rear end too light or just me?

[midden]

my rear shock appears to be on its hardest setting but its not solid.

I get the impression the pre load  was at this setting when you bought the bike. Am I correct Paul. 
If so,  there's no point speculating on knackered shocks, hard downshifts and braking untill you return the pre load back to the default setting and take it for a ride.  Just my opinion, again