You test it with your butt - Adjusting Suspension Preload on a Honda CB125F

[@ilkerelma2094]

Time to check settings for my cb150. Thanks Richard 🙏

[@jorgemartin2493]

Realmente si la subes al caballete central no te hace falta la herramienta, solo agarra con la mano desde la parte inferior del amortiguador tirando hacia arriba y girando a la vez a la posición deseada, asi de fácil lo hago yo. En esta moto todo es fácil. Gracias por compartir.

[@FCorneil]

I did that a while back. It seemed easy from the second setting to the first. From the first to the second it seemed more difficult. From the second to the third I only succeeded while wearing a glove. It's possible but I do prefer using the tool.

[@caveyful]

Being such a light bike that's also sold in India where they load it up with the whole family there's quite a range to the preload. If you are between settings you can have them offset, like 2 on one and 3 on the other.

[@sataomm]

I was wondering about that. Any reason you wouldn't put different settings on either side. Didn't seem right to me! Mostly just OCD.

[@tonystone3397]

Great stuff thanks for sharing

[@arbeitssklaveskanal]

WoW THX dosent know that this exsists in ma toolbox....i Try it out.

[@stephenmundane]

Thanks Richard. It's worth remembering that more preload will raise the bike up on its suspension, keeping you near the top of its travel when you sit on it as you discovered. With less preload, the bike sits lower and closer to the bottom of its suspension travel. As far as I know, changing the preload does not change the spring's stiffness, rather it changes the amount of force needed to start compressing the spring.

[@sataomm]

That makes sense - Hooke's law says extension is directly proportional to force. If it was a simple spring I'd agree - but this is a dual rate spring with a stiffer bit and a softer bit. Interesting.

[@FCorneil]

The tool sucks less when you put the tip of your index finger on the tip of the tool to guide it / keep it in the little groove instead of it popping out. It can even help to use the index finger of your free hand to do that.

[@sataomm]

Good tip, thanks!

[@marclauer2195]

j'ai l'intention d'acquérir bientôt cette Honda CBF 125 et je suit attentivement tous tes tests sur cette machine. Merci pour toutes ces informations qui sont vraiment très pertinentes et très utiles. J'apprécie beaucoup tes vidéos.

[@sataomm]

Thank you for watching and good luck. I am sure you will enjoy the bike!

[@marclauer2195]

@@sataomm Thank you

[@NicksBikes]

When my bike was delivered to my door brand new, it was on Position 1 and, as a new rider, I didn't know any difference. My first few rides felt like the bike was trying to buck me off the seat whenever I hit a bump, so I changed it to Position 3, right in the middle and haven't looked back. I don't think I'd want it any firmer with just me in the saddle and my tail bag on the back.

[@sataomm]

Maybe it's one of the things they set up in the dealership. Seems sensible to give people a good first ride experience!

[@paulcowen1976]

What weight are you ? Mines still in position 1

[@sataomm]

@@paulcowen1976 about 75kg here, plus a decent chain and disk lock.

[@paulcowen1976]

@@sataomm I’m 80kg think I should change mine

[@sataomm]

@@paulcowen1976 Give it a try at least and see what you think. Like the title says, you test it with your butt.

[@ripmax333]

I don't use that tool On mine, just put it on the CenterStand, make sure the rear wheel is off the ground, grab the shock adjuster with both hands and turn. you might be surprised how easy it is to go from 1 to 3 just by using your hands 😅I think you can also use my Arm. Mind you, I'm no Bodybuilder lol.

[@raskfel555]

So you went to Paris on setting 2 standard lol, Now you'll have to take the missus on the back with the different settings. Let's hope you don't need a setting 6 lol

[@sataomm]

I'd discovered it by Paris, and it made a big difference. Much more comfortable to ride.

[@yunusemrekaya0408]

Hello, how are you? I was wondering what this strange key does. Thanks for the information :)

[@Syzyty1]

Nice video! Can I ask what gloves are you using?

[@sataomm]

Those are Furygan Jet All Season. Check out my full selection here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZ3RXnWZmrtqo5Ysi=4u5-_lcNEnDrfO2Z

[@FCorneil]

Unless they change the setting at the dealership, it should arrive in the second setting when new, as mentioned in the manual. Mine does not seem to wobble like yours in the first setting. How much do you weigh without clothes (edit: just heard in the video you are 75)? I am 72 kilograms. I also have the heavy Shad top box carrier and a light SH26 top box, as well as soft luggage (top bag and side bags). Due to winter I am currently not going on holidays so the luggage is mostly empty and I prefer the first setting as the bike sits a bit lower and I don't feel as much sitting on top of the bike and a bit more 'in' it. For better handling it should be in the second setting right now as it feels a bit loose now (though not as much as yours) but again I prefer the bike a bit lower in the rear for a less active seating position. I may consider the one inch lowered shocks from Alpha Technick in Germany once mine are worn (could take a long time though) and once they finally have the ABE for my 2024 model (currently they only have it up to the 2021 model, which yours is as it covers 21, 22 and 2023). They come with Hagon springs. Would have to adjust the headlight though as it already is too high when in first or even second setting with my (empty) luggage. When I went on holiday with the luggage full I had it in the third setting and it probably should have been in the fourth as I was carrying firewood as well. On the way back without the firewood and food but with the remainder of the luggage the fourth setting would have been too much though and third was fine. Is it bad in terms of wear or something to change the settings regularly? I imagine not. Ideally I would need slightly uprated springs but they are not (yet) available. WIlbers said they no longer waste time and effort for 125's and after a phone call with Hyperpro they asked me to email them for an appointment as they would strive to find uprated springs for front and rear but I never got a reply to my email so I left it at that, they were also booked for months in advance. I contacted K-Tech they also have nothing (yet), neither do YSS and the rest of them. I think once the front tire needs replaced (could also take a long time) I will have the fork oil replaced by heavier oil as a semi solution, as with the windscreen and Hepco&Becker crash bar and crash bar bag and tank bag the front is a bit weak. I can feel it sink when I take it off the side stand, though it is not bad at all while riding with empty luggage, with full luggage it sometimes gets very close to bottoming out I believe though the fender then touching the crash bar bag prevents it from bottoming out it seems.

[@sataomm]

Good point about the headlight angle, thanks. If the bike is tipped forward or back it should be adjusted. No danger in regularly changing preload setting as far as I can see. Nothing is getting worn really. Might like a nicer tool for it. Thanks for watching!

[@FCorneil]

@sataomm If on the second setting with very heavy luggage or worse a passenger one could take out a low flying bird at night, could fly into an object.

[@andypaddon8531]

Looks like MOT test soon????? How many miles you got on the Honda now?

[@sataomm]

That's right, it'll need its first MOT this year! It's over 9000 miles now, and doing great.