Rear Suspension Tool CBR600RR

[jcrawford]

It's a shot in the dark but does anyone on here who lives somewhat close to Lynn, MA happen to have the tool to adjust the rear suspension. If you do I could really use your assistance in softening my rear suspension.

I was riding 2-up yesterday with my fiance and she said every bump was killing her back and inner legs. I understand that these bikes have plywood seats for the passenger and I plan to look at softer options there too.

If you have one and can assist please let me know I can bring the bike to you providing you are a reasonable distance from Lynn, MA.

[OreoGaborio]

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What you want is a Screwdriver... Just reduce compression damping.

[scubasteveRR]

I have one for my 05... not sure if it will work on your shock but let me ask you a question...

You're putting more weight on a bike that was really designed for only one person why do you want to want to soften up the suspension? that just seems counter intuitive to me.

I usually use the tool to stiffen my suspension when I have a passenger. I also pump up my rear tire all because I need the bike to hold more weight.

[jcrawford]

I didn't know I could simply use a screw driver My book talked about some special tool.

As for why I want to soften it it's because at factory setting it seems really hard. For me while solo it seems fine but when I add my fiance as a passenger I feel the bumps even more than when solo. She complained about it and it actually made her back sore from a short 1 hour ride yesterday.

I am planning on buying the Corbin seats (or something like them) by spring to give her a bit more cushion but thought that I could soften the suspension to make it so she won't feel every single bump we hit even the small one such as cracks in the road.

I plan on using a set amount of clicks and putting it back to where it is when I ride solo so that it does not mess up my riding.

One thing I did not think about though. Should I lower the tire pressure in the rear / front tire when I have a passenger or should I keep the same pressure?

[jcrawford]

My thinking may be counter intuitive I don't doubt that. Maybe I am thinking in reverse and need to tighten the suspension or add tire pressure. I am new to all of this which is why I am hoping to gain some advice from you guys.

[scubasteveRR]

I am no expert by any means. but I was told by the suspension guru that you shouldn't bring passengers on these bike because the shocks are only designed to hold one person safely.

With that said I do take my GF on the back I always stiffen my rear spring to the max (from 7 - 10) and pump up my tires, more in the rear than I do in the front since thats where I am adding all the weight and the ride seems ok giving that I am asking the shock to suspend more weight that it was originally designed to hold. (or should I say than it was originally setup to hold since you could set up the shock for two people but that would mean changing the spring to heaver one to hold the heaver weight.

to me.. more weight = stiffer shocks and more air in the tires.. not softer suspension and softer tires.

[jcrawford]

thanks for the information I will have to try to increase the stiffness and add tire pressure. Are you around today so that I could meet up with you to see if the tool would work?

I guess a new shock will be in my future too if the stock one cannot be adjusted for passengers but I will have to look into that and probably get opinions from here because I would not
want to purchase the wrong shock and find myself in the same position

Also when I am talking about a passenger I am not talking for several hours... unless the comfort could be increased a lot lol

I am talking more along the lines of 1-2 hours riding with the passenger so I need to try to adjust the bike so that she can enjoy it as well.

[Degsy]

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The tool is in your bikes tool kit.

[jcrawford]

The tool is in your bikes tool kit.

Negative, I really wish it was there, maybe the dealer didn't include it if it is supposed to be. This is all I got in my tool kit.

[scubasteveRR]

I'll be kicking around all day but I'm not that close to you as Bolton is right on 495 down by RT. 2 but you are more than welcome to come down and use it.

if you're going to come down text me so I can be around for ya. (sent you a PM with my number)

[backinthesaddle]

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The tool is in your bikes tool kit.

It was through 2008. For some reason all you get in 2009+ is a hex wrench and a metal strap for the helmet holder. Unless you are in Canada then you still get the kit. Go figure, they take away 8 HP and some stamped steel toys.

[scubasteveRR]

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The tool is in your bikes tool kit.

Honda went cheap after the 2005 model. it was the last bike they made with a full tool kit.

from 2006 and on they just give you an alan key and helmet hanger thing.

EDIT: or what he said above but Corey's (HondaRider's) 2006 RR didn't have a tool kit so I figured they stopped after 05

[idratherberidin]

I have one in Danvers you're welcome to try. I'll be cleaning my chain and going for a ride if you want to do it today. Shoot me a PM for the info

[hondarider102]

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The tool is in your bikes tool kit.

Honda went cheap after the 2005 model. it was the last bike they made with a full tool kit.

from 2006 and on they just give you an alan key and helmet hanger thing.

EDIT: or what he said above but Corey's (HondaRider's) 2006 RR didn't have a tool kit so I figured they stopped after 05

Previous owner took it out

[OreoGaborio]

I am no expert by any means. but I was told by the suspension guru that you shouldn't bring passengers on these bike because the shocks are only designed to hold one person safely.

Me thinks there was a miscommunication or misinterpretation... there's nothing "unsafe" about putting a passenger on a sportbike. And you're not asking the shock to hold more weight than it was designed for, you're just asking the SPRING to do more work and hold more weight. That's all.

The rest of your post is fine. Increase preload to get the shock to sit higher in the stroke and increase tire pressure slightly as well to compensate.

For more information, consult your owners manual.


If the ride is too "harsh", then it's possible that you're either bottoming out the shock (solution: increase preload) or you've got the compression damping set too high (solution: Reduce compression by a click or two and it should make the suspension a little softer).



And if your bike requires a spanner wrench to adjust the spring preload and you can't source one, just use a screwdriver and a hammer.

[jcrawford]

Oreo,

Thanks for the information. I am going to try to get this setup today for the short-term but in the spring think I will be going to GMD to have the suspension setup properly for me as suggested by a few of you most recently ScubaSteve.

[scubasteveRR]

Me thinks there was a miscommunication or misinterpretation... there's nothing "unsafe" about putting a passenger on a sportbike. And you're not asking the shock to hold more weight than it was designed for, you're just asking the SPRING to do more work and hold more weight. That's all.

No miscommunication, I didn't say that sportbikes are unsafe for two rides, i said the stock shock setup on sportbikes is unsafe for two riders. I was told straight out by the suspension guru when I asked how to change my setting for two up riding when I got my suspension setup for my weight and the answer he gave me was realistically it was unsafe to load another passenger on the rear of a sports bike with the stock spring/shock setup even if I stiffened it to the max that it could handle. So I am going by what I was told by a professional

I do understand that if you increase the shock spring rate then the shock will work properly. I was more generalizing it since I know that changing the spring to handle two people isn't really a viable solution if you plan on riding by yourself most more than 50% of the time.

Then again I seen the two up riding at the track where they are putting knees down so maybe he was just blowing smoke up my ass so I'd buy a new shock?

[OreoGaborio]

Well then go back to him and ask what his definition of "unsafe" is.
Do you think the shock is going to explode? Probably not, unless it's a really fat chick and you're hitting mad jumps, yo.
Will it be undersprung and undervalved? Yeah.
Does that make it "unsafe"? Not unless it's not within your genetic code to be able to ride within the capabilities of your machine. If you can do that, then there's nothing "UNSAFE" about it, in my opinion.


Can you change the clicker settings on the stock one so it's magically set up "PROPERLY"? No. No matter what you do, it'll still be undersprung & likely undervalved... but that's really not a huge deal if you're just cruising around the streets or even stepping it up a little bit to have a wee bit of fun.


Chances are, depending on your weight and riding style, you can't change the settings on the stock one so that it's set up properly for ONE up riding either, unless you swap springs and do a revalve... at which point, you're probably better off just spending a few extra bucks for an aftermarket.


Bottom line, the stock shock on most bikes is just "fine" for normal one-up or easy two-up street riding... If you want better performance, then yeah, you're going to want an aftermarket shock for better performance and a wider range of adjustability. But it's not like a bike becomes unsafe if you put another person on the back. If it were unsafe then it would say so in your owners manual, there wouldn't be a 2-up riding suggestions section and there wouldn't be a back seat.

[HO-HUM-R1]

just got mine back from GMD.. Peter is a great guy

[backinthesaddle]

Well then go back to him and ask what his definition of "unsafe" is.
Do you think the shock is going to explode?

But isn't there nitroglycerin in the shock? Oh wait its nitrogen. Just like the stuff the guy at the quick change oil place wants to put in my car tires. Never mind.

[jcrawford]

Idratherberidin,

Thanks for the help with the adjusments. It actuall made solo riding better. Ill let you know how it is after taking a ride with her later this evening. That said if you and your girl/wife are open to a ride let me know. Not too sure on the time yet still trying to secure a sitter.

[jwm2k3]

I was told straight out by the suspension guru when I asked how to change my setting for two up riding when I got my suspension setup for my weight and the answer he gave me was realistically it was unsafe to load another passenger on the rear of a sports bike with the stock spring/shock setup even if I stiffened it to the max that it could handle. So I am going by what I was told by a professional

Does a suspension guru sell suspension products?

And believe me, there is MORE than enough adjustment that can be made here....Adjust rear shock and also let riders adjust. Joe is new, Im sure his girl is newer to riding. A factory rear shock/spring is more than up to the task of carrying both solo/2up...

I myself, only find value in suspension upgrades if the pace is extreme. Stock suspension on a modern sportbike is amazing compared to when I began riding....

[scubasteveRR]

yes he sells products to almost everyone on this site. you can all GFY's I posed a question to a professional and this was the answer I got PLAIN, SIMPLE I could care less what anyone else thinks.

Maybe he'll chime in and correct me on what he meant by unsafe but I’m not a fucking idiot, It didn’t even enter my mind in the realm of possibility that the shock will explode.

Is the bike going to lose control as your just cruising down the street? No. again, I’m not an idiot. I know the bike will handle the passenger. Am I’m not saying “No, don’t put a passenger on the back ever they will die” as ride my girl on the back from time to time.

The undersprung spring thing that was part of his explanation, which also had to do fulcrum point of the shock and change in the geometry of the bike ect ect. This was two years ago when I asked him so what he exactly said I can’t remember but the point that what he was trying to make was he didn’t recommend it.

What he means by unsafe is really up to anyone’s interpretation I guess but I took it as a warning that the shock isn’t going to perform properly with a passenger on the back. Plain and simple that’s all I was trying to convey to the OP

I did asked a similar question to one you posted below and he stood by his answer and gave me no recommended for two up rideing adjustments at all.

“If it were unsafe then it would say so in your owners manual, there wouldn't be a 2-up riding suggestions section and there wouldn't be a back seat.”

[backinthesaddle]

So back in 1976 jumping a trail 70 (with suspension that rivals a storm door return spring) over the width of a one lane road with a passenger was a bad move by me I guess. Good thing we only did it a few times before the bag of luck ran out.

[OreoGaborio]

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yes he sells products to almost everyone on this site. you can all GFY's I posed a question to a professional and this was the answer I got PLAIN, SIMPLE I could care less what anyone else thinks.

Maybe he'll chime in and correct me on what he meant by unsafe but I’m not a fucking idiot, It didn’t even enter my mind in the realm of possibility that the shock will explode.

Is the bike going to lose control as your just cruising down the street? No. again, I’m not an idiot. I know the bike will handle the passenger. Am I’m not saying “No, don’t put a passenger on the back ever they will die” as ride my girl on the back from time to time.

The undersprung spring thing that was part of his explanation, which also had to do fulcrum point of the shock and change in the geometry of the bike ect ect. This was two years ago when I asked him so what he exactly said I can’t remember but the point that what he was trying to make was he didn’t recommend it.

What he means by unsafe is really up to anyone’s interpretation I guess but I took it as a warning that the shock isn’t going to perform properly with a passenger on the back. Plain and simple that’s all I was trying to convey to the OP

I did asked a similar question to one you posted below and he stood by his answer and gave me no recommended for two up rideing adjustments at all.

“If it were unsafe then it would say so in your owners manual, there wouldn't be a 2-up riding suggestions section and there wouldn't be a back seat.”

Holy fucking sensitive. Chill out dude.