[fjmartin]

I've added pre-load to the point where the shock is stiffer than I'd like when unloaded and still a bit stiff when loaded for camping. I won't load it up anymore as that would take away it's handling. The steel is doing the trick. I had called Progressive about the shock for the RX3 to see if they offered a version with an external adjustment...They do not. They have it for other models but not ours. Sqwert, the shock is not too short. In fact it raises the height of the bike as it's a bit longer...but also has more travel and the rubber stopper isn't long enough which is why it can bottom out on the airbox. No matter what pre-load you put on it there will always be a bump that bottoms it out. There is also a limit of how much pre-load you are allowed to put on this shock and I'm approaching that limit. I weigh 125 pounds so its not like I'm a hulk of bulk.