Who's still around, let's talk hawks.
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,269
From: moncton nb canada
I agree, let's chat.
it's been an easy winter here, hoping for an early spring, got set back today though with a big snow storm.
speaking of storms, I have new ss brake hoses to install when I get some energy.
all these years later my my storm is still turning without manual ccts.
it's been an easy winter here, hoping for an early spring, got set back today though with a big snow storm.
speaking of storms, I have new ss brake hoses to install when I get some energy.
all these years later my my storm is still turning without manual ccts.
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 108
From: Cali High Desert
'Pretty dead' is probably par for the course at this point. There's a demographic that gravitates to these types of forums. It's a sub-set of all owners of a given motorcycle. Once a bike goes out of production, years pass, that relatively small number decreases as long-time owners move on to other more compelling interests (due to human nature) and park their bikes in the garage. There's also attrition (wrecked/failed bikes 'retired' to junk-yards). Without a fresh supply of bikes, the total number of bikes in operation decreases. Fewer bikes means fewer riders. Fewer riders mean less activity on these forums. This is the way of the world. Things are born. They grow. They enjoy their day in the sun. They die.
What we're left with is 'hardcore' riders. And 'newbies' (of which I'm one).
That said, there's an upside to 'our' story. The 'hardcore' group remaining here have 'seen it all' (or pretty much). They are a wonderful source of knowledge.
Alan
What we're left with is 'hardcore' riders. And 'newbies' (of which I'm one).
That said, there's an upside to 'our' story. The 'hardcore' group remaining here have 'seen it all' (or pretty much). They are a wonderful source of knowledge.
Alan
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,269
From: moncton nb canada
it really is a shame that Honda discontinued the hawk, and the rc51. I remember when they were released, they were the talk to the town. I feel if they had kept them up to speed with power and technology advances people would still have been buying them. the rc51 in particular, it was cutting edge. they just needed more power as time passed.
VTR virgin
Superstock
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 447
From: Auckland, New Zealand
it really is a shame that Honda discontinued the hawk, and the rc51. I remember when they were released, they were the talk to the town. I feel if they had kept them up to speed with power and technology advances people would still have been buying them. the rc51 in particular, it was cutting edge. they just needed more power as time passed.
I think we probably need to be realistic and say from a market perspective, big sport bikes may have had their day, and the focus now seems to be on the big ADV bikes, and retros. I think the Africa Twin was Honda's biggest selling large bike in Europe last year. The other strong trend is platform design, where a single chassis/engine platform gets used in a a number of different models, e.g. the CB500 and NT750 series, or the 700 and 900 models from Brand Y. Perhaps if the VTR motor could be updated and used for a retro naked, an ADV, and a sport bike, there might be some economic justification for the expense of updating.
Maybe Honda need to look at re-inventing a different retro style; instead of looking back to the air-cooled beasts of the 70's, maybe it is time to look at reinventing the look and style of the 80's! Can you imagine a VFR800 that carried the spirit/look of a 1983 VF750F Interceptor, but with modern running gear? Sounds like a project to me...
If you are at all interested in the internal machinations of Honda's development strategies, you can do worse than reading the book "Honda V4: The complete 4-stroke story" by Greg Pullen.
Member
Squid
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 30
From: North East Florida
I'm a noob here too. New to me 98 that I'm freshening up to have fun with.can't wait to get it up into the North Georgia mountains at the end of May with the Dymag wheels and get into some twisties, We have no real twisties in Florida.
I have a 99 Kawasaki ZRX 1100. The ZRXOA board is alive and thriving. Very active involvement. It can be done here too.
I have a 99 Kawasaki ZRX 1100. The ZRXOA board is alive and thriving. Very active involvement. It can be done here too.
Moderator
MotoGP
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,221
From: Gettysburg, Pa
I'm a noob here too. New to me 98 that I'm freshening up to have fun with.can't wait to get it up into the North Georgia mountains at the end of May with the Dymag wheels and get into some twisties, We have no real twisties in Florida.
I have a 99 Kawasaki ZRX 1100. The ZRXOA board is alive and thriving. Very active involvement. It can be done here too.
I have a 99 Kawasaki ZRX 1100. The ZRXOA board is alive and thriving. Very active involvement. It can be done here too.
Member
Squid
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 30
From: North East Florida
At Bridal Veil Falls. I'm the Green Power Ranger. My Rex is the far right one.
The cabins are wonderful. Cheaper than tent camping for relative luxury.
Hell of a view, too.
Moderator
MotoGP
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,221
From: Gettysburg, Pa
THAT looks like a great time! I've ridden 129 and surrounding roads. The Cherohala Skyway is simply divine. Not been south of there. I'd like to hit what's called the back of the dragon this season.
Member
Squid
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 30
From: North East Florida
Be careful in Virginia, watch your speed. Cops are much stricter there. Cherohala is wonderful, ridden it dozens of times. Will probably ride it at least twice in May/June.
VERY nice road.
Living in Flat Florida, you can see why I love the mountains so much!
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,994
From: Bisbee, AZ
'Pretty dead' is probably par for the course at this point. There's a demographic that gravitates to these types of forums. It's a sub-set of all owners of a given motorcycle. Once a bike goes out of production, years pass, that relatively small number decreases as long-time owners move on to other more compelling interests (due to human nature) and park their bikes in the garage. There's also attrition (wrecked/failed bikes 'retired' to junk-yards). Without a fresh supply of bikes, the total number of bikes in operation decreases. Fewer bikes means fewer riders. Fewer riders mean less activity on these forums. This is the way of the world. Things are born. They grow. They enjoy their day in the sun. They die.
What we're left with is 'hardcore' riders. And 'newbies' (of which I'm one).
That said, there's an upside to 'our' story. The 'hardcore' group remaining here have 'seen it all' (or pretty much). They are a wonderful source of knowledge.
Alan
What we're left with is 'hardcore' riders. And 'newbies' (of which I'm one).
That said, there's an upside to 'our' story. The 'hardcore' group remaining here have 'seen it all' (or pretty much). They are a wonderful source of knowledge.
Alan
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 214
over on this side of the pond at least, facebook has killed a lot of forums of all types, its just to easy to click,take a picture and your away....
i still like forums tho as you tend to get less ********* on them than facebook... so im still here..mind you im not saying im not a ******** lol
i still like forums tho as you tend to get less ********* on them than facebook... so im still here..mind you im not saying im not a ******** lol
VTR virgin
Superstock
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 447
From: Auckland, New Zealand
over on this side of the pond at least, facebook has killed a lot of forums of all types, its just to easy to click,take a picture and your away....
i still like forums tho as you tend to get less ********* on them than facebook... so im still here..mind you im not saying im not a ******** lol
i still like forums tho as you tend to get less ********* on them than facebook... so im still here..mind you im not saying im not a ******** lol
Moderator
MotoGP
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,221
From: Gettysburg, Pa
Yep, I agree with that for sure. I got into a "discussion" with a guy about something in a FB group and he was dead wrong about the topic. Then I looked at his profile and it turns out he was maybe 14/15 yrs old. DOH! My bad.
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,269
From: moncton nb canada
we got another 30cms of snow the other day. so I am working on replacing the brake and clutch lines on my hawk. what a pia to bleed the front brakes and clutch
Last edited by finepooch; Mar 24, 2018 at 08:29 AM.
Moderator
MotoGP
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,221
From: Gettysburg, Pa
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,269
From: moncton nb canada
thanks for the tip. I eventually got everything bled by using the banjo bolt at the master cylinder as a bleed screw. if the air bubbles won't be pushed down through the brake fluid, then why not try letting them out at the top? and it seems to have worked.
Junior Member
Squid
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 4
I just bought my first hawk a few days ago, absolutely fell in love with it. it died on me yesterday. Whole system just shut down and nothing at all works. I think I'm going to replace the regulator rectifier first.
VTR virgin
Superstock
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 447
From: Auckland, New Zealand
The bike will run without a functioning charging system (alternator and RR) as long as you have a decently charged battery installed. If the bike won't run with just the battery, then the RR is not your (only) problem. Hate to teach you to suck eggs, but you have checked all the fuses already, especially the 30A main fuse (which is part of the starter solenoid under the tail cowl, not in the fuse box)?
Last edited by Cadbury64; Mar 27, 2018 at 02:02 PM.
Junior Member
Squid
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 4
The bike will run without a functioning charging system (alternator and RR) as long as you have a decently charged battery installed. If the bike won't run with just the battery, then the RR is not your (only) problem. Hate to teach you to suck eggs, but you have checked all the fuses already, especially the 30A main fuse (which is part of the starter solenoid under the tail cowl, not in the fuse box)?
VTR virgin
Superstock
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 447
From: Auckland, New Zealand
According to the wiring diagram, there are two wires leading from the fuse, the red/white one goes to the Regulator/Rectifier, the solid red wire goes to the ignition. Disconnect one at a time and see which causes the fuse to blow. Maybe you were right to replace the RR first!
