Shock pre-load adjustment
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Shock pre-load adjustment
Don't really have time to do a search as I'm leaving soon to go get my bike inspected at the dealer (for free). When I took delivery of my bike a year ago, I knew nothing about the details of it and nothing was ever discussed in my pre-delivery walk-through about shock adjustment. And, the bike has always ridden great to me so I never paid any attention to how the shocks were set. But, I've read a couple of posts lately concerning shocks so I thought I'd check the settings on mine. It looks to me like they are set as low as they will go. In other words, they appear to be turned as far counter-clockwise as they will go - that's the lowest setting right? The thing is, I weigh about 235 and sometimes my wife, another 115 lbs, will ride on the back as well. I've never felt like I was "bottoming out" but I'm thinking I may want to set some preload at least.
Am I correct that I'm all the way down - or am I all the way up? To add more preload, do you turn clockwise or counter-clockwise? And, is there any guideline as far as weight-range to preload ratio? I realize that a specific preload setting is not going to be preferred by everyone within a given range but I don't know if there are at least recommendations.
I've got about an hour or so before I leave. If I should make any adjustments, I'm going to talk them into doing it since I don't yet own a spanner-wrench. So, if you have any thoughts onthis, please share quickly.
And, yes, I already tried turning it with my hands but I can't get a good enough grip and I don't want to use anything that might scratch the precious chrome.
Am I correct that I'm all the way down - or am I all the way up? To add more preload, do you turn clockwise or counter-clockwise? And, is there any guideline as far as weight-range to preload ratio? I realize that a specific preload setting is not going to be preferred by everyone within a given range but I don't know if there are at least recommendations.
I've got about an hour or so before I leave. If I should make any adjustments, I'm going to talk them into doing it since I don't yet own a spanner-wrench. So, if you have any thoughts onthis, please share quickly.
And, yes, I already tried turning it with my hands but I can't get a good enough grip and I don't want to use anything that might scratch the precious chrome.
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Elite HDF Member
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RE: Shock pre-load adjustment
Wow, I did a search and actually got some useful results right away for a change. Maybe I'm getting better at it. I answered a couple of my own questions - yes, clockwise to add preload tension, counter-clockwise to soften it up. Therefore, yes I'm on the softest setting.
As I said earlier, the bike rides pretty good to me so I don't want to make it feel like a rigid by tightening it up too much. I ride mostly 1 up - especially this time of year (wife is definitely a fair weather rider only). Anyone have a recommendation on a setting to try for 1 up, 235-240 lbs?
As I said earlier, the bike rides pretty good to me so I don't want to make it feel like a rigid by tightening it up too much. I ride mostly 1 up - especially this time of year (wife is definitely a fair weather rider only). Anyone have a recommendation on a setting to try for 1 up, 235-240 lbs?
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RE: Shock pre-load adjustment
ORIGINAL: pappy43
What! You are on your way to dealer, why not get them to explain the settings to you while your there. Just a thought.
What! You are on your way to dealer, why not get them to explain the settings to you while your there. Just a thought.
I think I'm going to just have them set it to the middle setting, go buy a spanner wrench, and then adjust it myself from there.
The fact that they saw my physical stature during the pre-delivery and still never made an effort to check the settings, change them, or even discuss them with me tells me how much they really care about the bike and/or my comfort. They're just moving another HOG out the door.
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 34
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From: Youngsville, NC
RE: Shock pre-load adjustment
The settings are numbered 1-5. The higher the number, the stiffer the preload. I'm about 190 and my wife is about 160; I have my preload set to 4 whether I am riding solo or 2-up. I found the lower settings, while a little softer on the posterior, made handling too unstable for my taste.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2006
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From:
RE: Shock pre-load adjustment
I left the dealer on the lowest setting and road it that way for about a week before it dawned on me to change it. I'm 205 and third third setting did wonders for me.
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Outstanding HDF Member
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From: Kalaui Kona HI
RE: Shock pre-load adjustment
What kind of wrench? I have a spanner wrenchI used on the Sporty but I don't see the slots to change the preload. I am set on 2 it feels like a caddy compared to my sporty. I am 170lbs.
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Thread Starter
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
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RE: Shock pre-load adjustment
Use the spanner on your LR too. Use the holes in the collar at the bottom of your shocks. I noticed yesterday that they actually put an arror sticker and the numbered settings on the outside of the shocks on a stock lowrider. I wonder why they wouldn't do that on all the bikes with external shocks? Maybe there's another reason why the LR's cost so much more. 
Anyway, I had the dealer set mine to 3 yesterday and wow, there is a noticeable difference. I guess ignorance is bliss as they say because I though my bike rode great. Of course, on the ride to the dealer yesterday, after I discovered the shocks were on the softest setting, I felt every bump that I went across where I wouldn't have paid it much attention before. I was riding through a construction zone Sunday and went over some areas where the pavement had been torn up and temporarily repaired and bottomed out for the first time. That was my first clue to check the shock settings. Rode an hour so back home yesterday with the shocks adjusted to 3 and it's definitely an even better ride. Since this is my first HD, I guess I had nothing to compare it to before and never noticed.
Anyway, I had the dealer set mine to 3 yesterday and wow, there is a noticeable difference. I guess ignorance is bliss as they say because I though my bike rode great. Of course, on the ride to the dealer yesterday, after I discovered the shocks were on the softest setting, I felt every bump that I went across where I wouldn't have paid it much attention before. I was riding through a construction zone Sunday and went over some areas where the pavement had been torn up and temporarily repaired and bottomed out for the first time. That was my first clue to check the shock settings. Rode an hour so back home yesterday with the shocks adjusted to 3 and it's definitely an even better ride. Since this is my first HD, I guess I had nothing to compare it to before and never noticed.
