Triumphrat

Dr.Speed · 12-05-2012, 01:26 PM

I have a 2011 Speed Triple with less than a thousand miles on the clock, and have not changed the stock suspension settings. I weigh in the low to mid 160s, and Probably low 170s with all my gear on. I have read that the suspension comes from the factory set up for a rider that weighs around 150-160 lbs. I plan on using the bike on the street and maybe a few track days here and there, and am coming from a Yamaha R6r. I talked to a suspension shop and they told me that it's not worth getting the stock suspension dialed in for my weight since it's not that great (it seems pretty good to me though).

My question is, whether it's worth getting somebody to do work on my suspension (i.e., racetech gold valve kit, etc.)? Or if I'm a little heavy, would losing some weight on the bike (i.e., Shorai battery, aftermarket slip-on, etc.) be a more cost effective way of getting the suspension to work better with my weight?

Dr.Speed · 12-05-2012, 01:31 PM

This is the first email the guy at http://www.reactive-suspension.com/ sent me (who was recommended by the dealer to help me dial in the suspension):

Chris.
There is quite a bit I can do to vastly improve the suspension on the 1050. I don't know how much you want to spend or what you are looking to do with the bike but as a starting point I can say that the bike is sprung for about a 150 lb. rider. So springing the bike for your weight would be very beneficial. If you'd like to give me a call at your convenience I can get a bit more info and give you an estimate on any work you'd like done.

Then I responded,
I only weigh 165, so I doubt I need new springs right? I just wanted to set sag, etc... not a major overhaul.

... and he replied,
Oops. it's sprung for a 100 lb. rider. Go to racetech.com and do a spring rate search on your bike to check your spring rates. If they are indeed that far off I wouldn't bother setting race sag as you will never get the balance right between static and dynamic.

Does this sound right?

djn876 · 12-05-2012, 02:15 PM

Something doesn't sound right. I don't think Triumph would design a bike for a weight that is waaay less than the average north american (~180 lbs) or the average European (~160 lbs).

You should get more miles in though to let the suspension settle in a little more, and then have it adjusted to your specs a bit better, that always gets huge compliments from people here. If you still don't feel satisfied you can start buying parts for it, but IMO you don't really need to unless you are a serious track day rider. Each person feels a little differently though and there is nothing wrong with an overhaul if you want to invest in that.

Could be wrong though, I would ask him why he is saying it is sprung for a 100 lb rider, for instance does the stock spring rate tell him that, etc.

Dr.Speed · 12-05-2012, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djn876

Something doesn't sound right. I don't think Triumph would design a bike for a weight that is waaay less than the average north american (~180 lbs) or the average European (~160 lbs).

You should get more miles in though to let the suspension settle in a little more, and then have it adjusted to your specs a bit better, that always gets huge compliments from people here. If you still don't feel satisfied you can start buying parts for it, but IMO you don't really need to unless you are a serious track day rider. Each person feels a little differently though and there is nothing wrong with an overhaul if you want to invest in that.

Could be wrong though, I would ask him why he is saying it is sprung for a 100 lb rider, for instance does the stock spring rate tell him that, etc.

I have no clue. Coming off the R6, I know it was not that easy to dial it in myself if you don't have competent people assisting you. I think he's just trying to take advantage and sell me something I don't need. Maybe I should just wait for a track day and have someone dial it in for me there.

cognosticator · 12-05-2012, 02:44 PM

I picked up at 2011 S3 in October with 3900 miles on it. On the 350 mile ride home on the interstate it almost jolted all my teeth out. I softened up the front and rear, including rebound and compression damping and preload. I still need to get some buddies to help me set the sag, but by softening things up, it made the ride much more enjoyable and still compliant when I hit the twisties in north GA

On the compression and rebound, I turned the adjusters all the way in to the hard or + setting and then backed them out 3.5 turns.

Also I weigh 185# nekkid

bradvanhorn · 12-05-2012, 03:01 PM

Sprung for 100 lb. rider? no...

Dave Moss, Catalyst Reaction Suspension Tuning, was at my last track day weekend and he said the stock suspension was perfectly fine for a track day rider. I already had sag set properly but he refined my rebound settings along with a couple other minor adjustments. After two track sessions we had it well dialed in for me (72" 195 lbs). Once adjusted, the suspension worked beautifully. It cost me $40, and that's the best $40 I've ever spent on a bike.

mfrankpdx · 12-05-2012, 03:02 PM

I recommend taking it to a performance shop that specializes in working on road racing and track day bikes. Even though the Speedy isn't a race replica, it has suspension designed just like race replica machines. Performance shops know what they're doing, and they can probably dial it in much better than your local Triumph dealer.

bradvanhorn · 12-05-2012, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr.Speed

I think he's just trying to take advantage and sell me something I don't need. Maybe I should just wait for a track day and have someone dial it in for me there.

I feel they are trying to sell you something you don't need, or at least not yet. If you try a track day organization website, such as NESBA, you may be able to find someone located nearby who is credible to do the "$40 basic setup".

Dr.Speed · 12-05-2012, 03:45 PM

Thanks for all the feedback! I think I am definitely going to look into having a legit shop do a basic setup. Do you guys know of any near Eastern PA?

bradvanhorn · 12-05-2012, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr.Speed

Thanks for all the feedback! I think I am definitely going to look into having a legit shop do a basic setup. Do you guys know of any near Eastern PA?

I suggest you try these guys - or I can ask for you if you don't want to create another forum account.
http://tracktalk.nesba.com/forumdisplay.php?f=9