Adjusting rear shock

Hi ,I have just got my GSX1250FA,and was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to adjust the rear shock.I have the standard tool that came in the toolkit,but space seems very tight to actually use it on the shock.I am ok on standard settings for the moment,but will need to adjust the preload soon when the wife and me go to Ireland on tour.Cheers.

I usually remove the pillion pegs on the LHS and use an extension piece (a bit of water pipe or steel tubing) for extra leverage.  

To make it easier I'd be looking for an aftermarket shock with remote preload adjuster. I think Wilbers and Hagon do them.

Stromcat wrote:Hi ,I have just got my GSX1250FA,and was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to adjust the rear shock.I have the standard tool that came in the toolkit,but space seems very tight to actually use it on the shock.I am ok on standard settings for the moment,but will need to adjust the preload soon when the wife and me go to Ireland on tour.Cheers.

I love my knuckles too much to fiddle with the Bandit Preload so I had mine adjusted +2 at the first service
Its the only bike I've ever owned that is almost impossible to do without losing skin
A shit cheap arsed design

Stromcat wrote:Hi ,I have just got my GSX1250FA,and was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to adjust the rear shock.I have the standard tool that came in the toolkit,but space seems very tight to actually use it on the shock.I am ok on standard settings for the moment,but will need to adjust the preload soon when the wife and me go to Ireland on tour.Cheers.

I've got a short piece of square tube that fits snugly over the tool, still a bit of a struggle but can be done

I don't have the Bandit any more but in the toolkit there was a hollow tube with a flattened end that slipped over the pin spanner to adjust the shock.

If you attack it from the right location it should only move one click at a time.

I think a little spray lube on the cam made the task fairly reasonable.

To state the obvious: This should be done with the bike on the centre stand.

That's right on both counts!
I did a lot of swearing when I first used the tool ... then i found the tube to extend the handle.
Reasonably easy when the bike is up on centre stand, attack from gear side

Thanks everyone,I will give it a go,perhaps wear my bike gloves for knuckle protection!

reddog wrote:To make it easier I'd be looking for an aftermarket shock with remote preload adjuster. I think Wilbers and Hagon do them.

I have the Wilber's but because I'm riding one up nowadays I opted not to take the remote preload. Of course it was a mistake. Wilbers give you the option of shock only, shock plus preload and shock/preload/four way damping

Had a Hagons shock (without remote adjuster) on my old 1200S Bandit,seemed a decent bit of kit for the price.However,there seems to be a lot more choice these days.Have even had a couple of "non rebuildable" shocks rebuilt in the past,the last one from my Vstrom 1000,where they put a heavier spring on and new seals and oil.Much better than standard and about £175 if I remember right.

I had a bit of a play today with the rear preload adjustment on my GSX1250FA and found that if I used the standard tool in the kit, with the pipe extension AND the rear wheel spanner also included in the kit on the other end of the pipe, I was able to get enough leverage and travel, to move the adjuster 1 notch (either way) without my knuckles coming in contact with any part of the bike.

i do it the way kelpie does and it's ok.  you have to move the footrest as well and a little spray with wd40