FAQ

1. How do I know if my bike is misaligned and in need of straightening?

Even new bikes can come from the factory with chassis misalignments that can adversely affect handling - you would be surprised. We have found that new bikes from at least one highly respected manufacture had variations in the lateral position of the rear wheel of up to 5 millimeters. This means that the rear wheel was in some cases as far as 5 mm to one side of the centerline of the bike.

A misaligned chassis can manifest itself by making the bike seem to fight transitions from side to side, or fight turning one way, but seem to fall into turns in the other direction. These behaviors are often a result of the gyroscopic forces of the wheels being out of alignment with each other. This can happen if the plane of the rotation of the front wheel is not the same as that of the rear wheel. A twisted swingarm, bent forks, triple clamps, or axles can create this situation. Any of these can result from a crash. MotoMorphic can determine if such a problem exists with your bike, and can correct it.

2. What are the best tires for my bike?

It depends. If you're looking for the maximum traction, you should select tires that are very different from those that will give you maximum tread life. Most of the high profile tire manufacturers make excellent tires that are more than adequate for street riding, even taking a few liberties with velocity occasionally. Avon, Dunlop, Michelin, Bridgestone, Metzler, and Pirelli all make really good tires. For street riding within sane limits, the difference is completely subjective, and sometime you have to be the judge. Some tires feel more planted, some turn in quicker, and some give more feedback. Generally, the softer and grippier a tire is, the shorter it's tread life. The reverse is true as well - a tire that lasts a long time will have less traction than one that wears out quicker. Almost any modern tire is more than adequate for most rational street riding. If you're racing in the twisties with your friends and want the best chance of surviving, go to the racetrack and take a track school, and really learn how to go fast. The street is an unforgiving place, with oncoming cars, trees, deer, spilled oil and antifreeze, and no ambulance in sight. If you're finding that you're taking traction all the way to the limit of your tires while street riding, our recommendation is for you to slow down before you hurt yourself, and get your butt to the track.

3. Whatever happened to the Hawk Connection?

The Hawk Connection has expanded into MotoMorphic. Most Hawk Connection products are available through MotoMorphic, and our staff is well experienced with Hawks, as well as other bikes.

4. I'm thinking about buying a used bike. What can I do to make sure I don't get taken advantage of?

For the cost of the time it takes, MotoMorphic can quickly and professionally evaluate the condition of a motorcycle prior to the purchase. We will conduct a compression check, check wheels for straightness, check the oil for apparent problems, test ride it, and report our findings to you and the seller. We suggest that you and the seller agree to share the cost of such an evaluation. If the seller has nothing to hide, he or she should be comfortable with such a test. This way you save yourself the possible headache of getting a bad deal. It's a small price to pay for peace of mind.

5. I really like my new bike but I'm not sure if it fits me right. What can I do to fix this?

We suggest that you trial sit on as big a variety of bikes as you can find, and see if a different bike fits you better. When on your bike, if you're stretching to reach the grips, or your legs are bunched up uncomfortably under you, it's possible that some modifications to the position of your bars or pegs may increase your comfort while in the saddle. Often a small adjustment in these parameters results in a significant increase in the quality of your ride. We have a diverse selection of bikes at MotoMorphic - you're invited to come throw a leg over them and see if you'd like your bike to fit you closer to the way that one of them does.