| Author | Message | ||
     Gearheaderiko |
Your Blast is not yet broken in. It will soften up, but at 155lbs it may take awhile, but it will. If everything else is stock, its very, very,very unlikely that anything was done to the suspension-its too costly or too involved to being the only mod to a Blast. And you are correct, sag and preload arent the same thing. Its covered elsewhere on this forum in better detail but this thread was basically about a theoretical heavy rider needing more 'preload'. Suspension parts are available. Not readily (often just because they dont list Buells and least off the Blast). But they are out there and can get pricey. But a lot can be done "on the cheap". But you wont be swapping stock parts of another model/brand and get a much improved suspension.That will take some work (forks being easier to find than a rear shock). | ||
| Buellistic |
BLASTers: Lets cut the BUELLschitte and get to the chase !!! Adding a spacer to the spring is called pre-loading and adding air or heaver oil is call damping adjustment ... This is how you tune your suspension for your weight ... Need two people to do this ... With the bike held up right(no rider setting on seat)pull up on the front end and slide the tie rap up the slider to the fork tube ... Then you have the rider lightly set on the bike and then carefully get off ... Then measure the distance between the tie wrap and fork tube and subtract one inch which will be the length of the spacers to preload both forks and to increase the dampening you put in heaver fork oil ... To do the rear shock you hold the bike up right and pull up on the tail section and take a measurement from the tail section to the rear axle above the axle ... Have the rider then lightly set on the bike and measure the distance between the axle and the tail section above the axle and subtract one inch and this gives you the length of the spacer for the read shock which is all you can do to the rear shock ... Iam Noone' (Message edited by buellistic on September 04, 2011) | ||
| Packnrat |
sadly i need stronger springs. when trying to do a good ride (fast) i hit a bump and i hit the bottom of the front tubes and rear shock. but then with the v&h "muffler" under the motor i scrape everywhere. and forget going over any speed bump. me 190+lb,(trying to loose some more) 5ft 10in. packnrat | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Have you tried front and/or rear shims yet? My bike is set up for 180 lbs rider and is racetrack stiff. But its done with stock parts. Just stock suspension after break-in and the Blast is very soft and perhaps just fine for the new rider. More 'spirited' riding needs a little tuning! Have you done anything to the suspension? | ||
| Britchri10 |
FWIW: Before I sold it I had changed out the front fork oil for a much heavier grade. I'm 6'1" & 200 lbs in gear. I had a Jardine RT1 exhaust & I only ever "bottomed" the front suspension with my 5'6" 135 lb son on the back with me. I wasn't able to fully compress the stock rear shock at any time, even when riding in a "spirited" fashion. I always took speed bumps "slowly". Chris C | ||
| Packnrat |
in reply to gearheaderiko as far as i know the blast is all stock. but in another thread found out i can replace (with a mount mod) and install a nitro charged remote shock. have one now waiting to start the mods (cost $75.usd)used. will see how this works with the rear. but to britchri10 i bottom out on tree roots growing under the rd. both front and rear. i am just shorter than you but about the same weight. and NO i avoid speed bumps as the v&h muffler drags on them. and these are not even the bad speed bumps out there. if the mod to the rear works i will try the mod to the forks. a "gold valve" between the springs in the tubes. gives more preload and works the oil better. and then again there is talk about using the forks off another bike? packnrat . | ||
| Weighttopowerr |
Could somebody post a picture of a rear suspension already shimmed? With looking at the rear shock and spring, I cannot figure out how to get the PVC into the assembly. I have not taken apart anything, so maybe it will be obvious once I do so, but I'd like to know what I'm doing exactly before I dig in. Thanks. | ||
| Ezblast |
you take the shock off, take shock and precut shim to mc shop and have them do it - -lol EZ | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
It will be obvious once you do so. If you have a parts manual it will show the shock taken apart. You just add the shim between the spring and spring seat. Its pretty simple. If you havent read through the posts on doing this remember the spring is under great tension. Also a 1/4" shim = 1" of preload or 1 inch rise in height (governed by the shock-it will only go so high, but in theory, it will be 1 inch higher when you sit on the bike). Sorry, I have pics but I cant download anything right now. Or have a shop do it. When you have the right tools, its very, very easy. | ||
| Weighttopowerr |
Should I put the shim on the top or bottom of the spring? And EZ Ill take it to a machine shop after I can't put it back together, that's usually how it goes haha. Thanks guys. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Doesnt matter, either end. | ||
| Blackblue |
I currently am dragging the rear fender on the tire, even after trimming my fender down - I think my shock has gone out after low-siding in gravel this weekend on ACH (me and the bike are largely ok - i broke off the peg mounts (cheap aluminum) but repaired that, idk, which may have blown out the shock - because when I got the bike about a month ago now, my girlfriend and i rode it back from San Diego 2-up without incident, but when we tried to go out today we were dragging the fender over the slightest bumps. I ordered a low-mileage shock off ebay and should have that early this week (my blast has 10k miles on it now) Do you have any suggestions on what I need to do to support me and my girl 2-up? I weigh 175lb, 185lb with gear, she's 135lb, about 145-150 with gear cos she's often the one wearing the backpack, and i want to add saddlebags too. Is there a different shock I need to order, because now would be the time. TY black&blue | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Rear fender drag is often caused by the license plate holder coming out of its locator slots in the tail piece. I don't know of any fender parts that can drag from bottoming out without there being something wrong/broken. Check your plate frame for wear/scuff marks. Stock shock can be shimmed. | ||
| Blackblue |
I'll check on the license plate holder slots in the tail piece; even with my weight the shock is very rusty looking and i'm not far off the rear tire. where would i acquire the shims to shim the rear shock? how much are they? I checked the shock mounts and they look fine, it's just as soon as you put weight on the bike the back end sags a lot and comes close to hitting the rear tire. I have trimmed the rear fender to the bottom edge of the factory license plate location, and the license plate is dragging on the rear tire. My girlfriend's worried enough about it that she's not letting me ride it because with my weight on the bike there's now 1-1/2" of clearance between the back tire and the fender and is close to the bottom of the seat thingy. I can't see anything broken anywhere and the shock mounts are still there and in place. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Okay, there's something wrong. I have a spare shock and maybe with a shim (that I'll lend you). Shims are black PVC (HomeDepot) cut to length. Less than $3, but I have extra you can have! What zip code are you? I live in orange, work in 92806! | ||
| Blackblue |
I'm in Anaheim, 92804, not far at all from orange. I could ride the bike to where you are, as I think I can go that far without dragging it. Specifically I'm off Lincoln @ Magnolia. I would LOVE to have some knowledgeable help, I really appreciate the offer! thank you. five six deuce 481-107two via text is a great way to reach me (Message edited by blackblue on June 25, 2012) | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Lets shoot for sunday. I'm up early. Sundays are usually about my only day available. Then we can at least take a look and see whats been lowered. I suspect a different shock or the stock shock has been modified. | ||
| Blackblue |
that'll work for me; I think that both the shock has been modified and has also failed; it went from having a few inches of clearance to almost none overnight seemingly. Let me know when and where to show up and I can be there. | ||
| Weighttopowerr |
Hey guys, so my buddy had some spring compressors that will fit that he let me borrow. However, I can't get them in there to decompress the spring so I can remove the upper bolt. How did you guys remove the tension of the spring while the shock and spring were on the bike? Once I get it off I can compress the spring to get the shim in. And for anybody out there who is thinking of shimming their front work and putting heavier weight oil in, DO IT! It was incredible easy, and maybe my second favorite mod I have done after the exhaust. Just cut a 7" 3/4 inch PVC to slide into the existing shim. My bike had 24k miles on it, so the forks needed some love, but it handles so much better! Have a second person there to help put the snap ring back in though, compressing the spring with the shim takes both hands. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Pull the shock off the bike to compress the spring, it's the only to get the shim over the shock anyway. Just jack the rear wheel off the ground. | ||
| Weighttopowerr |
I did have the rear wheel off the ground, but there is still so much tension in the spring that I can't pull the bolt out of the top mount. So I have to reduce tension in the spring to get the bolt free, and I will have to do the same to get the bolt back in. Sorry for not being clearer, thanks for the quick response! | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
If the wheel is hanging, there is no tension. Only the weight of the rear wheel. | ||
| Weighttopowerr |
ah yep, lift the wheel and the bolt comes right out. Wasn't thinking with that one. My spring compressors didn't fit exactly right so I put a punch through the eye of the shock opposite the snap ring and put one end of my spring compressor on it. Feels much better just sitting on the bike. It just started to rain so I can't wait to try it out tomorrow. Thanks for the help gearhead. now I can't wait for to put the high compression piston in once it gets here. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
 You're not the first person to make that mistake and you won't be the last!  You're really going to enjoy your Blast. I was going to warn you about the addiction, but apparently I'm too late! "the force grows strong in this one"! | ||
| Weighttopowerr |
Addicting is the right word. With how easy it is to work on and how easy it is to have no chicken strip. With this new suspension I think it might be ready to get air born haha. | ||
| Blueblast |
Wow! Just looked up current pricing for the WP shocks - $1009 or $1139!!! | ||
| Ezblast |
The Chinese shock sells for about 300 with shipping - fully adjustable - nice unit - ask for the 900lb spring, or use a dremel and slightly modify a shock from an F3. EZ (Message edited by ezblast on December 13, 2012) | ||
| Blueblast |
Haven't stumbled upon a reference to "the Chinese shock" in my wanderings. Would you elaborate a bit please? | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
http://dnmshock.com/scooter-shock/mt-bag-middle.ht ml | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
You'd probably have to elaborate on what an "F3" is! I assume you mean a Honda CBR 600 F3 and not an MV Augusta F3!!! *Has to be the right CBR 600 shock (F3). All CBR 600 shocks are not interchangeable! But they are cheap. (Though I havent actually installed mine yet, so I have no personal knowledge of any difficulties. As I remember, its not quite dremel and bolt right on though.) A new shock built to specs for $300 is a hellova deal!!!! |
