Adventures on the Old Girl, and with the Old Girl

[sarals]

Greg, if I clean out my garage (38 years worth of cleaning) I'd have more room :)

Wave, thanks! Hey, you'd enjoy the Hawk. They're on the verge of cult status, too. Like our vintage Hondas!

[R100]

I think you have excellent taste Sara.
My total mess waiting to be saved is a very sad Cb77.
My other bike, that charms me every time I ride it, is an '89 Hawk GT.
It has about 94,000 km. (60,000 mi.). It was well cared for, doesn't leak anywhere, starts easily, has nice linear power, and with good tyres (stock size) handles like a dream.

[sarals]

I think you have excellent taste Sara.
My total mess waiting to be saved is a very sad Cb77.
My other bike, that charms me every time I ride it, is an '89 Hawk GT.
It has about 94,000 km. (60,000 mi.). It was well cared for, doesn't leak anywhere, starts easily, has nice linear power, and with good tyres (stock size) handles like a dream.

R100, thank you! I'll say the same for your taste in bikes!

Today I actually spent the most time that I have so far on the Red Hawk, I rode her to work this morning. She just eases down the highway, very smooth, loads of torque, and a smooth riding suspension. I am very happy with her. She's the dirtiest bike I've ever owned, but she won't be for long.

I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with your Superhawk!

[R100]

Thanks Sarals.
I have actually been a member for a while, but did not have a bike.
I plan to re-introduce my self soon, complete with a bunch of annoying newbie questions.
I promise I will always do a search first.

[sarals]

R100, you ask away! Sometimes it's easier than searching. Well, faster, too!

[sarals]

I buttoned up the petcock, put some gas in the tank, and checking things out. No leaks, and the petcock shuts off like it's supposed to, as well.

There is a superbike race at Laguna Seca this weekend, so there is no better excuse than to get the Old Girl out for a "test ride". I filled her up with gas, then rode her for a good hour. The battery seemed to hold a charge with no issues (actually, I do need the get the VOM out tomorrow morning and check the battery), and wow, did she run good!!! Apparently she was starving for fuel with the petcock being messed up, and I'm sure less than optimal voltage from the battery meant the ignition system wasn't quite up to spec, either. Anyway, she idled flawlessly, accelerated smoothly, and you what? She didn't vibrate so much in the 5000 RPM range as she had been, in fact she revved right though that number so smoothly I hardly noticed. I ran her up to redline in second gear, twice, and she happily wound right up, making wonderful noises all along the way. So did I!

Speaking of noises, I ran into a friend at a coffee shop I stopped by this afternoon, and he asked me to start the Old Girl up for him (he owned a Superhawk when he was in college). I did, and he smiled, than said "Yeup, that's the sound...I remember that sound well!"

Pretttttty cool!!!!

[sarals]

I'm taking the Old Girl into town tomorrow to show her off. To get her ready, today I pulled off the rear wheel and did some deep cleaning on the spokes and hub. That Flitz Aluminum Prep is some amazing cleaner! When I put her back together, I put the rear axle in THE RIGHT DIRECTION (ahem), and installed a pair of brand new chain adjusters. Then I fired her up and rode her around the block. She runs beautifully!

Oh, I changed her oil last week. 300 miles on the engine already. There was bronze/brass visible in the oil, normal I would guess, and the oil was quite dirty. I checked the centrifugal filter, and it was clean. She runs and shifts better with fresh oil, it's quite noticeable.

Bob Kizer sent the Podtronics back to me last week, after he checked it and proclaimed it healthy. We had a nice chat on the phone, as well. I'm meaning to reinstall it, I just haven't felt a pressing need to do it as of yet.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow! I'll get decked out in my Bell 500 helmet with googles, perhaps my bomber jacket, and the Old Girl and I will go out on the town for a Ladies Day Out! Fun!