Adjusting the FJR's suspension.......

[MCRIDER007]

Nothing beats riding the bike and getting a real world feel for the settings. Like I mentioned earlier, I have my settings almost there, but something still seems a hair off. Anyone here compensate for the different number of clicks from the left and right sides or do you just set the same number each side ? Suspension settings are complex and require lots of fiddling around until that sweet spot is found....

You should always adjust (X clicks) from the full closed position...that gives you the greatest chance the adjustments are equal. If for some reason they are not equal, its really not that big of deal, the end result will be the average of the two. Sounds strange after hearing so much advice to make them the same but the new 2013 FJR only has adjustments on one leg and several motorcycles (and some MotoGP race bikes) have all the rebound damping on the right leg and all the compression damping on the other. The Honda ST1100, ST1300, and GL1800 only have a cartridge in the right fork and it does all the damping.

 

[MCRIDER007]

The bad stuff for the rebound is the suspension starts to "pack up" and squat over a series of bumps, and that one is a lot harder for me to feel. I'd really like some help with a better way for setting rebound correctly.

If you don't have enough rebound you can feel a "pogo" effect on a large bump or series of small bumps....if you have too much rebound than it "packs up". I think it is a lot easier to start with very little rebound and increase the rebound by a couple of clicks at a time until the pogo goes away.....than to try to determine when the packing starts. If it later turns out you stopped (increasing the rebound) too soon...increase the rebound by 2 clicks and keep on riding.

 

[road runner]

Obviously different road conditions effect it also. I thought mine was pretty close until I was on a road down south that was going down a steep mountain, switchbacks, and in the corners the pavement seemed to have ripples about a foot apart. I had to much rebound dampening for that, because the bike started to push and didn't want to turn (packing). I reached over and backed off both rebounds while riding and all was OK after that.

What I'm saying is to find a road that has a good mix of conditions, to do your adjusting on.

The more $$$ I spend on the suspension the more I am adjusting it. :huh: I'm getting a little better at feeling what's going on, but I still have a long way to go.