What would you change about the Hawk?

[kohburn]

ah, somehow in my morning brain fog that escaped me.

[irish73]

Has anyone upgraded the forks im trying to mod my Hawk to look more like a supermoto

[dpl096]

Welcome aboard !

[david3921]

Originally Posted by irish73

Has anyone upgraded the forks im trying to mod my Hawk to look more like a supermoto

The TT250 and the Hawk are similar. I would guess the forks would swap. You might want to give CSC a call or visit their website to inquire about availability and price.

['16 TT250]

Originally Posted by mjstef

Not sure how anyone affords to live in that over-regulated, overtaxed, over liberalized state. Met a guy who moved his IT business up here from San Jose last year. He figures just in taxes alone he will add over 20% to his bank account. His quote " saving enough in taxes to pay cash for a new Ford Raptor" Must be nice!! He said in 2014 with taxes, business licenses, astronomical insurance, auto license fees, Property taxes Ect on top of federal taxes he was paying 55% of his income in taxes. For what he sold his house for in town on a postage stamp, he bought an estate on 40 acres here! His property taxes are 20% of what he was paying in Cali. He's got a world class clay shooting range and also a 500 yard target range. Actually met him at the gun shop picking up a bunch of 30 RD mags for some buddies of his. It's no wonder so many are moving here. Y'all in Cali put up with more than i would!

It can be hard or easy, depending on how one plays the game. The hardest part is getting a CCW, at least in LA county. Good thing it's only a misdemeanor to not play into the privilege rule.

[Kdburtch]

A 6 speed gearbox would be fantastic.

[chuck]

I like the Hawk for what it is,I'm upgrading it to my taste, I want it to be unique in a way.

[pcspecialist]

keep 1st gear as it is but the remaining gears progressively taller than they are currently. It would be nice if 5th with the current sprockets were like 5th with a 17/50 set of sprockets.

a common battery size

snail-type chain adjusters

longer foot pegs

brake pedal that doesn't stick out so far to the right (current length, just closer to the frame)

1" longer shifter

a common battery size

horizontally mounted rear brake master cylinder so it doesn't stick down below the frame

Tygon fuel line

a common battery size

counterbalanced motor

a common battery size

dual-sport tires like the TT250

Did I mention a common battery size?

[pcspecialist]

Things I wouldn't want changed, but, offered as upgrades for current and future Hawk:

hydraulic clutch

stainless exhaust pipe / tunable aluminum muffler

a real luggage rack

short windscreen

[jimwildman]

get it properly tagged for the us market!

[Weldangrind]

Originally Posted by Kdburtch

A 6 speed gearbox would be fantastic.

There's no reason not to offer it, other than reliability. You can buy a six-speed cluster on Taobao and install it, although I haven't actually tried that yet.

If it's anything like the Honda XR200R, the extra gear is sandwiched in between two existing gears. You don't actually get a taller top gear; what was fifth is now simply sixth. The by-product of the design is that each gear is a little skinnier, and they can break more easily.

Bottom line is, don't expect a different top gear, and be gentle with it.

[Adam Rinkleff]

Originally Posted by jimwildman

get it properly tagged for the us market!

Unfortunately, processing paperwork with the US government isn't a simple matter. As an example, I contacted one state DMV for clarification, and was told they can't even talk to me because the state budget has been frozen. There appears to be an issue China side as well, and I think the Chinese government restricts the export of motorcycles, which may be why the Hawk is technically a dirtbike. If you think legal documents are confusing in English, just try reading them in Chinese.

This needs to be made clear, the Hawk is NOT certified by the DOT. However, most DMVs will register the Hawk for on-road use, as a dirtbike which has been properly modified. For example, we are based in Texas, where the DMV doesn't seem to care what the DOT thinks. You need to check whether your state allows you to modify a dirtbike for on-road use. If no, then you are probably out of luck, but I have seen Hawks registered in just about every state. Theoretically, you could build a motor vehicle yourself, so there are ways to get it done. In some states, your results will vary by county, or even which clerk is processing your request.

You need to approach the DMV with confidence. If you appear uncertain, some clerks are going to take the easy path and reject you. If you seem angry, they'll just deny you out of spite. It's probably best to call first and just ask if there is a way to get a dirtbike plated if you modify it. Then you bring the Hawk in for an inspection to demonstrate the modifications have been made: odometer, mirrors, turn-signal, etc. If you just bring it in as a 'motorcycle', it may get dismissed because of no DOT plate. If you call first and explain that it's a dirtbike, then they won't expect to see a DOT plate.

"Every state has its own laws and regulations when it comes to registering a dirt bike as a dual sport or street-legal motorcycle. Some states only require you to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) in regards to items such as lighting equipment (turn signals, brake lights, reflectors, head light with high/low beam), speedometer, rear view mirror, rims, tires, exhaust. Some states and even local governments may require additional equipment or even testing/inspection in order to register your dirt bike as a street legal vehicle."

I'm not sure the Hawk is ever going to be DOT approved. The primary export market is Africa and South America, not the US. I think the long-term solution on our end is going to be importing Lifan motorcycles, which are already DOT approved.

[Weldangrind]

Originally Posted by Adam Rinkleff

You need to check whether your state allows you to modify a dirtbike for on-road use.

It's interesting to me that WA State used to have a law against the "dual-sporting" of dirt bikes, but they actually repealed the law a few years ago. By contrast, British Columbia enacted a similar law around the same time; if a bike was imported into Canada as a RUM (restricted use motorcycle), it will not get a plate in BC. We do have a UBILT provision, which allows you to create a motorcycle, but you must establish where the components came from; you can't simply install road equipment on a dirt bike and say "I built it."

[dpl096]

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

It's interesting to me that WA State used to have a law against the "dual-sporting" of dirt bikes, but they actually repealed the law a few years ago. By contrast, British Columbia enacted a similar law around the same time; if a bike was imported into Canada as a RUM (restricted use motorcycle), it will not get a plate in BC. We do have a UBILT provision, which allows you to create a motorcycle, but you must establish where the components came from; you can't simply install road equipment on a dirt bike and say "I built it."

So if I didn't mind lying about it I could take my Hawk or Bashan to your DMV and claim I purchased the parts individually and assembled it myself therefore making it eligible for a UBILT ?

[Weldangrind]

Originally Posted by dpl096

So if I didn't mind lying about it I could take my Hawk or Bashan to your DMV and claim I purchased the parts individually and assembled it myself therefore making it eligible for a UBILT ?

I advocate honesty, but you're free to do what you wish. If you're struggling to register your bike in your area, try another State, like VT.