Suspension Settings.

[Brooksie]

Hey guys! Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. Just woondering if anybody can help with suspension settings for this bike. I'm 170 lbs., but I understand there are not only rate settings, but the fork tubes need to be moved to help increase stability and fork oil viscosity may need to be changed. Does this help with hard street riding and should it happen while the bike is breaking in? Thanks for the help!

[Will]

The rear spring is pretty stiff for some reason. The front forks don't seem as stiffly sprung to me, but I am not exactly the most sensitive test rider. When I got my bike set up with the stock shock, the sag was set way too soft, even with a hard spring. Likewise, the front forks needed some preload as well. I didn't have too many problems with the bike's geometry once it was set up, until I lowsided on a cooked set of tires. Now, my bike is set up with an aftermarket shock and with the fork tubes pulled down to flush with the top clamp. I also cranked the shock's adjustment to full height, and it is really twitchy. I need to lower the rear back down to some reasonable height in order to get things back under control.

This probably isn't the most helpful information, but it gives you an idea of what happens when you do this or that to the bike. Anything you do to raise the front or lower the rear will be OK, but raising the rear is a bad idea, as is dropping the front. Aside from replacing the shock and rebuilding the forks, getting the sag sorted and the front ride height sorted are the most important things you can do.

[Brooksie]

Will-you speak my language. Since I have not become a track addict (yet) I wonder if there is anything I really need to do. I will probably ride on the street 90% of the time , if not more. The problem I see with a fully adjustable suspension is that I can completely screw the bike up if done wrong. My 955i was a bit of a knocker when I got her but needed very little after things broke in. If you have any pictures of that front fork set up, send them along. That seems to be a fairly common fix. Thanks!!

[Will]

I will post pictures in the new year. You may have to remind me- I tend to forget things unless the beat me over the head repeatedly.

[Brooksie]

Most things I hear about the bike is that it has a somewhat nervous nature due to its suspension. If I can get it dialed in close for street use, I can adjust to the bike pretty quick. It seems to have all the right ingredients for a ton of fun.

[Brooksie]

Just a friendly reminder about this suspension set up. Any pics available showing what you've done so far? Either way, thanks!!

[Will]

Ah, I forgot. But, I just got a camera, so I can take some pictures when the ice melts off my bike. For what it's worth, I measured from the lowest point on the weld for the rear pillion peg mount fitting to the bottom of the fitting on the swingarm for rearstand spools. The measurement came out to be 18-1/2" less a hair with the bike on its sidestand. That's from a brand new on on the showroom floor at Cycle Barn. I don't know what meaurement I will find on mine, but I suspect it will be taller- I was messing with the ride height and made it even more nervous. The fork legs project out from the top triple by a bit, but if you pull the triples up flush, it calms down the steering. Lowering the rear is my next experiment.

[Brooksie]

No sweat Will. I Think I'm gonna do the fork leg thing and let the springs break in until first maintenance before I get into it. Thanks for the info.