so!

thanx to my riding buddy i was able to obtain an '08 shock that i installed yesterday. my '03 has only 6k miles logged so the stock shock hasn't seen much combat. i didn't quite know what to expect.
as other members have reported, i could notice the difference just taking her off the center stand. also have abit more clearance and missing is the sag effect i'd encounter sitting on the bike w/the stock pogo-stick. left the preload at the springs tallest setting to see how that feels initially. do'in me a modified honey-do 'mini' list and then i'm on the road for an FCF

:plane:---------(functional check flight)

cool... the J shock upgrade is one of the best and affordable mods.. should be done..

For those of you that have allready intalled a J shock on theirs bikes. How easy is the pre-load adjuster to get to?

Good question! I havent yet tried to.. mine is on the lowest (softest) setting and seems fine.. so I havent touched it.. but I 'think' that you would have to remove it to adjust.. I havent really looked at it installed in a while, but I dont remember any clear way to access it.

i don't have an adjuster tool, but was scoping out the possibilities and thought there might be access from directly aft of the shock/swingarm as i can see the adjuster from that vantage point. yet, seeing is one thing, getting a tool plus paws in there is another! don't know how hard it is to turn, but i recall reading somewhere using a screw driver and rubber mallet to get that thing-a-turn'in was an option. (fred flintstone's m/c maint. guide) WILMA! :ohwell:
this mod has definately made a difference in the handling. inputs seemed to require less effort (not by much, but noticeable), bike transitioned quicker from straight up to lean angle desired and back. clearance has been increased and i noticed the bike didn't squat as it did on hard accelerations through the gears from a dead stop...AND with the pirelli sport demons the rear tire could barely turn as it lightly touched the ground. NOW it won't turn period w/out using this high-tech center stand booster tool i found in my garage.
(3/8" ply board) :nerd:
going to be experimenting with some front suspension changes in the future.

mahalo bruddah kelly for making this mod possible! :bow:

cool, Steve... glad it went on w/o problem. We'll have to try it out on a ride next weekend, perhaps? got my flight clearance, so it's a go when we can find the time. :thumbup:

cool, Steve... glad it went on w/o problem. We'll have to try it out on a ride next weekend, perhaps? got my flight clearance, so it's a go when we can find the time. :thumbup:

:D :ride: :ride: :D

roger that!!

komohana, You got any pics of the install ?
this sounds like something worth lookin' at ...

komohana, You got any pics of the install ?
this sounds like something worth lookin' at ...

so sorry! :(
have been away from boards for several days...i'll take pix this afternoon and post them later this evening!

aloha

Also please let us know how easy / hard it is to adjust the pre-load.
Thanks.

I posted some pics in http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=17382 (of the shocks compared).

I came very close to buyin the 08/09 spanner wrench to adjust it.. would be tons easier than using a screwdriver.. but at the softest setting the bike feels great.. so I havent touched it.

Also please let us know how easy / hard it is to adjust the pre-load.
Thanks.

so sorry folks...
my daughter took our digital camera to capture those first day at school pix w/the grandkid and...well...no precious pix nor the camera has made it back yet :(

as far as preload adjustment goes, i haven't attempted any adjusting yet, as i've come to like the way it is since installing. (have it set to where the spring is at it's tallest) whatever setting THAT is, has felt too good to mess with.

as far as preload adjustment goes, i haven't attempted any adjusting yet, as i've come to like the way it is since installing. (have it set to where the spring is at it's tallest) whatever setting THAT is, has felt too good to mess with.

ah, padawan, you know you must lose yourself first in order to find one's self... much like the saying... To Be Old And Wise You Must First Be Young And Stupid

it is the same with the bike... to find what works, you must first learn what doesn't work. adjust that rear shock until it no longer works, then go back to what does.

:lol:

There's enough space with a spanner wrench to adjust the 'J' shock one click at a time. Using a spanner wrench is much safer than a screwdriver & hammer, IMHO.

I want to upgrade the whole suspension or none at all.

I need to find front springs (at least) for the front end, and then I'll do a shock upgrade. I don't want a super stiff back end, because when I ride hard, I'm on the brakes like Ben Spies. That nose dives enough, I don't need the shock to help me! lol

Time to hit up the faq page, and find some springs for my little bike.

ah, padawan, you know you must lose yourself first in order to find one's self... much like the saying... To Be Old And Wise You Must First Be Young And Stupid

but yoda-meister, what happened to "if it ain't broke don't fix it?"
....and "you're not getting any younger grandpa"....and...and...

i'll be over to borrow yer spanner-saber once the storm passes master...

:laser::alien:

lol... but now that you have an adjustable shock, you need to adjust it to see what works best before deciding if the setting you're on is the "best" that can be achieved for you.

lemme know when you wanna play with it. :D

i ALWAYS wanna play with it!

but as far as the shock goes, i'll definately letcha know :D

You must listen to the master. He has been there and done that.
On onother note you called KKim Yoda but di you realy mean Budda? LOL

...Yoda but di you realy mean Budda? LOL

ah, so you know my both of my students? :D

actually not, but we were in grade school together.

On onother note you called KKim Yoda but di you realy mean Budda? LOL

hmm...yoda? :shifty: buddah? :shifty: yoda? :shifty: buddah?

:decision:

oh yeah...boontah! :bow: now where have i heard THAT one before hmmm? :rolleyes:

:p