What's your ideal light, nimble, inexpensive project?

My Yamaha XS400S is a fun cruise around bike, but I'm interested in something a little more exciting.

What bike gives you wet dreams? We talking very light, very nimble, performance oriented in turning and braking. It must be exciting to ride. It doesn't have to go batE36 M3 fast because honestly, my XS400 feels fast to me since coming from the world of cars. It's gotta be reliable street bike and get half decent cruising MPG (read over 40 mpg). Two stroke, four stroke, thumper, vtwin, four, it doesn't matter. Vintage or newer, I don't care.

We're talking straight up smiles per dollar ratio here.

RD/RZ350? Honda HawkGT? I wish we got the 400cc Honda Bros here.

Both of these seem to be $$$. Learn me on fun bikes!

Whatchu think?

RZ,RG,or RD mmmmmmm tasty

Any of the old smaller two strokes would be a blast.I still want to find a Kawasaki H2 but thats a whole different animal.

Honda CB450 cafe racer with CR500 2 stroke dirtbike motor swapped in?

I used to have an RD400, so I know what you're talking about, but all the old two strokes are pretty much gone.

The two-wheeled version of "the answer is always Miata" is the SV650 Suzuki. That's where I'd start.

andrave wrote: Honda CB450 cafe racer with CR500 2 stroke dirtbike motor swapped in?

Are engine transplants pretty easy on bikes? I've only done the basic maintenance stuff on mine.

I think on two bikes that old it wouldn't be too terribly hard, since wiring was still relatively simple and both engines were carb'd. As for fitting E36 M3 in the frame and getting the tranny shifted and power to the rear wheel.
um.

that'd be the fun part.

must.....not.....say......miata.....

I rather like my friends Ninja250. Dirt cheap, 70-80 mpg in town driving like a total hooligan, just fast enough that you'll still die but you may be in one piece when they find you. They're retarded easy to work on and parts are plentiful and cheap.

Mmm. I've been jonesing for a Hawk GT. Looks especially good with a VFR rear wheel and CBR600 front. Zesty! Poor mans Monster.

Appleseed wrote: Mmm. I've been jonesing for a Hawk GT. Looks especially good with a VFR rear wheel and CBR600 front. Zesty! Poor mans Monster.

+1.

I had an 88 HGT, and it was awesome, and the owner community is (at least was) top-notch. I seriously think it spoiled me on bikes with a conventional swingarm.

I would die for a HawkGT. It would be too much bike for my skill level though. I wish I could import one of the 400cc HawkGTs.

Are there any other cool bikes like the HGT? vtwin with a single sided swingarm and nimble?

Taiden wrote: I would die for a HawkGT. It would be too much bike for my skill level though. I wish I could import one of the 400cc HawkGTs. Are there any other cool bikes like the HGT? vtwin with a single sided swingarm and nimble?

To be honest, I bet you're selling yourself short. It was the first bike that I owned after learning on a 250 Rebel. The Hawk was easy to ride.

I bought mine used; it had already gotten the CBR600 front end conversion and had some motor work. It made a whopping 66 horsepower on the dyno. They aren't nearly as powerful as a more modern 600cc sportbike, but I miss it like crazy.

YMMV.

I saw an older triumph standard with a CBR 900 front fork and a TL1000R rear wheel at a salvage bike place. I know it sounds crazy, but it was painted flat black had some red on it and I fell in love with it. It sold and I never saw it again.

Aprillia RS125 2 stroke goodness, less than 300lbs, not available in this country for the street, but you can get an rs50 and do the big bore kit and up it to 70cc that's more fun and about 70mph topspeed.

^^I was casually looking at those for my first bike. They're all over the place here (in Australia), but came to the conclusion that I'd like something older, to tinker with and modify.

Hawks are puppy dogs. Very easy to get on with. I bought mine bone stock as my first bike, and the only thing I'd ever ridden prior was the trainer during the MSF course. I'd be shocked if a Hawk put out more than 50 hp in stock form.

Cool thing is, they're highly moddable, and pretty much anything you'd want to do has already been done by four guys who are happy to tell you how they did it.

This is mine in a picture from a few years ago, but it's basically the same save for some header wrap and a newer TBR oval can underneath.

(For the record, I was the first guy to do the CBR tank, Monster seat and underslung exhaust on the same bike. Second guy to do the GSXR600 front end. You know, if you're keeping score at home.)

All that said, if you're not totally in love with a Hawk, there are better/newer performance deals to be had. It really is a cult bike, and prices are higher because of it.

Taiden, what's your budget? What sort of riding are you looking to do with this bike? Highway bombing? Twisty burning? Urban assault? I'm sure we can come up with a few options for you.

My good friend has a Hawk GT. Its basically stock with a carb kit, filters, and a pipe. Its a pooch. Feels a lot more like an 80s cruiser/standard than anything sporty. For the money, give my my TL1000 any day.

The look is pretty killer though.

If you're going ultra cheap I'd suggest a Yamaha Radian. They're most everywhere here in VA. They're not sexy bikes but plenty quick, lightweight, and tough like nails.

alex wrote: Taiden, what's your budget? What sort of riding are you looking to do with this bike? Highway bombing? Twisty burning? Urban assault? I'm sure we can come up with a few options for you.

I'm looking for cheap. We're talking sub $1500 after it's rolling. I wouldn't mind buying a parts bin and putting everything together. I love doing work, so work is a blessing not a curse.

I want to burn twisties, assault the urban, have hoolganism as an available option, and be able to do 500 mile days. I live three hours from Deal's Gap, so I want to be able to make the trip.

I thought about the Supermoto thing, but they seem to be expensive. XR650Rs are expensive, so are XRLs. I can plate a dirt bike in my state, but many dirt bikes don't have road friendly maintenance.

My 81 XS400S is fun for cruising... but it's not very exciting, it doesn't seem too nimble (to me, it's the only bike i've ridden), and it doesn't lend itself to HOD (hooliganism on demand). I want to ride anywhere and everywhere.

bikez.com specs: http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/yamaha_xs_400_1981.php

27 hp, 401 lbs

What about an XR400? I don't know.

That HGT is the sex. Drooooooool.

Anyone got any experience with the CR250R? I'm tall, but my friends Yamaha 125cc 2 stroke is light and fun. A CR250R with street tires would burn twisties and be a total hooligan no?

Wow, the HGT is pretty cool looking (I own a NightHawk 450 - my first bike). Had I not read that it was a HGT I would've thought it was a Suzuki GS500 - which I hear is almost a very fun bike.

93gsxturbo wrote: My good friend has a Hawk GT. Its basically stock with a carb kit, filters, and a pipe. Its a pooch. Feels a lot more like an 80s cruiser/standard than anything sporty. For the money, give my my TL1000 any day. The look is pretty killer though.

Hey, now, no need to call names. The low power is...endearing.

I have a '97 TL1000S along with the Hawk. I actually paid less for the TL than the Hawk by $100.

Granted, it's incredibly easy to get used to the TL's stupid power, but the Hawk has a lot of charm, especially considering it's a 20 year old bike with an even older engine design. Something about doing more with less.

I'm preparing to tear down the Hawk to finally complete my build, and I'll certainly be working the motor while I'm at it. It's entirely feasible to hit 75-80 whp in reliable, streetable form. I'm looking forward to that.

And it sounds like teh cex. A helluva lot better than the TL, to my ears. (Although the TL does have a strafing fighter plane thing going on.)

I like the TL with the full Yoshimura system. Like my friend said "HUEY Helicopter"

THUPTHUPTHUP

Only thing that was more obnoxious was my old roommates LTZ-400 with a gutted FMF Powercore.

Ill have to post some pics of my friends Hawk, you guys would get excited. He just got it resprayed, and I made new OEM repro decals for it. Gonna be looking sharp!

Mine has a Yosh, too. Weird...