Suspension Help

[Trinity765]

I'm also doing very varied roads - single track, bumpy stuff, up and down mountains and smooth A roads. I would assume that there's going to be a compromise somewhere?

[Yorick]

After dropping my tyres from 42r to 36r and 36f to 33f and riding a day's worth of varied roads, I'd probably cope with a trip to Wales. I know it can be better though, so I'd like to have it set up again by a specialist as I'm sure it would be an improvement.

Suspension and handling is a dark art. Can't be set up really by asking folk on the Internet.
Always worth paying an expert to do the job properly.

[Yorick]

I'm also doing very varied roads - single track, bumpy stuff, up and down mountains and smooth A roads. I would assume that there's going to be a compromise somewhere?

Only if its budget suspension.
My GSXR could manage a top 10 at a club race in the right hands.
But glides over bumpy roads.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I'm also doing very varied roads - single track, bumpy stuff, up and down mountains and smooth A roads. I would assume that there's going to be a compromise somewhere?

Indeed, you want to get settings that feel good everywhere, rather than ones that feel superb for one road condition, but poor everywhere else.

[Count Steer]

I'd probably put a couple of psi in both and go again. Also check the static sag. But if you're going the service route maybe just do the air thing.

This all piqued my interest so I did some digging around. BMW workshop manual (on a model that has oil in the forks.....obvs ) says service interval for fork oil change is 18k miles apparently - replacing other things depending on inspection/condition. Not convinced that dealers do this as routine (particularly as normal service interval isn't 18k) on BMW or other makes ie according to the workshop manual but will happily do it as a separate job - if asked - for 2+ hours labour + materials. Many owners won't have or bother accessing a workshop manual and assume things get done routinely.

Ohlins say their stuff should be serviced every 24k miles or 2 years.

(I suspect most OEM shocks typically just get used until they are obviously not working properly and get chucked and replaced).

[Trinity765]

I'm also doing very varied roads - single track, bumpy stuff, up and down mountains and smooth A roads. I would assume that there's going to be a compromise somewhere?

Indeed, you want to get settings that feel good everywhere, rather than ones that feel superb for one road condition, but poor everywhere else.

That's what I ask for.

[Yorick]

I'm also doing very varied roads - single track, bumpy stuff, up and down mountains and smooth A roads. I would assume that there's going to be a compromise somewhere?

Indeed, you want to get settings that feel good everywhere, rather than ones that feel superb for one road condition, but poor everywhere else.

That's what I ask for.

It needs an expert to actually bounce up and down on the suspension.
The best guy in the world can't do it online.

[Mr Moofo]

How about contacting SSR Suspension in the vendors section?

[wull]

Also check the static sag.

Did you mean rider sag? Unless you’re wondering if the spring rate is incorrect for the riders weight.

It’s not a dark art at all, it’s rather simple if you fancy getting stuck in and having a dabble.

The one setting that is matter of fact is setting the rider sag as this is based on your weight, obviously if your weight changes or you carry a lot of luggage then it would need adjusted but within reason you set it and then forget it.

As for compression and rebound make a note of the current settings then have a play with them, if you don’t like the feeling that you’re getting then adjust, one click here and there, always adjust when the oil is hot and always make a note of the settings so you can return them if you go in the wrong direction.

And of course have a play with tyre pressures until you’re happy with them.

[mangocrazy]

Ideally you'd like a couple of mates to help you but, as wull says, setting up static and rider sag is not rocket science. There are loads of 'how tos' on t'Interwebs. But do make notes of all changes, especially any base setting that you arrive at, so you can revert to that if you get lost with the clickers.

[Count Steer]

Also check the static sag.

Did you mean rider sag? Unless you’re wondering if the spring rate is incorrect for the riders weight.

It’s not a dark art at all, it’s rather simple if you fancy getting stuck in and having a dabble.

The one setting that is matter of fact is setting the rider sag as this is based on your weight, obviously if your weight changes or you carry a lot of luggage then it would need adjusted but within reason you set it and then forget it.

As for compression and rebound make a note of the current settings then have a play with them, if you don’t like the feeling that you’re getting then adjust, one click here and there, always adjust when the oil is hot and always make a note of the settings so you can return them if you go in the wrong direction.

And of course have a play with tyre pressures until you’re happy with them.

I kind of assumed that rider sag/preload was done (having been used fully loaded, then not and it's (usually) just a click, click job). I suggested checking it earlier. Static sag would tell you a bit more about the state of things but it's a faff with a tape - unless you happen to have a Slacker...and it's going to Steve Jordan, so I wouldn't bother

My money is still on tyre pressures.

[Skub]

Slacker is a great tool and you can use it on any bike you own. I'm more inclined to do something if I don't have to ask for help.

[Yorick]

So far there's been lots of supposed solutions.
But nobody knows the actual problem.

It's like making some soup and asking how it tastes on the Internet

[wull]

How would anyone know the actual problem when we aren’t with the bike? But we can advise, absolutely no harm in that especially when we have some knowledge of suspension. I mean, what if no one advised you on where the main fuse was? I suspect still scratching your arse.

[wull]

Slacker is a great tool and you can use it on any bike you own. I'm more inclined to do something if I don't have to ask for help.

Yeah I love mine, made it a much simpler task when you don’t have anyone at hand to help but I do prefer having someone to hold the bike upright as I believe you get more accurate results than using a wheel chock, and the reason for that is the front of the bike is slightly higher which would put more bias of weight to the rear.

[wull]

Also check the static sag.

Did you mean rider sag? Unless you’re wondering if the spring rate is incorrect for the riders weight.

It’s not a dark art at all, it’s rather simple if you fancy getting stuck in and having a dabble.

The one setting that is matter of fact is setting the rider sag as this is based on your weight, obviously if your weight changes or you carry a lot of luggage then it would need adjusted but within reason you set it and then forget it.

As for compression and rebound make a note of the current settings then have a play with them, if you don’t like the feeling that you’re getting then adjust, one click here and there, always adjust when the oil is hot and always make a note of the settings so you can return them if you go in the wrong direction.

And of course have a play with tyre pressures until you’re happy with them.

I kind of assumed that rider sag/preload was done (having been used fully loaded, then not and it's (usually) just a click, click job). I suggested checking it earlier. Static sag would tell you a bit more about the state of things but it's a faff with a tape - unless you happen to have a Slacker...and it's going to Steve Jordan, so I wouldn't bother

My money is still on tyre pressures.

More than likely because I wouldn’t imagine it would just go off like that, be fine then not the next.

But I’d imagine whoever set the sag would have taken static sag into consideration with regards to spring rate and the amount of available travel left etc but then again you can never be too certain of these things, having too much faith in the supposed folk who are meant to know what they’re doing. One of the main reasons I do everything myself now, I’ve seen some dodgy shite over the years.

[Bigyin]

All joking aside i can ask if Mr Jordan can fit you in before your trip ....... i know they are mega busy at the moment and Steve has been late away from work quite a bit over the last few weeks

[Trinity765]

All joking aside i can ask if Mr Jordan can fit you in before your trip ....... i know they are mega busy at the moment and Steve has been late away from work quite a bit over the last few weeks

Did I read that right? You can ask Mr Jordan? If I did, that would be wonderful. I'm going away on 13th July and will phone them later today myself. I've been to see them previously with this bike and other bikes and I've always come away thinking it was money well spent. I also think they are very genuine and they're not going to suggest anything that I don't need.

Seeing as it feels better loaded up with luggage and worse when I'm on my own, I thought someone might know a little twiddle that would help in the meantime. Lowering the tyre pressures has helped but I know that's not the proper solution.

FWIW I think suspension is a very specialist dark art and people who set it up professionally are magicians. It's hard to articulate how a bike feels without saying "erm, it's bit bumpy" but they listen, ask me how much I weigh and go off and do their magic. I'm also very sensitive (awwww) and asked a friend if it was possible that I could feel the difference between cold suspension and warm suspension because my bike felt different in the morning on the way to work than it did when I was going home and he said "Maybe, theoretically it's possible". Years later I asked a pro who said "Yes it is possible and also, it could be your tyres temperatures as well". Princess and the pea - I've been called that a few times and it embarrasses me, but I've been right each time.

I usually seek professional advise when I think things may be getting dangerous, such as I'm coming out of my seat on familiar roads at my "normal" speeds and I'm having to stand on the pegs to mitigate the risk. I don't want to spend the Wales trip standing on my pegs because I don't have the knees for it anymore

[Count Steer]

For a significant trip, do you adjust the preload on the rear shock when you load up the luggage/take it off? (Or when carrying a pillion?). If the bike is right with the luggage on the rear will ride too high with it off, (if the luggage weight is significant). It's why I like ESA so much - passenger on, press button, passenger off, press button.

[weeksy]

Did I read that right? You can ask Mr Jordan?

He's known them a long long time. Sarah who is his wife used to be a forum regular on the old place, many of us have met her/them quite a lot. @bigyin more than most.