lower my superhawk
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Squid
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 66
yes i am 5'5 have ridden dirt bikes my life and tired of being on my toes found a link for the rear wich i would think will not change my suspension becaus the shock should not bottom the bike out just dont know about the front
Former Superchicken Owner
SuperBike
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,607
From: Ft. Worth, TX
Slamming a Hawk generally has very bad consequences in the handling department. Steering geometery is something you don't really want to play with unless you have a very good understanding of the effects. Besides, you can already scrape your pipes if you get into a turn good, why move into "grind a hole through them" territory?
Former Superchicken Owner
SuperBike
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,607
From: Ft. Worth, TX
Look into making the stock seat even less comfortable by removing some padding. You could replace it with a gel insert and hardly ever notice the difference.
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,978
From: thorold ontario
i raised my seat up when i swapped tails and at 6'1 i cant flat foot my bike. its not that big of a deal, just push your *** off the side a little more when you stop, plus youre suppoed to keep your right foot on the brake when you stop anyway. lowering it as mentioned will cause you to scrap hard parts. i nearly dragged my stocked pegs on the street and my aftermarkets which have a tapered cut have been ground on the track along with my boot toes.
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,090
From: Big Lick
Lots of folks lower sport bikes. You can lower the front by simply sliding the forks up through the triple trees farther. as long as you're not riding aggressively, you should not notice a great deal of difference in handling. Just be sure to take some time to get used to it.
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,132
From: Phoenix, AZ
If you search for "lowering links" you will find a lot on this forum who have done it, however you will also find a few that have crashed because of it.
lowering the front up to half an inch (1cm) is done by some to speed up handling, but more than that is trouble, and the rear is usually raised to improve handling (adding a spacer)
Really, it's probably best to not lower the rear if you can avoid it.
A friend recently got a 06 GSXR1000 in a trade that had been lowered front and rear and the swingarm extended 8 inches. I rode that to the garage to put it back to stock, that ride was terrifying. It handled like an extremely raked chopper. At speed it almost would not turn, and when slow it wanted to fall over at the slightest excuse.
If course that is an extreme example, but messing with the suspension can have bad results.
I have not seen anyone do it, but I would think modifying the subframe and leaving the suspension alone might be a safer way to lower the seat.
edit: if you do want to do it and maintain as much handling as possible, I suggest you contact Jamie at DMr: http://www.daughertymotorsports.com/ he would know how to do it right.
lowering the front up to half an inch (1cm) is done by some to speed up handling, but more than that is trouble, and the rear is usually raised to improve handling (adding a spacer)
Really, it's probably best to not lower the rear if you can avoid it.
A friend recently got a 06 GSXR1000 in a trade that had been lowered front and rear and the swingarm extended 8 inches. I rode that to the garage to put it back to stock, that ride was terrifying. It handled like an extremely raked chopper. At speed it almost would not turn, and when slow it wanted to fall over at the slightest excuse.
If course that is an extreme example, but messing with the suspension can have bad results.
I have not seen anyone do it, but I would think modifying the subframe and leaving the suspension alone might be a safer way to lower the seat.
edit: if you do want to do it and maintain as much handling as possible, I suggest you contact Jamie at DMr: http://www.daughertymotorsports.com/ he would know how to do it right.
Last edited by lazn; Jan 12, 2011 at 08:21 AM.
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,090
From: Big Lick
Hooligan! 
none that i could remember, and i had it in the triple digits lane splitting school traffic on hwy64 out of Lake Toxaway NC. i got a ticket on that run. the only ticket i have ever gotten on a bike.. did not see the HP hiding in the bushes and went by at 80, he got up set because i did not slow down which is customary for the bike to do when u see an officer and they don't bother us. he chased me for over 10 mile only seeing me on a mile long strait.. he got me with a Lazar sideways in a schecane. i slowed down the last mile to the shop, let the tires cool before hitting the gravel drive. he pulled me when i got to the shop. he was mad.. he passed 15 cars to keep up with me at over 100mpr. the only thing that saved me from going to jail was that a sherrif showed up and valtched for me, that i did not see the HP. and jokingly said that if i had, the HP would have never caught me. i know most of the cops and HP around here, most are ok guys. i don't ride that way any more. i sold that bike 3 days later, at a request from my mom(which used to drag race triumphs at the track in the late 60s and early 70).. the SH is the first modern sport bike since then.
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 677
From: Rancho Cordova, California
i raised my seat up when i swapped tails and at 6'1 i cant flat foot my bike. its not that big of a deal, just push your *** off the side a little more when you stop, plus youre suppoed to keep your right foot on the brake when you stop anyway. lowering it as mentioned will cause you to scrap hard parts. i nearly dragged my stocked pegs on the street and my aftermarkets which have a tapered cut have been ground on the track along with my boot toes.
I didn't even think about it but, I usually stop and only put down my left foot anyway. Then when it's time to go, I pull my right up and kick it in gear with the left.
Former Superchicken Owner
SuperBike
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,607
From: Ft. Worth, TX
I lost my 1198S to a 17 year old teenager who didn't stop because she was texting, I couldn't move fast enough even on a Ducati to get out of her way.
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 677
From: Rancho Cordova, California
Poor riding skills. You need to stay in gear at the stop lights until the car behind you has come to a complete stop and be ready to dodge out of the way in case they don't. Many people are rear ended at traffic lights due to "didn't see him" or other distracted driving factors such as cell phone use or texting while driving.
I lost my 1198S to a 17 year old teenager who didn't stop because she was texting, I couldn't move fast enough even on a Ducati to get out of her way.
I lost my 1198S to a 17 year old teenager who didn't stop because she was texting, I couldn't move fast enough even on a Ducati to get out of her way.
I guess I should have described that better, in case someone wanted to judge "riding skills" by a post about not flat footing. If it is a light, nobody is stopped behind me yet, I do stay in gear, but I also watch my mirrors and "tap" my brakes as someone approaches to be more noticable. I guess the main point was, (despite a poor/misrepresented description) being able to flat foot at a stop is not a total necessity.
Last edited by ranchomice; Jan 12, 2011 at 07:06 PM.
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Superstock
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 313
From: South Kakalaki
Former Superchicken Owner
SuperBike
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,607
From: Ft. Worth, TX
Poor riding skills? You mean technique? It depends if there is already someone stopped behind me, if I have split lanes, how many lanes, light or sign, etc. etc. After reading my post, what I typed would be impossible because at one point there, I wouldn't have either foot on the ground. I guess I should have described that better, in case someone wanted to judge "riding skills" by a post about not flat footing. If it is a light, nobody is stopped behind me yet, I do stay in gear, but I also watch my mirrors and "tap" my brakes as someone approaches to be more noticable. I guess the main point was, (despite a poor/misrepresented description) being able to flat foot at a stop is not a total necessity.
I guess I should have described that better, in case someone wanted to judge "riding skills" by a post about not flat footing. If it is a light, nobody is stopped behind me yet, I do stay in gear, but I also watch my mirrors and "tap" my brakes as someone approaches to be more noticable. I guess the main point was, (despite a poor/misrepresented description) being able to flat foot at a stop is not a total necessity.I hate to see someone potentially have the same problems that I do. Sorry if it came across as "judging" however the pain meds help me type drivel sometimes.
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 677
From: Rancho Cordova, California
Glad you are still with us RWhisen, herniated discs affect you the rest of your life. I know, not from a crash but from an injury at work. My friend was rear ended not long ago and it has made me even more aware at stops!
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SuperBike
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,090
From: Big Lick
I have one herneated, one bulging and one torn. makes track days interesting.
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MotoGP
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,942
From: Lake View Terrace, CA
https://www.superhawkforum.com/forum...highlight=rake
as it will explain the basics of what you are really doing when you start changing things around.
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,090
From: Big Lick
mine is lower back too. L3-4, L4-5, L5-S1. I screwed things up when younger doing construction and sports and it's gradually gotten worse as I've aged.
So, now we've gone from lowering bikes to degenerating backs. That's a pretty good hijack!
So, now we've gone from lowering bikes to degenerating backs. That's a pretty good hijack!
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