Honda Superhawk - need input

[Buckethead]

Stumbled across a guy with a 2000 Honda Superhawk for sale locally.

http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/mcy/2968240999.html

Cosmetically, it's in ROUGH shape. The dimples on the right side of the tank? That's from the police shotgun blast that brought one of the previous owners off of it.

17XXX on the clock.

Mechanically, it seems okay. Starts up, runs fine, pulls hard, shifts well, stopped fine. Tires felt like they were a bit low, but the bike tracked straight. Speedo doesn't work. He said the regulator burned out and he managed to fry one of the boxes before he rebuilt the entire charging system. The guy is a well-respected local Harley mechanic and got the bike off one of his customers for $500 and some traded labor. Despite all of that, it's got a clean title which I have actually laid eyes on. Bike also comes with the Haynes manual.

Also keep in mind that he's got $3300 listed on the CL ad, but the sign on the bike says $2800 and he made sure to emphasize SEVERAL times that he's a very motivated seller. Pretty sure if I walked in with $2000 in cash I could ride the bike home.

Now for the question part: Keeping in mind that this bike will have one of two fates, either a track bike or get some knobbies slapped on it and be turned into a bastardized dual sport, what else should I be looking for? The clutch engagement zone was almost all the way at the end of the lever travel, which makes me think it may be on its way out. It's hydraulic, tho, so it could just need a bleed. Anything else I should beware of?

[Le Pirate]

I'd say walk away, my friend. Walk. Away.


I'm having trouble deciding if putting 3k on my monster is a fair asking price, and it's in MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH better shape than that.


based on what you described, I don't know that I'd pay more than 5-7 hundo for it.

[Slide Panda]

Now for the question part: Keeping in mind that this bike will have one of two fates, either a track bike or get some knobbies slapped on it and be turned into a bastardized dual sport, what else should I be looking for? The clutch engagement zone was almost all the way at the end of the lever travel, which makes me think it may be on its way out. It's hydraulic, tho, so it could just need a bleed. Anything else I should beware of?

Niether... it's the pre Busa busa... big heavy, long. Skip it.

[zooom]

the Superchickens have their place...I have a friend that has one that is streetfightered by a former Moriwaki engineer and has all kinds of unobtanium on it, but that bike is it's own class entirely...that particular bike, if you could get it for less than $2K, it might be worth it as it is generally speaking a Honda afterall and will run and run and run...they are not the most ideal track bike in the event of an off due to how the radiators are rather exposed on the sides, but frame sliders and fixed pegs and various other things can help in that regard...while the history and everything of the bike is torrid at best...it could be a good thing for you in the end....

[Buckethead]

The more I think about it, the more I'm tempted to offer him $1000 and maybe let myself be talked up to $1500, and if that doesn't do it, walk away.

I really think it'd be a decent platform to get into track days for a reasonable price. Not racing, mind, but just getting out and working on form and smoothness. Because seriously, if it falls down goes boom, I wouldn't be heartbroken.

Which is exactly the same reason I think it'd be a fun DS bike.

[Speedbag]

The more I think about it, the more I'm tempted to offer him $1000 and maybe let myself be talked up to $1500, and if that doesn't do it, walk away.

This.

Have always had a thing for the Superhawks.  

I'd have to leave the shotgun blast remnants as is. Now THAT'S patina.

[Dellikose]

The star on the tank...starboyz wannabe?

Expect whatever problems come with the PO being a stunta.

[akmnstr]

I don't know about it as a track bike but as a dual sport you can do much better for the same money.  You should be able to find a KLR, DR650, or DRZ400 for about the same price.  Off road, the suspension on that thing will beat you up. 

[thought]

If you picked it up for $1500... I still dont know if it's that good of a deal for a track bike.  I've seen d675's/cbr600's etc for around 3.5-4k fully set up for the track.  Of course these are salvage title bikes but they are pure track bikes so that's not really an issue.

Unless you can pick it up for 1k or under... this just looks like a lot of heartache and a hell of a money pit.

[ducrider45]

The more I think about it, the more I'm tempted to offer him $1000 and maybe let myself be talked up to $1500, and if that doesn't do it, walk away.

I really think it'd be a decent platform to get into track days for a reasonable price. Not racing, mind, but just getting out and working on form and smoothness. Because seriously, if it falls down goes boom, I wouldn't be heartbroken.

Which is exactly the same reason I think it'd be a fun DS bike.

This is a good plan. They are cheap on the used market. I may pick one up from a friend. same miles on it, in a "like new" condition though for $4K.