Rear shock settings

With all my gear on I weigh in around 165-170 pounds. What would you suggest as a starting point on the rear shock in getting a good set up for a comfortable ride that also gives you stability and good cornering?

Jeez. What do you weigh wet? Guess I could stand to lose a few pounds! As for the answer to your question. I guess I would start at 2 and adjust to your preference up or down from there. I think the shocks probably go to 5 or so.

When I weighed in my sweats this morning my weight was 158.2. Varies a pound or two day to day so let's call it an even 160 for an average. I am 5'10 1/2 tall.

Um I am in the vicinity of 230+ at 6'0". So I run my rear shocks at "4" and it seems fine...

This is another topic that's been covered before, the recommended rear suspension settings for solo rider, and rider and pillion are there in the Owner's Handbook, along with how to adjust the rear shocks, and the recommended tyre pressures for rider, and rider and pillion.

Personally I liked them cranked up to max. That gives a bit more clearance when in the curves or on rough roads prevents any chance of bottoming out on a unavoidable chuck holes. It really doesn't feel all that much different than the softer settings. One other advantage is that it means if you have a pillion rider you don't have to dig out the shock tool.

You need to dig out the tool kit? I adjust both my rear shocks by hand just by gripping the spring and twisting.

I use position #2 for most of my riding, Heavy load, touring #3. Can adjusted with leather gloved hand.

Meldrew wrote:

You need to dig out the tool kit? I adjust both my rear shocks by hand just by gripping the spring and twisting.

Not so easy with arthritic hands.

exavid wrote:

Meldrew wrote:

You need to dig out the tool kit? I adjust both my rear shocks by hand just by gripping the spring and twisting.

Not so easy with arthritic hands.

I can second that one Paul

Last week I weighed 148 lbs at my doctor's visit and I set my pre-load at the first position. At 160lbs I use to set it at the second position. I can actually feel the ride difference. My 2¢.

So exavid is the only member here who rides with pre-load setup #5?
I found #5 to be the best for no wiggle/wobble riding experience with my wing. If anything I would consider pre-loads greater that #5. I believe it would improve wing's handling even more. Is there anything out there in the aftermarket world that can improve current rear shocks setup to the next level?

Type in 'shocks' in Search. Plenty of info there about aftermarket rear shocks e.g. YSS/ Fournales/ Hagon. The Hagons I fitted really improve handling on the twisties and sweepers. None are cheap though so shop around.

SlvrwngTraveler wrote:

So exavid is the only member here who rides with pre-load setup #5?  
I found #5 to be the best for no wiggle/wobble riding experience with my wing. If anything I would consider pre-loads greater that #5. I believe it would improve wing's handling even more. Is there anything out there in the aftermarket world that can improve current rear shocks setup to the next level?

I've just had a long chat with the technical chap at Hagon about this very thing. He explained that out of the factory the spring rates are really aimed at the typical Jap customer, who are generally a lot lighter than most Western customers. He recommened that a typical 200 rider would need to at least use the mid setting on the stock shocks, and would need to use the max as soon as they added luggage or a light pillion. Beyond that, you need a different spring rate. The Hagons for the Swing have to be custom made for this bike since they're about 2" longer than almost any other shock in use. The springs are also unique, and the clevis is only used for this and the SH 300 or 300 Forza or something. The springs are a more suitable weight on the Hagons, specced for a 200lb rider to need only the lowest preload. The next setting (about +10-15mm or so, I'll check later) is for a not too heavy pillion. The top setting (up at 20-30mm or so) is for pillion and luggage. If the rider is pushing 250lbs on their own, then at that stage Hagon would fit the next stiffness spring such that the loan rider would start with the lowest preload etc.

I'm also tinkering with a way to lengthen the shocks a further 20mm. The best way to do this would be to make a 20mm longer clevis, but since this is billet alloy on the Hagon nd also pretty much unique to this model, it can't be done as a one off (or two off!) So the technical chap explained how to pull the clevis off, and I promised I'd keep him updated.

I've got my previous 2 sets of rear suspension from this same chap, both sets were also custom made. One set -10mm for a Continental GT, and another with a one off remote preload adjuster for an 80s GPX250 baby sportsbike. Both were perfect. This latest set for the Swing arrived 22 hours after my phone call, can't really beat that.

Bluerider3 wrote:

With all my gear on I weigh in around 165-170 pounds. What would you suggest as a starting point  on the rear shock in getting a good set up for a comfortable ride that also gives you stability and good cornering?

The higher the number setting used, The stiffer the spring and the lesser the suspension travel. Notice the extreme suspension travel on off road vehicles, This is desired so that the tires remain in contact with the road surface.

Use #1 for the best operation overall. The guys advocating the high number settings have already ruined their bikes handling with their installation of a top box containing the kitchen sink complete with the plunger and other assorted junk.

Happy motoring Lloyd 193.

The guys advocating the high settings have already sussed out that the Silver Wing is a maxi scooter not a 'bike', they actually set their sights on going places, so carry all the the gear necessary and a lot of the time a passenger.  Once at their destination, they unpack, and go out blasting through those mythical twisties or whatever, and may even take off that top box. But they'd be wise to leave it on, who wants to carry an expensive helmet around, or try and shove it in that not well thought out storage space under the seat. That's one of the many advantages of a top box.

If you actually did a bit of riding/touring instead of sitting in your rocking chair, on your high horse waiting to get your tyre fitting count past this mythical 1000, you'd know that 'top boxes ruin handling' is another one of your old wives tales, like 'loud pipes save lives', and 'wanking makes you go blind'

It obviously doesn't because you're reading posts on here, and you're still signing off with this 'happy motoring' nonsense on a maxi scooter forum ... why?

Meldrew wrote:

The guys advocating the high settings have already sussed out that the Silver Wing is a maxi scooter not a 'bike', they actually set their sights on going places, so carry all the the gear necessary and a lot of the time a passenger.  Once at their destination, they unpack, and go out blasting through those mythical twisties or whatever, and may even take off that top box. But they'd be wise to leave it on, who wants to carry an expensive helmet around, or try and shove it in that not well thought out storage space under the seat. That's one of the many advantages of a top box.

If you actually did a bit of riding/touring instead of sitting in your rocking chair, on your high horse waiting to get your tyre fitting count past this mythical 1000, you'd know that 'top boxes ruin handling' is another one of your old wives tales, like 'loud pipes save lives', and 'wanking makes you go blind'

It obviously doesn't because you're reading posts on here, and you're still signing off with this 'happy motoring' nonsense on a maxi scooter forum ... why?

More Mildew humor, Some guys are inexperienced at humor, Mildew is a baiter, a real Master.

Happy motoring, Enjoy your bike, Lloyd 193.

lloyd193 wrote:

The higher the number setting used, The stiffer the spring and the lesser the suspension travel. Notice the extreme suspension travel on off road vehicles, This is desired so that the tires remain in contact with the road surface.

Please find me ANY picture of a scooter that has the same suspension travel as an off road vehicle.
That ^^ or keep posts in context

lloyd193 wrote:

Meldrew wrote:

< >If you actually did a bit of riding/touring instead of sitting in your rocking chair, on your high horse waiting to get your tyre fitting count past this mythical 1000, you'd know that 'top boxes ruin handling' is another one of your old wives tales, like 'loud pipes save lives', and 'wanking makes you go blind'

It obviously doesn't because you're reading posts on here, and you're still signing off with this 'happy motoring' nonsense on a maxi scooter forum ... why?

More Mildew humor, Some guys are inexperienced at humor, Mildew is a baiter, a real Master.

Happy motoring, Enjoy your bike, Lloyd 193.

 

Tsk, tsk. Can't you boys behave?

lloyd193 wrote:

Use #1 for the best operation overall.

Gotta wonder why Honda wasted time & money engineering the other four settings

The Bern wrote:

lloyd193 wrote:

Use #1 for the best operation overall.  

Gotta wonder why Honda wasted time & money engineering the other four settings

To further confuse you inexperienced plagiarist.

Lloyd 193

The Bern wrote:

lloyd193 wrote:

The higher the number setting used, The stiffer the spring and the lesser the suspension travel. Notice the extreme suspension travel on off road vehicles, This is desired so that the tires remain in contact with the road surface.

Please find me ANY picture of a scooter that has the same suspension travel as an off road vehicle.
That ^^ or keep posts in context

More Juvenile Drivel.

Lloyd 193.

lloyd193 wrote:

The Bern wrote:

lloyd193 wrote:

The higher the number setting used, The stiffer the spring and the lesser the suspension travel. Notice the extreme suspension travel on off road vehicles, This is desired so that the tires remain in contact with the road surface.

Please find me ANY picture of a scooter that has the same suspension travel as an off road vehicle.
That ^^ or keep posts in context

More Juvenile Drivel

Stop beating yourself into a corner, the travel on off road vehicles has little if anything to do with shock preload settings also the springs are not necessary stiffer, the travel is there to overcome theeffects of axle articulation.

Like I said earlier please keep your posts in context.

The Bern wrote:

lloyd193 wrote:

The Bern wrote:

lloyd193 wrote:

The higher the number setting used, The stiffer the spring and the lesser the suspension travel. Notice the extreme suspension travel on off road vehicles, This is desired so that the tires remain in contact with the road surface.

Please find me ANY picture of a scooter that has the same suspension travel as an off road vehicle.
That ^^ or keep posts in context

More Juvenile Drivel

Stop beating yourself into a corner, the travel on off road vehicles has little if anything to do with shock preload settings also the springs are not necessary stiffer, the travel is there to overcome theeffects of axle articulation.

Like I said earlier please keep your posts in context.

More Childish drivel.

lloyd193 wrote:

The Bern wrote:

lloyd193 wrote:

The Bern wrote:

lloyd193 wrote:

The higher the number setting used, The stiffer the spring and the lesser the suspension travel. Notice the extreme suspension travel on off road vehicles, This is desired so that the tires remain in contact with the road surface.

Please find me ANY picture of a scooter that has the same suspension travel as an off road vehicle.
That ^^ or keep posts in context

More Juvenile Drivel

Stop beating yourself into a corner, the travel on off road vehicles has little if anything to do with shock preload settings also the springs are not necessary stiffer, the travel is there to overcome theeffects of axle articulation.

Like I said earlier please keep your posts in context.

More Childish drivel.

No demonstable technical retort, so resorts to insulting invective, speaks volumes about his ego to ability ratio

The Bern wrote:

lloyd193 wrote:

The Bern wrote:

lloyd193 wrote:

The Bern wrote:

lloyd193 wrote:

The higher the number setting used, The stiffer the spring and the lesser the suspension travel. Notice the extreme suspension travel on off road vehicles, This is desired so that the tires remain in contact with the road surface.

Please find me ANY picture of a scooter that has the same suspension travel as an off road vehicle.
That ^^ or keep posts in context

More Juvenile Drivel

Stop beating yourself into a corner, the travel on off road vehicles has little if anything to do with shock preload settings also the springs are not necessary stiffer, the travel is there to overcome theeffects of axle articulation.

Like I said earlier please keep your posts in context.

More Childish drivel.

No demonstable technical retort, so resorts to insulting invective, speaks volumes about his ego to ability ratio

This agitator provides no useful information to you members.

Lloyd 193.

Bluerider3 wrote:

With all my gear on I weigh in around 165-170 pounds. What would you suggest as a starting point  on the rear shock in getting a good set up for a comfortable ride that also gives you stability and good cornering?

The #1 setting will give you the smoothest ride, Best weight transfer, Highest road feel, Best tire wear and best rear wheel breaking. If you add weight you can increase to a higher pre load # on your Coil over shocks.

Happy motoring Lloyd 193.