sparx55 Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 This post has two parts really, firstly I've noticed, there's been a few threads where people have asked for guidence with suspension, thing is, it's not always easy to remember what and when the bike was doing or not doing what it should, spesh when you sit down at a laptop two days later and try to write a thread. I've found in the past that having the expert waiting for you to come in and get your 'first impression' actually finds the real problem much quicker. Colin of 100% suspension should be at Anglesey on the 8th of May, and if he can work with my level of feed back he can work with anyone, Imagine if you would........ 'So how was it Mark?' To which I replied, 'If it was a horse I'd shoot it' 'Ahhhh so it can't find the apex then?' 'Can it fuck' 'good , more rear preload will solve that, how is it on the power? 'Ok I guess' Colin ' Go and try it now mate' And bugger me, he was right, you get all this for £48 for the whole day, that's right, after every session, your own personal suspension guy comes over and asks if it was any better and what would you like from the bike now.....Bargain or what ? And he will even do this based upon you riding to the track and then doing a road test ride, so non track riders can also benifit too. Secondly for those who can't wait, can't make it to a No Limits track day or just ain't going. The following is taken from the WP-UK web site, so if you find something you don't agree with, don't bombard me, I'm only the messenger, but it lists basic symptoms/problems and the most common causes. It won't make you a WP or Ohlins techy, but it does give some good pointers, so all you have to do is go for a test ride, and rush into the house and read this whilst the ride out is fresh in your head. TROUBLE SHOOTING OVERVIEW REAR SUSPENSION Complaint too little negative suspension travel motorcycle shocks through the steering in ruts or when accelerating shock absorber appears immobile uncomfortable overloading on front forks when travelling downhill or braking Cause spring pre load too high Solution reduce spring pre load fit a softer spring if necessary ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Complaint motorcycle dips too deeply on suspension too much negative suspension travel (“sag”) uncomfortable tendency to shocking motorcycle wanders on uneven surfaces Cause spring pre load too low Solution increase spring pre load fit a harder spring (or springs) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Complaint very uncomfortable rear wheel tends to bounce in fast bends especially when accelerating rear wheel bounces over uneven surfaces Cause compression camping too hard Solution adjust damping to softer level have the shock absorber adjusted internally have worn shock absorbers repaired or replaced ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Complaint Rear suspension bottoms out motorcycle and rider subject to hard bumps Noticeable movements in the frame, particularly when accelerating out of bends Cause compression damping too soft Solution set compression damping harder have the shock absorber adjusted internally have worn shock absorbers repaired or replaced ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Complaint motorcycle suspension extremely sluggish rear wheel unable to cope well with uneven surfaces tendency to bounce on bumpy surfaces uncomfortable tendency to snake in ruts Cause rebound damping too hard Solution decrease the rebound damping possibly increase spring pre-load replace shock absorber ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Complaint motorcycle suspension extremely lively constant movement in the rear suspension rear wheel has tendency to bounce / wobble Cause rebound damping (rebound) too soft Solution increase the rebound damping reduce the spring pretension if necessary have worn shock absorbers repaired or replaced ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FRONT SUSPENSION Complaint front forks sluggish/nearly immobile handlebars “jump” in your hand when accelerating and crossing ruts uncomfortable front wheel bounces / chatters on poor road surfaces Cause spring pre load too high spring too hard air chamber too small Solution reduce spring pre load fit softer springs or progressive springs with a lighter initial strength increase air chamber (reduce oil level in front fork) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Complaint motorcycle sags to deeply on the springs too much negative suspension travel suspension occasionally bottoms out front forks shake when braking and travelling downhill Cause spring pre load too low springs too soft air chamber too large Solution increase spring pre load fit stiffer springs or progressive front fork springs with a heavier initial strength reduce air chamber (increase oil level in front fork) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Complaint front forks sluggish/nearly immobile shocks in the steering when accelerating front wheel chatters when braking hard Cause ingoing (compression) damping too hard Solution reduce the ingoing (compression) damping possibly use lower viscosity fork oil ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Complaint front forks shock when braking and on uneven road surfaces and dips rapidly when braking Cause ingoing (compression) damping too soft Solution increase the ingoing (compression) damping possibly use higher viscosity fork oil ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Complaint front forks spring back slowly uncomfortable front wheel unable to cope with uneven surfaces indirect steering behaviour Cause outgoing (rebound) damping too hard Solution reduce the outgoing (rebound) damping possibly use a lower viscosity fork oil ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Complaint front end is lively bouncing and shocking on uneven surfaces front forks spring back too quickly Cause outgoing (rebound) damping too soft Solution increase the outgoing (rebound) damping possibly use a higher viscosity fork oil ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Complaint front forks shock front wheel shudders not enough progressive hardening of the spring towards the end of travel Cause air chamber too large Solution increase the oil level in small steps of 5 to 10 mm ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Complaint forks hard tendency to shock in the steering front wheel bounces when braking due to hydraulic stop blocking uncomfortable Cause air chamber too small Solution decrease the oil level in small steps of 5 to 10 mm ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daytona63 Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 I had my supsension set up by Colin of 100% Suspension too. It transformed the bike. The guy knows what he is doing even if it's hard to say what you are looking for. And don't forget for that £48 you can phone him any time and he will tell you how to adjust the suspension to what you are trying to achieve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monkey Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 Nice post. Consider it moved and pinned Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparx55 Posted February 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 What I forgot to mention is that you also get a set up history sheet from the day, so if you do meddle at a later date, and bugger it all up, all you have to do is dial in the final set up on the sheet. Like they say, we could make it would be idiot proof, if we knew what kind of idiot we're dealing with Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
levo Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 Will he sort the riding problems I have with my missus,as some times I can't get on the power early,she gets extremely lively and suffers from front end chatter................. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonkeyJim Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 Will he sort the riding problems I have with my missus,as some times I can't get on the power early,she gets extremely lively and suffers from front end chatter................. Err... no, that is rider error. I didn't have any such problems with your missus, there was no chatter but she was extermely lively +1 for Colin @ 100% suspension he set up my R1 at Rockingham last year. Top marks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
levo Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 Err... no, that is rider error. I didn't have any such problems with your missus, there was no chatter but she was extermely lively +1 for Colin @ 100% suspension he set up my R1 at Rockingham last year. Top marks So it's you that keeps hanging up on me when I answer her phone...................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonkeyJim Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 So it's you that keeps hanging up on me when I answer her phone...................... err.... could be..... err.... yes. sorry. she keeps saying she's going to tell you. I didn't want you to have to find out like this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparx55 Posted February 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 err.... could be..... err.... yes. sorry. she keeps saying she's going to tell you. I didn't want you to have to find out like this It's better than reading it in 'Heat' magazine, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
levo Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 err.... could be..... err.... yes. sorry. she keeps saying she's going to tell you. I didn't want you to have to find out like this It's better than reading it in 'Heat' magazine, ...If I told heat mag ...I could spend the money on some track days...................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparx55 Posted February 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 ...If I told heat mag ...I could spend the money on some track days...................... If you married Jade Goody you could run your own BSB team for a year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heds954 Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 Apologies for the re-post, but I was having problems reading the OP as it was all in bold so I've just re-set it all so it's easier to digest... TROUBLE SHOOTING OVERVIEW FRONT SUSPENSION Complaint front forks sluggish/nearly immobile handlebars “jump” in your hand when accelerating and crossing ruts uncomfortable front wheel bounces / chatters on poor road surfaces Cause spring pre load too high spring too hard air chamber too small Solution reduce spring pre load fit softer springs or progressive springs with a lighter initial strength increase air chamber (reduce oil level in front fork) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Complaint motorcycle sags to deeply on the springs too much negative suspension travel suspension occasionally bottoms out front forks shake when braking and travelling downhill Cause spring pre load too low springs too soft air chamber too large Solution increase spring pre load fit stiffer springs or progressive front fork springs with a heavier initial strength reduce air chamber (increase oil level in front fork) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Complaint front forks sluggish/nearly immobile shocks in the steering when accelerating front wheel chatters when braking hard Cause ingoing (compression) damping too hard Solution reduce the ingoing (compression) damping possibly use lower viscosity fork oil ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Complaint front forks shock when braking and on uneven road surfaces and dips rapidly when braking Cause ingoing (compression) damping too soft Solution increase the ingoing (compression) damping possibly use higher viscosity fork oil ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Complaint front forks spring back slowly uncomfortable front wheel unable to cope with uneven surfaces indirect steering behaviour Cause outgoing (rebound) damping too hard Solution reduce the outgoing (rebound) damping possibly use a lower viscosity fork oil ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Complaint front end is lively bouncing and shocking on uneven surfaces front forks spring back too quickly Cause outgoing (rebound) damping too soft Solution increase the outgoing (rebound) damping possibly use a higher viscosity fork oil ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Complaint front forks shock front wheel shudders not enough progressive hardening of the spring towards the end of travel Cause air chamber too large Solution increase the oil level in small steps of 5 to 10 mm ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Complaint forks hard tendency to shock in the steering front wheel bounces when braking due to hydraulic stop blocking uncomfortable Cause air chamber too small Solution decrease the oil level in small steps of 5 to 10 mm ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- REAR SUSPENSION Complaint too little negative suspension travel motorcycle shocks through the steering in ruts or when accelerating shock absorber appears immobile uncomfortable overloading on front forks when travelling downhill or braking Cause spring pre load too high Solution reduce spring pre load fit a softer spring if necessary ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Complaint motorcycle dips too deeply on suspension too much negative suspension travel (“sag”) uncomfortable tendency to shocking motorcycle wanders on uneven surfaces Cause spring pre load too low Solution increase spring pre load fit a harder spring (or springs) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Complaint very uncomfortable rear wheel tends to bounce in fast bends especially when accelerating rear wheel bounces over uneven surfaces Cause compression camping too hard Solution adjust damping to softer level have the shock absorber adjusted internally have worn shock absorbers repaired or replaced ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Complaint Rear suspension bottoms out motorcycle and rider subject to hard bumps Noticeable movements in the frame, particularly when accelerating out of bends Cause compression damping too soft Solution set compression damping harder have the shock absorber adjusted internally have worn shock absorbers repaired or replaced ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Complaint motorcycle suspension extremely sluggish rear wheel unable to cope well with uneven surfaces tendency to bounce on bumpy surfaces uncomfortable tendency to snake in ruts Cause rebound damping too hard Solution decrease the rebound damping possibly increase spring pre-load replace shock absorber ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Complaint motorcycle suspension extremely lively constant movement in the rear suspension rear wheel has tendency to bounce / wobble Cause rebound damping (rebound) too soft Solution increase the rebound damping reduce the spring pretension if necessary have worn shock absorbers repaired or replaced Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.