First Ride - Incredible!!!

[Thunderhawk]

Went for my first ride and it was amazing. Took the 800 as the others are "waiting for parts".

I got the forearm pump for the first 1/2 hour while fighting to negoitiate the turns on the trail. Difficult when going slow, but so light and nimble once I got the speed up.

I couldn't believe the way the front ski stuck to the snow. Several times during the day I hit a rock or log under the snow while hammering through a turn. Machine kicked up in air about 6 inches and laterally 6-12. I was fearful the ski would wash out when it came back down, but it never even slipped.

At the end of a very bumpy/whooped out trail, I looked back for my buddy -he wasn't there. I went back and found that he had stopped because he just couldn't take the pounding. we did just over 100 miles!!

Anybody want to buy some snowmobiles?

 

[RudeAwakening]

great to hear Bret! sounds like your one of those guys who could just rock it right out of the box.

 

[HellSpawn]

I can relate...
I went for my first ride last week-end,
besides the forearm burn, and fighting it at low speeds,
It was a rush....
I had a smile split from ear to ear....
Good times to come this winter..

 

[off road rider]

Nice.. Glad you liked it.. when in doubt PIN IT

 

[TLKDPROD]

...
I couldn't believe the way the front ski stuck to the snow. Several times during the day I hit a rock or log under the snow while hammering through a turn. Machine kicked up in air about 6 inches and laterally 6-12. I was fearful the ski would wash out when it came back down, but it never even slipped.

At the end of a very bumpy/whooped out trail, I looked back for my buddy -he wasn't there. I went back and found that he had stopped because he just couldn't take the pounding. we did just over 100 miles!!
...

We have to admit that ADB did an amazing job on the front ski with the snow trackers (The set back adapter not being their OWN idea...). I have to mention that this ski has never washed out on me in 3 full seasons. Two thumbs up on that, thanks to the icy trails around their shop in Levis, Qc.

100 miles ! You eastern riders... Most of the miles I have on my machine are "track miles" not "actual distance covered" !

 

[Thunderhawk]

I would say the overall ride is very much like riding a dirtbike, which is different than a streetbike.

I don't understand how these machines could have existed for 6 years now and the world of motorcross riders have not found them? Wow what a thrill!!

Snowmobiling is just down right boring in comparison. I can't wait to see the big stuff in UT and start jumping with the McCurdy Brothers.

 

[buffaloHAWK]

is the new kid on the block challenging the mccurdy bros. to a jump off at hawkfest?!!!

thanks for calling last nite brett, i couldnt sleep a wink thinking about riding!!

 

[Thunderhawk]

Just got off the phone with Sophie at ADBoivin. There goes another grand!!

Hand guards and handwarmers for the 500 & 800. Snow tracker kits for the 500 & 600. A new ski for the 500 so Cailen can have my orange one that he like so much. Stickers, grill vents, rivets, etc for the new body for the 800 - it's turning red.

Eric, do you ever sleep? I see you posting until after midnight and starting again by 5:00AM. If you don't sleep at home how are you going to sleep in an airport?

 

[sledr2]

It just gets better and better!

Now wipe that big grin off your face before someone see's it.

 

[off road rider]

Just got off the phone with Sophie at ADBoivin. There goes another grand!!

Hand guards and handwarmers for the 500 & 800. Snow tracker kits for the 500 & 600. A new ski for the 500 so Cailen can have my orange one that he like so much. Stickers, grill vents, rivets, etc for the new body for the 800 - it's turning red.

Eric, do you ever sleep? I see you posting until after midnight and starting again by 5:00AM. If you don't sleep at home how are you going to sleep in an airport?

want to sell your black belly pan?? you must of had the boat ski??

 

[buffaloHAWK]

snoWEST!

brett they are western time zone times,id never wake up at 5am unless i have a race to get to or a day of riding the hawk!

 

[General007]

Hey did you do your riding up in Vermont??? Because I saw a guy up in Wilmington will and 800 hawk in the back of the truck just thought it might of been you

 

[Himagain]

I had my first trail ride on the weekend. I bought my Hawk at the end of last season and rode it twice in a field. The trail ride was awesome. I found my legs got sore by the end of the day! it was so much better then my sled!!!

 

[Thunderhawk]

Yes, that was me in Willmigton. Spent 6 hours tearing up Woodford.

I only fell one time all day - That was fighting my way up Glastonberry Mtn to the fire tower. Narrow trail about 6' wide, constant sharp turns and a steep climb in powder. I think coming back down was even harder than getting up.

 

[Thunderhawk]

General,

You sell that sled yet? There's a 500 on Ebay in New Hampshire and I got a nice 600 for you.

Lower the price on the sled. Don't let the serious buyers buy someone else's leaving you stuck with a depreciating Twoski for another season. I say depreciating because yours is new and getting older. Once something is old it tends not to depreciate anymore and Hawks probably won't go down much more from here.

 

[feartheride]

O.K I'm back and you have me thinking about snow again.
Guess I better get out side and see if this hawk will still fire up.

 

[snowhawkaddict]

TTT for the Lurkers.

No offence to the current snow bike conversion owners but, what are you waiting on? Get one while you can, "act now while supplies last!"

 

[buffaloHAWK]

my 1st ride!

got my hawk all back together tonite...thank you sledr2 for the shaft,bud for the clutch, tony for the phone call. just took a spin around the back yard...gotta say the bud clutch pulls an impressive holeshot in my 503!! ill be out riding tomorrow and doing some other adjustments. more feedback on the clutch set up tomorrow.. i would have rode tonite but the trailer lights took a poop!!

 

[buffaloHAWK]

i hate the 1st ride of the year

so the truck and trailer both have electrical lighting issues...the z670 blew a belt(yes i have a 2 planker the wife rides) the hawk was ripin till the exhaust starting leaking at the header pipe and would barley run...and best of all,it was raining the whole time!!!

the ac roller clutch is very impressive and pulls very hard but im not getting top speed like i did before...i need to learn about clutches! 1st gotta fix exhaust so it will run....

 

[Thunderhawk]

The Flock has flown

Between X-mas and New Year's we got in 3 days of riding. Took 2 sleds and 2 hawks, with each kid switching back and forth between a sled and a hawk during the day.

The first 2 days the arguement was who was getting more time on the sled. By the end of the 3rd day it had reversed too, who was getting more time on the hawk.

Both kids did great!! A couple of balancing tip overs crossing difficult water bars and a fall crossing a road at an angle, but no crashes or falls while actually going.

I took the 503 without having put the trail adapter on and really noticed a differnce in the handling. I crashed once from the ski "washing out" and had several other closes calls. The trailer adapter has now been installed and I'm sure it will now hold the trail like the the others.

With 4 days of riding now, I'm so comfortable I find the Hawk less streneous to ride than a sled. It responds so well to the lightest input.

I find it amazing how everyone looks at you and so many talk to you. They ask questions about it, but still lack the personal desire/interest to consider one for themselves.

I think the key element to loving these machines is being a person who has ridin dirtbikes.