Becker wrote:Someone else has a thread about what rear shocks to buy and I have been looking for a new set for awhile now. My problem is I weigh 275 pounds and the stock shocks are old and tired. I don't normally ride with a passenger but with these shocks on I almost can't because it makes the front wheel hunt around when I do. So how many pounds of pressure should I be looking for in a set of shocks?? When they say the pressure designation on the spring is that how much weight (rider and gear) they can handle??
Definitely not. The pressure rating on the spring (like 80/125) is the pound force it takes to deflect it one inch (first rating) and two inches (second rating) AT THE SHOCK ABSORBER.
But, your body's center of mass is not directly above the shock, it's a little forward so the "load rating" the shock can handle is higher than the spring ratings.
The 80/125 is what I run and it's perfect for me (I weight 170 lbs).
If I recall, the highest maximum spring ratings are in the 160 - 180 range and that would probably be the ballpark for your body weight. If you take a passenger, you probably need the strongest springs available (the passenger is right above the rear shocks and loads them squarely on). Somebody may have a chart to convert spring weights to body weight but I haven't seen one.
