HI I am new here. I know this thread is a bit dated but it is relevant to me. I just purchased a 2000 FXR4 (Screaming Chicken Yellow) and the shocks to me seem to be bottoming out rather quickly. Now my other bike is a 2011 FLTP with air springs (can you say Cadillac ride!?) so this adjustable shock thing is new to me. I am 6'4"/220 lbs and when I go over a small bump/dip the rear end bottoms out. The shocks are stock with 24k miles. It looks like the shocks adjuster is a little over three lines down from the top. SO help me understand how this works. The more you tighten the top (i.e. you can see more lines) the more the shock is preloaded so in essence a harder ride but can bottom out quicker? The more loosen the softer the ride, with a less tendency to bottom out? Is this how it works?
Maybe I have worn shocks as well. But I would like to stay with the stock shocks and read on one of these boards that these shocks can be rebuilt? Has anyone done this? If so, how did it work out, who did it and about how much was it? Can the characteristics of the shock be changed during the rebuild - like beefing it up for a heavier rider?
Originally I bought this bike to put a S&S 124" fuel injected engine I had from an old abandoned project but now that I've ridden it for a few weeks I really like the engine in it. I also think that if I swap out the stock engine, the bike might take a value hit. Any thoughts on that?
I've included a pic of my two rides (don't mind the finger in the picture).
Thanks,
Adrian