Which way do you turn the shock adjustment to go softer?

[Dale_K]

I'm having a reading comprehension problem with the owner's manual. It says...

If you want a harder damping
characteristic, turn adjusting
screw 1 in the direction indicated
by the H arrow.
If you want a softer damping
characteristic, turn adjusting
screw 1 in the direction indicated
by the S arrow.

I guess I'm dense. I need know which direction is soft and which is hard in terms of clockwise or counter-clockwise. Is soft counter-clockwise ("loosening")?

I just rode my old bike, a Triumph Scrambler, this evening and realize the R12R rides far rougher, almost uncomfortably rough by comparison. I adjusted the spring to full soft just as an experiment and want to change the shock the same way. Actually I'm not sure if turning the spring adjuster actually makes the bike ride softer or merely changes the static ride height but I still need to know about the shock adjustment.

[deilenberger]

I'm having a reading comprehension problem with the owner's manual. It says...

If you want a harder damping
characteristic, turn adjusting
screw 1 in the direction indicated
by the H arrow.
If you want a softer damping
characteristic, turn adjusting
screw 1 in the direction indicated
by the S arrow.

I guess I'm dense. I need know which direction is soft and which is hard in terms of clockwise or counter-clockwise. Is soft counter-clockwise ("loosening")?

I just rode my old bike, a Triumph Scrambler, this evening and realize the R12R rides far rougher, almost uncomfortably rough by comparison. I adjusted the spring to full soft just as an experiment and want to change the shock the same way. Actually I'm not sure if turning the spring adjuster actually makes the bike ride softer or merely changes the static ride height but I still need to know about the shock adjustment.

You're flailing (attacking things sort of at random hoping for good results.)

See - and read carefully - http://www.eilenberger.net/Suspension/suspension.htm

If you have questions - feel free to ask them.

Backing off all preload on the spring probably isn't what you should be doing.

And the screw adjusts only rebound damping. Clockwise increases damping, anti-clockwise decreases it.. but first get your preload set correctly - then make small changes to the damping adjustment.

The stock shocks will always (in my experience) feel somewhat "sharp" or harsh with sudden impact bumps. Good aftermarket shocks can make a world of difference - you can keep the good handling and add comfort to the bike. Just takes $$.

[celticus]

Thanks for all of your hard work Don.

Mark

[bobw]

Hey Dale. Don has done some great work he shares with us all. The BMW set up is so different and I found the initial harshness to be an unexpected quality. IMO the front end is a little vauge due to the shock(?) and/or the mechanics involved, but it never wants for contact/traction and I have quickly gotten used to and trust the feedback. I'm very comfortable with just looking where I want to go and letting it do it's job. I run my tires a little softer (32-34f/36-38r) unless loaded for a camping trip and this works well for me in the mountains with rough pavement. Get some miles on her, get your relative bearings greased and ride her faster. She will settle in under you very nicely when ridden hard(er).

Cheers

Bob

[Dale_K]

I guess one man's "flailing" is another man's empirical testing. I did read the article just now and appreciate the thought and experience that went into it. I'm kind of hardheaded however and generally I'm not satisfied until I've tried something myself. I've just set both the wheel under the seat and the shock to full soft and I'm going out for a ride.

Edit... Just got back from a 20 mile ride over some fairly rough road and I can feel the ride quality is better. I think I'll leave it like this for a while and keep a watch for symptoms of being too soft, like wallowing in high speed turns over bumps. My perceptions of roughness might change if I can find a seat with more padding.

[Caroanbill]

I asked about fixing that initial harshness in the shock (very juddery, especially the front one) - sales guy's considered view was that adjustments wouldn't fix it (he was VERY honest about the bike, so they fired him ..). Advice was to upgrade to aftermarket shocks

I took the advice and haven't regretted on dollar of the cost. At low spped it transformed the bike by taking out that unpleasant, jarring initial reaction in the shocks. Ride quality improved and so did handling. I've no idea what the problem is with the OEM shock, but I think it's only fixed by throwing them away.

Still, I'd be interested to see what your trials do ...