Easiest way to adjust preload on Sinnis Apache?

Hey all :)

Sounds like a silly question, I'm still baffled that it's not something you can do without pulling the bike apart. I thought I'd up the preload on the rear suspension today, the easiest way looked to be through the back. To remove the rear mudguard I had to remove both side fairings, the tail fairing, the seat and then push the thing out. Sadly I still didn't have room to get a tool in there. Possibly if I'd removed the battery cradle as well?

Is there an easy way to do this I'm missing? Surely this is something a lot of riders would want to tweak?

Would it be easier to remove the air filter and go through the front? It started getting dark, so I put the bike back together and gave up for the night.

Thanks!

Oh and I've got the version of the shock with an air valve, what is this used for? I've got a shock pump, if it'd be easier just to raise the pressure in there a bit.

Hi RedToasty, sorry can't offer much help here, all I can say is, I looked at adjusting my shock the other day and I can only suggest that you will have to probably take the air box off and possibly battery box in order to adjust the shock.

I gave up as I intended to do a quick adjustment before I went to work, looks like it might take and hour or Maybe less to do this:(

You talk of an air valve, is this at the top of the shock, I was surprised to see that at the bottom, on the linkage, they have put a grease nipple, very thoughtful of Sinnis!

Hey :) I ended up just using a screwdriver and mallet, I stuck the screwdriver on the teeth of the adjuster and knocked it around, it takes quite a while as there's not much room, did the trick though.

Hi RedToasty, that's good, takes time but, as long as you got there .
Is there actually an air valve on the top of the shock?
I've only seen the grease nipple on the bottom of the shock linkage down below?

How does the bike feel now it's adjusted?

Cheers, robin.