Motorcycle Shock Absorbers: 4 Settings to Know

How to adjust the rear shock absorbers of your motorcycle?

Properly adjusting the suspensions of your motorcycle or Café Racer is imperative. While a good number of bikers and motorcyclists most often focus their attention on engine maintenance and improving the performance of their motorcycle, it is clear that the cycle part is often neglected.

If the frame and the swinging arm do not require, it is true, sustained attention, it is not the same for the rear shock absorbers of your cafe racer . These elements, which are essential to road holding and therefore to safety , are used daily and are subject to inevitable wear and tear.

On the occasion of the integration, in our online store, of shock absorbers of the YSS brand and in response to the many questions asked through our contact section, we take the opportunity to explain to you how to adjust the rear shock absorbers of his motorcycle.

What are shock absorbers used for?

The suspension plays an essential role in handling . The fork at the front and the shock absorber(s) at the rear ensure the permanent link between the wheels and the ground by absorbing shocks to maintain the motorcycle's attitude, maintain its trajectory and guarantee its braking. Thus, they must respond in an optimum way according to the state of the roads, your speed, the angles taken in the turns and of course the power of your braking.

On the motorcycle side, a suspension in good condition protects the engine and the frame. On the pilot and passenger side, it offers safety and comfort. It is therefore essential to check your shock absorbers and make various adjustments to increase their performance and your riding comfort.

How to adjust the rear shock absorbers?

The front and rear of the Café racer must be adjusted wisely. The fork and the shock absorbers must react simultaneously and in identical proportions. By pressing on the middle of the motorcycle, it must descend and rise symmetrically.

1. Adjusting the preload, preload : put the motorcycle on a center stand so that the rear wheel does not touch the ground and measure the height of the motorcycle. Put it back so that the wheel is this time in contact with the ground and take the measurement again. The gap should be about 10mm. Sit on the motorcycle and take the measurement again. It should drop approximately 3 cm. Base spring compression responds to on-board weight (rider, passenger, luggage). If the preload is too high , the motorcycle does not sink enough and the rear wheel does not effectively absorb the holes and other unevennesses encountered. If the preload is too low , the motorcycle lowers and the suspension bottoms out (the shock absorber comes to a stop on the bumps). The idea is that the bike, once loaded, lowers by a third of the travel.

2. Rebound setting (bottom of rear shock): Rebound is the time taken for the shock to return to its initial position after compression. Make your adjustments gradually (two clicks) and test the result. If the motorcycle seems to sink when accelerating, and cornering is difficult, you will need to release the trigger . If it tends to bounce and you feel a decrease in handling, add some rebound . ( Tips : remember to write down the initial values ​​to come back to them in the event of unsatisfactory results.) The trigger must be sufficiently closed to avoid the upward projection of the motorcycle when the spring is released, and the compression must on its side be low to allow the absorption of the bump.

3. Compression adjustment (at the top of the rear shock): Loosen the compression damping if your motorcycle does not grip properly when accelerating, if it is not grippy enough on bumpy roads. If you find it too flexible, unstable, close the compression. When crossing a speed bump, if your motorcycle tends to climb too suddenly, it is because the shock absorber is unable to absorb the difference in height: the compression is too closed. If, on the contrary, you feel a rebound effect when crossing, the rebound and compression are too open.

4. Speed ​​Adjustment : Some shocks, such as the RG-CB-362 TRW L , allow the shocks to be adjusted to “low speed” and “high speed” positions. Here again, you have to make the changes gradually and test the result obtained.

Namely : adjusting the diameter of the oil passage affects the movement of the shock absorber:

• by tightening the adjustment screw , the circulation of the oil is slowed down, the movement is braked (hydraulics closed, perfect on roads without defects and at high speed);
• loosening the screw has the opposite effect, the oil passes more easily and the movement is accelerated (open hydraulics, ideal for roads in poor condition).

Attention , the clicks and screws do not necessarily have similar effects on the fork or the rear shock absorbers. A turn of the screw or two clicks on one does not cause the same rendering on the other!

Examples of settings on YSS shock absorbers

Preload adjustment

1-Unlock spring preload

2- Adjust the preload (right/soft, left/hard)

Rebound adjustment

right/increase, left/decrease

Compression adjustment

On the external tank: right/increase, left/decrease

Length adjustment

each turn = 1 mm (do not exceed the mark)

Adapt your settings to your riding

There are no typical settings but, depending on your choice of shock absorbers, you will be able to make adjustments to suit your riding style but also the traffic and road conditions you have. used to borrow.

The weight on board will have a significant impact, whether it is luggage, a passenger, etc. If you are used to solo rides, your settings may not be suitable and may negatively affect the handling of your motorcycle. Therefore, if your shocks allow it, feel free to make adjustments .

If despite your settings, your motorcycle gives you some frights and your kidneys painfully cash potholes and other speed bumps , it may be time to take a closer look at your shock absorbers and proceed to their change if necessary.

The YSS solution: the offer and advice from Atelier Blackpines

Discover our offer on the different ranges of the shock absorber manufacturer YSS . Depending on the cylinder capacity of your Café Racer, its weight, the adjustment possibilities or even the aesthetics, we offer you the best choice from entry-level to top-of-the-range, such as shock absorbers from the “racing” series.

We are at your service to help and advise you, so send us your questions via our contact form . We will answer you as soon as possible to give you complete satisfaction.

Take advantage of Blackpines' sales conditions, free delivery from 70 € of purchases, and our after-sales service dedicated to your service. YSS shock absorbers, accessories and all the parts and accessories needed for your motorcycle or your cafe racer are available in our online store .

Take advantage of our offer on the entire collection of YSS shock absorbers: -10% with the code YSSBPCR

For further

If you want to learn more about the world of Café racer, Scramblers, do not hesitate to regularly consult our news and our advice through our articles published on our blog.

Thus, our topic on the wiring harness of a motorcycle could do you a favor. Other examples, to be found on our blog, our advice and information on LED headlights and our assembly guide for LED turn signals .