Hey, what are these suspension adjustments for?

[OrangevaleFJR]

Spring Preload

Rebound Damping

Compression Damping

Factory Standard settings are on th e softer side. Share what you've learned about these adjustments and share your impressions on the impact of adjusting your suspension. I want to know!

 

[slapnpop]

Even with the stock suspension on my '03, taking the time set it up right made a big difference in the feel and ride quaility of the bike. Then again, I'm far off the estimated rider weight from the factory.

Spring preload makes the shock stiffer or softer. Compression damping controls how quickly the shock will compress. Rebound damping controls how quickly the shock with extend again.

The general idea is to set the preload so that you have the proper amount of "sag". (how much the bike compresses the suspension under weight) There are various types, but the idea is to adjust the preload to compensate for your weight.

The damping is then set to make the shock absorb bumps quickly, but not be "springy". There are websites that go into much more detail about setting up the shocks.

I took a couple weekends of riding to place with the factory shochs, and ended up a fair amount away from the default settings.

What I would recommend:

#!. verify all settings are at factory.

#2. Ride for a little bit, and adjust the preload until you are happy with the the stiffness.

#3. Adjust the damping so that you find that proper middle ground, absorbing bumps, but not getting springy.

#4. From here, write down all your settings so you can come back. Then you make adjustments here or there to test out the difference, and find the place that suits your riding style.

If you're going to the wilbers soon, don't bother with this now.

 

[Randy]

Unfortunately, there isn't anything like a dyno for your suspension to tell you exactly what your bike needs to make it handle correctly. You will need to rely on your best judgement to tell the bike what you need it to do to make it handle best for your needs. I find myself constantly doing some tweaks here and there just to see how it affects the overall handling.

I have found the Sportrider website to be one of the best sources for suspension info. https://www.sportrider.com/tech/suspension/

 

[exskibum]

Spring preload makes the shock stiffer or softer.
***

The general idea is to set the preload so that you have the proper amount of "sag". (how much the bike compresses the suspension under weight)  There are various types, but the idea is to adjust the preload to compensate for your weight.

A niggle with the quote. Preload doesn't do anything to the shock (damping), but is in effect the pre-compressing of the spring to set the point at which the bike rides on its suspension under your weight. Changing it will have an effect on ride height if that is not subsequently reset by another method that does not compress or decompress the spring. The rest of slappy's description re: sag is correct and reflects this fact, but not a change in spring rate. Changing the spring's softness or stiffness is NOT what preload adjustment does; that can only be done with a different spring rate. IF you can't get the sag set in the correct range (there are guidelines according to your riding style and uses), you need a higher or lower spring rate (and then you reset the sag by adjusting preload to get into the right range). That's one of the reasons why the GB application for Wilbers is asking all those questions about weight and riding style -- to give you a proper rate spring, as well as to give you the right compression and rebound damping, wihch you can thereafter really only fine tune with the adjustments.

BTW, a GREAT reference for this stuff and other bike related mechanics is the "Sportbike Performance Handbook" by Kevin Cameron. Pretty easy to read if you're into mechanical things, and you can't help but learn a lot.

 

[skyway]

If you have little or no understanding of suspension settings and how they affect the bike, you might want to take a slightly different approach than mentioned above.(even though you will eventually end up there anyway) Set the bike up according to the manual. Find a road you are familiar with, that offers as many different riding scenario's as possible.

Start with only one setting and adjust to minimum (test ride) then maximum (test ride) since 1 or 2 clicks with not make much of a noticeable difference for a novice. Make a note of what this did and try to guess which setting is most suitable for you. Repeat with all available settings, front and rear.

Once you have done this, only then can you understand what is going on and begin to fine tune your setup, beginning with the front end first. Add some zip ties to your fork tubes, and begin by setting preload. As you brake harder and harder, the front end will compress more and more. Under the most extreme conditions, emergency braking, mamouth potholes etc, the front should never bottom out. The zip tie will be your guide here.

It is surprising how hard the front suspension may feel when set correctly in normal riding conditions, compared to heavy emergency front end braking, say from 80mph to zero. At elevated conditions, the suspension will act quite differently. YMMV

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

Does anyone here switch between 2up and solo a lot? Do you think the hard/soft setting on the rear shock is an adequate adjustment or do you do more adjustments going from solo to 2up?

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

oops

 

[quicksilver]

I ride 40% 2-up.

With an -03 rear is always on hard with a preload spacer inserted and jacked up rebound.

New Wilbers would be great , but violin,swimming,private school,tumbling, and wife have done a good job eliminating play money.

I did drop the triple clamp about a mm, too.

 

[Tom of VA]

If you what to learn more about how these adjustments effect traction, there are several books which dedicate a chapter or two about pre-load, damping and spring rate.

Total Control

 

[skyway]

Does anyone here switch between 2up and solo a lot? Do you think the hard/soft setting on the rear shock is an adequate adjustment or do you do more adjustments going from solo to 2up?

I ride a lot of 2-up. The stock shock is not great, but will work as long as your not pushing hard. You will however notice a big change once you go to a custom built aftermarket replacement, that's designed just for you.

 

[Windjammer]

Just one general note to add here. It's worth taking some time to study and understand suspension adjustment before screwing around too much. If you get too nuts with this stuff and don't know what you're doing, you could create a potentially hazardous situation for yourself. Use common sense as your guide - make adjustments in fairly small increments and test them thoroughly. Better safe than sorry on this one......

 

[twowheelnut]

Orangie...

Clickety click

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

Orangie...
Clickety click

TWN,

Clickity this

 

[red2kcbr]

Sportrider's settings for an '05 FJR:

Front:

Spring preload 2 lines showing

Rebound damping 4 clicks from full stiff

Compression damping 7 clicks from full stiff

Rear:

Spring preload Hard position

Rebound damping 3 clicks out from full stiff

These are the settings I use.

You'll need to adjust for your weight. See the discussions on sag.

Lot of information on the 'net. Google for motorcycle suspension settings. Good luck.

 

[yamaholic]

+1 for Skyway...

PM me if you need specific help, I'm pretty familiar with setting up suspension..

 

[afterburn]

One of the best guides (imo) to setup a bikes suspension can be found here.

 

[zzkenoman]

Do you guys think the front spring is way to soft for stock and absolutely need to replace? Even though I am not mechanically inclined and have read over and over all the different ideas of setting up suspensions, adjustments are pretty complicated. There must be a different set of guidelines that can be used to factor the riders weight, (200lbs in my case) and loaded saddlebags (tools & clothes that add an additional 30lbs) for the touring end of the spectrum. Specifically looking to keep the front end from diving, when hard front braking from 100 to 45mph on straights or 60 to 0mph when there are stopped traffic ahead. I have been told by other FJR riders what I should set my settings, but they are canyon carvers and they ride without the saddlebags. My bike should have all the factory settings, but if anyone has a similar profile in weight and luggage, not track minded but tend to be more on the touring side, please share them with me.