anyone going to americade ??

[gust0261]

This is a newbie question I know, but I can't figure out how to adjust my shocks for a heavy load. It feels the same when I put it on 1 as it does when I put it on 5. I've measured the distance to the ground change on each setting and there is no measurable difference between the two settings either (I've measured while on the bike and while off the bike). I weigh 230 and I would like to have a passenger as well so I'm really loading it down and don't want to ruin the shocks. Can anyone explain to me how this works? I don't know if 5 is for heavy loads or if 1 is for heavy loads, and I don't really understand the concept of what is happening physically to the shock when I am making these adjustments either.

[Jeff Khoury]

The adjustment adds or removes "preload" from the spring. Notice that when you turn the bolt head, the collar at the top of the shock moves downward as you move up in numbers. This makes the suspension stiffer and makes it handle better with a heavy load on the rear. You should only turn this bolt clockwise, as turning it backward will break it. if the collar does not move downward with each notch, then your shock has a problem. If you need it stiffer than "5" then you can change springs or shocks altogether. Mine gets noticeably stiffer with each click. -Jeff Khoury Astatic Solutions, LLC.

----- Original Message ----- From: "gust0261" To: "DSN KLR650" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Monday, May 25, 2009 5:49:15 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: [DSN_KLR650] 1-5 on stock shocks? KLR650 2007 This is a newbie question I know, but I can't figure out how to adjust my shocks for a heavy load. It feels the same when I put it on 1 as it does when I put it on 5. I've measured the distance to the ground change on each setting and there is no measurable difference between the two settings either (I've measured while on the bike and while off the bike). I weigh 230 and I would like to have a passenger as well so I'm really loading it down and don't want to ruin the shocks. Can anyone explain to me how this works? I don't know if 5 is for heavy loads or if 1 is for heavy loads, and I don't really understand the concept of what is happening physically to the shock when I am making these adjustments either. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Rick McCauley]

Jeff, I turned mine backwards to 1. I was replacing my spring, and wanted as little resistance as possible before I tried to compress the spring for removal. Either you experienced, or witnessed, some bad luck, or I was lucky for a change. Rick A17

--- On Mon, 5/25/09, Jeff Khoury wrote: From: Jeff Khoury Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] 1-5 on stock shocks? KLR650 2007 To: "gust0261" Cc: "DSN KLR650" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Date: Monday, May 25, 2009, 8:14 PM The adjustment adds or removes "preload" from the spring. Notice that when you turn the bolt head, the collar at the top of the shock moves downward as you move up in numbers. This makes the suspension stiffer and makes it handle better with a heavy load on the rear. You should only turn this bolt clockwise, as turning it backward will break it. if the collar does not move downward with each notch, then your shock has a problem. If you need it stiffer than "5" then you can change springs or shocks altogether. Mine gets noticeably stiffer with each click. -Jeff Khoury Astatic Solutions, LLC. ----- Original Message ----- From: "gust0261" To: "DSN KLR650" Sent: Monday, May 25, 2009 5:49:15 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: [DSN_KLR650] 1-5 on stock shocks? KLR650 2007 This is a newbie question I know, but I can't figure out how to adjust my shocks for a heavy load. It feels the same when I put it on 1 as it does when I put it on 5. I've measured the distance to the ground change on each setting and there is no measurable difference between the two settings either (I've measured while on the bike and while off the bike). I weigh 230 and I would like to have a passenger as well so I'm really loading it down and don't want to ruin the shocks. Can anyone explain to me how this works? I don't know if 5 is for heavy loads or if 1 is for heavy loads, and I don't really understand the concept of what is happening physically to the shock when I am making these adjustments either. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jud Jones]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Rick McCauley wrote:

> > Jeff, I turned mine backwards to 1. I was replacing my spring, and wanted as little resistance as possible before I tried to compress the spring for removal. > Either you experienced, or witnessed, some bad luck, or I was lucky for a change. >

As long as I have had a KLR, it has been ok to turn the preload adjuster backwards. Any adjuster bolt that breaks from being turned counterclockwise was probably bound to break anyway, as more than a few have done. The damping adjustment at the bottom of the shock is only supposed to be turned one way, but I have no idea what the penalty is for an infraction. All of the foregoing applies only to '07 and earlier shocks.

[Jeff Khoury]

I've never turned mine backward at the suggestion of the manual. I've heard (anecdotal) evidence that turning them backward rounds off the detentes and they have a tendency to randomly adjust themselves afterward. I've never seen this happen, though. -Jeff Khoury Astatic Solutions, LLC.

----- Original Message ----- From: "Jud Jones" To: "DSN KLR650" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 3:14:39 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: 1-5 on stock shocks? KLR650 2007 --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com , Rick McCauley wrote: > > Jeff, I turned mine backwards to 1. I was replacing my spring, and wanted as little resistance as possible before I tried to compress the spring for removal. > Either you experienced, or witnessed, some bad luck, or I was lucky for a change. > As long as I have had a KLR, it has been ok to turn the preload adjuster backwards. Any adjuster bolt that breaks from being turned counterclockwise was probably bound to break anyway, as more than a few have done. The damping adjustment at the bottom of the shock is only supposed to be turned one way, but I have no idea what the penalty is for an infraction. All of the foregoing applies only to '07 and earlier shocks. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[chris kelty]

Anyone going to Laconia ? I'm going solo on my KLR to both rallies. Looking for someone to ride with or hang out with Chris PS I'm in the So Shore of MA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]