Finally installed an F4 shock that I bought late in the fall. Getting the old one off was easy enough, but the F4 shoc was maybe 1/2" longer than the old one. I quickly realized that while it can be done by one person, it is best to do the job with two people so that one person can keep the bike from falling over. Even though the rear was sort of supported by the rear stand, lifting the bike up by a jack sothat the new shock could bolt up made it really unstable and I had to hold onto it with one had during the entire re-assembly process.

In the end I think it looks a lot better, and especially feels a lot better just sitting on it. I still need to add a spacer to the kick stand though because it now looks like it is going to fall over from the slight increased rear height.

 

You should be able to adjust the ride height couldn't you? To make it slightly lower with its current stance?

Pictures?

-Jasper

 

Not that I am aware of. I know you can adjust the preload, which in a roundabout way means you can adjust the height while you are on it, but then that would lessen available travel. Plus, I am a big guy and have the preload all the way up there. I think what I noticed more than anything was the better feel it had when going over any bump. Can't remember if the oe was oil or gas filled, but the new one has the extrenal gas cyclinder with more adjustments. The ride was smoother for sure.

One thing I did was to re-aim the headlight up a little since I knew the rear end would go up. Plus the silverstar worked great, but seemed to shine on the road directly in front a bit too much. Now it seems like it lights up the road in front a little better.

 

I thought most shocks come with adjustable perches like coilovers on a car?


My bike with its current set up feels like a car with stiff coilovers...

Me being 5'10 at only 155 lbs with racetech 200lb springs on my 94 forks (cartridge) + my Ohlins piggyback, I feel everything on the road. Even on the freeway when they have those lumpy elevated portions of concrete on the freeway overpasses I always slightly lift off my bike. Haha.

-Jasper