Superhawk info and opinions

[mcd]

Hi all, I am looking at getting a sportbike here in the next month, and am trying to decide what I want. While browsing, I have seemed to take a liking to the Superhawk. I have no experience with Superhawks, so I figured I would ask everyone here there opinion of it. Obviously it will probably be biased, but I still want to here what you like and dislike about them. Also, any technical information I can get on them would help greatly. This will be my first sportbike, but I do have dirtbike and cruiser experience, so I am not too worried about a 1000cc bike. I have been looking at 600cc bikes though, because I would like something that handles real well, and I can through around in the corners. Thanks in advance.

[Spektrum-SA1]

Gas milage is poop. Expect to spend a whole lot of time at the gas station.

They're an all around great street bike though. All depends on what kind of riding you plan on doing. Commuting, its great. Sport touring, the range kills it.

[jim schmidt]

35mpg is about the number. I like mine. Not quite a full on sportbike but I'm always able to keep up without stressing. Large enough for my big self. Fairly comfortable. The sound is sexual (with 2 bros cans) and always attracts good attention. And its been dead reliable. The back shock is lower-end and it lacks compression damping on both ends. Stock fork springs are really soft. Classic styling appeals to some but not others.

I'd buy another one.

[dug]

OK, after seven years of ownership, I will toss all my opinions that have formed at you. I currently have about 50,000 miles on my '98.

Like they said, if you're looking for good mileage, look somewhere else. I regularly got about high 30's(36.36 mpg average for 2004; best ever was 43, worst 26), but that's with a lot of highway. My best mileage was after all my mods.

The stock suspension needs attention. I RaceTech'd the forks at 22,000, and replaced the shock with a Fox TwinClicker at 32,000. Night and day, especially the forks.

I added Galfer braided SS lines front, rear and clutch. Started with stock pads, added EBC HH. Bought the Galfer Wave front rotors and green pads, but developed a shudder and took them off. Haven't investigated the cause, yet, probably won't since I'm selling the bike. At 48,000 I replaced the stock master cylinder with one from a 929(bigger diameter), which increased feel and braking force.

Went to a 520 conversion on the chain and sprockets at 15,000. Held up just fine. First set was Sprocket Specialists front w/ stock teeth, Renthal rear with +2, DIDERV2 chain. Noticeable difference in acceleration and turnin.
Went with SS front and rear(+3, this time) sprockets and new chain at 43,500. I attribute the longevity to the ScottOiler, cause I suck at remembering to lube the chain regularly on my own.

Took the bike to the local dealer for 20,000 service(at 25,000) and found the battery had been killed by a dying reg/rec - a common Honda malady. It hasn't popped up since, though. The dealer completely fubar'ed the service and it wouldn't run right - kept losing one cylinder intermittently. Took them three tries to get it right, and they couldn't even tell me what they had done.

At 31,000 I took a leap of faith and added Fitch Fuel Catatyst to the tank. It works(caveat: it has to sit in the gas for a bit to take effect, so it didn't improve the mileage very much if I filled it up and then emptied it on a ride immediately thereafter. Better results if the gas sits for a day or so.).

At 37,500, I added a jet kit and Jardine RT-One High Mount Slipons. On the dyno, it made 105.7BHP at the rear wheel @9200rpm, and 66.3ft-lbs@7200rpm. The torque is above 60 from 4,000 to redline, above 65 from 5500 to 8500. I also have the Nology plug wires, and use a stock airfilter.

Other mods include the replacement of the front signals with LP flushmount ovals(clear lens), and MotoBoss LED minis at the rear. I trimmed the stock rear fender, keeping the plate light instead of installing a clear piece of plastic at the bottom of the tail light (which I also replaced with a ClearAlternatives clear LED version). The seat is from Sargent, which is a large step up from the uncomfortable stock plywood. I used a PIAA SuperWHite in the headlight, but didn't notice much difference. Don't like the small amount of lighting from the headlight still.

Overall, I love the bike. It takes a lot for me to keep up with my wife on her 900RR in the twisties, but it can be done. I have ridden in FL year round, and CA year round, rain, shine, and yes, snow. Coldest temps 28F, hottest 111F. Commuting, both short (16 miles) and long (64 miles); sport rides of 200-400 miles, whatever you want. I would keep it, but I just bought an 05 Suzi, and I have an 06 Duc on order, so I'm running out of room in the garage, money in my pocket, and patience in my wife.

If you have any more questions, drop me a line.

[mcd]

Thanks for the replies. That is a lot of great info. The gas mileage issue doesn't bother me that much, since I don't do much long distance riding. However it would be nice to be able to squeeze a few more miles per gallon out of a sportbike. As for the suspension, I have heard that a lot of sportbikes (at least in my price range) suspension is sub par in stock form. I am also looking at the newer style SV650s, and possibly a 1000s if I could find one, and the owners have the same complaints with those bikes as well. How does the suspension on a Superhawk compare with other sportbikes in stock form? Does anyone have any experience with either the SV's, or F4/F4i or something in that class? I am sure the stock suspension will not be too terrible for me, since I will be coming from riding cruisers into the world of sportbikes.

I think my next step, either today or tomorrow, is to go sit on a Superhawk at the dealer, and see how they feel. Thanks for all the help so far, and I am sure I will have more questions soon.

[jim schmidt]

The suspension is far from bad. It's improved by fork work. I just replaced the fork springs in mine with weight-matched Racetech units and noticed a huge difference for about a hundred bucks. The shock is irritating (occasionally jarring) but not even close to unridable.

[chemsta104]

dug what kind of suzook are you getting and How does the superhawk compare to the sv1000s

[dug]

I bought a GSXR750 in January.

I'm not sure about the difference between the 'Hawk and the SV. Since there haven't been any (significant)updates to the VTR in eight years, I'm sure the SV outperforms it quite handily.