Shock set-up

[45 Bravo]

I knew they would have the answer you needed..

45 Bravo..

[chief]

The dampener setting runs 1-4 with 1 being soft for light loads, good roads and low speeds  - 4 is hard for heavy loads, bad roads and high speed. Adjust to suit yourself. The air pressure should run between 0 to 43 - 0 is intended for 150 pound rider with no passengers and no added "stuff". 43 is the manual high, hard, heavy, bad road setting. I ran with 45 before I changed over to 440's. The bike's rear wheel should be off the ground when adjusting according to the manual - but may not be necessary. A no loss progressive shock pump and gauge is recommended.

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[Troll]

I'm about 240, and I run 25 psi in the rear, with the rebound set at 4....I used to set the air with the rear wheel off the ground, but it really made no difference, and it's a pain to have to do that all the time.

[45 Bravo]

I think Troll and Chief need to chime in here, if i remember right, the Kawasaki suggested shock psi, is vastly different than what most people in the real world run in their shocks.

The both have better memories than me i am sure, and i THINK i have read on here what others are running pressure wise.

Later.
45 Bravo

[ChilliDrift]

I am 265 and put about 35lbs in mine. set the recoil to 4. Adjusted air pressure fixed the ride feel by stiffening it up with or without a rider it seems to ride much better If bumps feel like you are hitting a log in the road. I think you will find it rides like a different bike. Also when I first got mine it shook like crazy. You could not let go of the bars without a dangerouse wobble starting.  And new tires took care of the wobble. I can lock on the cruise controll and go no hands without wobble now.    I think the reason they like to you get the wheels off the ground to fill the shocks is maybe to put a vacuum on them so prevent the back pressure and loss of a few drops of oil you will get by airing them up on the ground. But it isn't necessary in my opinion. After I aired them up a few times they seemed to hold much better and I check them monthly now.

[waltervl]

Here is a link to the online usermanual of a '99  1500 Drifter: http://www.kawasaki-techinfo.net/showOM.php?view_lang=EN&spec=US&book_no=99920-1906&lang_code=EN

Check chapter maintenance and adjustment, page 101

[mbk]

OK, I am going back to test ride the 99 Drifter 1500 (see recent posts for details) and want to do it right this time, so I am taking a zero loss pump with me that a friend is loaning me to set the shocks for my weight.  The guy who has owned it for the past four years said he never touched them, so who knows where they are.

My quesation is this - I don't have a manual so what should I set the preload at and what psi for the shocks?  Also, can you give me a bit of detail on how I do both?  Do I have to get the rear wheel off the ground to add air to the shocks as the guy may not have a way to do that.

Thanks in advance for your help.  Sorry to be such a bother, but I am sure you all understand why I want to ride a Drifter!  Mike