E rear shocks

[mack]

Didn't the early E's have the respirator adjustment 1-4 on the top of the rear shocks?

[crazy steve]

Nope, none of the standards had damping adjustment; that was a Special-only feature...

[motoman]

Nope, none of the standards had damping adjustment; that was a Special-only feature...

Correction Steve........ My Venturer has the rotating 'clicker' dial at the top of shocks that give you 5position dampening, and of course the five position spring pre-load settings. And yes, they are the original shocks that were on it when I bought it new. IIRC, the 80Standard also had the same shocks.

[crazy steve]

I suspect yours were dealer installed or may have been a late-production change. I've looked, and can't find any documentation that either the G or H had adjustable damping. I know the H I bought didn't have them, and they matched all the pics I could find of OEM. There was three styles of rear shocks used on the standards from what I can tell; the E and F had black bodies, with chrome spring caps, springs, and pre-load adjusters. The G had all-chrome shocks including bodies (except the top eye was polished aluminum). The H went back to all-steel black bodies (I'm assuming because they weren't as visible) with chrome caps and springs only (black adjusters). All three types had different part numbers and are different from the Specials; boats.net shows the G and H as the same, but Yamaha doesn't. One more minor difference is the E/F shock spring caps are stamped from thicker metal and have a more rounded top edge.

That was one of the selling points for the Special; it had 'better', adjustable suspension. Another difference is the Special shocks have 1mm larger diameter bodies; the pre-load adjusters won't interchange (tried that....). Spring diameter is different too.

[ViperRon]

I have the dampening adjuster on My G model. The bike came in without them but the Farring and Saddlebag kit had new shocks with the thicker springs and were installed by the dealer. I keep thinking they had new springs for the front shocks also but memory has faded. It was all part of the Silverbird package upgrade.

[motoman]

I suspect yours were dealer installed or may have been a late-production change. I've looked, and can't find any documentation that either the G or H had adjustable damping. I know the H I bought didn't have them, and they matched all the pics I could find of OEM. There was three styles of rear shocks used on the standards from what I can tell; the E and F had black bodies, with chrome spring caps, springs, and pre-load adjusters. The G had all-chrome shocks including bodies (except the top eye was polished aluminum). The H went back to all-steel black bodies (I'm assuming because they weren't as visible) with chrome caps and springs only (black adjusters). All three types had different part numbers and are different from the Specials; boats.net shows the G and H as the same, but Yamaha doesn't. One more minor difference is the E/F shock spring caps are stamped from thicker metal and have a more rounded top edge.

That was one of the selling points for the Special; it had 'better', adjustable suspension. Another difference is the Special shocks have 1mm larger diameter bodies; the pre-load adjusters won't interchange (tried that....). Spring diameter is different too.

Actually Steve, those dampening adjustable black topped KYB's came out of the crate on that bike, and it is a June 80 production. That may also explain the original motor(which I still have) having slotted adjustable timing with degree wheel, and being a 4RO system. The replacement motor I have in it came out of a low mile( under 20K) Venturer. It is only 81 in production number later than my original, but has the filled slots to make timing non- adjustable and has the later timing wheel. My concensus is that by that later production of the XS series, the bikes were getting alot of stuff used up on them that didn't necessarily go on that model in its original design. My Venturer also came from factory with gold- topped carbs and the cable to hold up the swing-arm in the right side-cover. Sure don't need it on the Venturer, since it has the short, up-swept exhaust.......go figure.

[Schming]

Nope, none of the standards had damping adjustment; that was a Special-only feature...

Just to confirm what others have stated my '80G is stock with all chrome 5 position pre load and 4 position dampening adjusters on the rear shock absorbtion devices

[MaximPhil]

Hi Steve,
My 81H has the shocks with little black clicker on top. Unlike motoman however I have not had this since new so who knows if original?
Phil

[motoman]

Hi Steve,
My 81H has the shocks with little black clicker on top. Unlike motoman however I have not had this since new so who knows if original?
Phil

tis' original then.