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MaxCannon
3rd April 2010, 18:31
So I'm fiddling with the pre load on my front shock (The BMW has just one at the front)
It's an Ohlins unit - factory fitted.
There are two notched rings. One for adjustment and one for locking.

I'm looking to stiffen up the front end as it's too soft at the moment.

Question is - how far can I turn these things. Should I be taking a measurement somewhere, are there standand increments 10mm - 20mm, 2 turns etc or do I just keep tweaking and testing.

The damping is easy, just count the clicks but having never had adjustable preload I'm not sure how much adjustment I should be applying in one go.
SPP
4th April 2010, 19:00
Try this from sportrider to set your static sag (http://www.sportrider.com/tech/146_0308_set_your_static_sag/index.html)
MaxCannon
4th April 2010, 19:06
Thats looks pretty cool - will grab some mates and have a crack at it.
SPP
4th April 2010, 19:54
Cool.

I had a play around with mine and made up a quick spreadsheet to record settings and notes. Oh yeah, be wary of 'recommended' settings from overseas. I tried some on my bike and they were waaaay to hard for the roads around here.
Robert Taylor
5th April 2010, 11:09
Cool.

I had a play around with mine and made up a quick spreadsheet to record settings and notes. Oh yeah, be wary of 'recommended' settings from overseas. I tried some on my bike and they were waaaay to hard for the roads around here.

Aint that correct re many overseas reccommended settings! As a rule of thumb if the preload on the spring has to be increased by a radical amount then the spring is too soft for you and / or you are trying to compensate for weak low speed compression damping. Many of the external damping adjusters on shocks may as well be there for decoration, if the shim stack is too soft no amount of external damping adjustment is going to sort it. Simplistically, springing is about position, damping is about controlling rate of change of position.
MaxCannon
5th April 2010, 15:19
Thanks guys,

It looks like the stock pre-load setting was extreemly soft, wound on a far bit extra and the front has firmed up quite a bit.
Took it for a ride around some tight bumpy roads and there is a marked improvement.

Put on a couple of extra clicks for the rebound too and I could tell the difference.

Pretty happy with how it feels at the mo.