I'm being tempted to cross over to the Dark Side

Got a line on one of these; it sure "sits" nice. I could sell a couple of XJs and still have one left.

I'm afraid if I ride it I may be lost forever...

 

Im not up on honda's..... whats the engine configuration on that little number

 

That is a fantastic v-twin of the sort that I've lusted after for 20 odd years (the insurance company has other ideas).

Fitz, do not hesitate. Get it. There are a few "things" that they are known for (just like every other bike ever made), but once sorted Superhawks are damn nice all-around bikes.

 

Where would it fit in your signature?
Above the Norton?

I never met you Fitz, but you just seem like the type of guy that belongs on nothing but vintage . . . .

 

that looks like the honda equivalent to my sv1000s suzuki
they call mine a standard for insurance purposes, so it's not bad.
that one looks to have heli-bars on it, if not you'll want them.
you can forget that taking it up to red line stuff, unless you want to go into orbit
welcome to the 21st century, and don't forget to set the valves !

 

I say go for it they are very nice I wish I would have bought one when I had the chance.

 

Having ridden them back to back, the Suzuki has the far nicer gearbox, better fuel range and faster steering

I liked the Honda better as it seemed to have more midrange and a less bum up head down riding position

 

Go for it and let me know which xj is taking the extra room.

 

I see sore wrists in your future old timer . Nice bike though.

 

Get it. They're such awesome bikes.

You can't get rid of your black 550, though...

 

I've owned way more Hondas than anything else, granted mostly MX bikes, but I do still miss my '76 CB750four Super Sport.

If I had the chance to get a mid 90's CBR900RR, I'd jump on it.

Besides, you could always buy that and keep the XJs. After all, you're not even close to matching Dave in the "obsession" catagory.....yet.

 

Big bore v-twin sport bikes are like nothing you've got in your stable. I miss my pair of Ducatis terribly.

 

My NORTON is nothing like a big-bore V-twin, it's a big-bore parallel twin; but I've certainly run head-to-head with my share of Ducatis over the years.

Good thing I said "tempted."

Did some research: Shim under bucket valve adjustment and four stubby little camshafts to deal with; OK, I could live with that. More work, but hey...

Everybody universally hates the stock handlebar; no biggie, thankfully they're 7/8" tubular and easily rectified.

More than one review said the stock brake is mushy and would benefit from stainless lines. Again, it would happen anyway.

The swingarm pivots from the rear of the engine crankcase; it's not actually attached to the frame. 8O Apparently it's fine if ridden like a sport-tourer; but if you push it then it gets all Flexi-Flyer on you.

The bike is carbureted. WOOHOO! I can work on it myself.

---but wait---

It has something like 48mm carbs, in fact, the biggest carbs Honda ever used on a street bike.

It gets 32 ~38mpg. My VOLKSWAGEN gets 32mpg on a smooth morning commute. :cry:

"Tempted" and "convinced" are two different things. WC Fields was right. "Nice to look at but I wouldn't want to own one." Not only does that apply to women and elephants, but now also to the 996 SuperHawk. Sexy beast, but it just ain't practical. Besides, it doesn't have a round headlight.

And don't worry, I'd never sell the black 550. (Or the Norton.)

 

That's a lot to deal with. I feel like when I buy a modern motorcycle, I'm going to want it to have all the bells and whistles so I don't HAVE to get to know it as well as my XJ. Don't get me wrong- I love working on bikes- but it would be nice to have one with F.I., as well as the entire world of aftermarket availability.

Maybe we'll all see that plastic lasts half as long as carburetors, and I'll stand corrected.

 

Erf that. For starters, a 2002 is NOT a "modern" motorcycle; it's still 12 years old so most of the same things that we had to do to our XJs apply.

EFI and a current aftermarket are cool, for sure; however I don't want a motorcycle that has to be dealer-serviced. This Honda popped up on my radar; and it is one sexy beast and has a real nice "feel" to it especially for a lanky dude like me.

Of course it's a lot to deal with. MOTORCYCLES are a lot to deal with; it's part of their appeal. I tend to form long-term relationships with my bikes; comes in handy when complete confidence in and knowledge of the machine can mean the difference between surviving and not.

The Honda admittedly has a lot going for it; unfortunately the negatives outweigh the positives in my world. If I were made of money it might be different; but I'm not and a bike that gets the same fuel economy as my car simply isn't practical from my standpoint. Even if it is as appealing as the 996.

 

Glad you got some sense talked into ya! Selling some xj's for an ok honda just isnt you....l

 

I talked some sense into myself. Fitz don't do "impulse buys." The last time I did that, there was this poor '81 Seca 550 parked next to the road, covered in snow and needing to be rescued. Look where that got me...

 

Yeah, but try and get the same performance from the VW. :twisted:

 

I live 60 miles from work.

The VW is air conditioned, has an in-dash 6-CD sound system with 10 speakers and makes 170hp running thru a 5-speed gearbox. (It also has traction control, ABS, ESC, and EBA.) Thou shalt not "right lane" the Fitz.

My 550 gets 56mpg. Plus there's that whole 10K redline, 6-speed gearbox thing. (Thou shalt not "right lane" the Fitz.)

"Performance" has differing definitions; a trade-off is a trade-off. I just don't see the Honda in this equation.

But it sure as heck is sexy. If I ever hit the lottery, I'll get one to park next to my Audi R8. (Now if we're talking sexy...)

Meanwhile, I'll still be riding the 550R and driving the '08 Wabbit and loving every mile.

(Oh, and the VW now has over 245,000 miles on it and is still on the original clutch. Honda can go... oh, never mind. The only Honda car I ever had was all done after being twice blowed-up by 180K and taught me about brake shoe delam.)

 

California Bred Super Hawk


http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/mcy/4509011828.html

 

I suspected the economy but more especially the short range on the stock tank would be major issues for you Fitz.
I've always seen them as a desirable bike if not necessarily a practical bike.And you strike me as a man with a very healthy respect for the practicalities in life.
They sound great though, as long as one of those "loud pipes save lives" idiots haven't had a chance to butcher it.

 

I totally don't see anything to attract me to that bike. My 900rk is about as sportbikes as I'll get.

In other bike-related stuff, I did get my intruder 1500 running again, and rode that to work this morning. Wow, that stage 3 stuff really puts some more Dyno in the butt Dyno!!!!!

 

Different strokes,personally I don't get the cruiser thing but a Victory Cross Country? Roads ? could be just the ticket for my wife and I in a few years in that ever smaller window where I can still hold it up.
But I just got myself one of those little 150cc scooters and in a lot of ways it's like being a kid again
2 wheels and a motor a recipe for fun in any form.

 

I have a Kymco Super 8 150 and I love it
It is what I learned to ride on
now when I ride it I feel like I am on a toy
a toy that goes 60mph but it is so light and fun
I can't decide on my next bike
I really like the look of the Yamaha Stryker
I have a few years to decide
but I am far from done buying toys

 

Don't do it Fitz. Get an RC51 instead.

 

I just did it- I crossed over to the dark side.

2014 Kawasaki Versys ABS.

The ugliest color I've ever seen, but the nicest ride I've ever had. It wheelies in 2nd without using the clutch, and it isn't broken in yet.

I'm a mess- I love my RJ just as much.

 

You must have gotten a green one.

But that's also a practical bike, returning a claimed 52mpg despite the stellar performance.

 

http://www.cycleworld.com/2014/04/01/20 ... s-pricing/

it's you Fitz

 

I just have to laugh when I remembered purchasing my first JX550H last year. I think the title says it all

http://kzrider.com/forum/13-bike-relate ... -dark-side

 

That's exactly how I ended up with m ZX. I often refer to it as the worlds most expensive impulse buy, for common folk at least. Speaking of which I'll be picking up from being dealer serviced this upcoming week. First valve check was due at 15,000 miles and I'm about 15,800. Six and a half hours labor plus any parts. I can't wait to pay that. Maybe I'll get lucky and they were all still in spec, meaning no removal of cams and a cheaper tab.

 

don't be afraid of the shim under bucket style valve adjustments. if you have the book for it to show the timing marks it's simple. i did my first one this winter, i think it was easier than the XJ's.
now getting to them, that's a different story

 

Fitz probably already has the book. He probably has a lot of them.

I envision an entire wall of the garage dedicated to nothing but motorcycle manuals, LOL