Getin' Low.

[Megadan]

Cue Lil' John and the Eastside boys in your head.

If that doesn't play in your head, you are too old, don't worry about it.

Ok, now to be serious. I finally got around to installing the Brozz swing arm and Fast Ace shock on my Hawk. I had planned to lower the bike during this process, which is why I went with a 280mm shock.

I will have to confirm just how much lower the bike is now from where it was before, but if I had to guess, I got close to a 2.75-3" drop out back with it.

This one is for you Oneleggedrider.


So let's get as close to a before picture as I can. Obviously the angles are not quite the same, but you can see how drastic the change is.


Now, before you go thinking that this was all too drastic, keep in mind a few things. One, that shock in the bottom picture was longer than the stock one. Two, on it's side stand there was zero sag in said longer shock. Three, my bike was actually leaning too far over on the side stand. Borderline the stand itself was almost the balance point.

Now, amazingly, the bike sits at a decent angle. My VFR leans about this far over on its stand too.


The only issue I may run into is if I decide to run a smaller front wheel diameter, which I have considered going to a 19" front.

As far as the shock goes. Surprisingly, the 1000lb/in spring rate works out really well. I did have to dial in a bit of spring preload to get the rider sag right, but even with me leaping and landing on the seat with my full weight a few times it never once bottomed out. The even better part of this Fast Ace shock is that the damping adjustments actually work. The previous shock had about 4 useable settings, at best. This shock has 14 that range from controlled pogo stick, to too freaking hard. I am at 8 clicks from the softest setting and its perfectly controlled. Even my carb points down a bit now, and it was level before. We will have to see if I need to adjust the float height a little, but I think it should be alright. This is the preload currently set where I need it for 2.5 inches of rider sag, which is only about an inch down from where it was out of the box.



Some concluding notes as far as this whole swing arm swap are concerned. I have to remove at least 2 to 4 links from my chain. Right now the only way to get anything resembling proper chain tension means I have to slide the adjusters all the way back. So the brozz swing arm is just a tad shorter in its axle positioning vs. the Hawk.

If you are considering this swap, but don't want to raise or lower the ride height too drastically you would want to get a rear shock around 300-310mm in length.

As a whole, the riding position is a LOT more comfortable. My entire behind can not utilize the seat and I don't feel like I am going to slide forward into the tank anymore. Sure, the handling will be a bit more lazy now, but this isn't really a sport bike anyway.

[China Rider 27]

While I like the high riding enduro look, I have to admit the height change probably rides alot better in terms of comfort. No other bike can give you the level of riding pleasure as one that you have modded with your own hand! CG tough, ride hard!

[OneLeggedRider]

Nice! Looking at the top of the rear tire and your muffler, and the lean angle from the rear, I'd say yours is sitting the exact height of mine. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with the handling and cornering, and it is nice not having to keep pushing yourself back from the tank all the time.

I've been reading this series called Classic Steel which covers 3 of the biggest bike magazine reviews and comparisons/shootouts of MX bikes from 1970 to 2010. Really good stuff and the author keeps you entertained. It's also loaded with pics and specs and in depth information on the yearly model changes. And if you look at all the "good" bikes, none of them sat with their ass in the air and riding downhill constantly. They sat like mine and yours do now.

http://pulpmx.com/category/classic_steel/

[Hancadam]

Looks awesome Dan.

I like your handle bar bend height as well. I tried doing ours similar, but still not high enough.

Our hawk with the Brozz swingarm and stock shock accomplished the opposite, raised the bike quite a bit. I dropped the front down as much as a could to even it out.

I must admit though, with the changes to the hawk, I like how it rides better than my Brozz. The Brozz seems too low (suspension combined with seat design) and suspension is squishy compared to the hawk now.

Definitely makes the Brozz feel more like a traditional motorcycle and the hawk more like a dirt bike. Riding around our property, the hawk has been favored. Brozz for longer road trips.

Also, I didn't have to make any changes to my chain, I guess that's because the higher angle?

[OneLeggedRider]

Originally Posted by Hancadam

Looks awesome Dan.

I like your handle bar bend height as well. I tried doing ours similar, but still not high enough.

Our hawk with the Brozz swingarm and stock shock accomplished the opposite, raised the bike quite a bit. I dropped the front down as much as a could to even it out.

I must admit though, with the changes to the hawk, I like how it rides better than my Brozz. The Brozz seems too low (suspension combined with seat design) and suspension is squishy compared to the hawk now.

Definitely makes the Brozz feel more like a traditional motorcycle and the hawk more like a dirt bike. Riding around our property, the hawk has been favored. Brozz for longer road trips.

Also, I didn't have to make any changes to my chain, I guess that's because the higher angle?

You lowered the front end? Whaaa?? Seems like that would compound the downhill affliction.

[Hancadam]

Originally Posted by OneLeggedRider

You lowered the front end? Whaaa?? Seems like that would compound the downhill affliction.

No drop the tubes down, which raise the front.

[CaptainKP]

Nice! Looks like a mini adventure bike at that height. I did notice I feel very forward on the stock Hawk seat and height & felt higher than I anticipated. My neighbor made a comment about it even lol

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by China Rider 27

While I like the high riding enduro look, I have to admit the height change probably rides alot better in terms of comfort. No other bike can give you the level of riding pleasure as one that you have modded with your own hand! CG tough, ride hard!

Honestly, comfort is a big reason for doing it. If I were staying mainly off road, I would have left it exactly as it was. It had more ground clearance and the chassis responded beautifully. Since mine is mostly used on road, I will sacrifice a little of that for better comfort. As it was, my Hawk was actually not that pleasant to ride for more than maybe 30 minutes at a time. This change makes the seat angle better, and the rider triangle changed enough to be far more comfortable.

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by OneLeggedRider

Nice! Looking at the top of the rear tire and your muffler, and the lean angle from the rear, I'd say yours is sitting the exact height of mine. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with the handling and cornering, and it is nice not having to keep pushing yourself back from the tank all the time.

I've been reading this series called Classic Steel which covers 3 of the biggest bike magazine reviews and comparisons/shootouts of MX bikes from 1970 to 2010. Really good stuff and the author keeps you entertained. It's also loaded with pics and specs and in depth information on the yearly model changes. And if you look at all the "good" bikes, none of them sat with their ass in the air and riding downhill constantly. They sat like mine and yours do now.

http://pulpmx.com/category/classic_steel/

You mean bikes like the old Honda SL250? I had one of these back in my younger years out of high school. Rode like a dream.


Funny enough, my forks are now sitting right at about the same rake angle as that bike. That was back in the "sit down" days of trail bikes. Big comfy seats and lazy chassis geometry. More road bike, less race bike.

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by Hancadam

Looks awesome Dan.

I like your handle bar bend height as well. I tried doing ours similar, but still not high enough.

Our hawk with the Brozz swingarm and stock shock accomplished the opposite, raised the bike quite a bit. I dropped the front down as much as a could to even it out.

I must admit though, with the changes to the hawk, I like how it rides better than my Brozz. The Brozz seems too low (suspension combined with seat design) and suspension is squishy compared to the hawk now.

Definitely makes the Brozz feel more like a traditional motorcycle and the hawk more like a dirt bike. Riding around our property, the hawk has been favored. Brozz for longer road trips.

Also, I didn't have to make any changes to my chain, I guess that's because the higher angle?

You could look into Pro Taper's line of "Adventure" bars, which are basically fat bars like mine, but with more rise to them. I was honestly considering trying a set myself with a set of shorter fixed riser adapters.

Yeah, I can't explain the chain thing. Nobody else mentioned having to do it, but mine is just right at the end of the adjusters in order to get proper tension. That means I don't "have" to shorten it, but I would prefer to have some adjustment room lol.

[OneLeggedRider]

Originally Posted by Megadan

You mean bikes like the old Honda SL250? I had one of these back in my younger years out of high school. Rode like a dream.


Funny enough, my forks are now sitting right at about the same rake angle as that bike. That was back in the "sit down" days of trail bikes. Big comfy seats and lazy chassis geometry. More road bike, less race bike.

Psssh.. look at a 1990 KX 125, a major stepping stone in motorcycle technology and years ahead of its time, inverted forks, perimeter frame, KIPS power valve technology, plush KYB cartridge suspension that could land stadium jumps, and unmatched cornering and handling. And guess what, with the rider seated the rear was lower than the front.

Ass in the air doesn't = better.

[nij_tp]

Dan, "Cue Lil' John and the Eastside boys in your head." yeh too old, now War - "Lo' rid-a goes a little slower", I'd have been there ;-)

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by OneLeggedRider

Psssh.. look at a 1990 KX 125, a major stepping stone in motorcycle technology and years ahead of its time, inverted forks, perimeter frame, KIPS power valve technology, plush KYB cartridge suspension that could land stadium jumps, and unmatched cornering and handling. And guess what, with the rider seated the rear was lower than the front.

Ass in the air doesn't = better.

The rider being seated higher does have advantages in terms of control over the machine, but like everything it is a give and take. Just look at every factory race bike ever made, both off road and on road. the seat position relative to the tank is always elevated. That said, look how uncomfortable every factory race bike ever made is as well.

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by nij_tp

Dan, "Cue Lil' John and the Eastside boys in your head." yeh too old, now War - "Lo' rid-a goes a little slower", I'd have been there ;-)

I grew up listening to that song too, even if it is a little ahead of my time. I am a musician and music lover, and a hardcore rock and metal guy at heart. My music collection spans every popular form of media made, from LPs to MP3s. Classical music, to modern House trance music. I don't discriminate.

[nij_tp]

Dan, when you say 300-310 mm for standard ish height but you went 280 fast ace shock, 1) do you have a link or can you tell me hole sizes (top and bottom (or are they standard) 2) what Spring did you go with or was it a package, I know your height and weight come into play.
Thanks again
P.S re-registered the hawk yesterday and got a sticker today (rear brake light didnt work but the guy just adjusted the nut whilst he was there. so job done. Took it for a spin around the local closed cinema parking lot. Going to do that again tomorrow, build my confidence. Not sure how granny riding is going to mess up the breaking in as I am not confident enough on the road yet to realistically do that, oh well 1st world problems!