Rear shock settings

Please tell me what are the pros and cons of the 5 settings on the rear shocks...and by using either 1 or 5 does the seat height change? thanks dan

Dan,
The seat height remains constant, the change is only to the preload. #1 is least, #5 is maximum. The more preload, the "stiffer" the suspension feels.

I weigh about 210#, I usually use either #3 or #4 setting.

Jon

Jon,

Maybe my bike is different but I notice that my seat height changes a bit. When my adjustment is at #1 I find that I look over the top of my shield by about an inch. And when it is on #5 that I see over the top of the shield by at least 2 inches and my legs aren't bend quite as much.

I wonder if others notice this too. My height changes about an inch I would say.

JeffR wrote:

Jon,

Maybe my bike is different but I notice that my seat height changes a bit. When my adjustment is at #1 I find that I look over the top of my shield by about an inch. And when it is on #5 that I see over the top of the shield by at least 2 inches and my legs aren't bend quite as much.

I wonder if others notice this too. My height changes about an inch I would say.

Hi Jeff

I haven't noticed the difference in height but i'll check that out as I've fitted a laminar lip to my screen and I've located it a bit too high particularly after I've been riding a while and i've started to slouch down in the saddle - I know i could re-set it but it's cold here at this time of year and would be a pain to get the glue to set properly.

One thing i did notice with my shocks was that i did not require the spanner to re-set them i just twisted them by hand - I'm no 8ft gorilla so i'm just wondering if others do the adjustment by hand or have I got a problem with the scoot - it's a 2008 Swing with about 3500k on it at present - great bike i might add!

Cheers
Scottie (aka Madcatta)

Scottie,

I can change mine with my hand too which is great. The Reflex I had required a wrench and it was still tough to get it just right.

Well Madcatta and JeffR,

I'm not one to argue -- but I recently had both shocks off and had the chance to measure the overall length with no load. It made no noticeable difference what the setting was. The only difference was the static spring length.

This might be what you are seeing. The unloaded sag is less with the higher setting, so the scooter will sag more when loaded with the lower number. That should have no effect on seat height relative to windscreen height when moving.

Hi, I weigh around 280lb. and I sometimes ride with a friend who also weighs around 240. what setting do you think we should be riding on? )

Hi eggster34,

Well.....experiment a little with the setting and find the one that you like. I run mine on 3.

Eggster34
With Patty and I on our 2003 we need a #7 or #8.
Dick

Hey Dickie,

Do you have diffrent shocks than stock? The shocks that came with my Silverwing goes from 1 to 5 on the settings.

I have mine set to '5'.

I usually ride as a singleton and like to throw it around a bit when cornering. With experimentation I found setting 5 was the best for my style. I do think you have to try the settings to come up with the best setting for your type of riding. I started at '3' and worked from there.

Try setting '3', a neutral position and see how you get on.

DennisB
Nope I don't have any different settings than you. Just need better rear shocks for the back end as Pat and I combined hit right at the max carring load of the Swing. Just wishing for more settings....Dick

Hagon apparently still makes rear shocks, and also these are available from Japan:

http://japan.webike.net/products/1482794.html

Dan I am aware of both of the shocks you recommend. Just way to pricey for this old guy. I just wish Works Performance or Progressive would build a set. I have had these products on my last GW and the one I own now. Also added them to my Pacific Coast of a few years back. They work excellent (and last a very long time) and are a whole lot more reasonably priced.
To be truthfull the greatest help would be to loose a bunch of weight . Thanks for the comments and your input. Dick

Dickie I would love to loose 100lbs but I don't see that happening any time soon or later for that matter, tried for a long time. I weigh 338lbs and ride with my shocks set on 5 with or without my better half who is around 160lbs. So as you can see my Swing hauls a lot, I'm waiting on Dennis to design a set of overloads at a price I can live with.

Craig

dickie wrote:

Dan I am aware of both of the shocks you recommend. Just way to pricey for this old guy. I just wish Works Performance or Progressive would build a set.

RE: Form Post from Firefox

Tom Edison
06/25/2009 11:52 AM


From: "Tom Edison"


I only show the Silverwing model scooter for the 2005 model
year.. you would need to verify it as the same for the 2007 model. I doubt that
it would be different, but we don't know for sure. The shock length is 16.62
inches (eye to eye center, fully extended). Also available is a 1" shorter
version. Steel Trackers, Street Trackers or Black Trackers are available with
dual rate springs. Steel Trackers @ $445/pair. Street or Black Trackers @
$519/pair.



All Works shocks are custom built
for rider weight, riding style and skill level and come with a performance
guarantee ( 30 days), parts and workmanship warranty ( 12 months on street
bikes, 90 days on race and off road vehicles) and are fully re-buildable.


A 10% discount is available to
AMA, AHRMA and other motorcycling association and owners group members, as well
as Police , Fire and Military personnel.

It's one of those things that has been on the end of the to do list, but what I was thinking about is a set of spacers that would slip on and lock into to the stock shock spring ends. Not much, maybe 3/4". A person would need to compress their shocks to install them. Maybe some day.

Just a thought

Hey guys... one mistake I made a few months ago in adjusting the shocks. I moved the setting from "5" directly to "1". IF I remember correctly, the proper way to adjust downward is "5" to "4" to "3" to "2" to "1". Adjusting up should follow same procedure in reverse.

Honda_Silver
Just looked on the Works web site and none are offered for the Swing according to the application guide. I may be wrong but I think your e-mail is refering to hole to hole measurements and what will fit. Just because it fits does not make it the correct choice for the application. I am looking for a set designed for the Swing in the same manner as the Gwing. I appreciate the info you passed along as it does make a choice available.

crahar, I hear you on the weight thing. Doubt if I will drop any either. Good luck.
Dick

dickie wrote:

Dan I am aware of both of the shocks you recommend. Just way to pricey for this old guy. I just wish Works Performance or Progressive would build a set. I have had these products on my last GW and the one I own now. Also added them to my Pacific Coast of a few years back. They work excellent (and last a very long time) and are a whole lot more reasonably priced.
To be truthfull the greatest help would be to loose a bunch of weight . Thanks for the comments and your input. Dick

I'm envious - a PCH...

My SWing has a Voyager trike kit. Forgive my stupidity, but do I have to jack up the rear. Of the bike yo adjust the shocks or not?

My 2012 was delivered with the shocks set to 2. I turned them by hand to 3 and later to 4. I've kept them on 4 since and find it a good setting for me. I am 5'9" and 240 and need to lose 60-70 pounds but I don't see that happening I'm afraid.

Rclanton1 wrote:

My SWing has a Voyager trike kit. Forgive my stupidity, but do I have to jack up the rear. Of the bike yo adjust the shocks or not?

Depends on where they are set now, but you might try adjusting them by hand and see if the adjusters will turn. If you can't turn them by hand, use the tool. Don't see the need to raise the rear to adjust them.

LDB wrote:

My 2012 was delivered with the shocks set to 2. I turned them by hand to 3 and later to 4. I've kept them on 4 since and find it a good setting for me. I am 5'9" and 240 and need to lose 60-70 pounds but I don't see that happening I'm afraid.

I really don't want to start more debate on rear shocks, but I recently swapped mine out for Hagon shocks, and what a difference! The first thing I noticed was my Swing leaned over more on the sidestand, no more suspension sagging under the wight of the bike itself. In the past, I raised the shocks all the way up to 5 or 6 and carrying 50 pounds of camping gear made the rear squat. With the Hagons, my Swing is nice and level when carrying a moderate amount of weight. Rode it on a 500-mile camping trip last weekend and it handled beautifully. I also installed HyperPro springs at the same time, the combination made a world of difference in the way it rides. For those who are happy with the OEM shocks, great, but I wasn't.

Hi all!

I am new to my Silver Wing ABS (2013) and would like to know more about the rear shock adjustment.  (Just bought it new last Saturday, April 25, 2015.)  The lowest number 1 provides the most smoothness, and the highest 5 is a rougher ride and meant for heavier loads like having a passenger.  For the life of me, I can't figure out the following:
1)  Are both my shocks adjusted to the same setting?
2)  Where is the indicator (arrow or something) showing what the setting actually is set at.
3)  How to change the setting.  Can it be done without a special wrench?

Please can someone tell me how this works.  I intend on buying the Repair Manual but have yet to do so.  I'm planning a ride this weekend with a buddy.  I'm at 180 lbs. and he's at 200 lbs.

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

Steve

Hello mate, you can check which setting your rear shocks are on by looking at the base of them from the rear of the scooter. See those little round holes ? they're for adjusting the settings with a pin spanner or C spanner, the setting numbers are stamped in between them. You adjust them 1-2-3-4-5, or 5-4-3-2-1, don't try to force 3 straight to 5, just let  move them a single setting at a time. It's easy enough as I adjust mine with just my gloved hand.

As long as both shocks are adjusted the same number and at the centre of shocks as you look at them.

The maximum weight limit is 366 lb, and you and your buddy have a combined weight of 380 lb, so you're over the limit a bit. So obviously you'll need to set the shocks to 5 and also up the rear tyre pressure a couple of lbs psi.

Thank you, Silver Wing Guru! I'll see about adjusting them. What you've explained tells me that my shocks are not adjusted the same from left to right. I'll get a grip and turn them to the 5 setting today.

SteveSilverWing wrote:

Hi all!

I am new to my Silver Wing ABS (2013) and would like to know more about the rear shock adjustment.  (Just bought it new last Saturday, April 25, 2015.)  The lowest number 1 provides the most smoothness, and the highest 5 is a rougher ride and meant for heavier loads like having a passenger.  For the life of me, I can't figure out the following:
1)  Are both my shocks adjusted to the same setting?
2)  Where is the indicator (arrow or something) showing what the setting actually is set at.
3)  How to change the setting.  Can it be done without a special wrench?

Please can someone tell me how this works.  I intend on buying the Repair Manual but have yet to do so.  I'm planning a ride this weekend with a buddy.  I'm at 180 lbs. and he's at 200 lbs.

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

Steve

Yes both shocks have to be on the same setting.
The indicator is a number only on the bottom rear of the shock. The setting 1-5 must be facing the back of the bike. 1-light loads, 5-heavy loads.
No special tools or manuals are required, only the ones your born with. They are easily adjusted by a gloved hand. Just get a grip on the bottom of the shock and turn-   1-2-3-4-5.......NEVER JUMP FROM 5-1.......But 5-4-3-2-1.
You are breaking the cardinal rule of biking. 4 nuts on 2 wheels just dont jive.

Silver Wing Guru and Expert!!

Of course, you were right. What was I thinking...

I noticed that the left shock was set at 2 and the right one set at 1. This causes me to wonder if the dealership where I bought it is perhaps not reliable! Once I put the bike on the center stand and put on a leather glove, the shock switched position (one notch at a time only). I switched both shocks to be set at 3 for now. I'll be riding it alone (2 nuts...it took me a few to figure that one out...I'm slow) and weight 180. I am curious to see how different the ride feels.

Thanks so much!! Much appreciated and will one day pass on the good stuff I'm learning here to another rider.

Just curious here...So what should we expect if we jump from 5 to 1 during the adjustment?

SlvrwngTraveler wrote:

Just curious here...So what should we expect if we jump from 5 to 1 during the adjustment?

Using the #1 setting on your shocks will improve your handling, Increase your traction, decrease your tire wear, Smooth your ride and not defeat all the engineering that went into the manufacturing of your shocks.

Happy motoring Lloyd 193.

 But isn't the shock preload engineered to be adjustable?

lloyd193 wrote:

Using the #1 setting on your shocks will improve your handling, Increase your traction, decrease your tire wear, Smooth your ride and not defeat all the engineering that went into the manufacturing of your shocks.

I wouldn't buy that, according to Honda, #1 'For a light load and smooth road conditions',  #2 'Standard',  #3 to 5 'For when a scooter is more heavily loaded'. I stick with #3 myself, I'm a set and forget kinda guy as you might say.

Maybe #1 works for you because you're an old bloke used to pootling about on the mainly straight smooth surfaced roads of flatter than a witches tit Florida. But claiming it improves handling, increases traction, and decreases tyre wear?

Do you think that works for an average to heavier rider carrying the usual under seat junk and stuff in a top box. Handling is as much down to his/her skill and experience as much as anything.

With traction and tyre wear I'd say you have to take into consideration the adhesion and abrasiveness of the road surfaces in your neck of the woods and if ride further afield, and weather conditions too. Plus your tyre choice, and checking and adhering to the tyre pressures recommended by Honda.

Aren't they the ones that know best?

With over 90,000 recent SilverWing miles on new 2009 and left over 2013---I found #2 fine for most of my operation, tried #3....even bike loaded for tour I liked #2 better and never experienced any bottoming of shock.

Might add---new fresh SilverWing, rear shocks performed very well to the 50,000 mile point where I trade....letting somebody else worry about any troubles. SilverWing is fine SCOOTER and performs well as one even now, it is an aging one. I think investing money in making changes, is probably a waste----enjoy the ride---mine worked well from Key West to Alaska and parts in between.

Meldrew wrote:

lloyd193 wrote:

Using the #1 setting on your shocks will improve your handling, Increase your traction, decrease your tire wear, Smooth your ride and not defeat all the engineering that went into the manufacturing of your shocks.

I wouldn't buy that, according to Honda, #1 'For a light load and smooth road conditions',  #2 'Standard',  #3 to 5 'For when a scooter is more heavily loaded'. I stick with #3 myself, I'm a set and forget kinda guy as you might say.

Maybe #1 works for you because you're an old bloke used to pootling about on the mainly straight smooth surfaced roads of flatter than a witches tit Florida. But claiming it improves handling, increases traction, and decreases tyre wear?

Do you think that works for an average to heavier rider carrying the usual under seat junk and stuff in a top box. Handling is as much down to his/her skill and experience as much as anything.

With traction and tyre wear I'd say you have to take into consideration the adhesion and abrasiveness of the road surfaces in your neck of the woods and if ride further afield, and weather conditions too. Plus your tyre choice, and checking and adhering to the tyre pressures recommended by Honda.

Aren't they the ones that know best?

I'll inform Honda's engineers to leave off those #1 and #2 positions on their Spring overs, per Mildew. That extra suspension travel is no longer required.

Rclanton1 wrote:

My SWing has a Voyager trike kit. Forgive my stupidity, but do I have to jack up the rear. Of the bike yo adjust the shocks or not?

Not necessary to jack up the bike to adjust those Spring overs, Each increase in number setting shortens the suspension travel, Allowing the rear tire to lose contact with the road on rebound's. Experience has taught that the lowest setting is the best for 99% of your riding. Smoother ride, Better handling, Increased tire life, Improved weight transfer on acceleration decreases wheel spin, Resulting in reduced tire wear.

Happy motoring Lloyd 193.

Cosmic_Jumper wrote:

 But isn't the shock preload engineered to be adjustable?

Yes, The preload on the coil over spring as well as the piston travel in the shock is adjustable by turning the adjuster at the spring base. the higher the number chosen, The stiffer the spring and the lesser the piston travel. Result, Less suspension.

Enjoy your bike,

Happy motoring Lloyd 193.

lloyd193 wrote:

Cosmic_Jumper wrote:

 But isn't the shock preload engineered to be adjustable?

Yes, The preload on the coil over spring as well as the piston travel in the shock is adjustable by turning the adjuster at the spring base. the higher the number chosen, The stiffer the spring and the lesser the piston travel. Result, Less suspension.

Nah, you're wrong (again) the result is NOT less suspension, it's harder/stiffer suspension on compression, it remains the same on rebound

eggster34 wrote:

Hi, I weigh around 280lb. and I sometimes ride with a friend who also weighs around 240. what setting do you think we should be riding on? )

Doubled up, With that amount of weight I suggest you use 5.

Lloyd 193.

I would check load capacity of SilverWing.

john grinsel wrote:

I would check load capacity of SilverWing.

This is maximum capacity for the Swing, I have riders here in Florida operating at 11 hundred pounds with no damage, They report very poor performance.

Lloyd 193.

lloyd193 wrote:

eggster34 wrote:

Hi, I weigh around 280lb. and I sometimes ride with a friend who also weighs around 240. what setting do you think we should be riding on? )

Doubled up, With that amount of weight I suggest you use 5.

A bit different to your 'all encompassing' advice earlier in the thread ...

lloyd193 wrote:

SlvrwngTraveler wrote:

Just curious here...So what should we expect if we jump from 5 to 1 during the adjustment?

Using the #1 setting on your shocks will improve your handling, Increase your traction, decrease your tire wear, Smooth your ride and not defeat all the engineering that went into the manufacturing of your shocks.

The Bern wrote:

lloyd193 wrote:

eggster34 wrote:

Hi, I weigh around 280lb. and I sometimes ride with a friend who also weighs around 240. what setting do you think we should be riding on? )

Doubled up, With that amount of weight I suggest you use 5.

A bit different to your 'all encompassing' advice earlier in the thread ...

lloyd193 wrote:

SlvrwngTraveler wrote:

Just curious here...So what should we expect if we jump from 5 to 1 during the adjustment?

Using the #1 setting on your shocks will improve your handling, Increase your traction, decrease your tire wear, Smooth your ride and not defeat all the engineering that went into the manufacturing of your shocks.

Moving from 5 to 1 causes no damage to your coil over shocks, All these numbers do is increase or decrease the spring tension and reduce or increase the shock piston travel. You can choose any number you want, #1 is the softest spring rate and the longest piston travel.

Enjoy your Bike,

Happy motoring Lloyd 193.

Before recommending shock settings-----look at designed load capacity for SilverWing---366 lbs for after 04 models US----exceeding that not good idea....tires might no take heavier load/ brakes?/handling/insurance...Sign me on this as BSc Safety degree holder

dickie wrote:

Eggster34
With Patty and I on our 2003 we need a #7 or #8.
Dick

You best not allow Patty read this.

Lloyd 193.