Perhaps we need a separate thread so we don't hijack this one...... so briefly, hang in there...... see Suspension Matrix.....
http://www.fjriders.com/forums/viewtopi ... =60&t=2373
True that the light bulb comes on as bungie says. First rule of suspension, the springs have to carry the weight of bike and rider properly. If it doesn't you are playing with settings trying vainly to get it to carry your weight, if those settings exist.... it's a compromise. Ignore damping for the moment, talks springs only. For 200 lb. rider, we need 1.0 fork springs, 800-850 lb. rear shock spring (despite what the matrix says). Talking from experience and spending money to find out what works. With a little bit of preload, the spring coils will remain nicely spaced and give you a plush enough ride, to which you can add damping to essentially control any pogo effect, the idea being use the least amount of damping it takes to get the job done.
We can discuss A vs ES, but in keeping with this thread... ES rear shock has a 685 lbs. spring, good for ~160-ish lb.rider, but you can add preload. For two up, pretty much maxed out, and I know several one-uppers run at two-up preload settings. Any discussion on damping will just complicate things, so let's just say........ ES needs more spring on the back end, and once you have it, damping can be set to something more suitable for the nicer ride (again, any talk of ES damping will just bring out another set of complications... the whole thing is a compromise).
As for the A rear shock, you have (on Soft) the equivalent of a 651 lb. spring, with no preload option except to dial in Hard (976 lbs). Neither is likely to be good one-up, so you dial in rebound damping, a compromise also..... no sense re-springing an A shock, go aftermarket so you get some preload adjustment you can tweak...
When two-up I have problems with excessive inertia(!) in the twisties but don't have handling or ground clearance problems. At EOM '18, did garyahouse or Brody find my pace limited by my suspension? 
