Preload Adjustment

[WildGoose]

havent read this far into bikes yet

ive got preload adjustment on my CBR shock (im assuming its preload) looks like you need a C spanner to adjust it

what difference will it make to the ride if any?

whats the difference between preload/rebound compression?

my suspension is a little of the soft side for me i think, and definately too soft for passengers, so will adjusting it help?
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So in other words, he stopped you for being flagrantly in posession of a motorcycle in direct contravention of the Hippies, Darkies and People Whose Face I Don't Like The Look of (Police Powers) Act. 1976

[EuropeanNC30R...]

Don't quote me on this, but I think the preload is how easy it is for the shock to compress initially, and the rebound compression is the speed at which the shock 'extends' after it has been compressed.

[Mr C]

You can't stiffen a spring by compressing it, if it obeys Hooke's law (which it does) then the stiffness is linear. However, having said that, adjusting the preload will give you the impression that the rear spring is stiffer as it does give less suspension travel with a weighty rider or pillion.

Compression damping slows down the rate at which the shock allows the spring to compress and rebound damping slows down the rate at which it is allowed to bounce back after being compressed.

Don't fuck about with these unless you really know what you are doing, you can seriously shit up the handling of your bike as the compression and rebound damping overtake eachother and the shock can't do either effectively leaving you with locked up suspension at the exact point you don't want it and unles you're careful and remember exactly what you've done then you won't get it back.

The best advice I can give for a bike like yours (CBR 6..??) is check with performance bikes magazine - they run a suspension set up guide every month and are certain to have done yours. I followed their advice for my ZX9 and it was fantastic for fast smooth track riding but a little harsh for bumpy country lanes... but that's how I like it.

Whatever you do, do it one adjustment at a time, a little at a time or you'll never know what made the difference.
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187.3bhp = 201mph

[Scotty]

oh he wish's it was a CBR6
Its the younger brother the 250!!
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Regards
Scott

[Milo]

Well my old GPz550 had preload and damping adjusters, with the same on the front (with some weird anti-dive thing too) and it didn't take any tools to change them.
It's an old bike to stiffening everything up really helped the handling, but my when my girlfriend had a kidney problem i softened the back end all the way to make it more comfy for her (without bottoming out) and it was so weird for it to be all soft again!

As you can tell, I'm no expert. but just do everything in small stages, and only adjust one thing at a time. ride out using the same route and see how it goes.

[Kris]

and before you touch anything, note all original settings e.g. "four turns from fully out etc...." that way if you scare yourself, you can turn it back to original
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[Mr C]

Milo

Weird wouldn't begin to describe the handling if you did as you say and left the front with all the adjustments on "stiff" and adjusted to rear to "sloppy".
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187.3bhp = 201mph

[Milo]

Well, there's me on the front and my gf on the back [insert dodgy joke here]

[Mr C]

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

and there was me being so serious I walked right in to that one ... ooer missus .... But then I would do coz I'm always stiff on the front too
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187.3bhp = 201mph

[Wingchunal]

[craigT19]

[WildGoose]

lose weight? if there was any to lose it would have been lost by now, the rest if useful stuff like muscle

pillion sucks on my bike, but it would be nice to have some handling, it didnt help my brother kept leaning to the opposite way to where i wanted to turn, cos he is stupid and assumed he would fall off, but the suspension kept bottoming out hence why i want it adjusted, and cos there is a distinct lack of power it doesnt exactly set any world records

also the twat was crushing me, cos he is a fat bloater, and locked his hands around me, when i told him to lean on the tank and not me, so i was struggling to operate as required

and craig, my monoshock does have adjustment, they didnt put a ring with numbered holes on the bottom of the shock just for fun
____________________
So in other words, he stopped you for being flagrantly in posession of a motorcycle in direct contravention of the Hippies, Darkies and People Whose Face I Don't Like The Look of (Police Powers) Act. 1976