New rear shock, how much adjustment do you use?
Discussion
After a mere 12 years the shock on my Triumph Explorer is about done. I’d get it rebuilt but the preload adjuster is seized solid and it’s not worth the stress.
I can get something with basic damping control for £5-600 or with high/low compression and rebound for £800. I’d like remote preload for touring etc.
I’ve had the bike 11 years now and don’t have any intention of changing it.
So how much adjusting do you do to the suspension? Are the extra options worth the extra cash?
I can get something with basic damping control for £5-600 or with high/low compression and rebound for £800. I’d like remote preload for touring etc.
I’ve had the bike 11 years now and don’t have any intention of changing it.
So how much adjusting do you do to the suspension? Are the extra options worth the extra cash?
Speed addicted said:
After a mere 12 years the shock on my Triumph Explorer is about done. I d get it rebuilt but the preload adjuster is seized solid and it s not worth the stress.
I can get something with basic damping control for £5-600 or with high/low compression and rebound for £800. I d like remote preload for touring etc.
I ve had the bike 11 years now and don t have any intention of changing it.
So how much adjusting do you do to the suspension? Are the extra options worth the extra cash?
I'd just get better bike, instead of throwing good money after the badI can get something with basic damping control for £5-600 or with high/low compression and rebound for £800. I d like remote preload for touring etc.
I ve had the bike 11 years now and don t have any intention of changing it.
So how much adjusting do you do to the suspension? Are the extra options worth the extra cash?
BMbler said:
Speed addicted said:
After a mere 12 years the shock on my Triumph Explorer is about done. I d get it rebuilt but the preload adjuster is seized solid and it s not worth the stress.
I can get something with basic damping control for £5-600 or with high/low compression and rebound for £800. I d like remote preload for touring etc.
I ve had the bike 11 years now and don t have any intention of changing it.
So how much adjusting do you do to the suspension? Are the extra options worth the extra cash?
I'd just get better bike, instead of throwing good money after the badI can get something with basic damping control for £5-600 or with high/low compression and rebound for £800. I d like remote preload for touring etc.
I ve had the bike 11 years now and don t have any intention of changing it.
So how much adjusting do you do to the suspension? Are the extra options worth the extra cash?
Out of interest what do you suggest I replace it with?
For some bikes / riders this matters more than for others.
Average sized street bike rider commuting on decent tarmac at a normal pace might never bother adjusting from standard.
For your Explorer carrying different loads over different surfaces etc it’s worth considering.
Personally I’ve found for the first few hundred miles with a new bike I’ll tinker with it, then generally leave alone unless something significant changes (eg weight or surface type). So the remote adjustment is nice but not essential.
I’d suggest basic bump / rebound adjustment is enough for most of us, with the finely tuned high/low speed adjustment more suitable for racers.
Have you used the standard adjustment much over the years?
If you’ve been happy, can you replace like for like?
Average sized street bike rider commuting on decent tarmac at a normal pace might never bother adjusting from standard.
For your Explorer carrying different loads over different surfaces etc it’s worth considering.
Personally I’ve found for the first few hundred miles with a new bike I’ll tinker with it, then generally leave alone unless something significant changes (eg weight or surface type). So the remote adjustment is nice but not essential.
I’d suggest basic bump / rebound adjustment is enough for most of us, with the finely tuned high/low speed adjustment more suitable for racers.
Have you used the standard adjustment much over the years?
If you’ve been happy, can you replace like for like?
StuntCock said:
For some bikes / riders this matters more than for others.
Average sized street bike rider commuting on decent tarmac at a normal pace might never bother adjusting from standard.
For your Explorer carrying different loads over different surfaces etc it s worth considering.
Personally I ve found for the first few hundred miles with a new bike I ll tinker with it, then generally leave alone unless something significant changes (eg weight or surface type). So the remote adjustment is nice but not essential.
I d suggest basic bump / rebound adjustment is enough for most of us, with the finely tuned high/low speed adjustment more suitable for racers.
[b]Have you used the standard adjustment much over the years?
If you ve been happy, can you replace like for like?[/b]
That's the decider for me: if you've not touched the standard shock then no point splashing on remote adjusters.Average sized street bike rider commuting on decent tarmac at a normal pace might never bother adjusting from standard.
For your Explorer carrying different loads over different surfaces etc it s worth considering.
Personally I ve found for the first few hundred miles with a new bike I ll tinker with it, then generally leave alone unless something significant changes (eg weight or surface type). So the remote adjustment is nice but not essential.
I d suggest basic bump / rebound adjustment is enough for most of us, with the finely tuned high/low speed adjustment more suitable for racers.
[b]Have you used the standard adjustment much over the years?
If you ve been happy, can you replace like for like?[/b]
I had the standard shock and forks revalved not long after I got the bike, then spent a while setting it up before leaving it alone for ages. I'd adjust the preload for big touring trips but pretty much leave the damping alone as it's been a good mix of comfort and stability.
I live in NE Scotland so pretty much all of my riding is on A roads and bumpy backroads (nearest motorway is 150 miles south). I work from home so no commuting.
I'm a pretty big guy and above the average weight range by some margin so I'd prefer to get one that's sprung for my weight. The standard Explorer shock was known for being a bit soft in the first place and they're surprisingly expensive so I'll try to get a better replacement.
I live in NE Scotland so pretty much all of my riding is on A roads and bumpy backroads (nearest motorway is 150 miles south). I work from home so no commuting.
I'm a pretty big guy and above the average weight range by some margin so I'd prefer to get one that's sprung for my weight. The standard Explorer shock was known for being a bit soft in the first place and they're surprisingly expensive so I'll try to get a better replacement.
I've had a number of different versions....
I first had a standard YSS Z series emulsion type on my 500 (albeit with a stiffer spring for my weight). That worked reasonably well until it the damping finally siezed but you could certainly feel it fade on very hot days across crappy backroads.
I had a Nitron R1 on my VFR1200F. This was definitely better (Nitron are apparantly not a normal emulsion type but you still don't get seperate comp/rebound adjustment on the R1) but I sometimes felt I wished I could adjust it seperately.
I then had a Nitron R1 ADV on my Strom. This was even better (bigger piston in the adv series) but you still don't have seperate adjustment.
Finally, after my YSS unit failed I found a fully adjustable Wilbers unit with remote resevoir (seperate rebound AND seperate hi/low compression damping). Hoped it would fit but it didn't. Luckily T Tech suspension rebuilt my YSS unit and swapped the Wilbers remote res all over - he also capped off the wilbers unit so I sold it as a standard emulsion type.
I've fiddled around with the hi/low and seperate rebound quite a bit to get it how I want it but now barely touch it. I think the benefit for me comes in getting that initial setup just right but also having that complete lack of damping fade by having the remote resevoir system (compared to a standard emulsion shock).
The pain point for Nitron with me is the location of the (combined) damping adjustment. I literally have to get the bike on it's centrestand and use some long nosed pliers to adjust it. I wish it could be easier!
Personally, if you've been riding that long on a standard Triumph shock I'd just get something like an R1 ADV but with the remote preload adjuster as you're taking a pillion semi frequently. You'll still notice an ENORMOUS difference over stock. Plus, if you ever find a Nitron with remote res you can buy it, get someone to swap the nice parts over to yours and then sell the remaining unit as a standard R1 style....
I first had a standard YSS Z series emulsion type on my 500 (albeit with a stiffer spring for my weight). That worked reasonably well until it the damping finally siezed but you could certainly feel it fade on very hot days across crappy backroads.
I had a Nitron R1 on my VFR1200F. This was definitely better (Nitron are apparantly not a normal emulsion type but you still don't get seperate comp/rebound adjustment on the R1) but I sometimes felt I wished I could adjust it seperately.
I then had a Nitron R1 ADV on my Strom. This was even better (bigger piston in the adv series) but you still don't have seperate adjustment.
Finally, after my YSS unit failed I found a fully adjustable Wilbers unit with remote resevoir (seperate rebound AND seperate hi/low compression damping). Hoped it would fit but it didn't. Luckily T Tech suspension rebuilt my YSS unit and swapped the Wilbers remote res all over - he also capped off the wilbers unit so I sold it as a standard emulsion type.
I've fiddled around with the hi/low and seperate rebound quite a bit to get it how I want it but now barely touch it. I think the benefit for me comes in getting that initial setup just right but also having that complete lack of damping fade by having the remote resevoir system (compared to a standard emulsion shock).
The pain point for Nitron with me is the location of the (combined) damping adjustment. I literally have to get the bike on it's centrestand and use some long nosed pliers to adjust it. I wish it could be easier!
Personally, if you've been riding that long on a standard Triumph shock I'd just get something like an R1 ADV but with the remote preload adjuster as you're taking a pillion semi frequently. You'll still notice an ENORMOUS difference over stock. Plus, if you ever find a Nitron with remote res you can buy it, get someone to swap the nice parts over to yours and then sell the remaining unit as a standard R1 style....
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