Calling Hawk riders! New rider in Georgia!

LesterJames · 10-13-2016, 02:37 PM

Hey there! I just created an account here.
I recently picked up a 2015 Hawk 250 for cheap with pretty much no miles on it. I want to mainly use it to commute to and from work. Road it to work today. It worked great but I need to modify it to cruise comfortably at about 55. It has a hard time doing it right now. Would love some feedback from those who have tuned their Hawk to know what adjustments, upgrades and mods will help it run a little faster. I plan on switching the sprockets first, but don't know where to go after that. Is there a big bore option for it?

Thanks in advance!

(I live in Acworth, GA.)

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motorcyclelove · 10-13-2016, 04:23 PM

There is a ton of info on the hawk in the dual sports section of this site. One of the main things you can do is change the sprockets and adjust the carb. How hard was it to get tagged in GA? I'm In GA too.

katoranger · 10-13-2016, 05:14 PM

Welcome. Sprockets are good place to start. Lots of good info in the dual sport forum for the hawk.

culcune · 10-14-2016, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LesterJames

Is there a big bore option for it?

Thanks in advance!

Don't touch the engine itself; Chinese bikes don't take well to playing around inside.

You are on the right track with the sprockets. I would suggest do those first, and see how it runs with just that mod. Many members have swapped out the carb, but I am one to try one mod at a time and leave it alone for a few weeks, before moving on to the next mod.

Weldangrind · 10-14-2016, 12:39 PM

Welcome!

I recommend that you set the valves before doing anything else. A big bore kit is not gonna happen, unless you go liquid cooled.

pistolclass · 10-16-2016, 08:49 PM

I totally agree with burn&file. Valves before anything. Once those are good, the carb mod is wicked simple and cheap. Get a Mikuni VM26 off ebay for $39 and get a jet kit for $10-20. Start with a 110 main. Once you get the carb tuned get a 17 in front. See if that is enough on the top end. If not grab a 45 for the back. I like my low gearing but I'm mainly off road. I like wheelies too

The bike has it's quirks but for the money they are great!

LesterJames · 10-17-2016, 03:40 PM

Thanks everyone for the feedback! I switched out the front sprocket with a 17 and it's already better. The rear 45 is on the way. I'm guessing that it will suck on hills after I switch it though, but that's alright. I'll do the valve tuning next. Not sure about doing the carb mod yet, several people seem to not have noticed a change. Have any of you noticed a difference after installing the Mikuni Carb?

Getting it tagged has been hell. After going 5 times to the DMV (and getting different answers each time) it finally got submitted. Had to get a title bond, fill out affidavits, get police inspection, etc. The lady at the DMV submitted the packet of paperwork and gave me a registered tag but said the state may deny it and then I'll have to go through salvage to get it approved for street use. All in all, I've spent $200 to get it finally tagged, and will probably have to spend more for the salvage crap. Hopefully they have a new intern at the state office that will overlook the fact that its a kit bike and unknowingly approve it...

Also, where do I find this magical dual sport forum?

pistolclass · 10-17-2016, 07:42 PM

The carb mod for me was very noticeable. Prior to the carb/jet mod the Hawk need 20 minutes of warm up time to take it off choke.

You can re jet it with the stock carb but it's a pain to dremmel the tamper proof screws. If the replacement Mikuni was $200 I would have cracked up the stock one. But it is only $39, and that is coming from a cheapo china bike rider.

Weldangrind · 10-18-2016, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LesterJames

Also, where do I find this magical dual sport forum?

Here: http://www.chinariders.net/forumdisplay.php?f=101 There's several years worth of reading there.

Emerikol · 12-02-2016, 05:08 AM

All done in Indianapolis! My motorcycles need me right now, the least I can do is go and be there for them, right?

I got my flight changed and I'll be home in enough time to squeeze a ride or two in today before the second round of bad weather pushes through. I noticed something interesting the other day, and I'm not sure how to feel about it. TXPowersports posted a reply to my thread about not buying from them if you live in Georgia (It's not actually my thread, I sort of hijacked it from Jmcgee). They posted the reply nearly a month after I bought the bike, and two weeks after I had to twist myself into knots jumping through all the hoops to get it registered. I came out on top in the end, but still, that strikes me as too little, too late. I don't think I'll buy from them again (in truth, the next thing I buy better be comfortable enough to call home because according to the missus, there will DEFINITELY be a divorce in my future!). There are too many other good companies out there looking to build the riding base of these great little China Bikes. On top of that, Letsride is looking into becoming a vendor,

and chops like that is something I feel has been sorely lacking in society lately. I'm about to hop on the plane and head home, have a great morning everyone!

Republic · 10-18-2016, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LesterJames

Not sure about doing the carb mod yet, several people seem to not have noticed a change. Have any of you noticed a difference after installing the Mikuni Carb?

I used a bit to remove stripped screws and just rejetted the stock carb. I noticed a big difference after 1/2 throttle, the bike used to bog down and ping occasionally, it runs fine now. It did not give me any real top end speed improvement, but it is more responsive to squirts of throttle. It also gave me a little more peace of mind knowing I've got some extra fuel to help cool the head when I'm scooting at speed.

I went from the stock 98 to a 110.

LesterJames · 10-19-2016, 03:40 PM

Thanks for the feedback. I'll probably get the mizuno carb eventually.
Does anyone know of an engine swap that is possible with this bike frame? Any larger engines that could be ripped from an older bike and put on the Hawk? I'm thinking like a 300cc to 400cc engine. Thanks in advance for the help.

Emerikol · 10-31-2016, 08:48 PM

Lester,
Welcome to the forum! I just placed the order for my Hawk this morning. I live out in Carrollton, and ride a DR650 now. I was a little hesitant to buy one because I absolutely wanted to get it tagged in GA, however everyone else says that it's not too hard at all. I'll post my D!!MV experience once I get the bike knocked together. I'm going to be doing a ton of upgrades and farkles to my bike because I ride year-round, and need everything to be able to take me wherever I need to go. Please continue to post about your upgrades and thoughts/experiences with your new Hawk!

Cheers!
-Emerikol
2015 Suzuki DR650
1987 Honda Rebel 250

LesterJames · 11-01-2016, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emerikol

Please continue to post about your upgrades and thoughts/experiences with your new Hawk!

Thanks Emerikol! Glad to know there will be another rider around here. We'll have to meet up at some point and go for a ride.

The only new upgrades I've done recently was install a new spark plug, which seems to help ignite past half throttle, and put all synthetic oil for the winter in the bike. Bike seems to run a little smoother now with both of those things. Once the back 45 tooth sprocket gets in I'll install it and then the Mikuni Carb will be the next upgrade.

Any one have a suggestion for which jet size to put in it? I've heard between 100 and 120 from some. I may just need to swap them until one works best.

LesterJames · 11-01-2016, 03:09 PM

Also, I've been putting in premium gas in my Hawk. Is that overkill? Does the manual say? I don't have the manual. Bought my Hawk used.

10-13-2016, 02:37 PM	#1
LesterJames Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Acworth, GA Posts: 21	Calling Hawk riders! New rider in Georgia! Hey there! I just created an account here. I recently picked up a 2015 Hawk 250 for cheap with pretty much no miles on it. I want to mainly use it to commute to and from work. Road it to work today. It worked great but I need to modify it to cruise comfortably at about 55. It has a hard time doing it right now. Would love some feedback from those who have tuned their Hawk to know what adjustments, upgrades and mods will help it run a little faster. I plan on switching the sprockets first, but don't know where to go after that. Is there a big bore option for it? Thanks in advance! (I live in Acworth, GA.)
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10-13-2016, 05:14 PM	#3
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	Welcome. Sprockets are good place to start. Lots of good info in the dual sport forum for the hawk. __________________ You meet the nicest people on a Honda Clone.
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10-14-2016, 12:39 PM	#5
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	Welcome! I recommend that you set the valves before doing anything else. A big bore kit is not gonna happen, unless you go liquid cooled. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
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10-17-2016, 03:40 PM	#7
LesterJames Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Acworth, GA Posts: 21	Thanks everyone for the feedback! I switched out the front sprocket with a 17 and it's already better. The rear 45 is on the way. I'm guessing that it will suck on hills after I switch it though, but that's alright. I'll do the valve tuning next. Not sure about doing the carb mod yet, several people seem to not have noticed a change. Have any of you noticed a difference after installing the Mikuni Carb? Getting it tagged has been hell. After going 5 times to the DMV (and getting different answers each time) it finally got submitted. Had to get a title bond, fill out affidavits, get police inspection, etc. The lady at the DMV submitted the packet of paperwork and gave me a registered tag but said the state may deny it and then I'll have to go through salvage to get it approved for street use. All in all, I've spent $200 to get it finally tagged, and will probably have to spend more for the salvage crap. Hopefully they have a new intern at the state office that will overlook the fact that its a kit bike and unknowingly approve it... Also, where do I find this magical dual sport forum? Last edited by LesterJames; 10-17-2016 at 03:49 PM. Reason: Added info.
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12-02-2016, 05:08 AM	#10
Emerikol Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Carrollton, GA Posts: 1,465	Heading Back to ATL All done in Indianapolis! My motorcycles need me right now, the least I can do is go and be there for them, right? I got my flight changed and I'll be home in enough time to squeeze a ride or two in today before the second round of bad weather pushes through. I noticed something interesting the other day, and I'm not sure how to feel about it. TXPowersports posted a reply to my thread about not buying from them if you live in Georgia (It's not actually my thread, I sort of hijacked it from Jmcgee). They posted the reply nearly a month after I bought the bike, and two weeks after I had to twist myself into knots jumping through all the hoops to get it registered. I came out on top in the end, but still, that strikes me as too little, too late. I don't think I'll buy from them again (in truth, the next thing I buy better be comfortable enough to call home because according to the missus, there will DEFINITELY be a divorce in my future!). There are too many other good companies out there looking to build the riding base of these great little China Bikes. On top of that, Letsride is looking into becoming a vendor, and chops like that is something I feel has been sorely lacking in society lately. I'm about to hop on the plane and head home, have a great morning everyone! __________________ 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; 12-02-2016 at 05:12 AM. Reason: Note to self - Coffee, THEN post!
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10-13-2016, 04:23 PM	#2
motorcyclelove Join Date: May 2016 Location: Tybee island, GA Posts: 182	There is a ton of info on the hawk in the dual sports section of this site. One of the main things you can do is change the sprockets and adjust the carb. How hard was it to get tagged in GA? I'm In GA too.
	0

10-16-2016, 08:49 PM	#6
pistolclass Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: connecticut Posts: 978	I totally agree with burn&file. Valves before anything. Once those are good, the carb mod is wicked simple and cheap. Get a Mikuni VM26 off ebay for $39 and get a jet kit for $10-20. Start with a 110 main. Once you get the carb tuned get a 17 in front. See if that is enough on the top end. If not grab a 45 for the back. I like my low gearing but I'm mainly off road. I like wheelies too The bike has it's quirks but for the money they are great!
	0

10-17-2016, 07:42 PM	#8
pistolclass Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: connecticut Posts: 978	The carb mod for me was very noticeable. Prior to the carb/jet mod the Hawk need 20 minutes of warm up time to take it off choke. You can re jet it with the stock carb but it's a pain to dremmel the tamper proof screws. If the replacement Mikuni was $200 I would have cracked up the stock one. But it is only $39, and that is coming from a cheapo china bike rider.
	0

10-19-2016, 03:40 PM	#12
LesterJames Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Acworth, GA Posts: 21	Thanks for the feedback. I'll probably get the mizuno carb eventually. Does anyone know of an engine swap that is possible with this bike frame? Any larger engines that could be ripped from an older bike and put on the Hawk? I'm thinking like a 300cc to 400cc engine. Thanks in advance for the help.
	0

10-31-2016, 08:48 PM	#13
Emerikol Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Carrollton, GA Posts: 1,465	Welcome to a Fellow GA Rider Lester, Welcome to the forum! I just placed the order for my Hawk this morning. I live out in Carrollton, and ride a DR650 now. I was a little hesitant to buy one because I absolutely wanted to get it tagged in GA, however everyone else says that it's not too hard at all. I'll post my D!!MV experience once I get the bike knocked together. I'm going to be doing a ton of upgrades and farkles to my bike because I ride year-round, and need everything to be able to take me wherever I need to go. Please continue to post about your upgrades and thoughts/experiences with your new Hawk! Cheers! -Emerikol 2015 Suzuki DR650 1987 Honda Rebel 250
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11-01-2016, 03:09 PM	#15
LesterJames Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Acworth, GA Posts: 21	Also, I've been putting in premium gas in my Hawk. Is that overkill? Does the manual say? I don't have the manual. Bought my Hawk used.
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