Rear Suspension Adjustment

Sight Seer · 08-06-2012, 12:15 PM

Hi all,

I know the owner's manual states to properly adjust the rear suspension, you're supposed to take the saddlebags off, jack up the rear end and get the rear wheel off the ground then adjust your shocks.

Really?

I went for a two-up ride and used my mini pump to put 40psi (indicated) in the shocks. Was this really 40psi seeing that the rear tire was not off the ground? Does the weight of the bike affect the reading and the amount of air I can put in?

Just curious as to what others do.

Thanks,

Sight Seer

Monkeyman · 08-06-2012, 12:31 PM

Jiminy Christmas! 40# in each? Bet it rides like a dump truck. I'm a fat old man but ride solo and I think I have about 25# in each. I'll see how that is once the trunk is on but I'll bet I even lower that a bit (to maybe 20 or so). They've got to give some.

gunnyjer · 08-06-2012, 05:04 PM

I only run 15# in each with me and my wife on the bike. Never bottom out and it rides real smooth!

Sight Seer · 08-06-2012, 05:36 PM

When I'm on it solo, I have the shocks at about 20lbs. If I don't, it feels like a pogo stick. My rebound is on setting 2.

With both of us on it, I was thinking close to 40lbs. and rebound setting 3 because we're close to 380lbs. total.

So you're thinking less, huh. Should I go to setting 4. I want a good stable ride. I don't want to be bouncing up and down the road, but I don't want it to feel like a hardtail.

Thanks for all inputs...

Sight Seer · 08-06-2012, 05:38 PM

Gunnyjer,

What rebound setting are you on? What's your approximate total weight?

redjay · 08-06-2012, 06:19 PM

I was advised by a very experienced Kawi dealer that a good rule of thumb is 10psi setting 1, 20 psi settng 2 etc etc

**ringadingh** · 08-06-2012, 09:20 PM

I use #2 setting with about 20- 25 lbs in each shock it feels good for my bike.

Sight Seer · 08-06-2012, 10:08 PM

Is that with just you or two-up?

redjay · 08-07-2012, 07:11 PM

20 psi with shock on #2 works for me with a passenger.
Neither of us are lightweights (g).

usranger74 · 08-07-2012, 08:08 PM

I ride solo and keep them at 25 lbs and setting of 3. Feels good to me. Solo I go 270. On trips add 35 lbs to that.

bouson · 08-08-2012, 12:20 AM

I ride solo 99% of the time and weigh in at 235ish. I run the dampers on 1 and have about 15 pounds in the shocks. I have the Single Schrader Valve Setup (ala jestephens) so the shocks share the air. It makes for a real smooth ride except for the occasional 6" deep pot holes around here and there is no way to setup for those.

ramdam1 · 08-09-2012, 08:04 PM

Was running 25 and a setting of 3. Went up to 40 and a setting of 3 and both of us said it road better.

mobandy78 · 08-10-2012, 08:20 AM

I wiegh 220 (6'3") and have mine set at 25 psi at rebound setting 3. Rides pretty good for me.

08-06-2012, 12:15 PM	#1
Sight Seer Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 56	Rear Suspension Adjustment Hi all, I know the owner's manual states to properly adjust the rear suspension, you're supposed to take the saddlebags off, jack up the rear end and get the rear wheel off the ground then adjust your shocks. Really? I went for a two-up ride and used my mini pump to put 40psi (indicated) in the shocks. Was this really 40psi seeing that the rear tire was not off the ground? Does the weight of the bike affect the reading and the amount of air I can put in? Just curious as to what others do. Thanks, Sight Seer __________________ 2009 1700 Nomad, 2000 Honda VFR800 Garmin Nuvi 765T, Edmonds Lowers, Cobra Rack Americas Guardians PS MC Patriot Guard Rider VBA #01982 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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08-06-2012, 05:04 PM	#3
gunnyjer Jr. Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Holland, Michigan Posts: 9	Rear Suspension Adjustment I only run 15# in each with me and my wife on the bike. Never bottom out and it rides real smooth!
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08-06-2012, 05:36 PM	#4
Sight Seer Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 56	When I'm on it solo, I have the shocks at about 20lbs. If I don't, it feels like a pogo stick. My rebound is on setting 2. With both of us on it, I was thinking close to 40lbs. and rebound setting 3 because we're close to 380lbs. total. So you're thinking less, huh. Should I go to setting 4. I want a good stable ride. I don't want to be bouncing up and down the road, but I don't want it to feel like a hardtail. Thanks for all inputs... __________________ 2009 1700 Nomad, 2000 Honda VFR800 Garmin Nuvi 765T, Edmonds Lowers, Cobra Rack Americas Guardians PS MC Patriot Guard Rider VBA #01982
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08-06-2012, 05:38 PM	#5
Sight Seer Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 56	Gunnyjer, What rebound setting are you on? What's your approximate total weight? __________________ 2009 1700 Nomad, 2000 Honda VFR800 Garmin Nuvi 765T, Edmonds Lowers, Cobra Rack Americas Guardians PS MC Patriot Guard Rider VBA #01982 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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08-06-2012, 09:20 PM	#7
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	I use #2 setting with about 20- 25 lbs in each shock it feels good for my bike. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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08-06-2012, 12:31 PM	#2
Monkeyman Top Contributor Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Wilkesboro, NC Posts: 6,289	Jiminy Christmas! 40# in each? Bet it rides like a dump truck. I'm a fat old man but ride solo and I think I have about 25# in each. I'll see how that is once the trunk is on but I'll bet I even lower that a bit (to maybe 20 or so). They've got to give some. __________________ Christopher "Monkeyman" Gray ---------------------------- Widows Sons "Overseers" Patriot Guard Rider USArmy 1987-1990 2021 Can Am Spyder RT 2018 Can Am Spyder RT Limited - SOLD 2014 Nomad - SOLD 2012 Victory Vision - SOLD 2007 Black Nomad - SOLD VMC #9367 VBA #1860
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08-06-2012, 06:19 PM	#6
redjay Top Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 6,978	I was advised by a very experienced Kawi dealer that a good rule of thumb is 10psi setting 1, 20 psi settng 2 etc etc
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08-06-2012, 10:08 PM	#8
Sight Seer Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 56	Is that with just you or two-up? __________________ 2009 1700 Nomad, 2000 Honda VFR800 Garmin Nuvi 765T, Edmonds Lowers, Cobra Rack Americas Guardians PS MC Patriot Guard Rider VBA #01982
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08-07-2012, 07:11 PM	#9
redjay Top Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 6,978	20 psi with shock on #2 works for me with a passenger. Neither of us are lightweights (g).
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08-07-2012, 08:08 PM	#10
usranger74 Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: La Vista, NE Posts: 4,060	I ride solo and keep them at 25 lbs and setting of 3. Feels good to me. Solo I go 270. On trips add 35 lbs to that. __________________ Bill (usranger74) Blake 2016 Goldwing VBA # 1505
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08-08-2012, 12:20 AM	#11
bouson Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 227	I ride solo 99% of the time and weigh in at 235ish. I run the dampers on 1 and have about 15 pounds in the shocks. I have the Single Schrader Valve Setup (ala jestephens) so the shocks share the air. It makes for a real smooth ride except for the occasional 6" deep pot holes around here and there is no way to setup for those. __________________ My friends call me KC!! Wichita, KS VBA #02089 Previous Bikes: 75 Yamaha 175 09 Vulcan 900 Classic 11 Vulcan Vaquero *Harleys:* 75 Sportster XLCH 84 Sportster 1000 85 FXRT 79 Low Rider
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08-09-2012, 08:04 PM	#12
ramdam1 Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Long Island New York Posts: 101	Was running 25 and a setting of 3. Went up to 40 and a setting of 3 and both of us said it road better.
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08-10-2012, 08:20 AM	#13
mobandy78 Sr. Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Owasso, OK Posts: 1,485	I wiegh 220 (6'3") and have mine set at 25 psi at rebound setting 3. Rides pretty good for me. __________________ Matt "Mo" Moore Owasso, Oklahoma VBA #1250 2005 Nomad 1600 - Darkside "There is no normal life, there's just life. So get on with it." - Doc Holiday
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