The rear shock on your motorcycle makes your ride safter and more comfortable by allowing the rear wheel to move up and down. This movement makes riding over bumps and potholes less painful and ensures that the rear wheel is always in contact with the ground so that you maintain traction around corners. Your rear shock can be adjusted to be softer (more comfortable) or stiffer (more responsive) by simply twisting the preload adjuster. Adjust your rear shocks and get the most out of your ride.
Take a short test ride if you don't already have an idea of how you would like to adjust the shock. Determine if you would like to make the shock softer, more comfortable and relaxed, or stiffer, more responsive and quicker into and out of corners.
Set your bike on its center stand if you have one. This will raise the rear of the bike making it easier to turn the adjuster. If you do not have a center stand, simply set down the side stand, but be aware it may be difficult to turn the preload adjuster with the weight of the bike on the rear wheel.
Locate the rear shock. On most street bikes there is a single rear shock underneath the tail section with an adjuster ring at the top. Most cruisers will have two rear shocks, one on each side of the tail of the bike with adjusters at the bottom. Both shocks should always be identically adjusted.
Turn the preload adjuster of the shock or shocks clockwise toward the shock spring using a spanner wrench to stiffen the spring and make the bike more responsive in corners and on accelerations. Turn the adjuster counterclockwise away from the spring to make the bike more comfortable and fluid.
Go out for another test ride to feel the difference made by your adjustments. Return home and fine-tune your adjustment of the shocks until the bike rides just the way you like.
