rear shock preload adjust--how? Y2K bike

I just got a year 2000 vfr with no owners manual. Thanks to you kind folks I've found where to order a manual and lots of other great info and tips.

I got the Sportrider article, 1999 vfr model suspension setting suggestions. I set the front fork preload at 2 lines showing and that has helped a lot. For the rear shock, I turned the wide, notched collar as far left as it would go, then turned it 1 and 1/4 turns to the right--as I'm assuming this is the "1.25 turns out" for the rebound damping. Sportrider suggests the preload as "two from the softest setting." I see the rear shock top mount and the shaft with its two oval "ears" setting on the collar with the "stair steps." It is one notch from the top step. I'm assuming the top step is the hardest setting, so I want to move the collar with the stair steps to the left, then, to put it on a softer setting. I don't see a way to do this other than with my channellock pliars, which I am tempted to use but haven't. Please advise on how to move that stair-step collar. What I've done so far has stopped the pogo-ing and handling is much improved. I weigh 220 lbs, but I don't ride hard--yet, as I only have about five thousand motorcycling miles under my belt, on the KZ650 I got summer 2008 to see if I'd like motorcycling. I love it, and the vfr is a hoot. Thanks for helping.

 

If you weigh 220 do up your rear shock for 250 lbs 30 lbs more than you weigh will stiffin the rear end up! Then you will find she will handle better in the curves and corners! Such as I did the same and I can keep up and at times smoke my buddy through the corners, and he rides a 2008 1000 CBR RR Honda!

Plus what tires do you have on the Vffer I myself I have brand new Michelin Pilot CT2 Roads Dual compound sport touring front and back and I freakin love them!


Cheers

 

Hi, I checked the tire--it says Michelin Pilot Road. I didn't notice any other designation. They are probably a few years old. They seem like good tires, and corner pretty well, once nudged off the narrow flat strip. The 2nd owner bought the bike in June of 2004 and put about 4500 miles on it. He just didn't have time to ride it. I'll remember the CT2 Michelins when i wear these out. Thanks.

I plan on fiddling with the suspension settings. I've got a test circuit of local roads. Right now the rear seems a tad harsh on the tar strip type of bump, but is working well on straights and bends that have broken pavement, which is plentiful around here. The bike also was well controlled on some wave-like sections that sent me bounding up and down. Maybe I'm not far off from getting the stock suspension right for my current skill level. I certainly won't be whuppin' any serious cbr1000rr riders anytime soon!

So, how does one adjust that rear shock pre-load stair-step thingamabob? I have only just begun to experiment!

 

There is a tool in the tool kit for it. Flat piece with an arch at the end and a couple of teeth on it that fit into the grooved ring on the preload adjuster.


I'll look for a pic.

 

Hi, just got serious, had a glass of wine, put the bike in the basement living room (nice and warm) and got a good look at that rear shock, bright lights and all. I'd worked from above the bike before and hadn't watched stuff move as I turned the adjusting tool. Now I see that what I'd done, by turning that big toothed collar, was adjusting the spring preload. So where the hell is the rebound damper adjustment, was the next question. Now I see at the lower shock mounting a small slotted hex nut-screw thingy--that's gotta be it! Lessee, 1.25 turns out....I'll watch the damn thing this time as I turn it. Please excuse my earlier confusion. Hell, changing the oil and filter yesterday was less drama--more cussin' but less drama. I do like this living room workshop, though. Now I know why my dad would rebuild carburetors on the dining room table--one beer per carburetor barrel!

 

Yes, that slotted nut at the base of the shock mount, left side of the bike, is indeed the rebound damper adjustment. I searched the forums and googled the internet without finding a direct explanation on where this adjuster is located. Can't wait for that owners manual to get here, then the factory service manual. Thanks for puttin' up with me.

 

hello¡
I suggest you to put the spring preload at the 3 because of your weight, the front is OK and the rebound damping is at the bottom of the shock in the left side of the bike, you should lie down at the floor to see it and use a flat screwdriver to move it , put it at the half since the close position.

 

Hola--como mencione en el "post" anterior, ajuste el "rebound damping nut", pero lo ajuste 1 1/4 turnos a la izquierda. Ajuste el "spring preload" un etapa mas suave que sugieres. Gracias, voy a experimentar con los "settings" de preload y rebound damping que sugieres--es mas facil ajustar la suspension que ponerme a dieta!

 

Hola¡
Gracias por contestar en español. el ajuste de la precarga del resorte se recomienda ponerlo en la tercera posición , (tiene forma de escalones y solo hay que girarlo con la herramienta curva de la moto ( mientras mas se aprieta se pone mas duro el resorte) , es ajuste inferior se comoce como rebound damping que seria como estension del resorte y se controla con un tornillo grande para desarmador plano y está en la parte mas baja del amortiguador de la moto, casi siempre se pone a la mitad del recorrido, pero si vas a llevar pasajero te recomiendo que lo pongas a media vuelta de la posicion cerrada(a la derecha) esto controla la rapidez con que se extiende en amortiguador.

el ajuste de arriba controla la dureza del resorte, y el ajuste de abajo la rapidez con que se extiende el resorte. Mi moto es VFR2000 y normalmente viajo yo solo, yo traigo el ajuste de la suspension delantera mostrando dos lineas completas y la suspensión trasera en 3 de precarga y el ajuste de abajo a la mitad y la moto es comporta suave. tambien traigo llantas Pilot Road y son muy buenas, tiene bi¿uen agarre y duran lo suficiente, te recomiendo poner 36 PSI adelante y 40 PSI atras.
Cuando puedas reemplaza el aceite de la suspension delantera y veras que sentiras tu moto mejor que nunca.

Saludos desde Mexico¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡:thumbsup: