Shock adjusting help please

[bimota]

Hi guys,

Need a bit of help with rear shock absorber, i do a lot of 2 up riding with passenger and luggage as well, never played with rear shock just loaded got wife on and off on trips, the other day i had to give a mate a ride home after we dropped his bike off for maintance.

I could feel this time bike sat low at back end and struggled abit heavy rear light front, can anybody give me an idea on how to set rear shock for 2 up riding, i would probably leave it in that setting as well when i,m on my own

cheers

rob

 

[Dogdaze]

ES / EZ or standard suspension

 

[WJBertrand]

For two-up and luggage, you probably want to crank it all the way up. Don’t forget to increase the damping too unless you have the ES model, in which case it’s automatic.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Boris]

Me again Rob

As yours is a Gen 1 bike, you'll probably find (depending on size) that the rear shock isn't really up to two up riding, with good handling.

I'm about 17st in my riding gear, which is fine (just) if I'm out with just a lightly packed top box and a tank bag. If however the panniers and top box are on and loaded for a trip, the rear shock can't cope and the front is vague no matter what I do/try. I never go two up, but there's no way it'd cope and still handle in a way I want.

I've dropped the front by a few mm to help hold a more precise line, and this definitely improved matters for me. Next up is a call to MCT to see if the standard shock can be rebuilt, as it needs a heavier spring, however the internals may then not be up to the job. My gut feeling is a new Nitro shock built to my specs will be purchased.

For now though, rear preload wound to near max, rebound adjuster at the bottom to 4 clicks from max.

 

[bimota]

thanks boris,
yep gen 1 bike i,m 16.5 stone to 17 with gear my self, wife is about 12 stone plus the luggage the back end does feel terrible 2 up but shock still as factory so top handle wind all the way to 1 i think soft is 6, and bottom 4 clicks is that clock wise or anti don,t know.

you are right to thinking of getting a rear shock but don,t know where to start to look to be honest i always think ohlins

rob

 

[Boris]

Both adjusted from the rear brake pedal side of the bike, wind the remote rear preload adjuster all the way clockwise. There's a little marker gauge visible near the top of the shock, indicating , soft through to hard, just make sure the marker is nearer to hard.
Same side of the bike, the rebound adjuster is at the bottom of the shock, turn all the way clockwise and then back off 4 clicks.
Give MCT a go, they're highly rated and I and lots of mates go back with each new bike for a set up, or in some cases new shocks if standard just isn't up to it. They'll build a Nitron to suit your weight/s and needs. They're very helpful and informative and will ask all the necessary questions in order to get the shock spec right.
Obviously Ohlins are more than good enough, however Nitron are well rated and I know from personal experience they're a high quality suspension unit.

 

[bimota]

Hi Boris,
sorry tobother you again quick question, top adjust knob turned clockwise fine to get it down close to the word Hard on shock all good.
But the bottom adjustment you said turn all the way clock wise then back to hear 4 clicks, NOW i turned it clockwise it was clicking straight away but the clicks stopped but the knob kepted turning no noise.
So i stopped turning it and turned it back anti clockwise it turned for a while no noise but then the clicks came back so soon as i heard the click come back i used 4 then stopped.

I thought when i started turning clockwise that it would click then basicallt stop so it wouldn,t turn anymore but it kept turning.

rob

 

[Boris]

It's no bother Rob, happy to help.

Just been out to the garage to check, mine stops after 4 clicks, there's no free travel afterwards. Not sure why yours carries on?? If however I go anti-clockwise, then there is free travel at the end of the clicks.

Are you sure you turned the correct way?

 

[bimota]

Hi Boris,

turned the bottom knob lol sure clockwise put my hand on the adjusteraroundas if nyhand turned it as if it was turning away from gear lever around to the right passing the clocks and around to the rear brake lever if i went round the opposite to that lol thats anticlockwise.From the position it was in and i,m the second owner turning it round as above it clicked a few times then there was plenty of free play kept turning and turning so i stopped went back and the clicks started again so i counted 4.

rob

 

[bimota]

Got the hand book in front of me it says rebound damping when it says with the adjustment know fully turned in direction a, that looks anti clockwise to me. so i take it you turn the knob fully around to a position then back in b direction 4 clicks

rob

 

[Boris]

Your initial turn should be towards the front of the bike.

See how you get on once you ride the bike, see if it rides any different/better.

 

[Boris]

Got the handbook out, direction a is definitely clockwise (from the brake pedal side of the bike)

 

[bimota]

looks like the hand book is saying turn fully to position A then to get hard you turn to B 3 clicks but turning in direction A is anti clockwise boris

 

[Boris]

Yes, all the way towards a, then back 4

 

[bimota]

Cheers boris,
went back out turned the knob in A direction and clicked about 21 times then stopped i.e. wouldn,t turn no more then backed it to B 4 clicks need to have aride.
looking for another shock now as well to carry my nearly 17 sone plus my wife and luggage been looking at the NITRON one with adjuster knob about £740 or £500 without.

 

[Boris]

Nitron is where I'm going, but early next season.

The chances of me shedding 3 stone just isn't going to happen

Let me know how you get on once you've been out on the new settings.

 

[bimota]

I will thanks again