Sorry, New Years resolution is to pay a bit more attention to a few forums, especially this one! I see
@weeksy tagged me in this thread some time ago and I've only just seen it.
I really like the way this thread has gone as it shows the diversity of knowledge, experience and expectation people have with regard to suspension.
So I've been setting up bikes for customers for over 8 years now and again it's a diverse bunch that wanted different things. I've spent time in the No Limits trackday paddock being their 'suspension support' as well as helping out my own shop customers who range from wanting to get the best from their road bikes to trying to win a club championship.
And all that just goes to show that you can't give the same set up to the same person and always expect them to be happy. Of all the things that rattle my can, it's a suspension 'guru' that gets a bike in and dials in settings from their own records as though this rider will want exactly the same as the previous. It's the same with ECU flashing, but that's a whole other story.
Setting up suspension requires a pair of ears to listen to what the customer wants. Obviously they are not going to be able to say, 'I want 2 clicks of rebound at the back' (if they did then they should do it themselves and save themselves the £50!) What you need to do is ask the right questions and interpret the answers. This can range from, 'what's wrong?', 'it's running wide on the exit of Gerrards' to 'do you get flashed by oncoming cars when your girlfriend is pillion', 'yes, all the time'. Very different questions, very different answers and very different situations.
Different people also want different feel from their bikes. I had a customer who's first 'big' bike was a Ducati Supersport (the new ish one) and he really thought he could get a 'magic carpet' ride from it. He was really upset that it didn't do what his 5 series BMW could do. He didn't seem so upset that the BMW couldn't do some of the things the bike could do but there we go! What he really should have bought was a Multistrada; that's a bike that I feel has got the closest (of the bikes I've ridden at any rate) to a 'magic carpet' feel (but at the loss of some 'feel'!)
I'm really of the opinion that (and this will surprise a few people) that owners should play with the suspension settings themselves to see what happens. Most of the time, a few clicks here will not make the bike unrideable so just have a go yourself. It's fun! Obviously some people really don't want to try that so then I'll step in, take some money but then guide them through the experience so that they not only get a better set up bike but also have the knowledge to continue to try adjustments as they live with their bike.
I currently own a Street Triple 765RS and the owners manual has suspension settings for comfy, road and track (or something like that) and it says that under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should the preload adjuster on the rear shock be changed - it's factory set! What a load of pish!! I measured it, the sag was wrong, I changed it and the bike road better. For me, and that's the thing; it might not be like that for every 765RS owner.
There's plenty of info on the internet about suspension. Go watch a few videos by people who look like they know what they are talking about and maybe have a gentle prod at some of the adjusters on your bike. What's the worst that can happen
