Do I have to have the back on stands to do this because it will not budge.

 

Why are you wanting to adjust the rear suspension? Chances are, if it [i/needs[/i] any adjusting, it probably needs serviced by a professional.

Unless you know your bike inside out and are racing it but then my guess you would know the answer to the question...

I'm confused.

 

On my F4I i have to turn it anti-clockwise to increase preload, and clockwise to decrease preload.

How to setup your rear preload:
-------------------------------------

- Measure the distance from the rear footpeg bolt, to the rear axle
- Now ask someone to help you, and go sit on the bike, let your helper measure again
- The bike should go down about 1 inch for normal riding, or 3/4 inch for sportive riding.
- Adjust the rear preload as necessary to achieve this
- Now measure from rear footpeg bolt to rear axle again
- Now lift the bike up from the rear, it should go up about 1/2 inch
- If this all is correct, go for a ride, when the back side feels nervous, you should increase damping a little

Good luck

 

Even taking a passenger for a long trip requires preload adjustment, so if you don't know what you are talking about, then please don't

 

So...do I have to have the back on stands? The reason I want to change my preload is because I'm a really light guy and the back seems really stiff.

 

Nothing requires anything. I've ridden over 300 miles in one day with a passenger... do ya think I ever touched the suspension? Nope. Didn't need to either. It was also the same bike I float a knee on - didn't adjust it before - or after.

As I said - there is no reason to adjust anything unless you think it just outright wrong. In which case your best bet is to have it set to your body weight and riding style by a professional. Once you have that done, then you can make minor adjustments as you feel necessary.

Go ahead and take two people who know only what they have read on the internet about suspensions and let them start tweaking your bikes suspension - I'd like to see how far beyond ****ed that bike would be after they were finished with it.

What do you feel the bike is doing that it shouldn't? What kind of riding do you do more of (commuting/riding hard/hammering the straights)? How much do you weigh? What are the stock settings for your bike? What does preload do? What does rebound do? What does the compression adjustment do? Do you own a pin spanner?

What are you trying to do?

Until you can answer those questions I think it's absurd to go out turning wrenches and screwdrivers on your bike.

Phobos - I'm not saying your little write up aren't a nice contribution and spot on but to claim I have no idea what I'm talking about is just nonsense.

 

I think the fact that you keep asking if the rear wheel needs to be off the ground only points to the obivous.

Have a professional set your bike up. Watch him and when he is finished, pick his brain about how you might go about making fine adjustments and when they may be necessary. It will probably be close to the best $70 you could spend on your bike. Chump change, all things considered.