Lilia came to me with the stock rear shocks set on the lowest preload setting. I didn't think much of it at first. Then I noticed she was bottoming out way more than she should.
Doing the Homework
So I started digging into the weight limits for each preload setting. The lowest setting is meant for a light rider with nothing else on the bike. I'm right around 149 pounds without any cargo or a backpack on my back, and these shocks were sitting on the bottom setting.
It was painfully obvious. The shocks weren't set up to take a repetitive beating like that, and I was asking them to do it every day.
The Chart
Lilia is a 2018 Iron 883, and the Iron runs Harley's low travel rear shocks. There are 12 preload settings, marked as dots on the adjuster. Harley's chart works off two numbers. The first is your rider weight, meaning you plus your gear. The second is the weight of any passenger, cargo and accessories. Where the two meet is your preload dot.
Riding solo with nothing extra:
- 100 to 129 lb: dot 1
- 130 to 159 lb: dot 2
- 160 to 189 lb: dot 3
- 190 to 219 lb: dot 4
From there it climbs as you add weight. A 130 to 159 lb rider goes to dot 3 with 20 lb added, dot 5 with 60 lb, dot 7 with 100 lb, and dot 10 with 200 lb. Dot 12 is the top, and only the 160 to 189 and 190 to 219 lb rows ever reach it. With a short 1.6 inches of rear travel, the Iron really is a solo bike. Put a passenger or a heavy load on it and the ride suffers.
Both shocks have to be set to the same dot. Don't run them mismatched.
Why It Matters
Bottoming out is the part you feel. It beats you up and it beats up the bike. But there's a second problem. With the rear suspension loaded down like that, she won't take corners like she should. The back end sits too low and the handling suffers for it.
Where I'm At Now
I've moved her up to the second notch. Most days I'm riding solo with a backpack to and from work. If you carry more, a passenger or loaded bags, check where your weight lands on the chart and set it to match.
The Tool
The adjustment tool for the preload is under the OEM seat. If you swap seats, take that tool out before you get rid of the old seat. That's very important. It's an easy thing to forget, and you'll want it the next time you adjust.
These are still the stock shocks. Setting preload right is the cheapest fix there is. Check your setting against your weight before you blame the shocks.
