Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Thats me. I'm short. Not SHORT, but short. I'm 5'8" (on a good day) with a 30" inseam. I can ride my recently purchased Nighthawk just fine and I can touch the ground without having to really tiptoe, but a little more foot on the ground could be helpful. Are the shocks on these things adjustable enough that I could lower the rear abou an inch or so and the push the trees down on the forks about an inch or so, to get me a little more footing?

Also, has anyone shaved down the seat of their Nighthawks? I have to get a new cover for mine and I was considering trying to gain a little extra footing that way as well.

Thanks in advance.
Beardking

Shorts shaved the seat on her bike and it helped her.

Interesting. I'm 5'8" and also have a 30" inseam and I can flatfoot my Nighthawk quite easily. I guess that just adds credence the to the theory that you can't tell whether you'll fit on a bike until you sit on it yourself.

The Nighthawk seat is wide and flat, like a good UJM seat should be. I think if you're going to recover the seat, you could probably get more foot on the ground by shaving the sides as well as the top.

Put on 50 lbs and the bike will sit lower when your on it

I am 5' 8" with a 30in. inseam too.

Try wearing thicker soled shoes or boots. An extra 1/2 inch may make all the difference.

Set your rear shock preload down a notch will help, unless you find you are bottoming out. You can also move the forks up in the triple clamp but this is limited. There is not much clearance between the front fender and the horn when the front forks are fully compressed. I wouldn't move them up more than a 1/4 inch.

mydlyfkryzis wrote:Put on 50 lbs and the bike will sit lower when your on it

If I put on 50 more pounds, the freaking motor will give out REAL quick (I'm a short, FAT guy).

mydlyfkryzis wrote:Try wearing thicker soled shoes or boots. An extra 1/2 inch may make all the difference.

Kind of the same thing here, if my boots get any thicker, I'm going to be wearing 70's platforms. Let's put it this way, Doc Martin owes a lot of it's success to my purchases.

mydlyfkryzis wrote: I am 5' 8" with a 30in. inseam too.

That makes three.

I'm thinking that we could start a very exclusive Nighthawk club. Must be 5'8" and have a 30" inseam.

beardking wrote:

mydlyfkryzis wrote:Put on 50 lbs and the bike will sit lower when your on it

If I put on 50 more pounds, the freaking motor will give out REAL quick (I'm a short, FAT guy).
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I have the same same issue.

Flyinrider,

If you are gravity challenged, we could start a 5' 8" 30" inseam and "Large" club....even more exclusive...

mydlyfkryzis wrote:Flyinrider,

If you are gravity challenged, we could start a 5' 8" 30" inseam and "Large" club....even more exclusive...

Sorry, but I don't think I'd qualify for that one. I'm about 160 lbs. soaking wet.

I am 5'6" and can't ride the nighthawk.