Shock Preload adjustment

A

air charlie_imp

First service completed
Thread starter
I would like to try adjusting the preload on my shocks but Honda didn't provide the tool to adjust them with the bike. I am wondering if I need to buy the tool from Honda or if there are other options out there. I don't have any specific complaints about the stock setup, but I weigh 215 and am thinking more preload might be justified.
 
Well, its either buy from Honda, buy aftermarket, or find a motorcycle junk yard and buy a tool pouch out of an older bike.
 
Any bike shop would have some kind of shock spanner that would work. Also screw down the front preload adjusters another 1 to 1-1/2 marks and see how you like it. I'm 230 and my fronts are down to no rings showing. Try one step more on the rears.
 
Increased preload on rear from 1st to 3rd setting, increased front from 2nd to 4th setting. Handling is much lighter and Fun!!! What part of Iowa are you from air Charlie????
 
Thread starter
Thanks for the info. I am from the Iowa City area. I bought it up in Cedar Rapids. I might just ride up there and see if they will let me borrow a wrench. I did find the Honda wrench available from Motosport Outlet for $16 and a similair tool made by tusk racing from Rocky Mountain atv for $8. To me it seems like that tool should have came with the bike, but hard to complain when I am spending $$ just to buy matching side panels.

The suspension feels pretty good stock, but I want to make it as good as it can be.
 
You can adjust the rear preload with an appropriately sized pair of channellocks pretty easily, no special tool required.
 
I never had an issue with the stock preload but decided to try out adjusting the preload per many of the discussions here. I found it to adversly affect the ride quality compared to the stock preload and I adjusted back after one ride.

I'm 6' and 160 pounds and felt like I was about to get launched into orbit on a few bumps I've hit comfortably before. I'll try playing around some more and see if anything sits better with me.
 
air charlie_imp said:
Thanks for the info. I am from the Iowa City area. I bought it up in Cedar Rapids. I might just ride up there and see if they will let me borrow a wrench. I did find the Honda wrench available from Motosport Outlet for $16 and a similair tool made by tusk racing from Rocky Mountain atv for $8. To me it seems like that tool should have came with the bike, but hard to complain when I am spending $$ just to buy matching side panels.

The suspension feels pretty good stock, but I want to make it as good as it can be.
Click to expand...
Apparently the tool is included in some markets (like Japan). The owner's manual mentions the shock spanner and couple of other tools that weren't in my kit.
 
Joola_imp said:
I never had an issue with the stock preload but decided to try out adjusting the preload per many of the discussions here. I found it to adversly affect the ride quality compared to the stock preload and I adjusted back after one ride.

I'm 6' and 160 pounds and felt like I was about to get launched into orbit on a few bumps I've hit comfortably before. I'll try playing around some more and see if anything sits better with me.
Click to expand...
The reason is because Japanese bikes are generally set up by default for 160lbs people. Which is why the stock adjustments don't work for your average 'merican. :-) (me included)
 
AzBob_imp said:
Joola_imp said:
I never had an issue with the stock preload but decided to try out adjusting the preload per many of the discussions here. I found it to adversly affect the ride quality compared to the stock preload and I adjusted back after one ride.

I'm 6' and 160 pounds and felt like I was about to get launched into orbit on a few bumps I've hit comfortably before. I'll try playing around some more and see if anything sits better with me.
Click to expand...
The reason is because Japanese bikes are generally set up by default for 160lbs people. Which is why the stock adjustments don't work for your average 'merican. :-) (me included)
Click to expand...
I wondered about that before I did anything but figured if they went to the lengths of making a taller seat than the standard Japanese seat, maybe they'd have changed something with the preload too. Regardless, still thrilled with the bike so I'm not complaining :D
 
ThomWill > 160Lbs made some adjustments today... will have to ride some more to know if it is better (although it was not bad before).
 
I had my dealer adjust the preload, which took all of 30 sec. and cost me nothing. This was the dealer I bought the bike from new, so happy me.

i did want to comment on the stock suspension, feels soft the way thebike was set up from Honda. Adjusting the preload seemed to help greatly. There is a trade off as the ride is a lot harsher on your bones.

I want to upgrade my suspension to Nitron shocks, front and rear.

http://www.nitron.jp/mcn/honda/h_cb1100_10_street.php

D
 
air charlie_imp said:
I would like to try adjusting the preload on my shocks but Honda didn't provide the tool to adjust them with the bike. I am wondering if I need to buy the tool from Honda or if there are other options out there. I don't have any specific complaints about the stock setup, but I weigh 215 and am thinking more preload might be justified.
Click to expand...
:huh:
Does the U.S. model of the CB 1100 not have any stock tools delivered (under seat)? Or does it have, but the shock spanner is missing?
In Germany, the shock spanner is part of the tools shipped.
 
ingobohn_imp said:
air charlie_imp said:
I would like to try adjusting the preload on my shocks but Honda didn't provide the tool to adjust them with the bike. I am wondering if I need to buy the tool from Honda or if there are other options out there. I don't have any specific complaints about the stock setup, but I weigh 215 and am thinking more preload might be justified.
Click to expand...
:huh:
Does the U.S. model of the CB 1100 not have any stock tools delivered (under seat)? Or does it have, but the shock spanner is missing?
In Germany, the shock spanner is part of the tools shipped.
Click to expand...
My bike came with no stock tools under the seat. I had to specifically ask the dealer for them and they ordered me a replacement. The shock spanner is not part of the stock tool kit in the US.

In the end, the stock tools are pretty terrible so I replaced all of them with a better tool kit I use pretty frequently.
 
Call me ignorant but is there a photo or diagram that shows these toolkits? There was a toll in my kit that the Honda dealer didn't know what it was for. Would like to compare my toolkit to a diagram...

Sent from my XT901 using Tapatalk 4.2.4
 
The toolkit's contents are explained in the Owner's Manual.
Here is the Australian version (I have a pdf download here - easier than going to the garage every time I want to look something up).

Click to enlarge.

0265411119fdde98d559d9a14c6fc0c2.jpg


This is how it looks.

http://www.bike-parts-honda.de/thumbs/h/motog/13MEJ3E1/IMGE/720_280/F__3100.png
 
But in the english owner's manual there are more tools listed than finally really available in German CB 1100 tool kit under the seat.
Does the content of this PDF really comply with your tool kit?
 
No it does not.

I checked in the garage now and in fact they skipped the first few parts.
The screwdrivers are there, teh 5mm hex is there, the fuse removal tool, and the hook spanner with extension to adjust the rear preload.
Frankly I do not miss the poor quality tools much. For a longer tour I'd take a leatherman (for the pliers) and an adjustable Spanner on board.
If you have to adjust the chain tension on tour you are either on a very long trip (then seek a motorbike workshop) or your tour preparation was awful (again, if need be then seek a garage).
I have a tyre repair kit in the underseat compartment which allows for reasonable repair of tubeless tyres without removing the wheel. So I only need the 27 or 32mm wrench at home, if at all.

All bike shops in the world will adjust chain tension during a pit stop, no waiting time, just a buck/Euro for the guys will do.
 
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