Um.....I forgot! But you'll see the adjustment notches, the way they are slotted at an angle? Kinda like "steps"? The "steps" go up and down. Down is soft; up is firm. Up (more firm), is more difficult because you are actually compressing the shock. Down (softer) is easier because the shock is becoming decompressed. If you can see the "steps" and think about it that way you can just remember, "upstairs is hard; downstairs is easy". Or something like that.

Turn it at least two notches one way or the other, so you can actually tell a difference, then adjust from there.

One day I'm gonna get Progressive front fork springs and see what everyone is talking about for the front.

Teek

 

just tried to adjust mine with the harley shock tool...

pia and agree that it doesnt work. just slips out before anything happens-
been trying to ride two up and bottomed out a coupla times.
if i can figure out how to adjust the shocks i could keep from bottoming out!!

 

The shocks don't become more firm. Rather, the spring rate changes as the ramp climbs the pin. To change the compression and rebound on the shocks you will need something along the lines of the S model Showa premium shocks which are fully adjustable.

 

1 is soft 5 is hard

 

I always use channel locks and a rag. Works Great an saves some money!!!

 

Turn it towards the longer meaty portion of the spring finger. On mine its clock wise from the top. Mine has three positions. I set at full soft for solo and full firm for 2up.
I have a question about different settings during solo riding. I've been thinking about firming it up a bit for solo riding to see the different handling characteristics. What are some opinions? I assume full firm would be "looser" Any advice on different riding styles for different settings?
BTW I must have gotten lucky, my adjuster tool works fine with no mods. Thanks for any input.

 

Ok, dumb question..... I just put a set of Harley's low profile shocks on my sportster for my girl to ride it. Did I need to pull the covers off around the bottom of the shock before installing them so I can get a spanner wrench on them? If so, do they just pop off because I will probley just leave them off? Thanks