Peeps, I live in Asia:

https://www.freedomcyclelasvegas.com...ed-Family2.jpg

I'm not after perfection here

I chose the KLX over the CRF partly as I already had a smaller KLX, partly as it has adjustable suspension. If a 70cc scooter can handle 4 or 5 people then I'm reasonably confident my 250cc dirtbike, with it's long-travel adjustable suspension should have a fighting chance

I find the stock setup is adequate to poodle around on tarmac, aside from the nose-diving. I just want to stiffen it up a bit for when wifey is on there, as off-road with potholes and such it does indeed feel like it might bottom out.

Approaching them at the same sort of speed I would in a car, went over some speed bumps today with wifey on the back. Didn't bottom out and was actually quite comfy! But it does rather wallow a bit, so some extra damping and stiffening the rear should help.

Riding alone I'll be going further and to more remote areas, so will still have quite a lot of weight on the back, probably around 30-40 kg.

Bottom line, you can't really whoop it up off-road with a pillion anyway, and with one as precious as wifey I'll be just doodling around slowly. For offroad bits it will be super slow and any kind of obstacle means wifey will be hopping off and walking for a bit.

Basically think "Big, plush, comfortable scooter, with knobbly tires and more power".

An adventure scooter

 

Well, the preload adj would help, just a little. If your going to keep the bike, I would change the front & rear springs. Maybe 2 sizes up at least. There are some sites that will figure your correct springs for the wt you want to ride. I would go with them.
Then if your by yourself you can really get air on the jumps and not worry about ever bottoming out.