Rear Shock adj

Discussion in 'Mechanics Garage' started by Dangertohimself, Sep 10, 2008.

  1. Dangertohimself

    Dangertohimself New Member

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    Hi Iam new to suspension adjustment and iam a short rider (5'3"). I want to adjust my rear suspension to give me as musch of my feet on the ground as possible I ride an '02 vfr800. How much do i need to offset the Dampening per click on the preload adjuster. Iam currently 12 clicks from max height, and at recommended for dampening.

    Thanks,
    Andy
     
    Dangertohimself, Sep 10, 2008


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  2. derstuka

    derstuka Lord of the Wankers Staff Member

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    Hello and welcome to the club Andy! Wherebouts you located at???

    First of all, adjusting the rear preload and damping is not for adjusting ride height....it is preload is for setting the proper spring tension in regards to weight (and also can be for riding conditions). You need to have the correct preload front and rear, and to do this, you have to measure how much sag that you have when you sit on the bike. If we had an option of a different shock mounting hole/position, this would lower the ride height, but not the preload. Damping will not adjust your ride height...(we only have rebound damping) it is for controlling the rate at which the shock recovers (and if a bike has compression, the rate at which it compresses) back to its original position. Not to mention, just randomly adjusting your suspenion without regards to your weight and riding style is going to F things all up.

    If you are looking to get a better footing on the ground, I would try trimming some foam off of the seat, get boots with a thicker heel. Some riders on here have lowered their bikes, but I have never done so, so I don't know much about it on the VFR. I believe that someone makes/sells a VFR lowering link kit, but I am not sure who.
     
    derstuka, Sep 10, 2008


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  3. Jabba

    Jabba New Member

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    I saw a thread on here about 10 days ago that showed how to lower the rear by simply changing the orientation of the lower shock mounting plate .(the triangle shaped plate)
     
    Jabba, Sep 10, 2008


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  4. Puma Cat

    Puma Cat New Member

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    As Derstuka pointed out above, you don't want to change the geometry or orientation of of the shock or the shock plate...it is the way it is for a reason. If you lower the rear and not the front, the bike will push (understeer) through corners, and won't handle the way it is supposed to. The bike is designed to have a specific F/R weight ratio and geometry.
     
    Puma Cat, Sep 10, 2008


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  5. Jabba

    Jabba New Member

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    Quite rightly put ....
    If you lower the rear you must also retain "balance" with the front ...
    But as I recall as I read the post on lowering... I thought .. "how would that effect scraping the pegs etc?"
     
    Jabba, Sep 10, 2008


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  6. Dangertohimself

    Dangertohimself New Member

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    ok great guys thanks, i guess ill either have to buy some boots with thick soles or that lowering kit. Thanks for sorting that out. Does anyone out there suffer from the same problems as me and know of a good thick soled motorcycle boots?
     
    Dangertohimself, Sep 11, 2008


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  7. Dangertohimself

    Dangertohimself New Member

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    Iam located out of northern ontario canada.
     
    Dangertohimself, Sep 11, 2008


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  8. acerboo

    acerboo New Member

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    Should you set the spring rate towards the high side if you ride in a more sporty fashion?
     
    acerboo, May 4, 2010


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