Want to Lower a 97 Honda Nighthawk

[TT]

<div>Hello World-</div><div> </div><div>I have shaved the seat (angle grinder and it looks very nice and professional) and I still need to shorter my wife's bike by 2&quot; - I have been to the Progressive Suspensions website and thy manufacture a number of shocks to OEM specs. The Nighthawk has 13&quot; shock, I want to drop it by at least an 1&quot; but more like 2+&quot;</div><div> </div><div>What do suggest I do?</div><div> </div>

[andoulli]

<div>I love web sites for general info, but with a special need like yours, why not call them and see if they have any custom services available for your needs. Possibly you could ship them the factory item and they could modify it to your height specs, no?</div><div> </div><div>Tim</div>

[carlo]

The front end should be easy.<br><br>Just loosen the pinch bolts holding the front forks to the triple clamps, and push the fork legs up into the clamps a bit.<br><br>For the back, if you can find some shocks that have the same eye diameter at both ends, with a shorter length, you should be able to swap those over. Just make sure you don't get something with stiffer springs, because they may not compress when loaded as much as the old shocks.

[RonnnM]

<div>everytime I do something like that (thinner seat-progressive shocks) it ruins the comfort of the machine</div>

[DucatiDave]

<div>Can you marry a taller woman?</div>

[TT]

<div>Nope... I have been with her for 12 years and each year is better than the first. I'm bent for her and my guess is she thinks I age well.</div><div> </div><div> </div>

[TT]

<div></div><div><br><blockquote><div><hr>Carlo wrote:<br>The front end should be easy.<br><br>Just loosen the pinch bolts holding the front forks to the triple clamps, and push the fork legs up into the clamps a bit.<br><br>For the back, if you can find some shocks that have the same eye diameter at both ends, with a shorter length, you should be able to swap those over. Just make sure you don't get something with stiffer springs, because they may not compress when loaded as much as the old shocks.<br><hr></div></blockquote>Which bolts should I focus on; those up by the controls and 2 down by the wheel? And do I loosen just the Top / Bottom or both. If both in what sequence? Sorry for the questions, this is my first year as my own mechanic. So I'm feeling timid and frankly quite stupid. <br><div></div></div>

[carlo]

You have to loosen all the bolts that clamp the fork legs.<br>If there are bolts at the top of the triple clamps, those have to loosen too. Shouldn't be any particular sequence for loosening them, just make sure you get them tight after you raise the fork legs up. Be sure to raise both legs exactly the same amount. You may have to prop the front of the bike up and remove the front wheel to allow the fork legs to move.<br>If you do remove the wheel, tighten the axle bolts securely before you retighten the fork pinch bolts.<br><br>If you're inexperienced at mechanical stuff, you might want to invest in a good torque wrench, and a Haynes or Clymer shop manual for your bike before you start working on it.<br>Look up the torque specifications for the fork and axle bolts, then use the torque wrench to tighten them. That will assure that you get them tight enough to be safe, but not risk stripping the threads.<p>Message Edited by carlo on <span class="date_text">03-19-2007</span><span class="time_text">09:33 PM</span></p>