Picking up a hawk 250 tomorrow, good or bad choice? - Page 2

2LZ · 12-30-2016, 10:01 AM

I don't have a Hawk but have had many Hondoids over the years. Many of the parts are identical. The Hawk, CSC TT250, Storm, Brozz and many others of the "new" generation Hondoids are the best ever built, to date, regarding plastics, frame, etc.... The CG motors are proven to be no fire breathers but will run indefinitely.

It seems as though you've already done some extensive reading here and that's good.

Yes to the following:

Change the oil.
Adjust the valves after break-in. They'll be super tight. (Intake .05mm Exhaust .08mm, ice cold, overnight).
Replace the plug.
Odds are you'll need either jetting (if you can find it) or upgrade to the Mikuni for easy and available jetting options. You'll probably experience the popping or flat spot when wide open and lean cold starts being at about sea level. Maybe not.

Just know you're choosing a CB for all the right reasons, as you've stated. Many of us here don't want to...or have the $$$......to drop 5 grand on a small displacement enduro that's basically a toy to most of us, and if you're mechanically inclined, can work your way around what (now few) drawbacks a China Bike has, especially for the cash. I think as you put miles on the Hawk, you'll be shocked at what you received for the $$$.

Gospel: Don't trust the dealer. They assemble a ton of these a day. Proper setup is the key to many happy miles. Go over everything and every adjustment.

pistolclass · 12-30-2016, 10:02 AM

I got hawk, I love hawk,

OUTERLIMITS · 12-30-2016, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DallasTxTrouble

I think red or blue look the best. I'm going to get some red spoke covers too so I think that will make it look pretty cool. Do you have the stock tires on it still?

Be careful with those spoke covers. My son has some on his KDX200 and it makes knowing when the spokes need tightening a real pain. Fortunately his don't loosen much. I would expect spokes on a china bike to be checked and adjusted quite frequently.

OUTERLIMITS · 12-30-2016, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2LZ

I don't have a Hawk but have had many Hondoids over the years. Many of the parts are identical. The Hawk, CSC TT250, Storm, Brozz and many others of the "new" generation Hondoids are the best ever built, to date, regarding plastics, frame, etc.... The CG motors are proven to be no fire breathers but will run indefinitely.

It seems as though you've already done some extensive reading here and that's good.

Yes to the following:

Change the oil.
Adjust the valves after break-in. They'll be super tight. (Intake .05mm Exhaust .08mm, ice cold, overnight).
Replace the plug.
Odds are you'll need either jetting (if you can find it) or upgrade to the Mikuni for easy and available jetting options. You'll probably experience the popping or flat spot when wide open and lean cold starts being at about sea level. Maybe not.

Just know you're choosing a CB for all the right reasons, as you've stated. Many of us here don't want to...or have the $$$......to drop 5 grand on a small displacement enduro that's basically a toy to most of us, and if you're mechanically inclined, can work your way around what (now few) drawbacks a China Bike has, especially for the cash. I think as you put miles on the Hawk, you'll be shocked at what you received for the $$$.

Gospel: Don't trust the dealer. They assemble a ton of these a day. Proper setup is the key to many happy miles. Go over everything and every adjustment.

Perfect! The one thing I would add is to adjust the valves as soon as you get it home. Time well spent as we are constantly reading about Hawks that have zero gaps from the factory and that's not good, nor is the salad oil in the engine these come with.

letsride · 12-30-2016, 10:37 AM

The valves on my bike were LOOSE really loose. I took 2LZ's advice (then later found the spec in my chinglish owners manual) set them with the engine dead cold, like after its sat over night. Then .05mm for the intake valve and .08 for the Exhaust. Now, you will be able to hear the ticking from the rockers cruising down the road, but a tappy valve is a happy valve. But never fear, when you put the aftermarket exhaust on you will no longer hear them. Not sure if that a GOOD thing. Go over that bike AGAIN with a fine tooth comb, just because the dealer put it together don't mean a hill of beans. Go through the electrical system, ALL of it, from front to back. Put Dielectric grease on all the connections, make sure all wires and connections are secure and out of the way of other parts that can damage them. I don't have a Hawk, just its very close relative. I love the snot out of mine. and would buy it again 10 times over. Good luck, and we are gonna need some pics. Be Safe.

2LZ · 12-30-2016, 12:05 PM

One more thing that's a positive about the Hawk in my eyes (besides being the best two-wheeled bargain on the planet), is that it's a Hensim-Haosen product. I had a pair of Hensim DB150's a long time back. They were EXCELLENT bikes and took a beating without a hitch. I ended up selling them to a buddy and he still rides them to this day. Good stuff.

humanbeing · 12-30-2016, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wild Dog

So the QE = SE?

Still doesn't seems to have the viscosity of a 15w40

Shipping oil ≠ Proper oil

Wild Dog · 12-30-2016, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by humanbeing

Shipping oil ≠ Proper oil

Do you have any idea of what kind of Oil they actually ship with the Bike???

OUTERLIMITS · 12-30-2016, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wild Dog

Do you have any idea of what kind of Oil they actually ship with the Bike???

DallasTxTrouble · 12-30-2016, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2LZ

I don't have a Hawk but have had many Hondoids over the years. Many of the parts are identical. The Hawk, CSC TT250, Storm, Brozz and many others of the "new" generation Hondoids are the best ever built, to date, regarding plastics, frame, etc.... The CG motors are proven to be no fire breathers but will run indefinitely.

It seems as though you've already done some extensive reading here and that's good.

Yes to the following:

Change the oil.
Adjust the valves after break-in. They'll be super tight. (Intake .05mm Exhaust .08mm, ice cold, overnight).
Replace the plug.
Odds are you'll need either jetting (if you can find it) or upgrade to the Mikuni for easy and available jetting options. You'll probably experience the popping or flat spot when wide open and lean cold starts being at about sea level. Maybe not.

Just know you're choosing a CB for all the right reasons, as you've stated. Many of us here don't want to...or have the $$$......to drop 5 grand on a small displacement enduro that's basically a toy to most of us, and if you're mechanically inclined, can work your way around what (now few) drawbacks a China Bike has, especially for the cash. I think as you put miles on the Hawk, you'll be shocked at what you received for the $$$.

Gospel: Don't trust the dealer. They assemble a ton of these a day. Proper setup is the key to many happy miles. Go over everything and every adjustment.

Just got it back to my house and looked it over. I'll definitely be taking the covers off and going over everything again. I noticed the carb does seem to have those flat spots and boggs down at open throttle. Could be because I accidently had the reserve tank on? Drained the oil put 15w40 triple protection. I can't figure out how to get the damn seat off though haha Gonna go ride it some more soon and have another status report

95C1500 · 12-30-2016, 06:52 PM

I'm in your area. I looked at the 3 dealers in the area for weeks before finally buying mine off a guy in Decatur. I personally think it's worth the investment. Mikuni jets will fit the stock carb as well. www.hawk250.com will have links to all of these parts.

To get the seat off, pull the side panels and there is one bolt per side holding the seat on. then just slide it back and up.

DallasTxTrouble · 12-30-2016, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 95C1500

I'm in your area. I looked at the 3 dealers in the area for weeks before finally buying mine off a guy in Decatur. I personally think it's worth the investment. Mikuni jets will fit the stock carb as well. www.hawk250.com will have links to all of these parts.

To get the seat off, pull the side panels and there is one bolt per side holding the seat on. then just slide it back and up.

thanks man I just got back from riding it again that's it for tonight. Gonna take the panels off and reroute some of these wires to get everything out of the way. The carb definitely needs to be adjusted, has some trouble taying on once you first start it. I've been messing with the idle screw to find the right spot so that's probably off

timcosby · 12-30-2016, 09:57 PM

more fun than you can shake a stick at!

95C1500 · 12-31-2016, 12:26 AM

I still haven't gotten my carb dialed in. Replacing the main jet sure helped though

'16 TT250 · 12-31-2016, 02:11 AM

Any 15-40 should do a good job. I've used it, mostly Rotella, in many bikes from an old air cooled turbo bike to some newer performance bikes. Once broken in I might consider a synthetic motorcycle oil, not that I think a CB needs it, but with their small capacity it's cheap enough that I might do it.

12-30-2016, 10:01 AM	#16
2LZ Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Volcano, Ca Posts: 7,092	I don't have a Hawk but have had many Hondoids over the years. Many of the parts are identical. The Hawk, CSC TT250, Storm, Brozz and many others of the "new" generation Hondoids are the best ever built, to date, regarding plastics, frame, etc.... The CG motors are proven to be no fire breathers but will run indefinitely. It seems as though you've already done some extensive reading here and that's good. Yes to the following: Change the oil. Adjust the valves after break-in. They'll be super tight. (Intake .05mm Exhaust .08mm, ice cold, overnight). Replace the plug. Odds are you'll need either jetting (if you can find it) or upgrade to the Mikuni for easy and available jetting options. You'll probably experience the popping or flat spot when wide open and lean cold starts being at about sea level. Maybe not. Just know you're choosing a CB for all the right reasons, as you've stated. Many of us here don't want to...or have the $$$......to drop 5 grand on a small displacement enduro that's basically a toy to most of us, and if you're mechanically inclined, can work your way around what (now few) drawbacks a China Bike has, especially for the cash. I think as you put miles on the Hawk, you'll be shocked at what you received for the $$$. Gospel: Don't trust the dealer. They assemble a ton of these a day. Proper setup is the key to many happy miles. Go over everything and every adjustment. __________________ "Light a fire for a man, and you heat him for a day. Light a man on fire, and you heat him for the rest of his life." 2007 Suzuki DRZ400S (SM convert) 2009 Q Link XP 200 1967 BSA B25 250cc Starfire 2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 2023 Royal Enfield Scram 411 1948 Royal Enfield Model G 350
	1

12-30-2016, 10:37 AM	#20
letsride Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Leesville SC Posts: 834	The valves on my bike were LOOSE really loose. I took 2LZ's advice (then later found the spec in my chinglish owners manual) set them with the engine dead cold, like after its sat over night. Then .05mm for the intake valve and .08 for the Exhaust. Now, you will be able to hear the ticking from the rockers cruising down the road, but a tappy valve is a happy valve. But never fear, when you put the aftermarket exhaust on you will no longer hear them. Not sure if that a GOOD thing. Go over that bike AGAIN with a fine tooth comb, just because the dealer put it together don't mean a hill of beans. Go through the electrical system, ALL of it, from front to back. Put Dielectric grease on all the connections, make sure all wires and connections are secure and out of the way of other parts that can damage them. I don't have a Hawk, just its very close relative. I love the snot out of mine. and would buy it again 10 times over. Good luck, and we are gonna need some pics. Be Safe. __________________ My Stable- 2022 Lifan KPX250 , 2023 Royal Enfield Himalayan, 1992 Honda GL1500 Goldwing, SSR 70 Auto, Kymco Mongoose 90, Honda Four Trax 300
	1

12-30-2016, 12:05 PM	#21
2LZ Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Volcano, Ca Posts: 7,092	One more thing that's a positive about the Hawk in my eyes (besides being the best two-wheeled bargain on the planet), is that it's a Hensim-Haosen product. I had a pair of Hensim DB150's a long time back. They were EXCELLENT bikes and took a beating without a hitch. I ended up selling them to a buddy and he still rides them to this day. Good stuff. __________________ "Light a fire for a man, and you heat him for a day. Light a man on fire, and you heat him for the rest of his life." 2007 Suzuki DRZ400S (SM convert) 2009 Q Link XP 200 1967 BSA B25 250cc Starfire 2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 2023 Royal Enfield Scram 411 1948 Royal Enfield Model G 350
	2

12-30-2016, 10:02 AM	#17
pistolclass Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: connecticut Posts: 978	I got hawk, I love hawk,
	1

12-30-2016, 06:52 PM	#26
95C1500 Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 138	I'm in your area. I looked at the 3 dealers in the area for weeks before finally buying mine off a guy in Decatur. I personally think it's worth the investment. Mikuni jets will fit the stock carb as well. www.hawk250.com will have links to all of these parts. To get the seat off, pull the side panels and there is one bolt per side holding the seat on. then just slide it back and up.
	0

12-30-2016, 09:57 PM	#28
timcosby Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: robertsdale alabama usa Posts: 1,007	more fun than you can shake a stick at!
	0

12-31-2016, 12:26 AM	#29
95C1500 Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 138	I still haven't gotten my carb dialed in. Replacing the main jet sure helped though
	0

12-31-2016, 02:11 AM	#30
'16 TT250 Join Date: May 2016 Location: Hacienda Heights, Ca Posts: 281	Any 15-40 should do a good job. I've used it, mostly Rotella, in many bikes from an old air cooled turbo bike to some newer performance bikes. Once broken in I might consider a synthetic motorcycle oil, not that I think a CB needs it, but with their small capacity it's cheap enough that I might do it.
	0