Voyager kit preload question
I bought a '07 Kawasaki 1500 Vulcan with a Voyager kit installed. I'm trying my best to understand what the preload is all about. I saw one post that recommended 1/2" preload, then I found a post where the rider had his set at 1.5" preload using a 2x4 to set it. I don't have a clue as to what preload I have on this kit. Anyway to tell ? There is allot of difference between the 1/2 " and 1.5" and wonder what the difference would be in the handling of the trike between the two ? It sure would be good to find a video showing exactley how to go about setting the preload on this Voyager kit. I checked YouTube but found nothing:Shrug: My Voyager manual does tell how to set it, but a video would surely help clarify the adjustment setting in my mind :)
Re: Voyager kit preload question
try [url=http://www.trikemanusa.com]Home of Motorcycle Jeff the "Trike Man"[/url]. you will find a how to vidio. it will show you how to set the preload. around 1/2" works pretty good on most bikes.
Re: Voyager kit preload question
It's pretty simple to adjust/set. I just got done installing a Voyager on my 05 1500 Classic this weekend. Simply run your bikes rear tire up on a piece of material (the manual says 1/2" for the Classic), I used a piece of 5/4" cedar decking (a bit over 1") on the advice I found here and another site. The kit won't bounce as bad with the higher pre-load. After getting the bike on the rear tire loosen all 8 of the U-bolt nuts and remove the top shock bolts (older type suspension I'm not sure about the newer one). Let all the air out of your bikes air shocks also. If you have the older suspension you also have to loosen the two lock bolts on the bottom. Once everything is loosened re-tighten the bolts, re-connect the shocks, air the bikes shocks to 3/4 of max and set the re-bound at 3/4 of max also. You now have the pre-load set.
Tire pressures are also pretty critical. Kit tires at 20psi, and bike tires at close to max sidewall pressure (that's what I ran all the time).
Re: Voyager kit preload question
[quote=Duffy;82239]It's pretty simple to adjust/set. I just got done installing a Voyager on my 05 1500 Classic this weekend. Simply run your bikes rear tire up on a piece of material (the manual says 1/2" for the Classic), I used a piece of 5/4" cedar decking (a bit over 1") on the advice I found here and another site. The kit won't bounce as bad with the higher pre-load. After getting the bike on the rear tire loosen all 8 of the U-bolt nuts and remove the top shock bolts (older type suspension I'm not sure about the newer one). Let all the air out of your bikes air shocks also. If you have the older suspension you also have to loosen the two lock bolts on the bottom. Once everything is loosened re-tighten the bolts, re-connect the shocks, air the bikes shocks to 3/4 of max and set the re-bound at 3/4 of max also. You now have the pre-load set.
Tire pressures are also pretty critical. Kit tires at 20psi, and bike tires at close to max sidewall pressure (that's what I ran all the time).[/quote]
<Let all the air out of your bikes air shocks also.>
The Voyager manual that came with the bike, said on the preload instuctions to have the bikes shocks set at 80% of max. Is this something new ?
Re: Voyager kit preload question
[quote=krazybob;82217]I bought a '07 Kawasaki 1500 Vulcan with a Voyager kit installed. I'm trying my best to understand what the preload is all about. I saw one post that recommended 1/2" preload, then I found a post where the rider had his set at 1.5" preload using a 2x4 to set it. I don't have a clue as to what preload I have on this kit. Anyway to tell ? There is allot of difference between the 1/2 " and 1.5" and wonder what the difference would be in the handling of the trike between the two ? It sure would be good to find a video showing exactley how to go about setting the preload on this Voyager kit. I checked YouTube but found nothing:Shrug: My Voyager manual does tell how to set it, but a video would surely help clarify the adjustment setting in my mind :)[/quote]
Well,,, taking in all the advice on setting the preload, I undertook the job today.:) Set my preload at 1", and the job wasn't that big of a job. Breaking loose the nuts on the U bolts and the upper shock bolts was the only tough thing. The original owner must have cranked on those nuts, much more than the recommended 35 ft lbs that Voyager recommends :( Tomorrow is supposed to be a fairly nice day in the upper 60's or low 70's and will give me a chance to see if the handling is any different than what it was before I changed it. :Shrug:
Re: Voyager kit preload question
[quote=krazybob;82421]<Let all the air out of your bikes air shocks also.>
The Voyager manual that came with the bike, said on the preload instuctions to have the bikes shocks set at 80% of max. Is this something new ?[/quote]
I don't recall where I read that the air shocks should be set to 3/4 of max "after" the pre-load was set. My install manual doesn't say anything about air shocks at all. Not even recommended re-bound setting.
Re: Voyager kit preload question
may have to adjust several times to get it just right for YOUR RIDING preference. but when you do , you will roll up the miles. ride safe- be safe
