Triumphrat

Spectrum · 06-26-2009, 12:45 PM

I have an 08 and never been a fan of the generalized suspension tables found in owners manuals. I much prefer to adjust using the sag measurement method. My question is what is the recommend sag front and rear?

Pardon me if this has already been discussed, I did do a search and could find this information.

oldndumb · 06-26-2009, 01:02 PM

If you input suspension settings in the search window you should get at least six pages listing individual threads.

Bottom line is that there is no recommend sag. It is an individual thing based on your preferences and requirements. Different riders need/are more comfortable with different amounts of sag.

If you tell us your weight (kitted up) and riding style, one of the suspension gurus can make a starting point recommendation. Then you can ride, evaluate the settings, and tailor them to your needs.

Spectrum · 06-26-2009, 02:30 PM

Thanks, and yes I'm well aware of the process of dialing in a customized (personal reference) suspension setup which is why I asked the question.

Most of the bikes I've owned, there is a factory recommended starting point for sag measurement suspension setup method. This is just a starting point for dialing in the suspension to meet ones preferences. For example on my Buell 1125R it's 35mm front and 25mm rear. The generic tables in the Buell manual are shooting for 30mm front and rear. As you can see the sag method starting point is shifting a bit of weight toward the front compared the generic tables in the manual. This made the bike much more responsive during turn in. I think it's also safe to say that Buell is assuming if you want to manual setup sag and dial in your suspension that you are looking for a bit more aggressive riding style starting point than the generic tables in the manual.

To answer your questions, I'm about 180lbs with gear on. I live near and spend a lot of time riding in the NC Mountains and prefer a little bit more performance oriented setup than most would like for street use. By that I mean I'm not an overly aggressive riding style, but prefer a suspension that is a bit firmer than the average street setup as I spend a good bit of my riding in some fairly nice twisties. I'm not going to be knee dragging on the Sprint though as I'd take the Buell to the track for that.

Currently I'm finding the front grip less than confidence inspiring. The back seems firmly planted in high speed full lean, but the rear tends to step out in low speed full leans. The low speed grip loss may however be just me getting use to the throttle response. I like pulling strong in the turns and still have a bit more slack in the throttle than I'd like. So as you can see, I'm still learning and bonding with the bike and just trying to adjust and move the setup a little more in the direction that will suit the riding that I do.

Any suggestion would be welcome.

dolson · 06-26-2009, 05:15 PM

As OnD said so very much depends on......everything that we don't know about you.

Here's a good link.
http://www.racetech.com/articles/Sus...AndSprings.htm

What you describe can be attributed to many things like tires, tire pressures, current settings etc., etc., etc.

For instance you mentioned front vagueness and the rear stepping out. What TP are you running? Too high a pressure can cause both of these symptoms as well as too stiff a compression especially in the rear.

Many confuse stiff with performance. Not so good on the street. Our local professional racer, two time AMA super bike champ, Daytona, currently Macao and IOMTT sets his front at 41mm sag.

Currently my setup is:
Misch. Pilot Road II's TP 34 front 36 rear
Front has a higher viscosity oil with 10ml more volume. 31.5 sag.
Rear is set at 26.5 sag.

I'm 200lbs fully kitted up and these setting I'm finding may be a bit stiff for the conditions I ride on and will probably loosen them up some.

Tires/tyres make a Huge difference in handling as well as the pressures.
Cranking in preload at the front is not a good idea either, this is why I opted for heavier oil and a bit more of it. With this I can run less preload and still keep the front planted and compliant.
Many are concerned about front end dive. Me less so, as long as I am not bottoming out. The more weight I have up there during cornering and braking the more I like it.

A lot of perceived front end problems can be traced to the rear. (I think you are too stiff back there either TP/preload or both) I'd also venture that you are running too much tp and or preload in the front too.

Here's a link to a thread showing my new PR2's. About all my riding in done in the mountains on fairly bad logging roads so keeping things planted is very important to me.
http://www.triumphrat.net/sprint-for...be-scarce.html

So far she's tracking straight in the low and high speed stuff up and down hill and handling the transitions quite well. I recently made some major changes in tires and setting both front and rear and still twiddling with it a bit.

Don

Spectrum · 06-26-2009, 05:57 PM

Thanks, there's a lot of good information in there and you have given me at least a starting point on the front and rear sag. I agree with your assessment as far as the rear probably being too stiff on my setup. I had already suspected that was probably the culprit. I at least have some reference points now to start working from. I'll post up later what I learn and results.

DaveM · 06-26-2009, 06:08 PM

What a nice informative thread

I am not absolutely certain because two racing budds of mine I ride with set up my bikes for me................I just sit there while they do all the work!

But I think mine is very similar to Don's set up and it is firm but I weigh more than Donski, I'd say a good 30 -40lbs lbs heavier (I am about 225lbs nekkid).

AFAIK my sag is about 30 at the front also running heavier oil and more volume in the tubes.
I think it is about 25 at the rear, my rear shock was rebuilt though, re-valved etc but stock spring with 5mm spacer.

I am running Pilot Power 2CT's with 33psi fnt and 36psi rear
(For solo riding) for pillion I stick 1- 2 more pounds in the back tyre.

My riding is probably very similar to Don's, almost all back roads and mountain corners.

When lighter peeps ride my Sprint they complain at how hard everything is, and it is very firm but it suits what I do nicely.

DaveM