question for Hawk riders

jjn · 09-25-2015, 05:31 PM

Since I am old enough to have shrunk in height, I am just a bit concerned about the seat level on the 250 Hawk dual sports. I had my wife measure my height, and it was with me bare footed, and turned out to be about 5'9". I normally wear jeans that are 32" long. My last dual sport was a 2005 KLR650 Kawasaki, and hoisting my leg over that bike was getting a bit tiresome. I traded it in about 6-7 years ago.

I read where the Hawk has a seat about 35.4" high.

So, I'm wondering how tall some of you Hawk pilots are, and how that seat height is working out for you.

I"m also still considering the 200cc Will (and the 250, which is hard to find right now), which is certainly lower, and the TMEC 200.

wilserchinarider · 09-25-2015, 05:47 PM

I'm 5'8", w/ a 30" in seam. The hawk is a bit inconveniently tall when mounting or back pushing out of the garage or a parking space, BUT I find the larger size more comfortable when riding than my shorter China bikes. Like most things...pluses minuses.

I think the taller seat height is an overall plus. Very happy with the bike for the money spent.

jct842 · 09-25-2015, 09:30 PM

get on like you are riding a horse. I am tall enough but not very flexible so I step on the foot peg then swing my leg over.

mjstef · 09-26-2015, 01:28 AM

I'm 5'11" and just put one together tonight. Seems just about right when my 200# fat arse hits the seat....

wilserchinarider · 09-26-2015, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jct842

get on like you are riding a horse. I am tall enough but not very flexible so I step on the foot peg then swing my leg over.

Yes, that is my preferred method, but the Hawk on kick stand has more lean than it should, making the horse mount method a little awkward.

I would really like a longer kick stand. But it's not a priority

midlifemx5 · 09-26-2015, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilserchinarider

I'm 5'8", w/ a 30" in seam. The hawk is a bit inconveniently tall when mounting or back pushing out of the garage or a parking space, BUT I find the larger size more comfortable when riding than my shorter China bikes. Like most things...pluses minuses.

I think the taller seat height is an overall plus. Very happy with the bike for the money spent.

I concur!

Mag00 · 09-27-2015, 12:53 AM

I bought the Bashan 250 Storm because of seat height. The dang thing has a plush seat as well, most comfy motorcycle seat, rivals even the corbin seats.

5'7" and can barely plant flat footed. Good power, counterbalance engine, looks good too. 12L fuel, decent range on a tank.

jjn · 09-27-2015, 01:27 AM

The Storm looks very good! Some are having fuel leaks related to either the gas cap, or pressure in side the tank. Are you experiencing any of this? How do you like the inverted forks? Have you changed the gearing on yours, or is it OK as stock? I had been interested in the 200 Storm, but the only place that has them will not ship to my state.

fratermus · 09-27-2015, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jct842

get on like you are riding a horse. I am tall enough but not very flexible so I step on the foot peg then swing my leg over.

Yup. Did this on my DR650, especially when wearing overpants. Made the operation much easier.

jjn · 09-27-2015, 01:59 PM

Well, one thing for sure, I won't be putting a top cargo box on. That just makes things worse. The highest bike I owned was a 2005 KLR650 Kawasaki. I have sat on DRZ400S and XR650L models, which are both 37" up there. But, I have also sat on a few TW200's, and they felt fine. I didn't feel like a giant on a tricycle.

But, I never tried the horse mount, where I step onto the footpeg and swing my right leg over while the bike is still on the side stand. I have certainly shrunk, maybe as much as 2", over the eons.

jjn · 10-01-2015, 01:04 AM

Does the Hawk have an alarm and remote start feature? I think it's the Storms (200 and 250) that do, but am not sure.I think I'd maybe rather not have that due to the added complexity.

wilserchinarider · 10-01-2015, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjn

Does the Hawk have an alarm and remote start feature?

My Hawk does not.

Weldangrind · 10-01-2015, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjn

Does the Hawk have an alarm and remote start feature? I think it's the Storms (200 and 250) that do, but am not sure.I think I'd maybe rather not have that due to the added complexity.

My Lifan had that, along with an annoying turn signal beeper (which was crazy loud) and a device that made the rear signals flash three times when the brake was applied. I removed all of it. The only challenge was re-wiring so the bike could accept a much simpler generic signal flasher, and even that wasn't too difficult.

I removed everything because I needed to get rid of that beeper, and because the alarm / remote start device was draining the battery.

09-25-2015, 05:31 PM	#1
jjn Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 206	question for Hawk riders Since I am old enough to have shrunk in height, I am just a bit concerned about the seat level on the 250 Hawk dual sports. I had my wife measure my height, and it was with me bare footed, and turned out to be about 5'9". I normally wear jeans that are 32" long. My last dual sport was a 2005 KLR650 Kawasaki, and hoisting my leg over that bike was getting a bit tiresome. I traded it in about 6-7 years ago. I read where the Hawk has a seat about 35.4" high. So, I'm wondering how tall some of you Hawk pilots are, and how that seat height is working out for you. I"m also still considering the 200cc Will (and the 250, which is hard to find right now), which is certainly lower, and the TMEC 200. __________________ Jon, in Keaau, Hawaii
	0

09-27-2015, 12:53 AM	#7
Mag00 Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 192	I bought the Bashan 250 Storm because of seat height. The dang thing has a plush seat as well, most comfy motorcycle seat, rivals even the corbin seats. 5'7" and can barely plant flat footed. Good power, counterbalance engine, looks good too. 12L fuel, decent range on a tank. __________________ Bashan 250 Storm Husqvarna TR650 Honda Metropolitan Be a Piggy!
	0

09-27-2015, 01:27 AM	#8
jjn Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 206	The Storm looks very good! Some are having fuel leaks related to either the gas cap, or pressure in side the tank. Are you experiencing any of this? How do you like the inverted forks? Have you changed the gearing on yours, or is it OK as stock? I had been interested in the 200 Storm, but the only place that has them will not ship to my state. __________________ Jon, in Keaau, Hawaii
	0

09-27-2015, 01:59 PM	#10
jjn Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 206	Well, one thing for sure, I won't be putting a top cargo box on. That just makes things worse. The highest bike I owned was a 2005 KLR650 Kawasaki. I have sat on DRZ400S and XR650L models, which are both 37" up there. But, I have also sat on a few TW200's, and they felt fine. I didn't feel like a giant on a tricycle. But, I never tried the horse mount, where I step onto the footpeg and swing my right leg over while the bike is still on the side stand. I have certainly shrunk, maybe as much as 2", over the eons. __________________ Jon, in Keaau, Hawaii
	0

10-01-2015, 01:04 AM	#11
jjn Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 206	Does the Hawk have an alarm and remote start feature? I think it's the Storms (200 and 250) that do, but am not sure.I think I'd maybe rather not have that due to the added complexity. __________________ Jon, in Keaau, Hawaii
	0

09-25-2015, 05:47 PM	#2
wilserchinarider Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 380	I'm 5'8", w/ a 30" in seam. The hawk is a bit inconveniently tall when mounting or back pushing out of the garage or a parking space, BUT I find the larger size more comfortable when riding than my shorter China bikes. Like most things...pluses minuses. I think the taller seat height is an overall plus. Very happy with the bike for the money spent.
	0

09-25-2015, 09:30 PM	#3
jct842 Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: arkansas Posts: 297	get on like you are riding a horse. I am tall enough but not very flexible so I step on the foot peg then swing my leg over.
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09-26-2015, 01:28 AM	#4
mjstef Join Date: May 2007 Location: Lac Du Flambeau, WI Posts: 804	I'm 5'11" and just put one together tonight. Seems just about right when my 200# fat arse hits the seat....
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