NC29 rear suspension....how soft?

[Dan Norton]

Guys, just picked up my NC29, and the rear suspension seems mega, mega, soft.

Basically, sit on it, and it compress's quite a long way down....it rebounds ok once you unload it (i.e, sit up off the seat).
The spring is wound down all the way to the bottom as you look at it.

Can you adjust compression, or adjusting the spring makes the rear stiffer?

How does it work, i'm a relative noob to all this (even though ive owned NC35's and others in the past) and not touched suspnesion before.

Cheers.

Dan.

[bourney]

Is it bouncy?

Sounds like your shock might be shafted. Well seal gone atleast.

Not sure they can be re-built????

[Dan Norton]

I wouldnt say its bouncy, just seems to move a lot....i.e, sit on it, down she goes, get off and up she goes.....maybe it is bouncy
Are they adjustable at all?

It just seems mega soft, way softer than my old NC35 ever was.

[Wozza]

Preload (spring) is adjustable, that's what determines how far the rear drops when you sit on it (sag).
For the NC29, if I remember correctly compression is not adjustable but rebound might be. Neither would solve your problem anyway.
Sounds like you're in need of a 600 shock conversion.

[Dan Norton]

Preload (spring) is adjustable, that's what determines how far the rear drops when you sit on it (sag).
For the NC29, if I remember correctly compression is not adjustable but rebound might be. Neither would solve your problem anyway.
Sounds like you're in need of a 600 shock conversion.

I think its me getting mixed up Wozza, this is definitely Preload i'm looking at then.
As you look at the shock/spring on the bike, the adjuster rings are wound down all the way to the bottom of the thread as it sits on the bike (angled down).

Forgive my ignorance, what is the 600 shock conversion?

Dan.

[justmartyn]

Hi Dan

The NC29 was designed primarily for the discerning Japanese rider (8 stone dripping wet) so even when new were always a bit undersprung. The shock is good for about 2 years of normal daily use before it needs a service/overhaul.....approximate figures only. So the chances are after 15-20 years, assuming you still have the original fitted, it'll be fecked.
So if you're going to have to throw money at it, may as well get something a little bit more versatile. Graeme France, amongst others, does a reworked CBR600 shock and custom linkage to fit our bikes. It has a remote reservoir and is adjustable for preload and rebound, was probably one of the better investments I made for my bike.

Good luck.

[Dan Norton]

Hi Dan

The NC29 was designed primarily for the discerning Japanese rider (8 stone dripping wet) so even when new were always a bit undersprung. The shock is good for about 2 years of normal daily use before it needs a service/overhaul.....approximate figures only. So the chances are after 15-20 years, assuming you still have the original fitted, it'll be fecked.
So if you're going to have to throw money at it, may as well get something a little bit more versatile. Graeme France, amongst others, does a reworked CBR600 shock and custom linkage to fit our bikes. It has a remote reservoir and is adjustable for preload and rebound, was probably one of the better investments I made for my bike.

Good luck.

I totally understand where you are coming from, i was only 10 stone when i had my NC35, but since hitting the gym and becoming a bit fuller as i have got older, my 13 stone weight maybe over exagerates what i can remember

I think is definitely original and not been touched at all......this 600 conversion sounds pretty good, what sort of money are we talking here, and in the meantime, shall i just play about with the Pre Load to see if it doenst "sag" quite as much?

Dan.

[Davez29]

Have you tried riding the bike to see how it feels? My shock was wound down tight when I bought it but I felt it was jarring, so actually set it half way and although seemingly soft when I bounce on it at stand still, other riders think the same when the sit astride the bike, but for the most part while riding it actually seems fine, only on a big pot hole does it tend to show any weakness, though not dangerously bottoming out. btw Im a short fat bloke who maybe small but Im deceptivly heavy. Maybe also work on the sag a bit to balance the bike. If you have a later NC29 shock there should also be a rebound screw on the shock.

[Wozza]

Yeah have a look into suspension setup and see if you can get the sag near where you want it.

[Dan Norton]

Have you tried riding the bike to see how it feels? My shock was wound down tight when I bought it but I felt it was jarring, so actually set it half way and although seemingly soft when I bounce on it at stand still, other riders think the same when the sit astride the bike, but for the most part while riding it actually seems fine, only on a big pot hole does it tend to show any weakness, though not dangerously bottoming out. btw Im a short fat bloke who maybe small but Im deceptivly heavy. Maybe also work on the sag a bit to balance the bike. If you have a later NC29 shock there should also be a rebound screw on the shock.

I havent mate, im not insured, and the tyres are shafted.

I will see if by winding the spring up will help.