Beast

I need to adjust the rear but I can't figure out for the life of me how to do it. Is there a tool I need to buy?
I did do a search on this but I couldn't find anything helpful.

Thanks.

ranchomice

There is a tool in the tool bag that came with the bike, if you got one. Look in the toolbag under the seat, it is like a mis-shaped open end wrench with kind of a "tooth" on it.

1971allchaos

If you can't figure it out- It is safer to have a professional show you how..
Safety first...

uchi

if you look at the bottom of the shock it looks like a crown of sorts. you take that half open wrench and put it on there and either turn it left or right depending on if you want the spring tighter or softer. itll take some muscle as its likely full of dirt and tight. but itll move. and then on the right hand side on the very bottom is a little screw for the damping adjustments.

yoiu know i just second guessed myself, is the adjuster for the spring on the top or the bottom? lol. regardless look for a thing that looks like a crown it sits on a threaded sleeve. and the tool is a 2 piece. the first is a pipe that looks like its been run over and it flat, that becomes the handle. the second looks like a question mark.

Beast

Thanks guys, I assumed it would be a tool similar to a spanner wrench. My bike did not come with it. The crown is at the top. I checked ebay but didn't come across anything. Is there somewhere you know will have these?

Now that you brought that up uchi, how do I adjust the damping?

Tweety

Well... To improve the characteristics of the stock shock, you just replace it with a nice pine 2*4... It will improve, I promise...

And if you don't like that suggestion, well, uchi just told you how... Look at the bottom of the shock, there is a slot for a screwdriver (black against the aluminium)... Turn that either way (there is a marking hard-soft)...

According to the manual it's supposed to change how the shock feels... It might actually have done that when it was new, I can't tell you for sure, but I highly doubt it will now... My advice, go look for an aftermarket shock or have a look at Jamie Daugherty's retrofitted F4i shocks...

Beast

2x4, huh? About how long should I cut that?

Beast

I think it is already an aftermarket, when I get some time I will have to take a closer look at it.. Thanks again.

NH-Raptor

Tweety, you are priceless. I've been a member of this forum for just under a year and I'd have to say you have been consistent from the first time I logged on right through to this fine demonstration of your attitude to new people reaching out to what they think are friendly fellow SuperHawk riders for a little help. I recall my first question and how warm and fuzzy I felt when you answered with a less then stellar remark. It sure made me want ask more questions and be part of this forum. Well, I stayed on and have enjoyed being part of this forum dispite your tasteless answers. Let's hope other "newbies" have skin as thick as mine.

Beast

There are very few people with skin as thick as mine. I know it is just for fun, hence my smart-*** reply.

Stevebis1

Hmmm... I thought Tweety's answer was right on - and the suggestion to see Jamie is the most valuable part.
In any case, my bike didn't come with the tool kit either. I found my big pump pliers did the trick for turning the preload

7moore7

http://www.bikebandit.com/houseofmot.../m2912#sch1743 if you want to do it the OEM way- #6

Tweety

You know this not the right place for it, so you get the short version...

What in my answer was "a fine demonstration of my attitude" ?

The stock shock is bad... It was bad in 97 because Honda pinched pennies, and it's even worse now since it's not rebuildable and with a few year on the oil inside it isn't improving... On a brand new VTR it's "OK" if you are the correct weight for it... If you aren't the the adjustment range on it isn't very good... While you might be satified with yours, unless you have tried an aftermarket or otherwise fresh one, you might be surprised how that feels in comparasion...

Instead of typing this all this and more out, I used humour... It was pretty clear that it was humour with the smilie... Beast interpreted it as such and understood it...

You didn't... That's your issue...

Since it was unclear if Beast misunderstood uchi or didn't find the adjuster It's not that obvious if you are used to looking at the blingy aftermarket or newer model shocks where the adjuster is on a VTR stock shock... So I re-stated and clarified it, and I then added information that I though would be usefull, ie that there are a low cost alternative to aftermarket replacement shocks...

If you have problem with me, take it up in PM... If you neglect to do so and do it publicly instead, expect me to ignore you from now on...

BTW I happen to have a good memory, your first post was asking if a blown up CCT at whatever mileage was the norm... I told you to go research the recent threads on CCT failures... Considering that there was (and still are) more than 100+ on CCT's and about a dozen or so polls with what mileage they blew up, I thought then and still think that the answer I gave was warranted... If you didn't like the message, tough luck, it's not going to change... If you disliked the tone, as I said, take it up with me personally...

Beast

Can't be displayed..

@ Tweety;
I understood what uchi was saying but I was asking if there were more to just twisitng it one way or the other..

I think you guys took it both the wrong way from each other.

I did find out that the spring is aftermarket but unknown what the spring rate or the manufacturer is. I may just end up having to do a full swap. As a daily around towner the setting isn't bad but if I were to get more aggressive with it I don't think it'd do so hot.

Tweety

As for NH-Raptor... Well... He's complained before, publicly... I gave him a similar answer that time as well... I'll deal with him in PM...

Well... The idea behind it is that you set the shock up with the spring tension so that it sags 25-30 mm with you on it in the rear... Then you set the damping at a point where you get controlled movement, ie no bouncing about and not slow movement (to much)... Unfortunately that's why the stock shock isn't very good... You have no rebound setting, and the damping setting makes as far as I could tell little or no difference from end to end...

Unfortunately an aftermarket spring on the stock shock will do nothing to cure that problem... It might even make it worse...

But more importantly, you need balance in the settings, front and back to have an enjoyable ride... And with stock components that's almost impossible... The stock forks are decent, and even good once you have them setup with springs suiting your weight... Doing that and a F4i shock in the rear isn't very expensive...

Here is a link with a step by step that seems decent... http://www.gostar-racing.com/informa...ion_set-up.htm

Tweety

http://fiche.ronayers.com/Index.cfm/...19/Group/TOOLS

The no 6 & 17 make up the tool for adjusting the spring on the stock shock... Dunno if it's the same on yours since it apparently isn't stock anymore... Could help with a picture to identify things...

Beast

Awesome thanks for the links. The crown and everything are the same just the spring is different. $70 for the whole thing isn't bad at all for a tool kit.

I think it'll be a while before I am able to swap anything out, until then I'll have to make do with the stuff I have. Great info though,. Thanks again.

ranchomice

Is your spring blue? As far as tweety, he's just like many of us here. It's hard to get "emotion" through text! I thoght he was an *** at first too. It turns out he is...but he's a smart ***, not an *** $%#e, lol LIGHTEN UP PEOPLE! Welcome to the unofficial superhawk forum! Enjoy the ride.
ps. Jamie is a good place to go with suspension questions.

Beast

No, it is Yellow.

I'm not to worried about it though. Jamie? What's his SN?

Tweety

Long thread, but there are goodies spread out inside... https://www.superhawkforum.com/forum...ight=f4i+shock

Erik S.

His screenname is Jamiedaugherty

7moore7

+1 on Tweety bein' an a-hole. He even managed to destroy my bike through his conniving ways from across the Atlantic; Convinced me to take it all apart because 'frames should be strait for the street as well as the track' and 'you may want to get that looked at so you don't end up in the ditch' or some bull sh*t like that. I don't even remember the details 'cause I was lost in the jargon but nevertheless he should not be trusted!

heh.

NH-Raptor

Tweety, you can ignore me after this.

Please accept this apology for my outburst against you this morning. The lesson learned here for me is not to air any of my percieved dirty laundry on a public forum.

Now you can ignore me!

t-dogg