RCB FLOW S DUAL SHOCK ABSORBER 395MM RD/BK – ADV160

RCB Flow S Dual Shock Absorber (395mm) is a high-performance suspension system engineered specifically for the rugged chassis of the Honda ADV160 and ADV150. Positioning itself as a premium upgrade for adventure-styled scooters, the Flow S series balances daily commuting comfort with the structural durability needed to conquer loose gravel, ruts, and unpaved trails.

This variant features RCB’s iconic RD/BK color configuration, combining a vibrant racing-red coil spring with a stealthy matte black body and an external piggyback gas reservoir. It introduces precision mechanical tuning capabilities, transforming your scooter’s handling dynamics from a standard factory commuter into a highly stable, corner-carving machine.

Key Features

• Dual-Adjustment Calibration: The Flow S series puts handling refinement in your hands with dual performance adjustments. It features a precision Rebound Damping clicker at the base to control how fast the shock extends after a bump, along with a Threaded Spring Preload collar to adjust the shock’s initial sag based on your cargo weight.

• External Nitrogen Gas Piggyback Reservoir: Outfitted with a dedicated, high-capacity reservoir canister charged with high-pressure nitrogen gas. By isolating the gas chamber from the main oil cylinder, it keeps the damping fluid running cooler and prevents oil aeration (foaming), eliminating shock fade during long, hot touring rides.

• 35mm High-Flow Monotube Piston: Built around a substantial 35mm internal damping piston. The large surface area offers outstanding low-speed chassis stability—reducing rear-end weaving and swaying when cornering hard—while remaining reactive enough to instantly smooth out sharp speed bumps.

• 14mm Hard-Chrome Induction Rod: The heavy-duty 14mm steel piston shaft is induction-hardened and polished to reduce friction seal drag. It is specifically engineered to withstand severe lateral bending forces common when navigating deep potholes or carrying a pillion passenger.

• Variable Pitch Progressive Spring: The racing-red coil features a progressive winding design. The tightly spaced top coils easily absorb minor road ripples and cobblestones for a plush ride, while the wider, stiffer bottom coils step in to prevent harsh chassis bottoming during deep ruts or off-road drops.

Technical Specifications

Tactical Tuning Strategy

The clicker dial located at the bottom of the Flow S shock controls the oil flow inside the 14mm rod. You can adapt it directly to your riding environment using this tuning baseline:

• For Fast Paved Twisties (Stiffer/Slower Rebound): Turn the dial clockwise (toward the ‘+’ or higher numbers). This slows down the shock’s extension speed, anchoring the rear tire firmly to the asphalt and stopping the scooter from feeling bouncy or floaty through high-speed sweeping corners.

• For Rough Dirt & Gravel (Softer/Faster Rebound): Turn the dial counter-clockwise (toward the ‘-‘ or lower numbers). This allows the shock to extend quickly after a hit, ensuring the tire stays in contact with loose ground and preventing the suspension from “packing down” over closely spaced ruts.

Installation Guidelines

1. Elevate the Chassis: Place the Honda ADV160 securely on its factory center stand over solid, flat ground. Brace the front wheel or engine cases so that the rear tire floats just slightly off the ground, relieving all mechanical load from the shock mount bolts.

2. Access the Top Perches: Follow your vehicle workshop guide to remove the rear luggage grab handles or upper plastic side trim panels to get clear wrench access to the upper 12mm mounting nuts.

3. Position and Torque: Coat the inner metal sleeves of the new rubber bushings with a fine layer of water-resistant grease. Mount the Flow S shocks onto the perches with the piggyback reservoir tanks pointing toward the rear of the scooter to clear the inner body panels, and torque to factory specifications.

4. Set Initial Rider Sag: Put on your riding gear and sit on the scooter in your normal riding position. The suspension should compress roughly 25mm to 30mm from its fully extended state. If it sags too much under your weight, use the included pin spanner tool to turn the threaded collar down, compressing the red spring until the ideal sag height is achieved.