How do I adjust the rear tire on a 97 honda cbr 600f3

knocking usually means a spun / burnt bearing [rod knock ]

If you park outside or live in a humid or salty area like I do, then I've found it can really help to split the switch gear open (be careful not to let anything fall out), clean every contact surface you can find and then spray everything with WD40 or Tri-Flow to displace any moisture and inhibit corrosion. I've owned a lot of Hondas over the years and had almost every switch stop working at one point or another and this almost always stops the problem. Plus an f3 is just abou the right age for this to start happening. If it doesn't work then you probably have a short (which would be odd for a Honda unless its been crashed or modified.

Standard settings are...Rear Preload: Position 3
Rear Compression: 1 turn out from maximum (punch aligned)
Rear Rebound: 1 turn out from maximum (punch aligned)
This is for the 97 & 98 year models.

Easiest way to find out is fill some petrol into tank and see where it drip out from. Good enough help?

Check the vacuum pipe from the carbs to the fuel tap, if its gat a pin hole in as you demand more fuel the vacuum loss cuts downthe fuel flow and the bike will stop!

Stock is a 160/60ZR17. I run a 170/60ZR17 with no issues. That is as wide as you can go on the rear without major modification to the swingarm or rubbing the stock arm.

It should be 1 down and 5 up. About the 5500rpm at 85... That sounds about right with stock gearing. Let me know if i can help further. Good luck and happy holidays. Jay