2 Up Riding and Shock Adjustment Question
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Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 581
Likes: 7
From: Portland, OR
2 Up Riding and Shock Adjustment Question
The wife's schedule changed and the weather broke on Saturday, so I finally got her on the FXST since I bought it last June. Wow what a difference riding with 2 up. I've had my 20 year old daughter on the back several times, but she's a skinny runt and only weights 100 lbs, so I hardly felt her back there. Not saying the wife weights much more, but man, the shocks preload needs to be a lot stiffer. And with a softail, what a pain in the neck it would be to adjust the shocks for 2 up and then re-adjust when not riding 2 up. What do you folks do? Adjust the preload every time you ride 2 up, or just find a happy medium and go with it? And yeah, the wife and I could both stand to loose a few pounds :-)
When I met my wife many moons ago, I had a '65 650 Beezer with Koni shocks. The Koni's were 3 way adjustable with a little spanner wrench. It was real easy and fast to adjust the preloads. Oh no, should have I bought a Dyna WG?
Another thing, with 2 grown up adults on this bike, I could easily use a 103" motor.
Maybe I should go with a solo seat and if the wife wants to ride, I'll buy me (I mean her) another bike.
When I met my wife many moons ago, I had a '65 650 Beezer with Koni shocks. The Koni's were 3 way adjustable with a little spanner wrench. It was real easy and fast to adjust the preloads. Oh no, should have I bought a Dyna WG?
Another thing, with 2 grown up adults on this bike, I could easily use a 103" motor.
Maybe I should go with a solo seat and if the wife wants to ride, I'll buy me (I mean her) another bike.
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 97
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RE: 2 Up Riding and Shock Adjustment Question
I've been a lucky guy myself. I started with a very good wife and now I've got about a good wife and a half.
When I installed lowering studs in my shocks I just went ahead and adjusted the shocks for their heaviest preload and then set the height where I wanted it (down about an inch and a quarter in my case). If you've got a jack its really not muchbother to dial them in for the best ride you can get out of them. I could change either or both the preload or the height of my bike in less than 10 minutes with ease as an example of how easy it is to do.
As it works out I don't find the stiff setting at all uncomfortable for solo riding. I'm not heavy myself, about 170. I don't know what my wife weighs and I am smart enough not to guess in a public place.
When I installed lowering studs in my shocks I just went ahead and adjusted the shocks for their heaviest preload and then set the height where I wanted it (down about an inch and a quarter in my case). If you've got a jack its really not muchbother to dial them in for the best ride you can get out of them. I could change either or both the preload or the height of my bike in less than 10 minutes with ease as an example of how easy it is to do.
As it works out I don't find the stiff setting at all uncomfortable for solo riding. I'm not heavy myself, about 170. I don't know what my wife weighs and I am smart enough not to guess in a public place.
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 97
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RE: 2 Up Riding and Shock Adjustment Question
Do you mean how to put in the studs and set the preload? There's not much toeither one of them to tell the truth, but if you want to know how I can post a sort of 'how-to'.
Banned
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 17,265
Likes: 21
From: Los Angeles, CA
RE: 2 Up Riding and Shock Adjustment Question
I just bought Scootergrrl a bike after several trips with her on the back. She's not heavy either, but it's better with her having her own vehicle...
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 5
From: North Texas
RE: 2 Up Riding and Shock Adjustment Question
Well dont worry about the 103 cu motor.
Im pull 240 for myself and throw on the wife at say 119, and 45 lbs in the T-Bag, as women always bring everything, and my TC88B pulls right down the highway no sweat.....
I think, dont know for sure too, that the original setting for the shocks wsr in the middle, 2-up was soft but after a visit to the stealer for the last service, I asked them to set it for max load, since then in the fall, we both rode to Hot Springs and back, and it was much better, and even solo I think the ride is fine.
Dont sweat the small cubes, the 88 or 96 will pull just fine, and if you have the 96, you even have better gearing than my 5-speed.
Good Luck, and Motor -On.........Safely.........[8D]
Im pull 240 for myself and throw on the wife at say 119, and 45 lbs in the T-Bag, as women always bring everything, and my TC88B pulls right down the highway no sweat.....
I think, dont know for sure too, that the original setting for the shocks wsr in the middle, 2-up was soft but after a visit to the stealer for the last service, I asked them to set it for max load, since then in the fall, we both rode to Hot Springs and back, and it was much better, and even solo I think the ride is fine.
Dont sweat the small cubes, the 88 or 96 will pull just fine, and if you have the 96, you even have better gearing than my 5-speed.
Good Luck, and Motor -On.........Safely.........[8D]
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,272
Likes: 10
From: Orange VA
RE: 2 Up Riding and Shock Adjustment Question
When you set preload, if going for max stiffness, will it bottom out andnot let you turn anymore?
I have a couple more mods to install before I test ride but I have the Burnout kit installed. I adjusted the preload one full turn stiffer than stock. But I'm not sure if that'll be enough for me and the wife. Assume 400# for boh bodies and associated cargo/bags, etc.
PS: I want a 95" or bigger upgrade because I am power hungry. But I'm thinking the stock TC88 will be fine. I ride 2-up with the Mrs on 1200C and can keep up with eneryone's BT.
I have a couple more mods to install before I test ride but I have the Burnout kit installed. I adjusted the preload one full turn stiffer than stock. But I'm not sure if that'll be enough for me and the wife. Assume 400# for boh bodies and associated cargo/bags, etc.
PS: I want a 95" or bigger upgrade because I am power hungry. But I'm thinking the stock TC88 will be fine. I ride 2-up with the Mrs on 1200C and can keep up with eneryone's BT.
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