I'm not sure how helpful this will be, as I have the triple-clicker. These are the settings that I have found to work best for me. High Speed compression = 5 clicks out from full in; Low Speed compression = 11 clicks out from full in for canyons or 12 clicks for highways when unloaded; Rebound = 7 clicks out from full in for canyons, 8 for streets and highways. Adjusting the shock when adding a pillion or luggage is easy: turn the High Speed adjuster one click clockwise for every 100 pounds of added weight.
Here's how to tell if you have your shock damping is set right. Find a set of corners that you feel comfortable riding. Having bumps and dips in the corners is a "must".
High Speed compression damping controls the shock's spring when it is compressed very quickly. It has nothing to do with your bike's speed. If you have High Speed damping to adjust, find a sharp bump or square-edged irregularity in the pavement. Too soft and you'll get a "floating" feeling. Too hard and the sharp bump may lift you from your seat.
To adjust High Speed damping, look for the reservoir near the top of the shock, or one end of the remote reservoir. You will need a small crescent wrench to tun the larger of the two nuts. See your Penske manual for a picture of this. Set your High Speed damping half way through its range. Ride through the corners. Adjust the damper progressively harder until the bump jars you when you go over it. Back off one click and try the bump again. Continuing to back off damping one click at a time. Clockwise = more damping. Counterclockwise = less. Five or six clicks out from full in should be about right.
Low Speed compression damping controls the shock's spring when it is compressed normally. Too soft and you'll get a "sliding" feeling when moving through corners. This almost feels like your front tire pressure is too low. Too hard and the rear end feels "skittish" over slight bumps.
To adjust Low Speed damping, start half way through its adjustment range. Look for the reservoir near the top of the shock, or one end of the remote reservoir. You will be able to turn the smaller knob with your fingers. See your Penske manual for a picture of this. Ride through the corners. If the bike feels twitchy (bouncing on the roadway) in the side-to-side transitions, reduce the Low Speed compression damping. If it pitches up and down in a corner, increase Low Speed damping. Adjust up or down one click at a time. Go through the same corners and make adjustments until your bike feels right. Then take to the freeway. Make sure that when you hit bumps that you are not jarred. If you are, back off one click and try it again. Suspension setting are a compromise. You can always make adjustments again to suit your road.
Once you have the Low Speed and High Speed damping set, stiffen the High Speed only by one click for each 100 pounds (50 Kg) of extra passenger or storage weight. The High Speed setting controls the Low Speed setting too, so no other adjustment is needed. When carrying less, dial back to your normal High Speed damping value.
Rebound damping controls how quickly the shock's spring is able to return to its normal, compressed length. Too soft and you'll get a "wallowing" feeling when exiting corners. Too hard and the rear wheel may come off the ground in repetitive (stutter) bumps. Ride through the corners. If you feel the rear end getting shorter and shorter, the damping is too great; back off and try again. If the rear end feels like it wants to throw you into the air at the peak of the bump, add damping,
To adjust Rebound, start half way through its adjustment range. Look for the red-colored, toothed wheel near the bottom of the shock. Moving the wheel to the right (facing the bike from the right side) provides more damping; to the left, less. With some effort, one can turn the wheel with one finger. You may need a lever though. I use a flat bladed screwdriver wrapped in a rag. Take your bike off the stands. While you are mounted, sit down hard on the seat, compressing the shock spring. Look in your rear-view mirror and watch the bike's rear end. Stand on the ground to release the shock's load. Set the Rebound so that it takes about one second to return to the unladen height. Take your bike out for a test ride as before. Adjust as suggested above.
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