Newbee question ... bought a used (150 miles !) 06 FXDCI but no users manual. Been able to find most info but..... shocks have indicators 1 through 5, now set on 3. I guess factory setting. I want the wife to ride and want to adjust for proper weight. I weight in at 195 lbs, she at 135 lbs. What should I be adjusting to ? And since HD provides no tools ,whats the best way to make adjustment ?
Appreciate any help.

 

Welcome to the forum. You can get an adjuster wrench for less than $20 at your dealer. The 3 setting works fine for me but if you are bottoming out....which at your weights you shouldn't try #4 then #5. The higher the number the stiffer. You should forget the owners manual and just buy a service manual for the bike for $42. You can get one on ebay or at Zanotti's HD or Chicago HD on line. The service manual has all the information you will need to properly maintain your bike. Definitely worth the $$.

 

Last bike was a sportster with the stock shocks with the other half on I had to set them on 5, with progressive h-ds Iset them on 3, you will just have to ride it and see if it bottoms out go up also if it feels sortof washed out,wobbly go up, if it feels like your riding a hardtail go down, just have to play with it till you find the sweet spot. you can get a spanner wrench from progressive or a flex spanner wrench from someone like harbor freight for adjustment.

 

I weigh 240 and mine was on 2 when i got the bike when i adjusted i put it on 5, i personally like ita little on the stiff side ( if knowbody capitalizes on that ill be suprised) You dont really need the adjuster tool, if you have a jack you can lift the back wheel off the groung and turn the shocks by hand. Thats how i did mine

 

this forum is great for sharing tips...

 

Hey great info on the shocks, manual and jack lift to adjust. This place is great. Hope to beable to contribute in future. Thanks to all.

 

As was said before the shocks gets stiffer the higher the numbers. Just remember that to stiff will make the rear end bounce, so adjust it to get it from bottoming out.