Bandit Alley

MODEL SPECIFIC => SUZUKI BANDIT 600 thru 1200 - AIR/OIL COOLED TECHNICAL => Topic started by: rocketman1 on December 22, 2005, 03:27:46 AM

Title: Rear shock adjustment - Bandit 1200
Post by: rocketman1 on December 22, 2005, 03:27:46 AM
I havent had my bike long, tried adjusting the rear shock top end with the piss arse little tool in the spare tool kit. Am I bloddy weak or are these top end adjustments bloody hard to move.
Whats the secret chaps?
Title: Rear shock adjustment - Bandit 1200
Post by: B12Teuton on December 22, 2005, 09:04:56 AM
The spanner tool in the tool kit by itself is useless.  You have to stick the handle extension on the end of it.  Try not to stick it ALL the way on.  You want to leave the handle as long as possible to give max leverage.  

Hope that makes sense.

It takes a while to get the hang of it, but once you develop a technique, it works just fine.
Title: Rear shock adjustment - Bandit 1200
Post by: txbanditrydr on December 22, 2005, 10:34:14 AM
And don't forget to wrap a shop towel or rag around the cheater lest you dink up the paint on the frame.... ask me how I know.   :duh:
Title: Rear shock adjustment - Bandit 1200
Post by: BANDIT#999 on December 22, 2005, 04:50:21 PM
Quote from: "txbanditrydr"
And don't forget to wrap a shop towel or rag around the cheater lest you dink up the paint on the frame.... ask me how I know.   :duh:


Hmmm, I thought that's what knuckles were for :wink: , but I guess a rag would work too. Don't ask me how I know..... :crybaby:
Title: Rear shock adjustment - Bandit 1200
Post by: ray nielsen on December 23, 2005, 12:21:14 PM
With my big hands I've had to remove the box above the battery and the battery to reach the shock adjustment slots.

It's a pain, but that's the only way I can fit the tool and extender into the opening.  

After the removal it's easy to adjust the shock pre-load.
Title: Rear shock adjustment - Bandit 1200
Post by: slo coach on December 24, 2005, 05:32:22 PM
i adjusted my rear shock when i picked up a pillion for a long ride other day and i got a surprisehow quickly it happened on side of road,and yes it is stiff but you can use one of the other tools in the tool kit to extent  the handle a couple of times to get the extra leverage required to get it to click in  easily.to harden the shock i found the right hand side of the bike had the best  access.

cheers    slo coach
Title: Rear shock adjustment - Bandit 1200
Post by: BANDIT#999 on December 25, 2005, 12:22:24 AM
Hey slo coach are you in a tunnel?
Seems to be an echo, cho, ho, o, in here, ere, re, e!  :wink:

 :lol:  :lol:  :lol:
Title: Rear shock adjustment - Bandit 1200
Post by: slo coach on December 26, 2005, 11:23:58 PM
hey 305 ,after 30 yers without a bike ,i've decided i'm an average rider ,which i'm happy with ,because i've always got bikes behind me ,and always got some in front,but driving this keyboard is harder than rocket science for me,thank goodness the administrators know i'm hopeless and over the next couple of days the echo will disapear.

cheers slo coach
Title: Rear shock adjustment - Bandit 1200
Post by: Red01 on December 27, 2005, 06:57:14 PM
What echo?  :wink:
Title: Re: Rear shock adjustment - Bandit 1200
Post by: orionburn on July 09, 2008, 09:45:32 AM
Adjusted the chain slack last night and thought I'd start messing around with the rear shock settings. Needless to say I'm having the same damn problem. The bastard does not want to move. Would shooting some penetrating lube in there help, or is it simply a matter of getting the right leverage on it?

I haven't stuck a light underneath the tail yet, but where abouts is the mark to determine what setting you're at?
Title: Re: Rear shock adjustment - Bandit 1200
Post by: amgraham on July 09, 2008, 06:27:03 PM
Don't know if it's the same on the second gens but on my 99 i was able to barely get my arm in the left side of the bike in front of the rubber flap to adjust mine.  I used the adjuster out of the tool kit without the cheater and it took some effort but from that position you're pulling towards yourself so it's a little better (to increase preload.. Mine is now on the stiffest setting and it's still too soft IMO).  I also found that the wrench needs to be cocked a little bit to contact just the adjustment ring, otherwise most of your effort goes straight into the shock body.
Title: Re: Rear shock adjustment - Bandit 1200
Post by: gearjammer on July 09, 2008, 10:30:17 PM
I did the same, sheared off some skin from the knuckles. Anybody know the best way to stiffen up the rear shock without having the lose $800+ on an ohlins
Title: Re: Rear shock adjustment - Bandit 1200
Post by: txbanditrydr on July 09, 2008, 11:16:18 PM
I'd like to suggest you start by Clicking Here (http://forums.banditalley.net/index.php?topic=10243.0)