Remote preload adjuster

[Lutin]

Just gathering some info at the moment. Since I use my TA either solo or two up and loaded, I would like to get a rear shock with remote preload adjustment. The bike behaves much better two-up than it does solo, so I can only imagine that the previous owner was a bit "heftier" than myself - I can get boosted out of the seat when riding solo!

I've found the post by Pigugly, where he fitted the essential gubbins (good technical term there ) from a different shock onto the original. Top job that.

So, the options are, as far as I can tell -

1) Hand over over £400 to Hagon for a complete new unit with remote Preload adjuster.

2) See if they will fit the requisite gubbins to the original shock. There doesn't appear to anything wrong with my original shock.

3) Persuade someone else, maybe All Bike Engineering, to do the same.

4) Try recreate Pigugly's work. Find another shock with necessary bits and then try and find an engineering shop to do the required machining.

Opinions anyone? Have you done it and was it worth the effort?

[Kjell Lindberg]

I have seen a similar job done to an Africa Twin, on the Net.

I think it’s a very clever way of adding a remote hydraulic preload adjuster
to your original rear shock.

Many bikes, not only the VFR400 use the same system, so just visit your friendly scrapper with measurements of your shock, to make sure it will fit with as little work involved as possible.

The god thing is that you can choose to use parts from a light sports bike, or a heavy touring bike, it’s not important.

What’s important is that it mechanically fits your shock, and that it has enough movement between “soft” and “hard” so you have enough adjustments.

The most pleasant thing of doing it this way: http://www.xrv.org.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=12628
Would be the feeling of saving a hefty load of money, while still having an up rated rear shock J

[piguglyshandydrinker]

J



So, the options are, as far as I can tell -

1) Hand over over £400 to Hagon for a complete new unit with remote Preload adjuster.

2) See if they will fit the requisite gubbins to the original shock. There doesn't appear to anything wrong with my original shock.

3) Persuade someone else, maybe All Bike Engineering, to do the same.

4) Try recreate Pigugly's work. Find another shock with necessary bits and then try and find an engineering shop to do the required machining.

Opinions anyone? Have you done it and was it worth the effort?

The stock 650 shock is a better quality unit than the Hagon IMHO (and I have not had good experiences with Hagon in the past.....), grafting a Hyd preload adjuster to the 650 shock, took quite a bit of measuring, searching & head scratching!
It would be worthwhile sourcing a used 650 shock for this so that it can be stripped built up at your leisure.
I cannot give a definitive answer as it all depends on the actual preload adjuster that you find as to how it needs modifying to fit.

A hagon preload adjuster will not fit (or cannot be made to fit) the 650 shock.

Bear in mind;
Of the (Honda style) preload adjusters that I have seen, they give about 6-7mm of adjustment.

The Hagon adjuster gives much more, 11-12mm of adjustment - better if you travel from solo to heavily laden 2 up.

I believe that a Vara 1000 unit could be made to fit (I have one in the shed to look at sometime!) but this may need the CDI etc repositioning.

Currently I have a Hagon shock (bought used, with a hyd adjuster) fitted with an Ohlins 15kg/mm spring on my 'touring' Alp.
The modified 650 shock with stock (13.5kg/mm spring) fitted to my '*rsing around' bike.

If you want any more info feel free to PM me.

Phil

[Lutin]

The story continues......

So, I have been doing some research to find a shock with a remote preload adjuster. The prices of new shocks is a bit shocking (sorry). To give you some idea of prices -

Hagon - New shock £275, remote PLA £125, so a total of £400 without shipping.

WP - New shock £360, with PLA £510! I'm not sure the guy I talked to at WP just now appreciated the comment about winning the lottery.

I know the Piguglyshandydrinker (Phil) was worked on this before and we have been talking about this recently. His solution was fitting a PLA from another shock to his TA shock. I believe that the donor for the PLA was a late 80's VFR 750 - as far as I can tell. However, some machining was required to make the whole thiing come together - not impossible, just not a 5 minute job!

Just talked to Nick at All Bike Engineering about this. I'll let you all know what happens.

[piguglyshandydrinker]

The story continues......



I know the Piguglyshandydrinker (Phil) was worked on this before and we have been talking about this recently. His solution was fitting a PLA from another shock to his TA shock.

Emailed ya some piccies

phil