03-17-2018, 05:04 AM
Thanks for choosing to share even more very wise words max.
I bought my old Hawk GT over a decade ago when I got back into motorcycling not just because I wanted to go riding and the Hawk was my first "dream bike", but also because that bike was relatively affordable and unlike a new bike it was going to require some degree of work on my part. I could have purchased a new bike at the time, or I could have taken the Hawk to a mechanic every time it needed some work, but that was not the motorcycle ownership experience that I was after. I've gotten to know my Hawk a lot better over the years as a result. In turn, my mechanical skills have improved a fair bit over time as well.
Working on the Hawk represents the only time I've checked / adjusted valves in an engine. The valve setup in the Hawk is a lot simpler when it comes to adjusting the clearances, but it was still a great learning experience. Fortunately, I learned the value of your last point about slowing down and thinking things through thanks to the Hawk. It represents the machine that I actually found pleasure through twisting my own wrenches. I haven't always gotten everything right the first time around, but I'm grateful for realizing the true value and enjoyment of carrying out my own mechanical work. I don't see that changing any time soon. That is also one more reason why I have so much respect for Honda products overall.
I bought my old Hawk GT over a decade ago when I got back into motorcycling not just because I wanted to go riding and the Hawk was my first "dream bike", but also because that bike was relatively affordable and unlike a new bike it was going to require some degree of work on my part. I could have purchased a new bike at the time, or I could have taken the Hawk to a mechanic every time it needed some work, but that was not the motorcycle ownership experience that I was after. I've gotten to know my Hawk a lot better over the years as a result. In turn, my mechanical skills have improved a fair bit over time as well.
Working on the Hawk represents the only time I've checked / adjusted valves in an engine. The valve setup in the Hawk is a lot simpler when it comes to adjusting the clearances, but it was still a great learning experience. Fortunately, I learned the value of your last point about slowing down and thinking things through thanks to the Hawk. It represents the machine that I actually found pleasure through twisting my own wrenches. I haven't always gotten everything right the first time around, but I'm grateful for realizing the true value and enjoyment of carrying out my own mechanical work. I don't see that changing any time soon. That is also one more reason why I have so much respect for Honda products overall.
