nite rider dodges cages and deer with a funky frontend!

[hal gainous]

i bought a 2006 that came with a progressive shock i was going to experiment with it the other day and the dial at the bottom just spins with no effect. there is a nipple at the top that i don't know what it is for. no instructions came with the bike. any insight about the shock will be appreciated. it was put on the bike to lower it for the PO. i have adjusted it higher at least an inch and intend to go more. when i sit on it , it has enough sag to slam the side stand into the concrete. also the height of the bike is not high enough to make it stable on the side stand. hal2006 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[kgeist0222@verizon.net]

Hal, I put a Progressive shock on my KLR last year so I might be able to offer some help. I can't find the instructions but I will give you everything that I can extract from the dusty confines of my brain. First of all there are two 420 series shocks offered by Progressive, 420-1030 is standard length and 420-1044 is 1" lower. I am not sure where the number stampings are on the shock but I can not see them on mine. It sounds like you have the shorter version installed from what you are describing. No worries, the setup is the same for either length. First adjust the spring preload to your weight. Progressive recommends 3" of preload. Measure the distance from the rear axle straight up to the seat with the shock totally extended, (lean the weight of the bike onto the sidestand to extend the rear suspension). Next sit normally on the bike with the stand up and measure the distance using the same points on the bike. All you need to do next is adjust the spring adjustment up or down until you get to the recommended 3" of preload. Next you will need to adjust the rebound damping, (the dial at the bottom that you spoke of). Basically this adjustment controls how fast the shock extends after it has been compressed. The dial has numbers 1-5 on it and the raised line at the bottom of the shock is the setting indicator. I would start out setting this, in the middle at "3". If the bike feels springy or seems to wallow in turns the go up to "4" and try it there. If it feels like the ride is harsh or that the bike is squatting down too much to going down to "2". One word of warning though. I do remember the setup instructions saying that it is not good to turn this adjustment dial the whole way around. ( do not turn the dial any further counter clockwise than "1" setting or clockwise past "5") I don't know, something to do with internal valving and stuff. Leave that nipple at the top alone! I know it looks nice but try to forget that it's there. The aforementioned nipple is supposedly where they put the special top secret gases in at the factory and they don't want us to mess with it. If you go through this set up and like the ride you get then all you need is a shortened side stand and you will be all set! You have a great ride and the bike won't fall over. Arrowhead Motorsports carries shortened side stands. Call them at 435-259-7356 or visit the website. http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/index.html I hope that this helps you. If this all confuses you, don't feel bad. I managed to confuse myself. Kevin hal gainous wrote Wed Aug 9, 2006 5:31 am (PST) i bought a 2006 that came with a progressive shock i was going to experiment with it the other day and the dial at the bottom just spins with no effect. there is a nipple at the top that i don't know what it is for. no instructions came with the bike. any insight about the shock will be appreciated. it was put on the bike to lower it for the PO. i have adjusted it higher at least an inch and intend to go more. when i sit on it , it has enough sag to slam the side stand into the concrete. also the height of the bike is not high enough to make it stable on the side stand. hal2006 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Randall Marbach]

--- Walter Bell wrote:

> doing...while in the > tire track of the gravel rd, it would wobble. Wierd! > If I went faster > it lessened and slower it would kinda get worse, but

When I was coming back from San Felipe I experienced a similar wobble... it turned out to be the the spokes in the rear wheel came loose. Had to stop about every 50 miles to retighten them. Wound up later having to have the spokes and rim replaced by Buchannan. HTH Randy from Burbank __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com