like to get a high exit exhaust, if it can be had without massive expense. Stock RC would be cool. Geometry is another issue. I'd like to get the head angle and wheelbase more aggressive, and massage the suspension to match. My first temporary move will be throwing some washers under the shock mount to kick the bike up a bit. The brakes seem fine so far with a fresh bleed and HH pads. Cosmetically... I really don't care. I love the old man colors, and the side radiators don't bother me. I like the line of the seat and tail, and if I manage to get the rear end kicked up higher, I kind of want to chop the subframe (or make a new al one) to put the seat back at normal height. Thanks for reading, and thanks to members who helped me diagnose my breathing problem! -Ian |
Move the radiator. I can't stand how a naked Hawk looks with the radiators hanging out the sides. Ruins the effect for me.
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Originally Posted by RWhisen
(Post 273265)
Move the radiator. I can't stand how a naked Hawk looks with the radiators hanging out the sides. Ruins the effect for me.
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Originally Posted by imp
(Post 273251)
'Mods' planned-- ground clearance! The pegs aren't really the problem, it's the exhaust that makes me pucker. I'd like to get a high exit exhaust, if it can be had without massive expense. Stock RC would be cool.
Originally Posted by imp
(Post 273251)
Geometry is another issue. I'd like to get the head angle and wheelbase more aggressive, and massage the suspension to match. My first temporary move will be throwing some washers under the shock mount to kick the bike up a bit.
Originally Posted by imp
(Post 273251)
The brakes seem fine so far with a fresh bleed and HH pads.
The stock brakes are rather weak. Do a search and you will find a list of calipers & master cylinders the can be installed, with minor modification, that will greatly improve the braking. |
Originally Posted by VTRsurfer
(Post 273283)
That doesn't bother me that much. Have you seen the radiators and plumbing on a Ducati Streetfighter...in person?
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Originally Posted by RWhisen
(Post 273288)
Yes and it looks pretty good as far as plumbing goes. That is what you could aspire to.
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Originally Posted by 8541Hawk
(Post 273284)
You should actually wait until you have the suspension sorted before you start making geometry changes. After it is set up for your weight you can go up to .25" (or a little over 6mm) in the rear and pull the forks up 10mm in the triple before you start having any stability issues (at least mine worked well like that with no need for a steering damper).
Originally Posted by 8541Hawk
(Post 273284)
The stock brakes are rather weak. Do a search and you will find a list of calipers & master cylinders the can be installed, with minor modification, that will greatly improve the braking.
I'm sorry to members who don't like the radiators. I don't know what to tell you-- except that I'm not going through the effort of stuffing one under my seat! Too many other pointless projects... |
I like the look of the lateral radiators on the VTR (SH), mines also naked with the lateral radiators.
I kind of like it. Good looking bike you got there. |
Originally Posted by imp
(Post 273292)
.I'm sorry to members who don't like the radiators. I don't know what to tell you-- except that I'm not going through the effort of stuffing one under my seat! Too many other pointless projects...
As far as the radiators go, My first bike was a CX500, modded for canyon racing, and radiators don't get much more obvious than on that bike. It looked like a cut down car radiator. |
Originally Posted by VTRsurfer
(Post 273296)
As far as the radiators go, My first bike was a CX500, modded for canyon racing, and radiators don't get much more obvious than on that bike. It looked like a cut down car radiator.
I'm thinking of actually painting the radiators silver like the earlier years. are the grills over the top black? |
Originally Posted by luis saleiro
(Post 273294)
I like the look of the lateral radiators on the VTR (SH), mines also naked with the lateral radiators.
I kind of like it. Good looking bike you got there. Anybody seen a Corbin standard bearing mod? |
Nice.
My bike looks almost exactly like yours at this point. What are you doing for a speedo? I'm using a Forerunner and am pretty happy so far, but I sorta kinda miss the temp gauge. |
Ignorance is bliss. I do miss the tach and trip meter, aside from that it's okay. I'll work something out with a trailtech vapor or similar.
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Man, I get way too paranoid without a speedo! ;) Nice thing about the Garmin is it keeps track of miles, too, so you know when to gas up. Those Vapors are wicked nice, though.
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Yeah I think I'll have a look into a GPS, since you mention it. I love going on really long twisty back road rides, and though I have a good sense of direction the GPS could step up my exploration!
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Here's what I'm using:
http://www.motorcyclejazz.com/Garmin_Forerunner_201.htm I got the one that recharges. It fits almost right between the handlebar mounts. It's a hell of a lot lighter than the standard clocks. |
cool! I haven't seen something like that. I could use it for mountain biking too, it looks like...
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Yep and running, too. :)
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There are a handful of nakeds which leave the radiators stock that don't bother me at all... this is one, Dr. Schmuckenstein's was another... Luis' bike looks fine too. But then, there are some others that just don't look right and I don't know why, can't put my finger on it (as Ween says)...
Anyway, nice bike Imp! Looks good... |
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