I think I have enlisted a photographer...

[Logicus]

Went out on the Hawk today and had someone who was willing to help out with this.... just a couple of pics and some fun with photoshop...








Term 'elephant riding a peanut' mean anything???

[thepathlesstaken]

"Term 'elephant riding a peanut' mean anything???"

Your third picture depicts this perfectly! Wide shoulders, knees flayed outwards, head hunkered down, and feet barley hanging on the pegs.

How tall are you?

[Logicus]

A little bit over 6 foot 3 inches. I was kinda scared when I ordered the rearsets on there, but turns out it's actually a little more comfortable with the weight balanced a little better.

Actually the pics are kinda funny in relation to what I was trying to get... I was trying to get a pic of a good lean angle in the curve you see in the first pic, but turns out the curve was just not much of a curve. That 'third' pic is of me bustin' ass to get the bike to go fast enough to get it leaned over since I'd realized the 1st pass was unimpressive... I still got no lean really, and as I got to the top of the hill, I looked down to see what I hadn't realized which was I was ticking a little over 100 mph!! oops.... 45 zone.... haha... just gonna have to go find some more appropriate curves!

[DefTrap]

My 2p from another big guy (6'5") on a Hawk :-

- Toes on the pegs, knees in (!)
- Jack up the rear end. Mine wears a 13mil over (rod) shock.
- Lose the rearsets
- Unpin the clip-ons and throw them forward as far as you can, you can get them almost straight, and retighten (gives you at least two inches more elbow room)
- Get the front and rear resprung for your weight (I'm 200lbs in the buff, bikes runs progressive springs up front and a 1200lb sprung Hagon on the back).

Give it a try, you may like it ...

[jaysun0ne]

glad to see there are a few of us big hawk riders

im 6'5" 260#

i have had f2 clipons under the top triple, i was the only one that could ride the bike with my long reach.

saving up for rear suspention upgrade now.

[SkinnE]

In that first sequence photo, it looks like a decent bend. But it has a pretty good positive camber, which means you won't appear as far over.

From looking at those pics, if you want the bike leaned over more, take a wider entry line, and apex later. You will need to lean the bike over more quickly and further with a more aggressive push on the bars, but you really have to wait to initiate the turn. You'll also have a better view, further round the corner taking this line.

And like Al said, try sliding your feet back on the pegs, but I disagree with ditching the rearsets. I have particularly long legs for only being 6' and find having the pegs up and back quite far feels much better. BTW do yourself a favour and replace the sneakers with something more protective. Denim won't help you much if you come off either, especially if you're travelling close to 100.

Oh, and I think the other phrase you're looking for is "Monkey f*cking a football"

[gen2600]

I'm a photographer and Hawk rider in the portland area... I'd bring out some gear for some rolling and action shots and even for free/fun

Course, I'm headed to Alaska in a week and a half and won't be back till October.

[Logicus]

Yes the savings have started for the leather bottoms and riding shoes/boots. I'm getting there... I actually didn't feel like I had gone that fast... I just knew that the first time through yeilded little difficulty in the turn. I figured on the second pass, I was at MAYBE 65-70.... I laughed a little when I looked down as I passed a speed limit sign for 45... oops... sure didn't feel like it...

The factory footpegs actually caused my right knee to start hurting after a while (20-30 miles). I put the Woodcrafts on and the problem completely went away.

The clipons (also woodcraft) are set for comfort actually. If I swing them out a little further, the bend in the wrist is uncomfortable.

I am looking at a new shock for the rear - and I remember deftrap saying he had a hagon shock that was extended, and here in the states, hagon won't do anything but send me what is stock in size... did you have that shock custom made? Or are there any others that can pi the rear up a little higher?

The dissappointment (we were rushing to get some pics and this was the closest set of curves to the house with a place for the photog.) was that the curve was just a long sweeper. We're going out on 22 where there is a cool uphill section that has a build up to a point, the photographer can stand there and catch the bike through 3 or 4 turns which are all 50 mph max (at least with my competency) but I've scraped my shoes through them before, so I should get something more dramatic.

And yes, I do try to keep the balls of my feet on the pegs, then I get into whats going on and forget about foot placement. Looking back at it now, looks more like I have flippers instead of feet! This was also actually a test to see if what I thought I was doing was what I was actually doing. I think I might actually go out on 22 solo, and set up a tripod at the end of a set of curves and just set it to record and have at it a couple of times and review....

[DefTrap]

And like Al said, try sliding your feet back on the pegs, but I disagree with ditching the rearsets. I have particularly long legs for only being 6' and find having the pegs up and back quite far feels much better.

Strike the midget's opinion from the record your honour ...

[DefTrap]

I am looking at a new shock for the rear - and I remember deftrap saying he had a hagon shock that was extended, and here in the states, hagon won't do anything but send me what is stock in size... did you have that shock custom made? Or are there any others that can pi the rear up a little higher?

I'm suprised, Hagon are normally more than happy to help in this way. I've got the original bill in front of me (still going strong 6 years later!) and it does say that they "don't guarantee this unit under no circumstances due to unit being longer than Hagon specifications". Consider it tested on your behalf. It must have done over 100k miles on various Brosses in that time.

Pretty sure Technoflex (Wilbers?) do a length adjustable shock, Penske as well.

[hawk+2]

Logicus,
Where in northern Kentucky are you? That cemetary looks familiar.

John D.
89 Hawk GT
03 Kawi 636
85 500 Interceptor

[MasterBates]

haha im 6' even and im almost like that. cept i only weigh about 140, so its more like a giraffe riding a peanut

[Logicus]

Logicus,
Where in northern Kentucky are you? That cemetary looks familiar.

Maysville, KY. It's a HUGE cemetery. Lots of ornate monuments and and such.

[hawk+2]

Thought so. That is where my father & grand parents are buried.
I'm originally from Maysville.

[Logicus]

I'm originally from Maysville.

Well, nice to meet you... I moved here two years ago to open an Applebee's - yep, the place is growing up quickly now.