If your cheap like me heres a project for increasing the preload on stock shocks. Materials needed, home made spring compressor, shim stock "washers" from ACE Hardware, and about 4 hrs.
4 washers gives me the equivalent of about 2 1/2 clicks more preload, I need it when the wife rides. She fills the saddle bags with lots of stuff! "wink"

I made the spring compressor out of scrap metal and a eye bolt. The round part that pushes on the top chrome cap is muffler pipe. I just copied one I saw on Ebay. The shims are just washers that fit perfectly. The pics will explain all. It works great too, The total cost was $10, unless you buy the compressor, there about $40 alone.

It also makes it easy to take shocks apart and clean, Plus you can check compression and rebound of the shock. Good luck an have fun!

 

I don't really see how the pictures explain what to do. Can you give more details? All I see is your homemade spring compressor sitting there on the shock. How do you get them under the spring? What do you need to take the lower part off?

 

Here's Progressives instructions. I copied theirs.
http://www.progressivesuspension.com...Shock-Tool.pdf


Heres a video of another home made compressor. It showes how to take shock assy apart.

Hope this helps

 

Good tip! That's a great option for someone on a budget. Good post dav500.

 

Nice!

I am sure that will get moved to the "how to" for under 50 bucks sticky