new rider

At the risk of sounding stupid how much air pressure is every one running in their shocks on their 2nd generation RSVS? I have not checked my pressure but suspension seems "stiff"? Any help would be appreciated.

No stupid questions here. We all got here looking for answers. I run about 35 to 45 2up. Don't exceed 54 I think it is. I have ridden on 0 and its kinda soft there

I have been running 25 in the rear and 3 in the front. I ride about 50/50 solo and two up.

Don't try using a air compressor to add air, especially in the front. Get a Progressive or HD combination pump/gauge. They run about $39.

On my 03 I would run 8 in the front, and 30 in the back 1 up and raise the back to 40 2 up or really loaded.

Preference for a hard or soft ride is up to an individual, but one thing to remember is that it is imperative that the front forks be ABSOLUTELY EQUAL. Max pressure in the forks is 7 lbs, and they hold such little air that is is impossible to even check them if you do not have a gauge with a zero-loss chuck. The only reasonable option I know of is the Progressive pump with gauge. I keep my forks at 4 lbs. If they are not equal, the handling sufers significantly, especially in the twisties. IT is fine to run the forks at 0 lbs (that is the "standard" setting in the owner's manual), and if you do not have the right gauge to set them, it is best to just make sure they are empty.

The rear shock affects both handling and comfort. I generally keep mine around 30 solo, 42 two-up, and 55 when two-up and fully loaded (maximum is 57 psi). I am 6'5" and weigh about 250.

I have found that too-little air in the rear shock drastically affects my comfort over a 300+ mile day. I personally find the stock pillow-top seat one of the best stock seats on any bike I have ever ridden - I'm generally good for about 600 miles without any discomfort, and after I made a beaded seat pad, I can, and have, done over 1,300 miles in a single day several times without significant discomfort. But I had an experience at the Colorado rally a couple of years back that really showed me how important it was to keep enough air in the rear shock.

For the ride up there with the bike fully loaded I had the shock pumped way up as I usually do, probably even higher than normal to ensure good handling on the mountain roads. At the rally my brother and I rode out on 300-400 mile loops every day, but I kept forgetting to lower the air in my shock after unloading the bike at the motel. My rides for two days were very comfortable, as usual, so every time I remembered that I had meant to lower the shock pressure, I'd just mentally remind myself to do it at the next gas stop and keep riding. Well, I never remembered at those stops! So when thought about it soon after heading out on the third day, I decided to pull over and change it. And just out of curiosity, I set the pressure much lower than normal - I think it was a bit under 20 lbs. The ride that day felt fine - never noticed the bike bottoming in bumps or anything odd, but by the end of the day I was more tired and generally beat-up than I had been from a day's riding in many years. Not particular my posterior - just overall body aches, and the significance was great enough that it really made an impression on me. The next day I put the shock back up to around 30 lbs, and I felt great after a 400 mile ride up through the Wyoming mountains. So now I am careful to keep the shock at 30 or higher all the time. After 70,000 miles on QuickSilver, I'm certain I have found the right combination for me.

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