[aces high33]

I am limited on my knowledge of suspension. I do feel that I would like to get my R's center of gravity lower. Could any of you tell me how to acheive this? I do not want to lose resistance to bottoming on big stuff and the only thing smooth I ride on is the road. Does each setting effect another? Maybe everyone could use this thread to list their weight, riding conditions and their settings to give people ideas on settings to work off of. This is so important and I need to learn a lot more so I thank you all in advance for your responses.
Mike

 

[exracer131]

you could let off on the preload and the suspension may sag another inch or so. but the way it sounds what you are wanting u need to purchase a set of zero preload shocks. just about every after market shock co. has a line of zero preload shocks. the sag on this shock is around 2 to 3 inch. dont sound like much but thats alot. hope this is some help.

 

[Schmitthead]

Allright Ace,
I did some searching and i seen that you posted this before and it didnt get answered. OK I weigh 210 with gear, I adjusted my preload all the way up(the spring is 2 threads from top), and i stiffened up the compression in the front prolly about 3 turns from all the way stiff, rebound is set real lite. i dont like a bouncy front end. The rear is pretty much the same way. by doing this i lowered it about an inch.

 

[aces high33]

Sweet Cheeba Schmitty,
O.K. that makes sence to me. I think that I am going to try that and see what happens. I just want to fool around for a while with the stockers because I don't have cash for zero preloads. She wants to go to Hawaii! :huh: Scmitty you ride woods sometimes like me right? Wondering what length a-arms I would get - maybe only +1". Anybody else want to add to this shock settings thread? Thanks boys.

P.S. Scmitty I saw your pics w/ Farr- Nice to see that you represent the LBC.

 

[sethg]

REVALVE!!! Stock shocks are way too stiff for anything imaginable. I landed on one front shock (all by itself) and didn't bottom the shock out. You won't get what your looking for with stock shocks. Being an engineer, I even looked at the way shocks are designed, and the valving is wayy too small!!! Open that baby up and you might be able to push some fluid thru.

 

[aces high33]

Good advice from an engineer. I guess you should do what you can but you have to shell out that mad cream for the real ride. <_<

 

[Schmitthead]

i disagree with you seth, this suspension is nicer, and softer than my raptor(it has works triple rates). How much do you weigh. do you have the compression cranked down? Is your preload all the way down? Are your shocks broke in yet? These are questons i have to ask with a statement like that.

 

[sethg]

im 220 with gear, but my style of riding and experience has been with Axis and other racing type shocks. If the stock shocks are set up for 2+ a-arms then how on earth would I be able to ride it stock width? There have been several instances that I know of that the seals were blowing out of the shocks, obviously due to incorrect valving and too much compression. I changed the compression, rebound, and ride height several times. rode each for 15 minutes and never felt a difference. I would then hop on a Z400 with TCS shocks and it would be soo much plusher. Also if you know anything about shocks, shocks aren't supposed to wear in. The valving doesn't get any bigger with wear, nor does the compression get any softer (perhaps over years, yes, not over a few weeks of riding)

TCS has a kit coming out that will be $800-1000 to change over the entire stock shocks to a racing suspension. Hopefully changing out the3 valving will help out. I'll keep everyone posted (I'll know on Saturday)

 

[aces high33]

I feel that you both make great points and I am stuck. If I could do anything I would want more width for stability and a plush ride. Funds are limited so I have to tinker with stocks for now. Seth I am sure you have spotted aftermarket a-arms with stock shocks. Do you think that is garbage? I am under 190lb with gear on and I just don't want to bottom or get bucked off. Schmitty seems to think that you can acheive this with stock shocks. I appreciate you both responding to this post and I am very eager to see what you guys agree upon. I just want to see what works the best. So the rubber seals do not need to break in at all?

When you adjust the preload rings to the top does your quad sit
lower without any weight on it?

 

[Schmitthead]

yes it does sit lower

 

[sethg]

If you put wider a-arms on your bike, it is increasing the load on the shock (multiply the load (you and the bikes weight) times the number of inches away from the bottom shock mount)...and it really should be serviced by someone who knows how to set it up right...I also heard from TCS that the shocks Honda put on the 450r are better than the ones he sells, so dont chunk them, just rework them. Yes, the seals will wear some, but they are to keep the fluid inside, not to let some out, hence a seal blowout. I'm not a shock expert, just know a few small details.

 

[joe1l]

OK I weigh 210 with gear, I adjusted my preload all the way up(the spring is 2 threads from top), and i stiffened up the compression in the front prolly about 3 turns from all the way stiff, rebound is set real lite. i dont like a bouncy front end. The rear is pretty much the same way. by doing this i lowered it about an inch.[/b]

Ok, I'm definately a newbie when it comes to shocks, so please bare with me. i weigh about 210 with gut on. I wouldn't mind a softer ride than I have now. I read through some of directions and I'm confused about rebound and compression...so I had a friend adjust the top and bottom adjustments on my shocks. Tom, how did you adjust your preload, so that the spring was 2 threads from the top?? Is this a 3rd adjustment, besides the other two that you adjust with a screwdriver. (1 at the top and 1 at bottom of shock)

 

[sethg]

This is the preload (spring) locknut located right at the top of the spring. Break the top one off (somewhat difficult) and back the nut off until desired. Not really going to give you a softer ride, just a lower ride height. The shocks are set up to be tight (for a 350lb+ MX rider is what I've determined)

 

[aces high33]

Originally posted by Schmitthead@Mar 22 2004, 06:25 PM
Allright Ace,
I did some searching and i seen that you posted this before and it didnt get answered. OK I weigh 210 with gear, I adjusted my preload all the way up(the spring is 2 threads from top), and i stiffened up the compression in the front prolly about 3 turns from all the way stiff, rebound is set real lite. i dont like a bouncy front end. The rear is pretty much the same way. by doing this i lowered it about an inch.

Schmitty I just got back from riding w/ stock set up I haven't adjusted anything yet because I wanted to gather everyones ideas first.
I took it to the pit that has the biggest whoops I have ever seen. You could fit a quad in the middles. I got killed!! Bucking bronco. I guess the compression does have to go in some and the stock shock doesn't have a chance to rebound. You are in almost all the way?

 

[Motoman440]

I finally got out and rode mine this past weekend. I am used to my 250R Elka zps system. 450r stock is very tippy going into and comin out of turns. I am going to do away with the preload and make adjustment to rebound and compression from there. I am 220 lb rider with gear and hope this will help my cornering. Otherwise, I was happy with the performance of the stockers!!! They sure have come a long way from the the 400ex stock suspension but still not up to the elkas.

 

[jmoney45]

Hmmm. I think I'm gonna try this. You are exactly the same weight as me. I'd love to lower it some but still keep the shocks from bottoming too much.

 

[nacsmx450r]

Remember guys if your shock does not bottom out once on the track you're not getting full action out of your shocks. Just break the bank and get your self a set of PEP ZPS shocks, they are well worth the price as well as the wait. Also contact baldwinmotorsports, mark was trainded by wayne and has a vast knowlege of suspention settups.

 

[TRX450rlude]

Originally posted by nacsmx450r@Mar 31 2004, 11:36 PM
Remember guys if your shock does not bottom out once on the track you're not getting full action out of your shocks.  Just break the bank and get your self a set of PEP ZPS shocks, they are well worth the price as well as the wait.  Also contact baldwinmotorsports, mark was trainded by wayne and has a vast knowlege of suspention settups.

"If your shock does not bottom out your not getting full use of your shocks." thats kind of contredicting isnt it. You dont want your shocks to bottom out at all....do you need to re think that. <_<

 

[Schmitthead]

i think he meant to say " if your shocks arent almost bottoming out on the real big stuff you are not getting the full travel out of them"

 

[sethg]

Yes, he is right, if you are not bottoming the shock out on either the biggest ditch or jump, then you aren't using enough of the shock.