I have had this bike for about 6 months now and have ridden bikes all my life... It took a lot of tinkering to get it right. If you are used to the higher standard of Japanese bikes-then stick with Japanese. If you are looking for a street bike, then stick to Japanese street.
But if you want a no frills utility bike and don't mind the occasional cold start and tinkering, then this will work Just fine.
Here's why---
1. Vibration- This bikes motor is not balanced like many bikes are. The vibration reminds me of a 90's Suzuki Katana. It flows throughout the handlebars and seat. Very annoying compared to japanese dirtbikes. Your butts numb after 10 minutes! Keep in mind the factory nobby tires play a huge part in vibration if your street riding...
2. Handling- Keep in mind tires have a lot to do with handling. Even so- Dual sports aren't exactly roadworthy except for short rides. It is very unstable compared to a typical road bike and wants to wander. Very unstable in the turns. The shocks are semi-soft, bad for street but designed to be a typical dual sport. Changing tires will fix alot of these concerns.
3. Power- it feels as if it is a 150 or 200 cc, re-piping, carb, and jetting will make a HUGE difference. I tried many different aftermarket carbs on this bike trying to get the best set up---the best and cheapest seems to be a mikuni/Chinese mikuni knockoff (Middle clip needle, 27.5 pilot jet,120 main 2 turns air/fuel, 900 feet in the nw)
4. Air cooled motor- Most Japanese bikes are water cooled. This is air-cooled and can overheat much easier. I installed an aftermarket oil cooler on mine because the oil temps were higher than I want to see. Oil has a temp at which it no longer is efficient and cannot properly lubricate. Oil breaks down at higher temps. The motor was semi-approaching these temps and it is not worth a seizure over a simple fix. A cheap chinese oil cooler is about $30.
5. Chain and Sprockets- This bike runs a specific sized sprocket that so far I can only find with JT. Luckily they are cheap, but they are not as tightly specific as you will find with Japanese bikes.
6. You will see videos of guys taking these Chinese 250s on the highway. I do not recommend it. These are noobys who don't know what they're doing. If you want to stay alive, stay off the freeway with this bike-or any dual-sport or dirt bike. Besides- if you take the hawk on the freeway you will look like an idiot.
7. Fuel lines- Buy new fuel lines. The fuel lines that came with it stiffened up hard after 2 runs.
8. Crappy speedometer!- the stock spedo is crap! Its loud, inaccurate, and makes a weird winding noise! I greased the heck out of it and it still loudly wound out. So i bought one of the $30 chinese digital speedos and its perfect! Changing the spedo is an absolute necessity!!!
9. If you want to be safe on this bike, be sure and take your time and double check everything as you assemble it. It helps if you have skills. If not, ask a friend with mechanical skills to oversee the project.
9. Battery- I highly recommended getting a closed cell battery (batteries plus had one for $39.)The one that comes with the bike kit can leak and corrode the cheap chinese metal.
10. Tires!-if you are going to ride on the farm, the tires are great! But if you ride on the street, then its a necessity to change the tires to a more street friendly design with better rubber characteristics. The stock compounds will not stop u when you need it in case of an emergency braking situation. You will simply skid. I have tested the factory tires.
I do have to say the shifting was surprisingly smooth after the motor broke in. The hawk shifts better than my my honda cbr!!!
Overall, If you are a tinkerer and need a good project, It can be worth the price. Dialing in the carb took longer than usual because i was searching for the ultimate setup. If you want a high performance bike and are serious about dirt biking or street riding, then spend a few thousand more and get a Japanese bike specifically designed for that.
If you live out in the country /need a cheap utility bike that you will be rough on, it will be great for that. Honestly, I believe this bike should cost about $1000. It would be a great buy at that much, but $1300 is pushing it. You will spend a few hundred more working out the bugs, installing aftermarkets and getting it right. Am i stoked i bought it?— yes! I actually use it quite a bit and it is holding up well. No major complaints yet. The motor and tranny seems pretty solid and parts are cheap. I say go for it & Happy trails!
| Manufacturer | X-PRO |
|---|---|
| Brand | X-Pro |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Manufacturer Part Number | Hawk(X-PRO) |
| Special Features | shock resistant |
