BluStreak

Comrades, just bought a 2003 SH and can't wait for the weather to clear and warm to ride. The bike came without any manuals. Thanks to the Knowledge Base for access to the technical manual on the web. Printed it out and put it in a binder. There must be an owners manual that refers to such mundane issues as starting procedures, suspension adjustment, etc., etc, but I can't find anything in this forum related to finding an owners manual. Is there such a thing? Can I access one somewhere?

One of the reasons I'm looking is to try to get some baseline about how to set up the rebound and spring rates on the bike. Would be most grateful for any info on an owners manual or basic suspension set-up. I know the suspension on the bike is not what you can find in the after-market, but for now, I don't care about those options.

Hawkrider

I can't find a downloadable one, but I'll keep searching. You can register at the Honda Owner Link page (https://www.ahm-ownerlink.com) and there are some .pdf files for some maintenance items.

The printed copy can be purchased through Helm Inc.

RK1

Sportrider Magazine's recommendation is front preload 4 lines showing and rebound one turn out from full tight.

Rear spring on position 3 and rebound a half turn out.

VTRsurfer

RK1, what rider weight is that recommendation for? What issue of Sportrider?

RK1

http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/146_...dex.html#honda

VTRsurfer;

I think they said it was the best compromise for 140-180 lbs.

VTRsurfer

Thanks! That's great since I'm 155. I haven't touched my settings since my '05 was bought new. Front preload is on 4 now; rear is on 2nd step and has always felt soft when I hit a bump when leaned over.

RK1

Sure. I weigh about the same and the SR settings were close to good for me.

Same as you rear spring on 2 didn't work for me. #3 is a bit stiff but the best option. I ended up with the rear rebound about 3/4 out. With 1/2 the rear was packing down when I gassed it in first and second and boing boing over expansion joints.

I put .85 Race Techs up front with same OAL as stock spring and spacer. Still best for me 4 lines showing but rebound about 3/4 out.

oahu hawk

I tried out your modified SR settings today and the bike feels good, but seems a little bouncy on our crappy excuse for a freeway...I also have the .85s and weigh in at about 165, I had been on the standard settings per the manual...

I also noticed that my hands started aching earlier into the ride than normal (arthritis), I guess the preload increase in the rear effectively has me sitting a little higher with more weight forward on the hands...I'll try to get used to this, but may have to return to good old setting number 2...

VTRsurfer

Yeah, it's a bitch getting old isn't it.

RK1

My ****. If we were really gettin' old and riding at all, we'd be on Hardley Road Queens or Honda Gold Barges instead of VTRs, the gentleman's sport bike.

VTRsurfer

I'm 62 and recently retired. And all my old canyon racing buddies from 25 to 30 years ago ARE on Harleys.

My current ridding buddy is 57 and rides an 851 and 998 Duc, but he can't handle as many hours in the saddle as I can on the VTR with a Sargent.

RK1

I'm in my mid 50s. I weigh the same and am in better shape than I was at age 21. I've still got all of my hair and it's still brown. Everything still works. And I can still sleep all night without having to get up and pee.

I have noticed two downsides;

When I get banged up, it hurts more and takes a bit longer to heal.

It has gotten slightly harder to successfully hit on women under the age of 30.

VTRsurfer

I still have a full head of dark blond hair, I ride short boards as well as long boards (we've got 18 boards in the garage), but the joints are stiffening up. My wife is a retired P.E. teacher, so she tries to keep me on a stretching regimen.

Hard canyon riding is much easier on the body than surfing. As long as you don't crash, that is.

RK1

You lucked out. Your wife is a smart girl. I've had trouble with my back, on and off, since I hurt it playing football at age 17. If it wasn't for Hatha Yoga, which I intend to do every day but actually do about 40 minutes every other day, I'd probably be in a wheelchair by now.

There is a spiritual component to yoga, but even if you don't care about that the stretching will keep you in good stead for the rest of your life. Just my opinion based on my experience.

g_clarke_2008

+1 on the yoga

oahu hawk

Well, let's see, I've got half my hair left and it's mostly gray. I've got a bum back and some arthritis in my hands, which mainfests itselt as pain at the base of my thumbs.

That said, everything still works as advertised, owing to frequent exercise and regular rides on the Superhawk.

BluStreak

Greg, you're right there dude! I went to the Honda link above and it leads you right to the option to buy the owners manual ($16) and the Helm, Inc. link. I think that's where you're actually ordering it from. Thanks again, I'll take note of all the advice here when I have a reference about exactly where all of these adjustments can be made.

Scott

VTRsurfer

Yeah, I didn't even mention my back. Typical L4 and L5 disc problems, as well as cervical. But I try to be careful with what I lift, and otherwise just deal with it. It never bothers me while I'm riding.

BluStreak, sorry about jacking your thread man. The Honda manual will help a lot.

RK1

BluStreak;

There are a lot of reasons to want an owner's manual to go along with your VTR, but help setting up the suspension isn't one of them.

Manual says shock spring preload on "1" or '2" is "normal". Most everyone finds that, especially "1" too soft. Both rebound adjustments at one turn out are "normal". What's "normal" for front spring preload? The manual doesn't bother to mention it. They have a little line drawing but i can't tell if "normal" is 3 or four lines showing.

They do say that turning the rebound adjusters clockwise means "hard" and counter clockwise means "soft". Very nice of them.

oahu hawk

+1...

RK1

Hell. There's more good suspension info in this "jacked" thread than anybody could find in the owner's manual.

VTRsurfer

I hear that.

And my back's feeling pretty good right now too.

oahu hawk

Per the Service Manual, "standard" settings are as follows:

Front:

4th line on the adjuster aligned with the top surface of the fork cap for spring pre-load...

one turn counter-clockwise from hard for rebound (essentially the same as the Sport rider recommendations)

Rear:

spring pre-load on postion 2...

one turn counter-clockwise from hard for rebound (one position softer that the SR recommendations on pre-load)

RK1

Yeah that's what mine says except It wasn't clear about the front preload.

Everybody's different, but for me, the recommended rear settings are too loose and squishy except for freeway cruising.

I know the real answer for me is to spend a grand or so for a real rear shock and front revalve. I've got a 25 year old Fox twin clicker on my old Interceptor. Works way better than the thing on the back of the VTR. Just too cheap to do it right now.

BluStreak

Oahu Hawk & VTRSurfer, glad to provide the geriatric sharing opportunity. Oh yea, I'm not quite as old as you guys, but the prostate surgery was successful and the fecal shape and color are right on!!

Just kidding, thanks for all the advice (on the suspension).

BluStreak

oahu hawk

You're welcome!...and BTW, I still have all of my own teeth...

Gregw

Same here, I keep them in a jar.

VTRsurfer

Trestles was 5' on the set waves today with screaming rights and lefts. And I snagged a few of each.
You're only as old as you want to be.

BluStreak

Sounds fun! Went skiing with my 18 year old last night and demo'd a set of Fischer RedHeets! Awesome!! It was 10 degrees at the top, but the crowd was thin. After a bunch of top to bottom rocket runs with the kid, I'm back on the **** talkin to you boys tonight.

Don't lose that jar!! You might have to borrow Ma's teeth to eat that steak!

Oz Stormer

Hi Guys,
Just bought myself a '99 VTR. Lovin it so far. The previous owner seemed to think that everything worked best screwed up as hard as it could go. So I've taken it back to stock with help from you guys and several othe forums helped me fix the CCT's as well.
Next job to tackle is the reg/rec. I saw a couple of articles where guys put heatsinks and fans on the back of the reg/rec. Now, correct me if i'm wrong, but the cooling surface is on the "chassis" side. Therefore one would be better off turning the Reg/Rec around and attaching a quality heatsink, using heat transfer compound, to the "shiiny side" thereby providing an efficient cooling surface. Something that the little piece of plate on the chassis isn't. BTW I loved the charge indicator light plans.. definitely going to make one of those.