Newbie to Sport Riding

[meangene]

Greetings!

As a rider who has put in over 80,000 miles "cruising", I'm really quite green to sport riding. The good news is that I love my 2003 Sprint, and am already introducing myself to horse power and cornering/stability that I've never experienced before as a rider. What took me so long?

At any rate, I'm quickly becoming a twisty/sweeper junkie, and would appreciate anyone able to help me become better aquainted with my suspension. I haven't a clue as to where to begin! I have read, and realize, there is a whole new frontier out there, once one knows how to dial in their suspension.

I'm 6 ft, 195 lbs, if this helps anyone. I usally ride sans passenger.


Tips?

[MikeWS1]

Meangene,

As a new owner of a '03 ST and a longtime Harley rider I've also been wondering how to set up my suspension. While doing some research on the web, I came across some great information on suspension tuning on the Sport Rider website. If you navigate through it you'll find a section where Sport Rider lists the suspension settings for every bike that they've tested since 1997, including a '01 Sprint ST.

Here's the link:

Sport Rider Suspension Clicky


Mike.

[Rashmaster]

Here's some stuff I use on occasion:
setting sag: http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/G...Tarticle2.html
suspension trouble shooting: http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/G...uspension.html
suspension tuning: http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/G...ClubGuide.html
Have fun.
Mike

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/...stsportbikers/

[dolson]

meangene, welcome. Look below to the thread "suspension settings" There are a few items there that will help you get on the way. There isn't too much adjustment to an ST like other sport bikes but enough to taylor it a bit better.

There are enough adjustments for different kinds of roads that I ride on. For instance I usually run two different kinds. One for in the Cascades that have high speed sweepers and another for the very tight and rough logging roads. Also working on one again for the cascades that's faster but still on the tight side but smooth roads.

Don't crank it too tight or you'll loose compliance and will start to jar and loose traction.

Whatever you do to it keep changes to one at a time and small and log everything down so you can return to something that works if you get it really bollaxed up.

Go in slow and come out fast.

Luck,
Don

[meangene]

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I'll be sure to check out the sites you've mentioned, and start slowly introducing myself to some minor adjustments.

I like the idea of keeping a log. Nice to reflect back upon, not only for suspension settings and road conditions, but, remembering just where the heck it was I rode!

In slow, out fast; got'cha!

Ride careful,

Gene