Xtremespeed
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posted June 05, 2007 03:27 PM
Anyone ever own a Honda superhawk?
I rode one today. Man, that was fun. Never rode a v twin sportbike before. A friend of mine just bought a 98 model, and wanted me to check it out and make sure everything was in good working order. That is one of the easiest wheelie bikes I've ever ridden. Comes up very smooth. Slow and controllable. If I ever find one really cheap, I may pick it up for wheelie riding. Just thought I'd share.
  
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zx12adam
Member
Posts: 878
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posted June 05, 2007 05:35 PM
That was my 1st sportbike, a red 98. I put 16,000 miles on it and loved every bit of it. If I were to get another one I would give it a full high-mount exhaust(stock pipes drag too easy), rear sets(stock pegs drag too easy), CBR929/954/1000 forks and brakes from ebay, -1 front or +3 rear gearing, and call it a day. Great all around, do-it-all streetbike with track potential with more suspension work, plus being severly underated you can always get them cheap. I've seen used ones in great condition go for $4500; I wouldn't pay more than $5500 if you're looking.
You're right about the wheelie thing, 1st time I left a stop light trying to keep up with my friend's ZX7R the gas tank hit my chest so hard it knocked the wind out of me. It's a handful launching that thing.
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Xtremespeed
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posted June 05, 2007 06:43 PM
Not really looking, just a thought. My friend picked up his 98 for $2500. Not perfect condititon, but pretty clean. Bike is red, about 18k miles, all stock with Two Brothers slip-ons.
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stevewfl
Moderator
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posted June 05, 2007 08:37 PM
quote:
Not really looking, just a thought. My friend picked up his 98 for $2500. Not perfect condititon, but pretty clean. Bike is red, about 18k miles, all stock with Two Brothers slip-ons.
wow, those bikes are HAWT too!
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'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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redridinghood
Parking Attendant
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posted June 21, 2007 12:00 PM
superhawks are great bikes, minimal set-up to get great all around bike
"So this isn't so much a 'first impressions' report as a longer term thing as I've been riding Michael's Superhawk for several weeks now.
So where do I start?
Have you ever ridden a v-twin? Torquey, huh? Have you ridden a liter v-twin? MORE TORQUE BABY!!
Some sportsbikers seem to look down on v-twins as being some kind of lesser species compared with inline 4 motors, but I hope that I can perhaps change your mind.
A brief description of the bike. The frame is welded up from a series of aluminium tubes and castings and uses the motor as a major element. The swingarm isn't even connected to he frame, but to the back of the motor casing.
I mention this because this bike is surprisingly narrow and easy to wrap yourself around compared to an I4 literbike. It doesn't force your legs apart at angles that need a gymnast's hips and your feet aren't spread out as if you're astride a horse. This is a compact, comfortable and very natural feeling bike.
Reach forward, turn the key and start it up....
The motor starts with a low burble and settles down to a steady 1000rpm idle once warm. Snick it into first, ease out the clutch and off we go along the Mountain View backroads heading for Steven's Canyon Rd.
Putting around town this bike is amazingly easy to ride. Throttle response is smooth with no snatchiness at all and there's almost no need to use any brake, speed control in either direction is precise and easy with just the twist grip. Steering isn't motard flicky, but isn't 748 heavy either. With a moderate sportsbike stance it's remarkably comfortable.
Ease through the s-bends past the reservoir and up to the quarry taking it easy and giving the tires a chance to heat up. This is a nice road but covered in the twin dangers of quarry dust and recreational cyclists, so easy does it.
Once past the camp sites at the junction of Stevens canyon and Mount Eden Rd we can start to use a little more motor. When rolling on at two thousand rpm two sensations are apparent. One is the sucking sound from under the tank as the twin 48mm carbs open up, the second is that this motor is pulling- hard. Hit 3,000 and the pipes come alive- these are twin remus titanium pipes, not the stockers and the tone is just beautiful!
Working the motor at between 3 and 4 k we're soon making rapid progress up the bumpy, steep-walled canyon rd. Turns are blind, so wide entries and tight-to-the-inside apexes are in order. Crossing over the usual debris and gravel of this road doesn't unsettle this bike even slightly, nor do the ripples in the tarmac pushed up along the edges of the car tracks.
A few turns later we're taking the left onto Redwood Gulch Rd, a steep, twisty climb with blind rises and decreasing radius turns. 1-2-turn, look and lean, roll on and we're dancing through corners as if this bike weighed 300 lbs, not nearer 430.
Working the motor now between 4 and 5k rpm the straights become no more than a brief pause between laid over turns. The last rise before we join highway 9 and that short stretch of pot-holed single track are done and we're on the hallowed testing pavement- the frontside of 9, above the Saratoga Springs campground, detouring the cops in ambush below.
Pull out and work it up through the box, still working between 4 and 5k and we're into the turns. This admittedly big bike needs a positive input to tell it to lean over, but once there it's rock solid. And now the narrow chassis and motor come into play. Your feet are up and inboard, tucked into this bike's narrow waist. Enough lean angle for spirited street riding is available on this bike without the need to hang off to keep metal and toes clear of the ground. An easy bike to ride fast without looking like you're really trying.
Turns become straights for brief instants, the bike flows effortlessly between esses with smooth and precise transitions. The front wheel goes exactly where it's pointed and can be placed inch perfectly on the asphalt.
I catch and keep pace behind a bunch of assorted Rs and Fs who are dragging knees and working hard, I'm leaning my shoulders into the turns but not hanging off and I haven't even taken the motor above 5,000. Speed this easy is almost surreal!!
Word at 9&35 is that patrolling on the back side is heavy so I take a left and head along skyline to Summit.
Summit is not your average Sportbiker's road. But I'm not your average sportbiker and this isn't your average sportbike! Summit is one and a half lane with constant turns, climbs and descents. At the pace I'm riding, enjoyable but with plenty time to react there's no point where I'm not either leaned over and accelerating or leaned over and braking.
The Superhawk does tend to stand slightly if braked into the turn, no biggie, just be ready for it and compensate with steering inputs and body english.
-edit.... Corection- It doesn't stand up when braking in turns. I have since learned what I was doing with my hands when on the brakes and now it doesn't stand up at all when on the brakes and turning. It isn't the bike, it was me!!
Rolling the gas off gently on turn in pulls the bike nicely in and down, tightening the line, rolling on firmly stands it up ready to transition into the next turn.
After many twisty miles we're almost at the junction with 17 where I had planned to take Old Santa Cruz- a smooth, cambered series of medium radius turns leading down to Los Gatos. But I'm intrigued by the performance of this big, litre twin in what's generally regarded as thumper territory.
Is it possible that thumperdom is more in the mind of he rider than in the attributes of the bike? Time for the acid test. Downhill to Scotts Valley on Mtn Charlie Rd.
For lovers of goaty flavour, Mt Charlie Rd is a middle eastern feast! This road makes Tunitas look like Hwy 280 and Jamison look like El Camino.
Part road, part stream bed it is steep, rough, tight and twisty. I can confirm that the superhawk is no motard and needs careful placement between the band of stones along the centre line of the road and the drop off to one side and the cliff to the other. But at no time did it ever lose composure, bog the motor, ask me to snatch the brakes or refuse to do exactly what I asked of it on any turn, surface or gradient.
Wow! I'm impressed. This is a good bike. Not just a good bike, it's an excellent bike!
The remainder of my ride confirmed what I had come to know. Mt Harmon Rd to Felton, up Alba, down Jamison, 236, China Grade (don't ask) more 236 and gently back up 9.
In summary this is a bike that handle beautifully, is surprisingly nimble, goes quickly without ever feeling in a hurry with a motor that just feels so good to use.
If I wanted a bike capable of extended highway runs, a mixed urban and highway commute and yet one that's still great fun on the smaller roads as well as the loops, this one would take some beating."
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stevewfl
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posted June 21, 2007 08:34 PM
great read, thanks
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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Xtremespeed
Expert Class
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posted June 22, 2007 04:56 PM
Good article.
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jbnavy
Parking Attendant
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posted June 26, 2007 08:51 PM
I wrecked a 99 vtr1000 about 6 months ago. it was a good bike, pretty good for the long haul. i did not like it because I am used to 600's which are quite a bit lighter and easier to throw through the curves. it is definitely a wheelie machine. the other thing that bothered me is that I am used to revving a bike high to make power, and at high rpms, that bike falls flat on its face. it is pretty embarrassing when you do a roll on with a 600 from 70mph and he goes flying by you.
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1996 cbr1000f-sold
2006 zx6r636-stolen
1999 vtr1000- killed by lady making left turn
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zx12adam
Member
Posts: 878
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posted June 27, 2007 03:45 AM
Sounds like a gearing issue.
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oldkawboy
Needs a job
Posts: 2125
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posted August 18, 2007 10:04 AM
The power delivery is kinda weak and the drum brakes fade really fast...........Oh wait a minute, I thought you meant the Honda 305 Superhawk. (The old guys will understand)
Dan
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Sticks_n_Stones
Needs a job
Posts: 3930
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posted August 27, 2007 11:11 AM
Man as a fellow "story writer" I gotta give kudos to where its deserved. Some day my scribbles will read like that.
Now I just need you to ride my TL1000R and get the whole Honda Hawk thing outta your head! Way way faster with a top end pull to match any 1000 I4 engine, the midrange to die for and a full race chassis that feels stabler and stabler the faster you push it. And there is no stock bike made that will pull on it from a roll-not even my own ZX14. Course my TLR aint stock: TRE, K&N and airbox mod, Muzzy slipons, and my favorite the -1 & +2 gearing change.
"If one tire aint in the air you aint trying"
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OddDuc
Novice Class
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posted August 28, 2007 08:41 AM
Shame the TLR was never matched against the RC51. I always thought Mladin's whining about the great advantage twins had over his poor gsxr was hollow. If it was true, he should have been mounted on the TLR. Could have been interesting watching 3 contender twins in ama and wsbk.
Always liked the superhawk. Better looking than the TLS and didn't have the injection faults and tank slappers people complained of. I could have bought either at the time, both were sitting next to one another on the showroom floor, and chose the superhawk. Fun bike, never made claims to be king of the hill, just an enjoyable steed for everyday rides.
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Sticks_n_Stones
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posted August 28, 2007 09:00 AM
Yeah zero question about which bike won more, the RC51 is a true winner. The TL1000R only had 1 factory win in all its racing years. It destroys the 51 in power stock, but it takes an experienced hand to operate it on the 'street' at its full potential. And in professional racing it never got past its handling gremlins (they just never could get the suspension and handling right once they bumped the power up another 40-50 horses-lots of torque induced high sides and such doomed it). was a helluva hit with the stunting crowd (unfortunately?) though. Have ridden the Superhawk and it is an easy bike to hit the S'es on, but I missed the shear grunt, flickability, and unlimited cornering clearance of my TLR. Not to mention the 1 finger stoppies!
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PCIII w/ Muzzy map
Flies out K&N in!
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zx12adam
Member
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posted August 28, 2007 01:03 PM
quote:
Now I just need you to ride my TL1000R and get the whole Honda Hawk thing outta your head! Way way faster with a top end pull to match any 1000 I4 engine, the midrange to die for and a full race chassis
Top end to match any 1000 I4? Who told you that?
Are you comparing stock vs stock or your modified version vs stock?(apples to oranges)
quote:
It destroys the 51 in power stock, but it takes an experienced hand to operate it on the 'street' at its full potential.
They both made the same 115-120 hp stock and the RC51 is about 15-20 pounds lighter.
And it takes an experienced profesional to get the most out of ANY bike on the track, which isn't gonna happen on the street, not sure where you were going with that one.
The TL1000R is a great street bike but in stock form it's nothing to write home about, 120 hp pushing over 500 pounds of bike and a 10.8 1/4mile isn't much worth mentioning, rear shock that needed replaced due to it being inferior to conventinal shocks plus it wore out quickly(prolly due to the heat from the exhaust). A friend of mine owned one and let me put some miles on it; full Yosh exhaust, dyno tuned, PCIII, BMC filter, -1 front, +2 rear aluminum sprocket and pulled only 125 rear wheel hp. Getting on his bike after a ride on my 954 made it feel slow. It was held back by the fact that it's too heavy, it simply costs too much to knock 80 pounds off a streetbike.
Anyone in the market for a Superhawk or a TL1000R is NOT looking for one of the world's fastest trackbikes; their too old, too heavy, and too underpowered. You can get into the engine internals and get some more hp at the cost of thousands of dollars and a motor that will blow apart within 1000 miles. Just not worth it when you can pick up a used Literbike(yes, a slow 1000 I4) for the same price, more hp, and a TON less weight.
When stock they make for cheap and comfortable streetbikes, which is fine, but I'd go for the Superhawk.
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CBR1000RR
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Sticks_n_Stones
Needs a job
Posts: 3930
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posted August 28, 2007 01:55 PM
Yes I'm talking about my modded verse most stock I4 1000's. I've only lost to 2 so far, both '06 Gixxer 1000's, 1 stock 1 modded to 175rwhp. I even nose to nosed a friend of mine's '06 R1 that won the dyno shootout at our local dealer, 165rwhp. I've whooped on 2 RC51's, a 900RR, a 954, and 3 R1's in rollon's so far. With 'only' 130 rwhp, 95 fpnds torque. (numbers seem a little high, but thats what it said). I bought the TLR because of the torque since I'm a bigger guy and have never regretted it, and still have it along with my new ZX14. It outpulls the 14 up till the 14 hits about 9 grand, too, with my 100 pound lighter friend riding it.
Granted with just the Muzzy's on a piped 636 beat me. I geared it down the next weekend lol.
____________
'06 zx14
Muzzy M10/M14
PCIII w/ Muzzy map
Flies out K&N in!
bits n pieces...
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