Stiffer rear end

[Smelly Biker]

Learned ladies & gentlemen, a question if I may.....oops, sorry, wrong forum ;-)

After riding two-up for 16k I learnt something, the combined weight of my girlie and her vast knicker collection was WAAAAAAY too much for the rear shock on my 650 Dakar.

As I'm planning to ride up to Alaska next year I need to do something about it, ie: a newer and stiffer shock, but the question is 'which one' ? Ohlins, White Power, Progressive...I know nowt about all of them.

I've thought about changing out the spring for a thicker one with fewer turns but am reluctant to mess about with that - I presume that the spring and the shock are somehow matched to each other ?

 

[wedgie]

see www.adventure.gs
they used wilber springs and shocks
one a dakar and one a gs
to mongolia and back

 

[Mouse]

When you say "stiffer", do you really mean you need more damping, or do you mean you need more preload on the spring? You are aware that there's a damping adjuster at the base of the shock? Sorry if this is obvious, but it took me several months to notice it!

 

[Micky]

... and they're good!

see www.adventure.gs
they used wilber springs and shocks
one a dakar and one a gs
to mongolia and back

Yup... we used the Wilbers front springs and oil, and rear units. Absolutely the beez kneez. No fading, no bottoming out... and we carried the equivalent of a passenger and loadsa luggage. 19,000+ miles on some really rough roads, and some 'no roads' and they were as good as new on return. They went back to Wilbers for checking and rebuilding... nothing needed. We're having them back! Good fun on the twisties too... worth 10hp

Micky

 

[Smelly Biker]

When you say "stiffer", do you really mean you need more damping, or do you mean you need more preload on the spring? You are aware that there's a damping adjuster at the base of the shock? Sorry if this is obvious, but it took me several months to notice it!

Preload has *always* been on max - its the best setting when the bike is loaded and after a while it stuck there. I dont think more preload is the answer, think that the spring is not up to the task and girlie needs to pack less stuff next time.

I think it needs more damping AND a stiffer spring so that they're kinda matched - otherwise the stiff spring will completely overwhelm the standard damper. Please correct me if I'm talking complete bollocks.