An honest description on the Hawk

letsride · 11-16-2016, 04:20 AM

I found a retailer that accurately describes the Hawk.
http://www.powerdirtbikes.com/produc...e-6edd546fd3e5

Quote:

The Hawk was designed for long-distance travel in Africa and South America, with low maintenance requirements. It is both durable and affordable, earning the nickname: ‘AK-47’. This enduro is street legal in many states, with turn signals and lights, but was not designed for US highway travel. Buyers should check with their local DMV, as this is not a DOT approved motorcycle. However, it is an NHTSA compliant dirtbike, and most states will approve it.

But they list two Hawks. The one in the link above and the one in the link below which is 100 dollars cheaper? Sometimes I don't get these companies

http://www.powerdirtbikes.com/produc...4-f5aa034a9c43

Emerikol · 11-16-2016, 05:04 AM

It's nice to see the Hawk getting around on these websites. It looks like the second link you posted has much better info on the bike. I can certainly say that a 250 is plenty big enough for use in the developing countries and third world nations. The entire market for larger displacement motorcycles is located in the states, Great Britain (mainly in part to Ewan and Charlie's ride round the world on big BMW bikes), and some parts of Europe. In Latin America especially, nobody would dream of having a fuel injected big bore motorcycle. They need small, cheap, reliable two wheeled transportation. The Hawk certainly seems to fit that bill. Ariel Red Hunter did a very nice writeup on the history of the Hawk engine. http://chinariders.net/showthread.ph...=ariel&page=14 It's hard to argue with simple solutions to problems. That's a large part of the reason I decided to go with air cooling and a carburetor for all my bikes. It's kind of hard to find a ready source of engine coolant or a fuel pump in the middle of nowhere on a long ride. If you have to bring a whole other bike's worth of spares in a support vehicle, you're not adventuring; that's called an extended test drive with factory support, IMO...

culcune · 11-16-2016, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by letsride

I found a retailer that accurately describes the Hawk.
http://www.powerdirtbikes.com/produc...e-6edd546fd3e5

But they list two Hawks. The one in the link above and the one in the link below which is 100 dollars cheaper? Sometimes I don't get these companies

http://www.powerdirtbikes.com/produc...4-f5aa034a9c43

The description comes from RPS's site:
http://www.therps.net/DB-Hawk.html

The price difference might be due to model years; the lower cost one (with the altered name--Cougar Hawk) may be a '15 model, while the other one is a '16. You will NEVER get a straight answer out of the retailer. Perhaps member 'Adam Renkleff' from this site could answer the question since most of these retailers drop ship directly from RPS.

Ariel Red Hunter · 11-16-2016, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by culcune

The description comes from RPS's site:
http://www.therps.net/DB-Hawk.html

The price difference might be due to model years; the lower cost one (with the altered name--Cougar Hawk) may be a '15 model, while the other one is a '16. You will NEVER get a straight answer out of the retailer. Perhaps member 'Adam Renkleff' from this site could answer the question since most of these retailers drop ship directly from RPS.

Yes, culcune, I believe you are right. The 2015's had chrome wheel rims, like the Cougar Hawk, and the 2016 Hawk's have black rims.

**JerryHawk250** · 11-16-2016, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ariel Red Hunter

Yes, culcune, I believe you are right. The 2015's had chrome wheel rims, like the Cougar Hawk, and the 2016 Hawk's have black rims.

That is correct. My 2016 Hawk has Black rims.

Emerikol · 11-16-2016, 11:25 AM

The MCO lists my Hawk as a 2016 model, and it has the chrome rims. Not sure if there has been a design change, or if I just got older stock when mine was being assembled. In any event, I'm ridiculously happy with the bike, not so much with the Georgia DMV.

UPDATE: I guess I should pay more attention when I'm assembling the bike, and not post when I can't go look at the bike to verify. My Hawk does indeed have black rims. Also, the DMV in GA has been restored to my good graces, for the time being at least... Thread update on the registration adventure here: http://chinariders.net/showthread.ph...397#post236397

**JerryHawk250** · 11-16-2016, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emerikol

The MCO lists my Hawk as a 2016 model, and it has the chrome rims. Not sure if there has been a design change, or if I just got older stock when mine was being assembled. In any event, I'm ridiculously happy with the bike, not so much with the Georgia DMV.

My motor tag has build date of 07/2016. Yours may be older stock. Still waiting to see how the Vin tag works out for you.

Bill1 · 11-17-2016, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerryHawk250

That is correct. My 2016 Hawk has Black rims.

I want a Hawk with black rims, but most of the places list them as 2015's.
Where do I need to buy mine from?

**JerryHawk250** · 11-17-2016, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill1

I want a Hawk with black rims, but most of the places list them as 2015's.
Where do I need to buy mine from?

I got mine from ASPCUSA. It is listed as a 2015 on the site but its a 2016 and has black rims.

Bill1 · 11-17-2016, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerryHawk250

I got mine from ASPCUSA. It is listed as a 2015 on the site but its a 2016 and has black rims.

Perfect! That's where I was looking.

Adam Rinkleff · 11-17-2016, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill1

I want a Hawk with black rims, but most of the places list them as 2015's.
Where do I need to buy mine from?

I don't think there are any 2015s left, maybe a couple green ones, but I think they were all sold months ago. All the online vendors are shipping out of our warehouse, so regardless of what their website says, you should get a 2016.

**JerryHawk250** · 11-17-2016, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill1

Perfect! That's where I was looking.

Black On Black is my personal choice.

chuck · 11-19-2016, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam Rinkleff

I don't think there are any 2015s left, maybe a couple green ones, but I think they were all sold months ago. All the online vendors are shipping out of our warehouse, so regardless of what their website says, you should get a 2016.

Adam Rinkleff,just to let you know that you have a winner with the Hawk,the more I ride it the more I'm enjoying it,and I think that the engine is well built.Thanks again for a great bike.

11-16-2016, 05:04 AM	#2
Emerikol Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Carrollton, GA Posts: 1,465	It's nice to see the Hawk getting around on these websites. It looks like the second link you posted has much better info on the bike. I can certainly say that a 250 is plenty big enough for use in the developing countries and third world nations. The entire market for larger displacement motorcycles is located in the states, Great Britain (mainly in part to Ewan and Charlie's ride round the world on big BMW bikes), and some parts of Europe. In Latin America especially, nobody would dream of having a fuel injected big bore motorcycle. They need small, cheap, reliable two wheeled transportation. The Hawk certainly seems to fit that bill. Ariel Red Hunter did a very nice writeup on the history of the Hawk engine. http://chinariders.net/showthread.ph...=ariel&page=14 It's hard to argue with simple solutions to problems. That's a large part of the reason I decided to go with air cooling and a carburetor for all my bikes. It's kind of hard to find a ready source of engine coolant or a fuel pump in the middle of nowhere on a long ride. If you have to bring a whole other bike's worth of spares in a support vehicle, you're not adventuring; that's called an extended test drive with factory support, IMO... __________________ First Rule of Aviation: -Never Pass Up The Opportunity to Pee I was struggling to get my wife's attention; I sat down on the couch and looked comfortable. That did the trick! My wife says I only have two faults. I don't listen and something else... If at first you don't succeed, try doing it the way I told you to... The Stable: 2005 Yamaha V-Star 650 - SOLD 2015 Suzuki DR 650 2015 RPS Hawk 250 - SOLD 2016 Ural Gear Up
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11-16-2016, 11:25 AM	#6
Emerikol Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Carrollton, GA Posts: 1,465	The MCO lists my Hawk as a 2016 model, and it has the chrome rims. Not sure if there has been a design change, or if I just got older stock when mine was being assembled. In any event, I'm ridiculously happy with the bike, not so much with the Georgia DMV. UPDATE: I guess I should pay more attention when I'm assembling the bike, and not post when I can't go look at the bike to verify. My Hawk does indeed have black rims. Also, the DMV in GA has been restored to my good graces, for the time being at least... Thread update on the registration adventure here: http://chinariders.net/showthread.ph...397#post236397 __________________ First Rule of Aviation: -Never Pass Up The Opportunity to Pee I was struggling to get my wife's attention; I sat down on the couch and looked comfortable. That did the trick! My wife says I only have two faults. I don't listen and something else... If at first you don't succeed, try doing it the way I told you to... The Stable: 2005 Yamaha V-Star 650 - SOLD 2015 Suzuki DR 650 2015 RPS Hawk 250 - SOLD 2016 Ural Gear Up Last edited by Emerikol; 11-19-2016 at 07:51 PM.
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