I was just putting my suspension back to standard settings before sorting out my SAG etc and I came across something I have never seen on all my other bikes I have ever owned. As with most other bikes there seemed to be two rings for sorting the pre load, however the lower ring has an allen bolt in it (never seen that before) and the top ring is right at the top and will not budge (Is it a moveable ring, or is it part of the shock body?) The manual says 6mm, but doesn't say much else about it with no photos or anything (there is a lot more detail for other stuff! Is this to encourage you to take it to the dealers, like Triumph do?) so I assume that the allen bolt is slacked off to allow the bottom ring to move, the top ring should move (It seems very tight) and tis there to lock the bottom ring in place and the 6mm is how much thread should be showing over the top of the top ring? Currently there is about 30mm so the last owner who adjusted it must have liked pies or he really liked to feel the road, every stone and every ant he ran over!!!
Thanks

What you describe as the the "Top Ring" isn't a ring at all - and if it does move ... Well, that would be bad.

Preload adjustment is done by the locking ring (with socket cap screw locking/clamping feature) - the one you refer to as a lower ring. Your assumptions on changing preload are correct. Do not overtighten that socket cap screw - you only need enough to keep it from rotating (most of which is accomplished by the spring).

Try rotating the spring and the locking collar at the same time - might be easier. CAUTION: You want the bottom spring perch opening (slot) to face down (forward) so that crap doesn't accumulate in it.

LOL - I checked, it isn't in the owner's manual. Did KTM think it too obvious? They cover fork preload in detail, shock rebound and compression - but no preload.

Can't judge about the previous owner, but you adjust to get sag correct - and that will depend on not only your weight and how the the bike is currently sprung, but also how you intend to use it.

Is this your first motorbike?

Here you are

http://slorider.com/KTM/manuals/WP5018PDS2003.pdf

When I had my suspension set up by the guys at HMRacing they set up the sag for both my standard white spring and my SDR orange spring. I'm about 14 stone and with my leathers, boots etc. probably quite a bit more. They basically showed me that for my weight, fully kitted the white spring was at maximum pre-load to achieve the correct sag - set up for smooth fast roads and track. The orange spring was set up at the other end of the preload to achieve the same sag.

So maybe the previous owner wasn't so much of a pie eater - or maybe I'm a fat bastard in denial!

Ok, so what is the answer to hjp's question "and the 6mm is how much thread should be showing over the top of the top ring?". Is the exposed 6mm of thread the way to measure preload on the WP shock, or do you include the lockring in the 6mm? In other words what points on the shock are used to correctly measure preload?
As SDnerd says its not very obvious in the manual

Do not worry about how many threads .....just set the static sag to the correct amount and then do rider sag you are sorted

Front Sag 25mm
Front Rider Sag 34mm

Rear Sag 6mm
Rear Rider Sag 35mm

Thanks for that lads, just what I wanted to know.
With regard to the question is this my first bike, the answer is no
To the un-asked question is this my first bike without a second locking ring, the answer is Yes
Never seen a set up like this before but mostly had Jap bikes with a couple of Italian ones here and there.
Will not bother trying to set the 6mm pre load, mainly because no one seems to know how to measure it!
I will set up the SAG properly as soon as I can borrow a friend to help, until then I like to try the suggested suspension settings to see what they are liek, as a sort of comparison.
Thanks