1. Gather the necessary tools.
- 17mm wrench
- Flat-blade screwdriver
- Measuring tape
2. Park your motorcycle on a level surface.
If possible, place it on a motorcycle jack so that you can access the rear shocks from below.
3. Locate the rear shocks.
They are located on the left and right sides of the rear wheel.
4. Loosen the locknuts on the bottom of the rear shocks.
Use the 17mm wrench to turn the locknuts counterclockwise.
5. Use the flat-blade screwdriver to turn the preload adjuster on the rear shocks.
Turning the adjuster clockwise will increase the preload, and turning it counterclockwise will decrease the preload. The preload is the amount of force that is required to compress the rear shocks.
6. Measure the distance between the center of the rear axle and the top of the rear fender.
This measurement will tell you how much travel you have on the rear shocks. The travel is the distance that the rear shocks can compress.
7. Adjust the rear shocks so that they have about 1-inch of travel.
This is a good starting point for most riders, but you may need to adjust the rear shocks to suit your riding style.
8. Tighten the locknuts on the bottom of the rear shocks.
Use the 17mm wrench to turn the locknuts clockwise until they are snug.
9. Repeat steps 4-8 on the other side of the motorcycle.
Once you have adjusted the rear shocks, take your motorcycle for a test ride to make sure they are set correctly.
