has this ever happened to you?

[ronboskz650sr]

The other day, I went to church as usual. On the ride home, it was a little windy, and I felt somewhat of a twitch in the back of the bike. Nothing I could really identify, and I thought I was just tired and feeling the gusty winds. For the next couple of rides, I noticed it was still there when I went around the intersections, especially around tight right turns.

Well, I finally went for a real country ride, and spent the whole time washing out on curves (on dry pavement), and generally terrifying myself with the unpredictable handling at higher speeds. It was like hitting marbels at random, especially on bumpy curves. Oddly, though, Hands- off at 60 mph, the bike tracked straight on a smooth road.

When I got home, I thoroughly inspected the bike, and found my left air shock preload set on 2 and the right one set on 4! 4 is where I like it, 2 is where the local urchins decided to put it while parked in the church parking lot. My daughter had run them off of the bikes that wednesday, but didn't think they really could hurt anything . She didn't mention it to me.

Lesson learned...if you have hand adjustable air shocks, check the setting after every time you park it. (yes, I feel stupid. But, my skills improved a little!)

[nelamvr6]

Glad nothing worse happened!

Couldn't happen to me, it's a royal PITA to change the preload on my bike.

[iwannadie]

ya know ive worried about this too. i have the fork adjustments right there on the top of the forks anyone can come along and tweak with their fingers. might have to rig up some caps to put on them just so its not obvious theres something to adjust.

maybe a sign to for the bike 'if i see you on my bike i WILL shoot you'.

[Toyuzu]

Retrubution! You could go let all the air out of their bicycle tires!

Glad it wasn't worse, Ron. Rig a hot-wire up, just don't forget to disable it before you adjust your preload.