PRELOAD ..... Again .....

Do you have the owner's manual? Explained well there.

You set it using a tape measure. Youtube has some videos showing how.

Wee van Cleef said:

Do you have the owner's manual? Explained well there.

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I’ve got the Haynes manual ...... ??????

Landsurfer74 said:

So ... i’ve a mass of 115kg ( thats 250 US pounds, for the Cousins ), I’m 6’ 4” .... my grandson is ..97kg, 6’ 1" ... we do lots of 2 up rides ...
On our 2016 650 there is a preload adjuster just below the seat on the right-hand side ....
What do we set it to ...?
Or do we just whack it up to max ...?
And where exactly is max ??!!??

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Simple answer. Whack it up to max. Truth be known the stock spring probably is not up to the weight of the two of You in the first place.

Griff said:

Simple answer. Whack it up to max. Truth be known the stock spring probably is not up to the weight of the two of You in the first place.

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Quite true .... but who’s riding around with an elfin 7 stone pillion .... ? The grandson is an 19 year old Railway Engineer ... big chap ...
I think i’ll take your advice and whack it up to max ..👍

2013 manual.

Wee van Cleef said:

2013 manual.

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Many thanks .....

Usually, someone else would have beat me to this. It seems forum traffic may be down a little.

Anyway, the proper thing to do is to "set the sag." There are many YouTube videos out there explaining how to do it and many threads here dedicated to the subject.

Tbh it is one thing to "set the sag" on a bike that one will ride solo. However imho it is a total waste of time to try doing so on a bike that will be loaded with two large persons and their gear.

On my former Triumph 1200 there was some instruction in the handbook for solo riding basic setup. For two up they were unambiguous, load the spring preload to the max.

Landsurfer74 said:

Quite true .... but who’s riding around with an elfin 7 stone pillion .... ? The grandson is an 19 year old Railway Engineer ... big chap ...
I think i’ll take your advice and whack it up to max ..👍

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Just trying to be helpful here - the total weight of you and your grandson, plus riding gear, probably exceeds Suzuki's GVWR by not a small amount. Would be wise to check that, maybe increase your shock and fork springs to heavier springs, if you still want to ride double.

Sladep said:

Just trying to be helpful here - the total weight of you and your grandson, plus riding gear, probably exceeds Suzuki's GVWR by not a small amount. Would be wise to check that, maybe increase your shock and fork springs to heavier springs, if you still want to ride double.

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We put it up to max and it rode just fine 2 up ...
Remember how motorcycle companies work .... safe load mass 100kg .... we’ll tell the customer 50kg .....
Risk management is everywhere ....

Daily Alcohol Intake ...
Research Scientist ... 8 units of alcohol a day is fine .
Doctors union ... mmm ..Need to cover ourselves .... 6 units is fine
Government ... mmm ..Need to cover ourselves .... 4 units is fine
Mumsnet .... 3 bottles of white wine a day is fine !!!!
😂 😂

Does the combined weight cause the suspenders to bottom out? That is becoming dangerous as control is compromised and stress on metal components spikes exponentially. If your wish is to ride double , please consider your safety.

TinMan88 said:

Does the combined weight cause the suspenders to bottom out? That is becoming dangerous as control is compromised and stress on metal components spikes exponentially. If your wish is to ride double , please consider your safety.

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No ..

SWMBO and I regularly ride together. Me 215, she 155 without riding gear plus our luggage.
After a few hundred miles, it became evident I needed to look for a rear shock/spring upgrade.
Sent it off to Sasquatch together with his checksheet, received back a perfectly set-up rear shock unit.
Trust me, if you want decent handling and a comfortable ride, you WILL need an upgraded shock. Especially with two big guys and supplies on your Wee.

Wondering if the exhaust warms up the fluid and the shock doesn't work as well?

I remember on warmer days and spirited rides the rear shock seemed to get pretty flimsy...

D.T. said:

Wondering if the exhaust warms up the fluid and the shock doesn't work as well?

I remember on warmer days and spirited rides the rear shock seemed to get pretty flimsy...

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They heat up just from normal use. Dampening force is dissipated as heat. The heat causes bubbles in the fluid and the result is shock fade. Compressed nitrogen and auxiliary reservoirs help.

Shock rebuilders also use different fluids.
IIRC, I read "somewhere on the Internet" that most Japanese bike manufacturers use 160lbs as the average rider weights.