Drew Ayrit runs the website Wind-Blown, where he features custom builds from many moto-websites, a very handy reference for enthusiasts! He also happens to be a budding bike builder, and this is his first bike, a 1980 Honda CB400T Hawk. You pour your heart and soul into a build, and then post it on the interwebs for all the world to see, hoping people at least like it. It’s nerve- wracking, and not made any easier by people like me. Most of the moto-sites out there won’t put their true opinions out there, and read like a politically correct press release. Well, not here. I like what I like, and say what I don’t like, so let’s delve into Drew’s Hawk, shall we?
Every build is about the choices made, and how they all interact in the final product. drew’s made some choices I probably wouldn’t have, and that’s a good thing. I really don’t like ComStar wheels, and the turn signals he chose irk me when I see them by themselves, but they work superbly here. It all comes down to that gas tank, and the ComStars and blinkers match it perfectly, and I’m impressed. It shows a good eye for design!
Another choice made was to leave the tank bare metal, and once again it was a wise choice. It keeps the color scheme of the bike very low-key, and the entire look gels very well. Nothing gaudy or overdone, and even the foam pod filters integrate well. Quite a few builders get lost when it comes to color, so once again impressive work, especially for a second build.
Of course, there are a few things I don’t quite agree with, and the speedometer is the first. It’s not the look, or the off-center placement, those are just fine, but why is it in Km/h? Did Iowa decide to go completely to the metric system? Did the Canadians sneak through Minnesota and annex Iowa like Russia did with the Crimea? Yeah it’s really not a big deal, but there is one thing that doesn’t fit with the rest of the build, and that’s the seat.
It’s not the general shape that’s the problem, it’s the lumpiness and half-ass look to it. Not to disparage the old cobbler who did it, and taking into account it’s a $20.00 job, it’s not up to the level of the rest of the Hawk. i wouldn’t scrap it, but I would spend some time to refine it into an asset instead of a detraction. The bike deserves better.
Overall Drew’s Hawk is a good build, and then you throw in the fact that it’s basically his second attempt, and it’s even more impressive. The work looks more professional than a lot out there, and Drew has every right to be proud. Instead of a Hawk just like every other out there, he now has a bike that’s a reflection of his character, determination, and work ethic. Who could ask for anything more?
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