Hi guys.

It's been a nightmare for years to actually get my Mrs on the back of a bike so I just went ahead and spent a fortune on gear for her - all top quality Astars, Ixon etc. She is now up for it (after $$$ spent and she reckons she looks cool in the mirror)..... so wondering how much rear spring preload you guys crank on when you have an adult pillion on the back. My Mrs weighs around 60kg (130 lbs) with full gear. I will measure the sag etc properly with her and I on the bike one day to get it exact but I was after some rough numbers for now. My 19' bike came delivered with 14 clicks out from full soft so I was wondering what others were running to get me in the ball park. No offroad stuff just road touring.

Thanks in advance

Unless the new models or the Aussie models are different then the past I would think you need as much preload as there is since the spring is already undersprung for a "normal" western male with gear. I had my V2 cranked up all the way just for one up riding with all the gear and the kitchen sink before I got the shock re-sprung and re-valved. Now I have zero preload.

agreed, my wife took one ride on stock vee2 shock (at max preload) and demanded a new shock.

You ain't finished spending yet my man

But remember happy wife, happy life

Since pre-load isn't supposed to change the spring rate of the shock but rather keep the shock within its "active range", you may simply have to 'trial and error' it. If the two of you sit on the bike and it hardly moves, soften things up. If, on the other hand, the two of you sit on the bike and it drops to the ground, leaving you with very little travel remaining, adjust the SR to bring the bike back up into its useable range. Of course, you also have to bear in mind that you are working within the limitations of the shock itself, and depending on how much the two of you weigh, you might find that you exceed those limitations... again, trial & error. Good luck, and congratulations on getting your wife on the back!

You need to measure the sag with the two of you on with all your gear and luggage. The rear should droop about 48mm (30% of total wheel travel) with you both on the bike with feet on the pegs. There are lots of youtube videos out there that explain how. You'll need a buddy to help.

stupid question but .. have you gotten her on the bike yet? My wife is about 125lbs and I still havent touched the shock since getting it from the dealer.

It drops a bit but on washboard stuff it performs flawlessly and on a couple of woopdedo type drops in the road that I was SURE would bottom out the shock with both of us on there ... nothing. Worked just fine.

I havent looked to see where it is set but now you have me curious so. So far its been perfect but dont know if its maxed out. Its still a compliant ride when I ride solo.

PS .. for math .. I am 200lbs

Ok just checked .. I have just 2 lines showing at the shock body. It feels a bit stiff on hard bumps when solo and a bit soft overall with a passenger but not in a bad way. Compliant.

But like the other guys have already mentioned .. if you want to be scientific about it ... break out a yard stick and set the sag.

If you're to judge based on my setup ... 2015 Vstrom 1000, I weight 185lb and my lady 130lb, preload is a notch below maximum. Wife is not complaining, bike feels great so I decided to mark it as perfect two up setup for me.

a bit stiff on hard bumps

you're bottoming out dude

preload for 2up on the 650 = full preload

LOL .. no not even remotely close.

Its just a very stiff ride which surprised me some since I thought anything that long legged would be softer but it feels a bit more sport bike than dirt eater. so over small bumps that say might be left by a treaded vehicle in soft asphalt .. you feel it.

I am very familiar with bottoming out. Bought a BRAND NEW off the floor Harley Sportster oh sometime in the earlier 2000's. It was orange and had flat bars and was pretty cool looking .. got home and at the time I was about 190 and the wife 120 and she jumps on and we cant get around the block without bottoming out. Put it to max preload .. no help at all. Kinda sucked spending all that money and having to go out and spend almost 3 bills on shocks immediately.

Unless something has changed dramatically from year to year .. Im lovin the suspension on my Wee