| Author | Message | ||
     Growl |
My wife & I rode into the Sierras today over freeways, paved twisties and miles of rough dirt roads. I am 180 and she is 135. This is a more severe test of handling and suspension after installing the lowering collar that jasonb made. This lowered the rear of the bike by about a inch. I left the front stock but with zero preload. Zero preload on the rear, mostly. I love being able to plant both of my feet flat on the ground :-) Freeway: more stable, tracks a chosen line better... a subtle but welcome change. Twisties: comfortable, not quite as sharp steering but pleasurable to weave through the turns... maybe requires a bit more lean into the curve to steer as sharp as before the change. Dirt roads: we rode for 30+ miles on rutted dirt roads mostly with zero preload. Suellen was comfortable, no hard bottoming occured even in potholes. No jarring experiences. But it wasn't exactly plush when the going got rough. When I added preload, 1/3 of the available adjustment, the ride did become plush feeling. Seat height increased with this adjustment but still remained lower than before lowering. So lots of adjustment available when needed. It's neat to reach back while riding and adjust. I understand that the adjuster is hydrolic. Does it compress the spring? (Message edited by growl on August 08, 2011) | ||
| Uly_dude |
the adjuster does nothing to the spring. I believe it pressurizes the shock, causing it to move more stiff as the pressure goes up. | ||
| Desert_bird |
I just pulled the rear shock for a complete rebuild. The rear shock's adjuster (preload) functions completely independently of the shock rebound and compression settings. The adjuster hydraulically actuates a thick sleeve that pushes the spring-seat up and down about a total of 3/4" on the shock assembly. It effectively lengthens or compresses the spring. (Message edited by Desert_bird on August 08, 2011) | ||
| Hacksaw |
Growl were you getting off I80 east bound about 1:30 yesterday around Colfax? If it was you I think I saw you as I was headed west about that time and saw a yellow Uly exiting the freeway about that time. I was in my truck. | ||
| Growl |
Yeah... that was me! Your profile says you live in Vacaville... You ever explore up in the Sierras? (Message edited by growl on August 08, 2011) | ||
| Growl |
Thanks Uly_dude and Desert_bird... I was wondering if the adjuster might work as Uly_dude suggested, but since Desert_bird actually took his apart... he's probably correct! Good to know... | ||
| Hacksaw |
I plan on exploring in the Sierras when I get new tires mounted and a bunch of work done around the house that has been piling up. The bad part is getting to the Sierras from Vacaville, or back, due to traffic. Traffic sucked Sunday it took an extra hour and a half to get home, mostly stop and go from Roseville on. | ||
| Jasonb |
Growl...Thanks for the report. Sounds like it works well for you. From my experience, the rear preload compresses the rear spring. When you turn the knob, it extends the top mount surface. Jason |
