Street Bob Shock Adjustment
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 274
Likes: 24
From: Florida
Street Bob Shock Adjustment
Heyooo,
I'm looking at my owners manual but it's confusing my ***** off. Can someone tell me if my assumption is correct?
1. Put spanner tool in bottom holes on the shock.
2. If looking at the shock from the back of the bike, turn the spanner counter clockwise until it won't go anymore. It is now at setting 1.
3. Turn clockwise until you feel it stop. That will indicate a new step.
4. Do the same to the other side, meaning you still turn counter clockwise even though it's on the different side of the bike.
With all my gear on, I end up at around 205, so I should be at setting 4.
Does that all sound right? Is there anything I have to turn first to be able to turn it? The manual mentions a lower adjustment nut and a lock nut.
I tried to find a YouTube video but it seems like no one made anything relevant.
I'm looking at my owners manual but it's confusing my ***** off. Can someone tell me if my assumption is correct?
1. Put spanner tool in bottom holes on the shock.
2. If looking at the shock from the back of the bike, turn the spanner counter clockwise until it won't go anymore. It is now at setting 1.
3. Turn clockwise until you feel it stop. That will indicate a new step.
4. Do the same to the other side, meaning you still turn counter clockwise even though it's on the different side of the bike.
With all my gear on, I end up at around 205, so I should be at setting 4.
Does that all sound right? Is there anything I have to turn first to be able to turn it? The manual mentions a lower adjustment nut and a lock nut.
I tried to find a YouTube video but it seems like no one made anything relevant.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 10,907
Likes: 8,757
From: Galt's Gulch - MI
Using a spanner wrench, turn the lower portion of the shock counter clockwise until it stops; that's position #1. Now turn the lower portion clockwise; you'll feel it drop in to each of the preload settings. You'll do both of the shocks the same way, counter clockwise to reach #1 and clockwise to set your preload.
I'm running a #4 preload, I weigh 145 pounds but like a bit firmer setting
Edit: The typical spanner wrench looks like this. You can sometimes find one locally depending on your location or you can grab one on Amazon or eBay rather inexpensively. If you can lift the bike up to take the weight off the rear shocks you may be able to turn them by hand if you're a burly dude with strong hands
I'm running a #4 preload, I weigh 145 pounds but like a bit firmer setting
Edit: The typical spanner wrench looks like this. You can sometimes find one locally depending on your location or you can grab one on Amazon or eBay rather inexpensively. If you can lift the bike up to take the weight off the rear shocks you may be able to turn them by hand if you're a burly dude with strong hands
Last edited by TinCupChalice; Aug 6, 2016 at 07:40 PM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 4,384
Likes: 8,742
From: Texas
That will be *is* your baseline setting - from there fine tune till your backside happy / handling is where you want it
But first and foremost - get the sag set correctly before all else
Ghost
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 274
Likes: 24
From: Florida
I just went out and tried. I turned it counter clockwise and both sides only seemed to go 4 clicks, so I guess I was on 4.
I tried to go to 5 and it didn't seem like they wanted to go anymore than 4 clicks back up, so now I'm confused as to what setting I'm actually on.
Is it normal for them to be crazy hard to get to the 5th setting?
I didn't see anything about sag in the manual, how's that work?
I tried to go to 5 and it didn't seem like they wanted to go anymore than 4 clicks back up, so now I'm confused as to what setting I'm actually on.
Is it normal for them to be crazy hard to get to the 5th setting?
I didn't see anything about sag in the manual, how's that work?
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 274
Likes: 24
From: Florida
Math is hard. Thanks buddy I got caught up in the setting numbers.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,135
Likes: 4,778
From: Sandpoint, Idaho
I am curious, my 07' has an arrow and numbers stenciled on the shocks. Did they quit doing that?
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Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 274
Likes: 24
From: Florida
I saw reference to looking under the shocks for numbers on the forums but I was on the ground with a flashlight and I didn't see anything noticeable. The manual also doesn't mention anything about numbers other than counting based on clicks.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 274
Likes: 24
From: Florida
Thanks! Your advice was sound, the 4 setting in the manual matched up to my weight and put me in between 3/4 and 1 inch down when seated.