SUSPENSION SET UP TIPS COMPRESSION DAMPING REAR SUSPENSION Too much compression damping can cause: - The rear wheel to slide under acceleration. - It can give a harsh ride over bumps. Too little compression damping can cause: - The rear wheel starts to bump sideways under acceleration. - The bike will squat too much (rear is too low), that will cause the front to lose grip. FRONT SUSPENSION Too much compression damping can cause: - Good result during braking. - Feels harsh over bumps. Too little compression damping can cause: - Strong diving of the front. REBOUND DAMPING REAR SUSPENSION Too much rebound damping can cause: - The rear “jumps” on bumps instead of following the surface. - The rear “jutters” under brakes. - Loss of mechanical grip. - It can cause overheating in the hydraulic system of the shock absorber and make it fade, in other words, it will lose damping when hot. Too little rebound damping can cause: - The rear “tops out” too fast under braking. Causing the rear wheel to jump. - The bike feels unstable. FRONT SUSPENSION Too much rebound damping can cause: - Oversteering. - It will give poor grip of the front tyre. Too little rebound damping can cause: - Understeering. - The front can feel unstable. SPRING RATIO REAR SUSPENSION Too hard spring ratio: - Gives easy turning into corners. - Makes the rear feel harsh - Creates poor rear wheel traction. Too soft spring ratio: - Can give good traction in acceleration. - Creates understeer in entry of corner. - Will give a light feeling in the front. FRONT SUSPENSION Too hard spring ratio: - Good under braking. - Creates understeer. - It feels harsh in the corners. Too soft spring ratio: - Gives easy turning into the corners. - Creates oversteer. - Bad under braking (diving). NOTE: -You should do your changes in suspension set-up one by one, try to learn what effect each individual adjustment has on your bike, and take notes. -Different brands of tyre have different carcass construction/characteristics and place different loads on the suspension. A good setting for one brand of tyre may not work well for another brand. -When riding with a passenger or changing the load, the spring preload must be adjusted for proper function and vehicle balance.
Transcript
SUSPENSION SET UP TIPS
COMPRESSION DAMPING
REAR SUSPENSION
Too much compression damping can cause:- The rear wheel to slide under acceleration.- It can give a harsh ride over bumps.
Too little compression damping can cause:- The rear wheel starts to bump sideways under acceleration.- The bike will squat too much (rear is too low), that will cause the front to lose grip.
FRONT SUSPENSION
Too much compression damping can cause:- Good result during braking.- Feels harsh over bumps.
Too little compression damping can cause:- Strong diving of the front.
REBOUND DAMPING
REAR SUSPENSION
Too much rebound damping can cause:- The rear “jumps” on bumps instead of following the surface.- The rear “jutters” under brakes.- Loss of mechanical grip.- It can cause overheating in the hydraulic system of the shock absorber and make it fade, in other words, itwill lose damping when hot.
Too little rebound damping can cause:- The rear “tops out” too fast under braking. Causing the rear wheel to jump.- The bike feels unstable.
FRONT SUSPENSION
Too much rebound damping can cause:- Oversteering.- It will give poor grip of the front tyre.
Too little rebound damping can cause:- Understeering.- The front can feel unstable.
SPRING RATIO
REAR SUSPENSION
Too hard spring ratio:- Gives easy turning into corners.- Makes the rear feel harsh- Creates poor rear wheel traction.
Too soft spring ratio:- Can give good traction in acceleration.- Creates understeer in entry of corner.- Will give a light feeling in the front.
FRONT SUSPENSION
Too hard spring ratio:- Good under braking.- Creates understeer.- It feels harsh in the corners.
Too soft spring ratio:- Gives easy turning into the corners.- Creates oversteer.- Bad under braking (diving).
NOTE:
-You should do your changes in suspension set-up one by one, try to learn what effect each individual adjustment has on your bike, and take notes.
-Different brands of tyre have different carcass construction/characteristics and place different loads on the suspension. A good setting for one brand of tyre may not work well for another brand.
-When riding with a passenger or changing the load, the spring preload must be adjusted for proper function and vehicle balance.
COMPRESSION DAMPING
REAR SUSPENSION
Too much compression damping can cause:- The rear wheel to slide under acceleration.- It can give a harsh ride over bumps.
Too little compression damping can cause:- The rear wheel starts to bump sideways under acceleration.- The bike will squat too much (rear is too low), that will cause the front to lose grip.
FRONT SUSPENSION
Too much compression damping can cause:- Good result during braking.- Feels harsh over bumps.
Too little compression damping can cause:- Strong diving of the front.
SPRING PRELOAD - FREE SAG - RIDE HEIGHT
- Put the motorcycle on a workstand so that both wheels are off the ground and the suspension is unloaded.
- Mark with a piece of tape or similar, a point on the seat or rear frame, and another point at the bottom of the front fork outer tube.
- Measure the distance from the marked point in the rear to the wheel axle (R1).
- Measure the distance from the marked point in the front to the front wheel axle (F1).
- Put the motorcycle on the ground so that the front and the rear suspensions are slightly compressed and take the same measurements (R2, F2).
- Take the same measurements with a rider fully equipped on the motorcycle. (R3, F3).
SPRING RATIO
REAR SUSPENSION
Too hard spring ratio:- Gives easy turning into corners.- Makes the rear feel harsh- Creates poor rear wheel traction.
Too soft spring ratio:- Can give good traction in acceleration.- Creates understeer in entry of corner.- Will give a light feeling in the front.
FRONT SUSPENSION
Too hard spring ratio:- Good under braking.- Creates understeer.- It feels harsh in the corners.
Too soft spring ratio:- Gives easy turning into the corners.- Creates oversteer.- Bad under braking (diving).
NOTE:
-You should do your changes in suspension set-up one by one, try to learn what effect each individual adjustment has on your bike, and take notes.
-Different brands of tyre have different carcass construction/characteristics and place different loads on the suspension. A good setting for one brand of tyre may not work well for another brand.
-When riding with a passenger or changing the load, the spring preload must be adjusted for proper function and vehicle balance.
RECCOMENDED MEASURES
FREE SAG (R1-R2), (F1-F2)
Rear 5-15 mmFront 20-30 mm
RIDE HEIGHT (R1-R3), (F1-F3)
Rear 25-35 mmFront 30-40 mm
NOTE:
If your measures differ significantly from the recommendations, adjust the spring preload.
