Today while at work, I decided to take a trip up to Duluth. As soon as I got home, I packed up the bike. I’d be traveling lighter if I wasn’t planning on doing some work, too.
Packing the Nighthawk up for my trip was easy
Tightening the chain tensioners
The bolt on the shock was loose.
I did a quick pre trip check and decided to tighten up the chain tensioner, since I haven’t done that yet on the bike.
I then went to REI, got a lighter tent better suited for my needs, came out and noticed something strange.
The shock bolt wasn’t supposed look like that. It was sticking out by about a half inch. I have a strange history with shocks that has apparently followed me to this bike. The irony of that was not lost on me. I tightened it down as much as possible with a box end wrench and got on my way, touching the bolt during the trip while I was on the road, to make sure it didn’t go anywhere.
Despite the surprising issue with the shock, it wasn’t much of a setback and I was able to keep the trip going, unlike some of the trips I attempted on the Honda Rebel (though many more of those trips went without problems than many people know).
