Spring-preload and Shock Setup

[Toad]

I'm heading off tomorrow for a three day trip round Devon. I've got a fair amount I need to carry (don't ask) and just want to make sure I'm getting the bike setup right. If you've seen my post on my luggage setup then you'll realise that I can carry quite alot

Front wheel I've never adjusted - Just well left alone as I don't know what I'm doing.

Rear wheel I've adjusted to High.

Should I adjust the shock absorber? And is it worth doing anything with the front?

 

[Toad]

BTW - Dartmouth Arms

I'll be in the Dartmouth Arms by the lower ferry on Tuesday night if anyone fancies a pint

 

[Pukmeister]

I set the front preload collar to three clicks from minimum to firm the front for luggage without raising the ride height. I set the rear to half way between mid position and max on the preload adjuster, and set the rebound damping screw to about 1 turn out from fully clockwise. It transformed my handling which was previously worse on the standard settings.

 

[Toad]

Thanks

Hi Pukmeister

i've replicated your setup and it's made a great difference. I've lost that "light" feeling in the front!!

I've also added Tobinators, and that also has helped!!

Cheers

 

[power2learn]

I set the front preload collar to three clicks from minimum to firm the front for luggage without raising the ride height. I set the rear to half way between mid position and max on the preload adjuster, and set the rebound damping screw to about 1 turn out from fully clockwise. It transformed my handling which was previously worse on the standard settings.

Sorry to be dim - minimum on front preload - that the position that puts the spring in it's longest position, right?

 

[power2learn]

Tried this set-up - feels like a completely different bike. Great tip, thanks.

 

[JayGee]

I prefer minimum preload on the front or one stop from min as more preload tends to raise the front. For two up I put almost max preload on the rear to raise the ride height and 1/2 to 1 turn from max damping. I figure you want the rear quite high and the front quite low to quicken the steering and put some weight onto the front. And the damping needs to be quite high otherwise it acts like a pogo stick. Even with max preload on the rear it is quite low with full luggage and pillion. Provided there is a reasonable amount of static sag you might as well use as much preload on the rear as you can.