Hawk lowering for wife.

seabeagle · 04-17-2019, 09:20 AM

Just ordered a Hawk this morning for my wife to learn to ride. I’ve read about changing the rear shock and moving the fronts forks. One member posted that a 290mm shock lowered the back about 3 inches. Ideally, I’d like to get the seat to 30 inches or so. Think a 280mm shock could get me there with shaving some foam from the seat? She is 5 foot tall weighing 105 pounds. Air shock maybe? Think the fender will rub? I want to order my upgrades and have them here when I asssemble the bike.

OneLeggedRider · 04-17-2019, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seabeagle

Just ordered a Hawk this morning for my wife to learn to ride. I’ve read about changing the rear shock and moving the fronts forks. One member posted that a 290mm shock lowered the back about 3 inches. Ideally, I’d like to get the seat to 30 inches or so. Think a 280mm shock could get me there with shaving some foam from the seat? She is 5 foot tall weighing 105 pounds. Air shock maybe? Think the fender will rub? I want to order my upgrades and have them here when I asssemble the bike.

If she only weighs 105 the 280mm shock will work fine and lower the rear about 4".

Pathfinders · 04-17-2019, 09:22 PM

Following. Mrs Pathfinders is 5'3".

j0nny216 · 04-18-2019, 07:42 AM

My wife is 5'3 and we went with a 280mm from Amazon. She can now stop flat footed instead of tiptoes. We have her front forks about an inch higher than flush. It does change the angle a bit (there is a a big wtite up on that between Dan, OLR, and someone else if I remember correctly) but we aren't worried about it because she doesn't plan on doing anything crazy. She weighs about 125-130ish. The shock was about $75.

Ariel Red Hunter · 04-18-2019, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j0nny216

My wife is 5'3 and we went with a 280mm from Amazon. She can now stop flat footed instead of tiptoes. We have her front forks about an inch higher than flush. It does change the angle a bit (there is a a big wtite up on that between Dan, OLR, and someone else if I remember correctly) but we aren't worried about it because she doesn't plan on doing anything crazy. She weighs about 125-130ish. The shock was about $75.

I would call that a good job. We were warning about carrying the front forks above flush while running the rear shock and spring set-up that came on the bike. This reduces rake and trail. That is dangerous. But when you lower the rear by 3 inches, and the front by 1 inch, you've actually increased the rake and trail of the front fork, making the bike more stable..ARH

Megadan · 04-18-2019, 02:24 PM

Exactly what ARH stated. The worst side effect you will have by lowering the rear more than the front will be lazier/slower steering. The only other downside of going too far with the increase in rake and trail would be more lateral stress on the fork tubes which could potentially mean they could bend easier, but I wouldn't worry about it given such a small change.

The only thing I am generally not a fan of with lowering via the rear shock is the potential loss in suspension travel, but after having seen OLR's bike first hand and him having no complaints of bottoming out or a lack of travel, it doesn't appear to be too much of an issue.

upgasgas1224 · 04-18-2019, 03:15 PM

a seat concepts seat would shave 2 ins if you dont want to trim the seat yourself. if the hawk and the tt250 have the same style seat csc offers one but its rather pricey

OneLeggedRider · 04-18-2019, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Megadan

Exactly what ARH stated. The worst side effect you will have by lowering the rear more than the front will be lazier/slower steering. The only other downside of going too far with the increase in rake and trail would be more lateral stress on the fork tubes which could potentially mean they could bend easier, but I wouldn't worry about it given such a small change.

The only thing I am generally not a fan of with lowering via the rear shock is the potential loss in suspension travel, but after having seen OLR's bike first hand and him having no complaints of bottoming out or a lack of travel, it doesn't appear to be too much of an issue.

Well I have gotten it to bottom out once on a small jump. But I weigh 265lbs and haven't added any spring preload to the 290mm. So I'm gonna add a half inch of preload.

As far as rake and trail I've raised the forks an inch and a 1/4, and lowered the rear 3". It seems to handle and steer just fine, and I feel confident at 45mph on gravel. And it feels like a real Japanese dirtbike now that I'm not riding downhill all the time.

Megadan · 04-18-2019, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upgasgas1224

a seat concepts seat would shave 2 ins if you dont want to trim the seat yourself. if the hawk and the tt250 have the same style seat csc offers one but its rather pricey

It's the exact same seat, and yeah $200 is a little spendy, but being a Seat Concepts seat means it will be a MUCH better quality seat all around. Even with less foam it is probably more comfortable than the stock seat lol.

Megadan · 04-18-2019, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneLeggedRider

Well I have gotten it to bottom out once on a small jump. But I weigh 265lbs and haven't added any spring preload to the 290mm. So I'm gonna add a half inch of preload.

As far as rake and trail I've raised the forks an inch and a 1/4, and lowered the rear 3". It seems to handle and steer just fine, and I feel confident at 45mph on gravel. And it feels like a real Japanese dirtbike now that I'm not riding downhill all the time.

All things considering, that's not bad at all.

As far as the front suspension geometry, I don't believe anybody said it was bad. More rake and trail = more stable at speed, but less responsive steering input. Considering the type of bike and the size of the front wheel, this isn't really a concern to begin with.

Your bike sits almost exactly like a suzuki DR650.

OneLeggedRider · 04-18-2019, 10:20 PM

I also shimmed the front fender with a couple washers on each side of the rear mounts, which moved it an inch away from the tire. Trade secret though lol.

j0nny216 · 04-18-2019, 11:03 PM

Black bike is stock green bike (jb welding tank plastic) is hers with a 280mm. Again, 5'3, about 125- 130lbs

j0nny216 · 04-18-2019, 11:04 PM

On the black bike she was kind of bouncing back and forth as well (side to side on her tip toes).

j0nny216 · 04-18-2019, 11:26 PM

Another angle

ChipToothy · 04-19-2019, 02:34 PM

I’d just spend the 10 minutes it takes to shave the seat down or take out a little preload and be done with it.

04-17-2019, 09:20 AM	#1
seabeagle Join Date: Apr 2019 Posts: 7	Hawk lowering for wife. Just ordered a Hawk this morning for my wife to learn to ride. I’ve read about changing the rear shock and moving the fronts forks. One member posted that a 290mm shock lowered the back about 3 inches. Ideally, I’d like to get the seat to 30 inches or so. Think a 280mm shock could get me there with shaving some foam from the seat? She is 5 foot tall weighing 105 pounds. Air shock maybe? Think the fender will rub? I want to order my upgrades and have them here when I asssemble the bike.
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04-18-2019, 02:24 PM	#6
Megadan Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 8,042	Exactly what ARH stated. The worst side effect you will have by lowering the rear more than the front will be lazier/slower steering. The only other downside of going too far with the increase in rake and trail would be more lateral stress on the fork tubes which could potentially mean they could bend easier, but I wouldn't worry about it given such a small change. The only thing I am generally not a fan of with lowering via the rear shock is the potential loss in suspension travel, but after having seen OLR's bike first hand and him having no complaints of bottoming out or a lack of travel, it doesn't appear to be too much of an issue. __________________ Hawk Information and Resource guide: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=20331 2018 Hawk 250 - Full Mod list here. http://www.chinariders.net/showpost....62&postcount=1 2024 Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 https://chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=34124
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04-18-2019, 03:15 PM	#7
upgasgas1224 Join Date: May 2017 Location: Michigan Posts: 107	a seat concepts seat would shave 2 ins if you dont want to trim the seat yourself. if the hawk and the tt250 have the same style seat csc offers one but its rather pricey __________________ 04 flywing 150 05 flywing 150 07 gasgas ec200 18 csc tt250 / foam filter mod, amazon exhaust, mikunki carb, 47tooth sprocket, o ring chain, stereo system, amsoil oil, honda 10w fork oil, tusk bars and brush guards.... more to come
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04-19-2019, 02:34 PM	#15
ChipToothy Join Date: Apr 2018 Posts: 819	I’d just spend the 10 minutes it takes to shave the seat down or take out a little preload and be done with it. __________________ Bashan Storm: Ebay steel exhaust wrapped, folding shift lever, seat mod, vm26 carb, air pod, dual led scrambler headlamps, windshield mod, led brake/tail light, secondary led brake light (swingarm), Ebay 295mm rear shock, back up CDI (racing unknown), oil cooler, digital gauge cluster,
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04-17-2019, 09:22 PM	#3
Pathfinders Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 129	Following. Mrs Pathfinders is 5'3".
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04-18-2019, 07:42 AM	#4
j0nny216 Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Middle Of Nowhere, Idaho Posts: 31	My wife is 5'3 and we went with a 280mm from Amazon. She can now stop flat footed instead of tiptoes. We have her front forks about an inch higher than flush. It does change the angle a bit (there is a a big wtite up on that between Dan, OLR, and someone else if I remember correctly) but we aren't worried about it because she doesn't plan on doing anything crazy. She weighs about 125-130ish. The shock was about $75.
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04-18-2019, 10:20 PM	#11
OneLeggedRider Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Stockport, Oh. Posts: 1,442	I also shimmed the front fender with a couple washers on each side of the rear mounts, which moved it an inch away from the tire. Trade secret though lol.
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04-18-2019, 11:04 PM	#13
j0nny216 Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Middle Of Nowhere, Idaho Posts: 31	On the black bike she was kind of bouncing back and forth as well (side to side on her tip toes).
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