Hawk top speed

[w0ss]

I got my plate and decided to take it onto a secondary road. couldn't get it faster than like 45 going down a hill and it wouldn't do more than 35 going up a hill. I am not light(260 lbs) but I did expect more. I have a 17t up front and a NGK plug. Still on the stock carburetor and haven't adjusted it at all. Mikuni is on the way so hopefully that will help.

What should I expect with a ~260 lbs rider.

[Mudflap]

Something is wrong there. Both my CG200 bikes will do a bit more than 60 mph (GPS verified) on level ground. I weigh in at 230 to 250 depending on what I had for lunch.

[Eldric1]

Mine went 60 no problem on the way to work this morning. It is completely stock. I did put the NGK in so we'll see how much better it does this afternoon.

[Sport Rider]

I am about 230. I have 17/45 sprockets. 115/30 jetting in a mikuni carb. I can hit mid-60s downhill and slows to 45 uphill depending on the grade. on flat, I'm generally able to make it up to 60 but seems to hold about 58-59 consistently. any slight grade and i'm down to 55. it's kinda like drafting in restrictor plate racing. lose momentum and you're shot.

if you are trying to run top speeds, you've got the wrong bike (in my opinion). this bike loves 25 to 45 mph back roads that are gravel, dirt, etc. or trails, of course. changing sprockets accordingly. I plan to go back to 50 rear sprocket and stay there. after some back road riding, it seems to be the most useful for both slow and fast.

[w0ss]

I am perfectly fine with 55. There is a road to work that is 50mph that I wanted to take it on. If not I can find another way but I expected ~60.

[2LZ]

Originally Posted by Sport Rider

......it's kinda like drafting in restrictor plate racing. lose momentum and you're shot.

Nice NASCAR reference! Good to see there's another fan here.

w0ss, something definitely not right there. I'm not sure how a stock Hawk runs but others are saying better than that. Is your clutch slipping? Do you have any play in the cable?

[w0ss]

So in my searching on this forum I came across something about adjusting the cables....

I didn't adjust any of the cables when I got the bike. I guess I should do that maybe the throttle cable is just loose, Fingers crossed.

[FastDoc]

I don't recall but is this a basic 200cc OHV Hondoid?

Is that the stock gearing?

[w0ss]

well it isn't the throttle cable. I actually took the carb off and looked at it but I didn't notice anything amiss. I did notice one of the tamper proof screws was still attached. it snapped when I tried to unscrew it.

It feels like it bogs down after half throttle on the road. Does that help?

Also pro tip If you plug the bottom line out of the carb to the petcock your carb will spring a leak...

[FastDoc]

You may have a fuel float issue.

Is the drain line dripping?

[w0ss]

not that I can notice. Do you mean at idle or when running down the road?

[SeerAtlas]

Originally Posted by w0ss

well it isn't the throttle cable. I actually took the carb off and looked at it but I didn't notice anything amiss. I did notice one of the tamper proof screws was still attached. it snapped when I tried to unscrew it.

It feels like it bogs down after half throttle on the road. Does that help?

Also pro tip If you plug the bottom line out of the carb to the petcock your carb will spring a leak...

Run it a bit at bogging speed then kill the motor,clutch,neutral, then coast to stop. wait till cools down a bit, pull that spark plug and tell/show us what it looks like. sounds like a tuning issue to me....

[Jrgunn5150]

Originally Posted by w0ss

I am perfectly fine with 55. There is a road to work that is 50mph that I wanted to take it on. If not I can find another way but I expected ~60.

I would really like to know this also.

I would like to buy a couple, but if we can't ride them down the two lane highway to get to parks, trails, etc without getting run over, it's pointless.

[Johnp]

Originally Posted by w0ss

couldn't get it faster than like 45 going down a hill and it wouldn't do more than 35 going up a hill. I am not light(260 lbs) but I did expect more.

Might sound silly, but are both of your wheels spinning freely without the BRAKES dragging? If your brake fluid reservoirs are over-filled like mine were, this could be slowing you down and putting a lot of punishment on the brakes as well...

[w0ss]

Originally Posted by FastDoc

I don't recall but is this a basic 200cc OHV Hondoid?

Is that the stock gearing?

It is a hawk 250 with a 17t front sprocket.