Suspension tuning

scubie · Banned Joined: 03 Mar 2010 Karma :

HI All

I did post this in another section but some ignorant individual marked it as spam, which is beyond me..

So here goes.

After spending much time making notes and tuning the suspension on the blade, from sag settings both static and rider to compression and rebound..

I seem to have something i am very good at, yesterday for example i set up 3 of my mates bikes 2 blades and one bandit, so if you live in South Wales i can have a look at your bike for free..

I cannot change forks or springs but i can adjust them for you so that the ride improves, and in most cases as was found yesterday, this made a considerable difference. (this is for road and not track use)

Just pm me if you would like any help.

Cptn. Awesome · Crazy Courier Joined: 12 Sep 2007 Karma :

Well I think it's a thoroughly nice thing for you to offer to people. Especially people who aren't so technically gifted.
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MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

Smooth · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Karma :

It is definitely a personal thing, but someone with some knowledge can certainly improve a bike that is setup badly -many bikes are never changed from the fairly random factory settings- Get the sag right and just too little damping and they're on their way. The final tweaking is based on preferences.

I can't see anything wrong with helping people out ad explaining the concepts to people.

it's not just motorbikes:
I was translating(in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king Smile

) for a British chap with a big, expensive downhill bike in a Morzine bike shop last year. He had loads of sag and virtually no rebound front or rear. I suggested he adjusted it, but he said,
"it's been like that for a long time and I 'd rather not play with it"
all the gear.... It must have ridden like an absolute pig. Out-riding chaps like that on my hardtail gave a pleasant feeling of smugness.
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scubie · Banned Joined: 03 Mar 2010 Karma :

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

scubie · Banned Joined: 03 Mar 2010 Karma :

I am not painting myself as an expert, i am offering to help and also show a way to set your bike up for road use..

Where you would need an extra few mm in suspension travel to take out the bumps and potholes.

This is not for track use.

Of Course sometimes, the factory settings are ok but i have found that these get tweaked.

Edit:

One final point : If you are very heavy or very light in weight this can make an enormous difference to suspension sometimes requiring stiffer springs.
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The rumour about the welsh chasing sheep is not true. Ok its partially true but i was only ever helping it over the fence.

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

ms51ves3 · Super Spammer Joined: 08 Jun 2007 Karma :

You make my laugh cheaperholidays. You remove your signature from your original post but not the following replies, I'm surprised others haven't picked up on why you are really here.

scubie · Banned Joined: 03 Mar 2010 Karma :

ms51ves3 · Super Spammer Joined: 08 Jun 2007 Karma :

You joined up yesterday with the name cheaper holidays and then had a link in your signature saying go here for cheaper. That's spam.

I don't mind you helping people set up their suspension, but I'm 100% confident you're not posting on this forum for that reason.

scubie · Banned Joined: 03 Mar 2010 Karma :

Marjay i think we can agree to disgree...

All the guide i used does is give you a basic set up for your weight, the track boys i have spoken to will use 25mm of loaded sag at the front for example..

Make a 1 click adjustment on rebound damping and it can make a world of difference, the set up i use and the one you use will not be that far apart.

Its all very emotive and a feel thing, if your bike handles better with less sag then so be it.
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The rumour about the welsh chasing sheep is not true. Ok its partially true but i was only ever helping it over the fence.

Smooth · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Karma :

scubie · Banned Joined: 03 Mar 2010 Karma :

ms51ves3 · Super Spammer Joined: 08 Jun 2007 Karma :

scubie · Banned Joined: 03 Mar 2010 Karma :

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

Smooth · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Karma :

nasty · Traffic Copper Joined: 14 Aug 2008 Karma :

CheaperHolidays take a look at this guide and see how much emphasis is put on how your setup will affect the entering and exiting of corners etc, not just potholes:

https://www.moto-racing.co.uk/Guides/motorcycleSuspensionSetup.htm
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scubie · Banned Joined: 03 Mar 2010 Karma :

Wafer_Thin_Ham · Super Spammer Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Karma :

I would argue that setting a bike up for the road and setting a bike up for the track are completely different. Not just because the two environments are very different, but because the track bikes have pukka race suspension. Some race suspension "prefers" less sag than others(Ohlins changed their shock sag guidlines in 2008 IIRC from a conversation I was having with 100% suspenion).
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scubie · Banned Joined: 03 Mar 2010 Karma :

I firmly believe that my set up as in the working example gives you a neutral position for road use..

Now each to there own, but from here you can go plus or minus on rebound and compression..

The blade is 4 clicks front compression and 5 clicks rebound

Rear is 3 clicks rebound and 1 and a 1/4 turn compresion

NOTHING IS CAST IN STONE.. ITS YOUR BIKE

I am a hang of the bike sort of guy, although have not quite got my knee down... Embarassed

although it corners like its on rails.

When i bounce the bike with a mate holiding it, it acts as one front and rear in ballance.
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The rumour about the welsh chasing sheep is not true. Ok its partially true but i was only ever helping it over the fence.

Howling TerrorOutOfOffice · Super Spammer Joined: 05 Dec 2008 Karma :

I'll be using Keith Codes method. Smile

But it doesn't mention whether the bike should be fully fuelled. Won't make much difference to my old bike but would do for track and pernickity road riders.

Pat
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Bikeless · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Karma :

scubie · Banned Joined: 03 Mar 2010 Karma :