I'm sure someone will point out that I missed it with search, but...

I can't find anything about how to adjust the read shock on a 4th gen ('97)...

Any suggestions on what to set it to are welcome, tho I'll probably fiddle with it once I know how... I'm 6'4", 160#, 42 years old and have ridden off & on my whole life, only ride solo and I'd describe my riding as semi-sport - it's been a few years (OK, 10 or more) since I've needed duct tape on my jeans knees - but I like to have a spirited run down the Texas farm-to-market roads (very well maintained, semi-deserted strips of twisty fun asphalt - highly recommended if you get the chance :thumbsup

Thanx, guys...

 

You're right about those farm roads, especially down in the hill country around Austin--well maintained and uncrowded !!

There is a small hole in the gen 4 frame on the left side, and the shock preload can be adjusted using a 10mm socket. There is red scale for reference to indicate the setting, and maybe ( i forgot) a detent click every half turn........

Don't loose the setting you have now that's been working: turn adjuster counterclockwise and note number of clicks or number of turns, then return to base setting and incease or decrease as desired.

 

Measure the sag (do a search) and adjust the preload (in the manual). You'll need a tool from the provided toolkit to adjust the preload adjuster which is at the top of the shock. Move clockwise to increase preload and counter clockwise to lessen the preload. I aim for 35mm rear sag. The more preload, the stiffer the ride (not the spring). The less prelead (more sag) the softer the ride.

 

IT'S a '97 Jaim, not like your bike, no collar......it has a more sophisticated means of preload adjustment by hydraulic pressure, which Honda later abandoned to save money.

 

Yeah, I saw your post after I posted (but was too lazy to edit). Man, that setup sounds much better than the 5th gen setup.

 

It is way easier to use and, since few (none that i know of) other bikes have had it, it used to be one of those details that made Hondas "special," like the gear-driven cams they dropped also.

 

Freakin' Honda. How much money does the "new" system really save?