tightening up preload-how to

[spikespiegel]

So i am finally thinking my rear sags too much on the bikes own weight, not including me sitting on the bike and this sometimes is an issue on tighter twisty turns where I start dragging pegs cause the rear squats.. I want to stiffen preload and possibly increase damping speed. I dont understand this non marked adjustment notion.. How do I know what setting I am in, and how do i know what setting i want to get it to... Is it a (cant move go clockwise) 1 2 3 4 5 (can't move go counter clockwise) sort of dealiyo?

[Steve]

for the preload - get it up on a stand or something, at least remove as much of the weight off of the rear end as you can. it'll just make it move easier.

put a 12mm socket on the head of that bolt that is showing on the left-hand side of the rear shock. set your ratchet so that you're tightening a bolt <righty-tighty>. turn it and it'll click/clang up the steps as it goes to level 5. after that, it'll clang back to 1. as i recall, some of the New Gens had issues w that bolt breaking when folks went to adjust them. i dunno if/when that was remedied.

spray a quick shot of WD-40 into there before you start wrenching and it might help things loosen up a bit too.

sre

[spikespiegel]

thanks for the tip! Now, can i only go clockwise or can i go counter clock to losen preload?

[col. klink]

Originally Posted by spikespiegel

So i am finally thinking my rear sags too much on the bikes own weight, not including me sitting on the bike and this sometimes is an issue on tighter twisty turns where I start dragging pegs cause the rear squats.. I want to stiffen preload and possibly increase damping speed. I dont understand this non marked adjustment notion.. How do I know what setting I am in, and how do i know what setting i want to get it to... Is it a (cant move go clockwise) 1 2 3 4 5 (can't move go counter clockwise) sort of dealiyo?

Spike, The first question is; how much do you weigh?
Taking all the weight off of the rear wheel will help you not break the adjuster bolt head.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by spikespiegel

thanks for the tip! Now, can i only go clockwise or can i go counter clock to losen preload?

it only goes one way. when you go past the highest setting, #5, it will bang back down to #1.

and the colonel is on a good track. i ain't trying to help you determine where to set the preload, just telling you how to do it. ride on!

sre

[spikespiegel]

i weigh 150 lbs without gear, with gear, probably 160 range... The bike sags quite a lot just under its own weight (even more so now than it did in day 1).. I also happen to go offroad in harsh stuff quite often... I'm thinking a little bit of preload tightening will help it tighten up sag... let me know if i'm on the right thought pattern

[col. klink]

Originally Posted by spikespiegel

i weigh 150 lbs without gear, with gear, probably 160 range... The bike sags quite a lot just under its own weight (even more so now than it did in day 1).. I also happen to go offroad in harsh stuff quite often... I'm thinking a little bit of preload tightening will help it tighten up sag... let me know if i'm on the right thought pattern

Spike, yes I think you will benefit from more preload. A little.
I weigh 170 plus my gear. I run goldvalves from racetech (they're in your backyard) in my forks and shock. I rode like that on the stock spring for awhile.
then I put a spring on that is 400 pounds per inch, up from the stock 279 pounder.
That was a major improvement.

[spikespiegel]

awesome, thanks for all the help guys. Last question, what setting is the bike set at stock off the showroom floor so I have a reference..

[John0270]

You should see level marks as you go if you can't see any your probably at 1 or 2. You can turn backwards, instead of letting it slam back. Spray some sort of lubricant around the adjusting ring though, the 08's were on the week side. I had to fix mine as the ring gear retaining crimping just let it pop out, thankfully my gear didn't strip and all I had to do was disassemble the mechanism and crimp it back in.

[spikespiegel]

mission successful! All the tips here, proping the rear up, spraying the collar/bolt and using the rachet was the key. Bike feels a lot better, way less squash and hopefully it'll be great when carving twisties n dirtin! Thanks guys

[spikespiegel]

quick update after a solid ride today. Wow, what a difference with the proper preload on this bike.. In the dirt, even with 23F/27R tire pressures, the bike felt so much smoother and planted, I couldnt kick the back out even if I wanted to (almost).. Should have done this way back when I got the bike; i should know better, i got my suspension down to a science almost on my trackbike and I ignored it this long on the KLR! I can only imagine what a set of upgraded suspy bits will do to this bike

[sanfordturbo]

What was your final setting that made you happy?

Standard preload position is 1 according to the service manual. I've got the same problem and thought I'd bump it up to a 3.

[zt0117]

You'll be really happy when you put a Cogent Dynamics shock in it, and put some Ricor Intiminators in the forks

Originally Posted by spikespiegel

quick update after a solid ride today. Wow, what a difference with the proper preload on this bike.. In the dirt, even with 23F/27R tire pressures, the bike felt so much smoother and planted, I couldnt kick the back out even if I wanted to (almost).. Should have done this way back when I got the bike; i should know better, i got my suspension down to a science almost on my trackbike and I ignored it this long on the KLR! I can only imagine what a set of upgraded suspy bits will do to this bike

[noobiesfest]

Originally Posted by zt0117

You'll be really happy when you put a Cogent Dynamics shock in it, and put some Ricor Intiminators in the forks

Not everyone has $700 to throw on a bike suspension. This is without taking into account the almost mandatory 685 kit the doo and all the other things this bike seems to need right out of the box to make it decent. After lurking into this forum for a while the more I think of it the more I believe this bike is not the right choice for me since most of my riding will be on paved roads and highway with the occasional stint on gravel roads. In about an hour i'm heading to the local Honda dealer and will take the Varadero 1000 for a free test drive as it is a special day today to drive the bike of your choice and they have a 2008 still in the crate. Suggested retail $14000 but with a markdown of 5000 from Honda it put this bike at $9000. A steal. I have heard that this bike is not available in the United States.

[zt0117]

The OP said he liked to ride hard in the dirt. I liked my KLR with the stock suspension, but like it more with the upgraded one. Is it an absolute necessity? No, but it is very nice. The Varadero looks like the equivalent of the V-Strom 1000, one of which I plan to get someday for adventure touring, but I'll be keeping the KLR for the more off-road type stuff.

Originally Posted by noobiesfest

Not everyone has $700 to throw on a bike suspension. This is without taking into account the almost mandatory 685 kit the doo and all the other things this bike seems to need right out of the box to make it decent. After lurking into this forum for a while the more I think of it the more I believe this bike is not the right choice for me since most of my riding will be on paved roads and highway with the occasional stint on gravel roads. In about an hour i'm heading to the local Honda dealer and will take the Varadero 1000 for a free test drive as it is a special day today to drive the bike of your choice and they have a 2008 still in the crate. Suggested retail $14000 but with a markdown of 5000 from Honda it put this bike at $9000. A steal. I have heard that this bike is not available in the United States.

[hoyks]

I used to ride mine with the preload on 5 but still had a bit of saggage, it didn't leave me any adjustment for when I added a load either.

I'm 6' 4" and 100kg and found the frame a little short, so I went the raising link option. They made it taller and stiffened up the suspension, so now I ride with it set on 1 and have the option of stiffening it up if I add a load.