February 10, 2007

 

THE ADVENTURE HAWK   (T/M)

 

Some of you may remember the Adventure ST. It was a good travel bike, but a little on the heavy side for any real adventures.

 

Opening the no holds barred wish book, it appeared that what I want is a KTM 950 Adventure. At around $13K that’s not gonna happen.

 

So, I came up with a Honda Super Hawk as as close as I can get in my price range. I bought one and it will be here shortly.

 

How do we handle the “adventure” part??

  1. We need a larger gas tank. I’m bidding on a 6+  gallon Tank form a CBR1100XX. It’s about the same shape

            and can be adapted. To fit. I won a Tank on eBay.

 

 

2.. We need more comfortable ergonomics.

    1. higher handlebars via top mounted bar risers and aftermarket bars
    2. .lower footpegs via ZX9R pegs mounted on the exhaust brackets
    3. Seat recovering with secret super memory foam.
    4. Either strip the front fairing and add a windshield or change stock wind screen for a sport tour size.

      3..We need luggage. Givi setups cost near $1000. BZZZZZT! TILT!

            So we use Army Surplus Mermite Food Containers. Currently bidding on a pair on eBay.

 

       4. more suspension travel. This issue will be addressed later. Maybe a 650 dual sport front end graft.          The rear might get a new shock link to raise it.

 

So, there’s the plan. Stay tuned to watch progress.

 

Won eBay auction for right foot peg and mount

Won eBay auction for CBR1100XX Gas Tank, complete with level sensor, cap and fuel pump.

 UPDATE April 29, 2008

 

Time flies when you are having fun, eh?

 

 

As of this date, I have:

  1. I crashed the bike in June 2007, this effectively removed the body work. I added dual headlights, a small sports fairing, and moved the instrument cluster.

 

      2.Moved the handle bars up and tried three different bends. I am happiest with the 1984 Sabre V65 bars. I “sit up and beg” and can adjust the pullback with them.

 

3.Installed two styles of lower footpegs. First some Buell pegs that dropped them about an inch. Then the Kawasaki pegs which lowered about 1 ½ inch from stock.

 

4.The Mermites were too ugly for the lovely Hawk. They went on the ugly Adventure ST.

 I picked up three imitation GIVI  hard bags .(the side bags from J.C.Whitney and a larger top case from a friend (Crazy Carl Parker) in China). They mount to a GIVI rack that I bought from a Superhawk forum member

 

5.The seat has been done twice. The current favorite is a Reupholstry with an inch of closed cell foam, some memory foam added. I then raised the front mount 1 ½ inches.

 

6. the rectifier regulator began to act up. I  replaced it with a Yamaha R1 Unit (580 watts capacity).

 

7. I purchased an AudioVox cruise control unit. It has yet to be installed.

 

The larger fuel tank is problematic. It’s several inches longer than stock. If I install it, I booger up the riding position, which I am rather fond of. I guess I’ll just stop for gas every 100 or so miles, like I did on a Honda Magna.

 

So, I need to install the cruise control and take a trip to test out the package.