Hi,

I have a Yamaha SR125. I would like to be able to adjust the rear shocks, so I can carry a pillion.

I can see how to do it, but I either don't have the right tool(s) or I am not strong enough.

Does anyone have any experience with this and is there an easy way??

Thanks,

Emily.

Hi Emily, welcome to the slop bucket

Have you tried to get a copy of a workshop Manual (like Hayes or however it's spelled?).

It's ment to be a godsend on how to do the user servicable things like Oil changes and general maintenance but it also shows you how to change settings like your Pre-Load (I think that's it proper name... the rear shock setting anyway).

What are those SR125's like to ride- I heard they are real comfy but a pain doing U-turns and slow speed manuvers.

Hiya, thanks for replying.

Yeh, I have the Haynes Manual (but not with me). It looks really easy to service the bike. I didn't scrutinize it, but I didn't see anything about changing the preload adjustment. I have the owner's manual with me and its just not very comprehensive.

I have only ever ridden my SR and I had a day riding a 125 traily, so I couldn't say what its like to ride compared to other stuff.

I did my CBT 'bout 18months ago and have ridden it to work ever since. Did my test last August. I had no probs doing the U-turn in my test (obviously I haven't done another one since). I think the bike is good for riding in traffic 'cos its quite short and manouveres well.

It's good in town, but a bit scary on dual carriageways.

Emily.

It sould be somewhere in the Haynes book- you'll just need to have a look.
I dunno about the hand book's but the stuff you want is always where you don't want it.

Stick around- maybe one of the others will know something about it- I don't even have a bike of my own yet (I will in April... honest)

Does the SR have a shock which requires a C spanner to adjust it. If you're having problems, it might be worthwhile trying to take some weght off the back when you're doing it.

Yeh Dave, it turns out it does need a C spanner.

I'll pick one up in Halfords tomorrow, I have no idea if they'll have the right one.

Do you reckon, I could just do it with the bike on the centre stand?

Failing that, I will have to nip over to the bike shop and get them to do it.

It's really handy if you can do it yourself because you'll want to turn it back down again, when you're riding solo.

The technique I used to use, is the screwdriver and hammer method. You might not get them in Halfords, somewhere like M&P or one of the big bike shops might be your best bet.

Some of the shock adjusters could be really hard to turn, especially on smaller bikes. So it might be wise to invest in the right tool, if you intend to adjust the shock on a regular basis. Our more mechanically minded members will no doubt give their views on the screwdriver and hammer method.

Dave

I had a go at it at lunchtime with the crappy grippy tool thing that comes in the on-board toolkit, I managed to move it a little on one side, but not enough to make any difference (at least I know its no seized up). The other side (maybe because it was the other direction) I couldn't move at all.

I fancy I'll find a screwdriver and hammer at home, I guess I could damage the bike it tho' if I'm not careful.

I am in London (drive from Enfield to Marble Arch every day) I don't know where there would be a suitable shop which would sell the spanner I need. Anyone?

Emily

You could try a tool shop...

M&P or MPS sell them, I'd imagine most bike shops will either sell them or be able to do it for you for a few quid. Burwin motorcycles in Islington are excellent and cheap, they'd probably sell you a secondhand one for next to nothing.

Welcome to the asylum!

If you take it there for them to do it then get the shop to show you how, then a) you know its done right this time and b)you know how to re set it when you want to.

A quick word of warning - carrying a pillion is VERY different from riding solo. Particularly effecting your braking (give yourself more space!) , handling (especially if your pillion is inexperienced) and acceleration (particularly on a small engine bike like yours.)

Im not being nasty here just take it VERY gently on quiet roads to start with! and try to find an experienced pillion that weighs as little as possible to begin with ... GOOD LUCK!

OOhh another thought - the training school you did your test with might be able to help with showing you how to do the shock (they probably have a spanner too)

I'm not saying it... she hasn't said anything silly yet.








I MUST HOLD IT IN








ARRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH






Of course they'll have a spanner- she's asking for help with her bike...






I'm Sorry [/walk off crying]



Hope you take this in the lighthearted way it's intended

I'm sure that's a biker joke.

Don't have bikers mates, that was totaly over my head. Sorry.

Thanks Sheebee, the pillion may be my brother (unless one of us chickens out). Though I may have to practise with the skinny scooter guy at lunchtime ooo-er.

I will be going really slow to start with I am sure. Do you think riding with a pillion might be akin to riding with 15 litres of OJ in your helmet box?

Emily
(Totally not the kind of girl to be offended by boy banter)

Don't worry Emily I don't have a clue what he's on about either, explain yourself boy!

Don't worry, I didn't get it either.

UWL, what are you going on about. :tounge:

I think he's finally lost it.

Hi Emily, welcome to the forum!

I rode an SR125 years ago before i started riding, when my local training school was offering a free hour - it was a nice little bike, rode it round and round the big car park! I didn't have any probs with riding it slow - but I did feel a fool when I couldn't get such a tiny bike off the centre stand!

It turned out they hadn't told me how to do it right - guess what, I didn't train with them!

But I rode a 100cc bike for 3 years - and I wouldn't want to take a pillion on one! Good luck!

Hi and Welcome emilyo,

Like Bikergran i to rode an SR125 on my bike training, i found it great fun a little slow but quite nimble and easy going. Have fun and take care riding with a pillion for the first time.

I'll let you all know how it goes today - if it happens!

Emily

Hi emilyo, do the shock absorbers look a bit like this (although the spring might be covered on yours) ........?




The collar at the bottom under the spring has notches in it to fit a 'C' spanner into. You often find that the collar has got stuck after years of not being moved - squirt a bit of WD 40 upwards where the adjustment notches are. Then get a 'C' spanner and wriggle the collar backwards and forwards - it'll move a little bit more every time until it frees off and will move round to the next notch.

It's a lot easier if the wheel is off the ground so use the centre stand when you're doing it. You can grip the notched part of the collar with a set of slip-joint pliers to move it if you're careful .............



Be careful to make sure that you've got both shocks set on the same notch, some times you have to move the left one the opposite way round to the right one. I once rode a bike with one shock set on number 2 and the other set on number 4 - it was interesting to say the least

I'll echo the warnings about carrying a pillion too. The SR is a skinny little bike and you'll really feel the difference. Allow lots more room for braking. And pillion passengers, particularly inexperienced ones, are very prone to moving about on the seat, leaning the wrong way round corners and banging into the back of you when you brake.

Hi FF and everyone else,

My shocks do look like that, the spring is not covered and it doesn't have plastic on it. Its totally bare.

I took my little bike down to Burwins this morning and they showed me what to do. They sold be a C-Spanner.

They put it on the centre stand and it was REALLY easy. They left it on almost the hardest setting and I rode to work, it didn't feel any higher, but the potholes made me rattle.


I had a go at adjusting it once I'd parked up at work, just on the side stand. My bike must be really light!

See what happens this arvo, when my bro turns up.

Em.

Ok- I was in a bit of a hyper mood yesterday so I'll make myself known to all.

When Sheebee said "the training school you did your test with might be able to help with showing you how to do the shock (they probably have a spanner too)" I instantly took the word Spanner as a slang term for Muppet .

So I said the Spanner (Muppet) was already there because she (Emily//Muppet) was already at the training school- asking for help.

It made sense to me at the time but you know me- If I make any sentance work it's an excuse for a street party.

I didn't want to say anything nasty in case Emilyo got upset and hunted me down like a dog but my nutty side got the better of me.

It was nothing to do with Biker jokes- just me being silly


I'll get my coat

OK, I got it.

and you wouldn't want to be hunted down....

I won't be hunting anyone down - sorry.

I made it from Marble Arch to Enfield with my bro on the pillion. After a very shakey start, it wasn't too bad.

Need more practise and less jerky gear changes. Did a surprising amount of overtaking. It was my bro's first time on a bike and he was really cool.

Overall, I think it was a good idea to go for a longish ride first time, otherwise I would have got spooked and not carried on. This way, I had too keep going and it got easier.

The worst bit was riding my bike after he got off - it was really wierd!

Thanks for all the tips an encouragement guys.

Emily

HI emilyo glad you got sorted, and welome to the board..

I'm glad Burwins sorted it out for you, if you ever have a problem with your bike phone them first, they give loads of really useful free advice and they're not rip off merchants. I'd owned an Mz for a couple of years and thought I'd treat it to a set of sprockets and a chain. When I phoned up the guy asked me if I'd actually checked the rear sprocket because in 15 years as an MZ specialist he'd never sold one,he wasn't wrong they're indestructible.
After I passed my test I took my girlfriend out for a ride on a very small Honda H100, I don't know which one of us was more scared we wobbled all over the place. I went straight out and bought a Honda 250 and then got a job as a courier, they gave me a Honda VT 500 as a company bike. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven.
Enjoy your rides and be safe.