stock rear shock preload

[tobyd]

is there a reference point for the numbers? I can see 1-7 and the book says 4 was stock but I don't know where mine started from or where it is now in relation to anything else?

How do you know its in position X?

[ShowBizWolf]

You can kinda see the numbers on the collar of the shock in the pics here:
http://wiki.gstwins.com/index.php?n=Upgrades.RearShock

If you look inside the collar, through the holes, you'll see the staggered inner collar and the tabs (one on each side) which line up with the numbers on the outside of the collar. Mine when I took it off was set at 5. Best picture I could get to try to show what I mean:

[tobyd]

I can see the numbers - I couldn't see any reference point on the shock to know where it had indexed though?
Oh wait, I think i see.

Is the lumpy bit through '5'  acting against the grey bit behind the adjustment/numbered bit?

gotcha SBW! nicely done

[ShowBizWolf]

Yeah it's difficult to explain thru typing! That raised part of metal shaped like a 0 with the two recessed circles in it is what indicates what setting the shock is set to. There are two of them, one on each side of the shock so you can see it from either side of the bike.