New suspension settings

[amansker]

I have found these suggestions very helpful. It has clearly defined symptoms (weave, harsh, etc.) and proposed fixes.

https://aprilia.rsvmille.home.comcast.net/~...nsion_guide.htm

 

[motorcycle-ed]

I have found these suggestions very helpful. It has clearly defined symptoms (weave, harsh, etc.) and proposed fixes.
https://aprilia.rsvmille.home.comcast.net/~...nsion_guide.htm

THAT is a great discussion of suspension, the best I have seen anywhere. Great post.

Ed :clapping:

 

[terrysig]

Wow, the symptoms and solutions for suspension settings is a must read. Thanks

 

[Sir Price]

Ok I tried the Front at 2 lines out Rebound and compression at 8 out , rear on soft and 6 out .

The result solo and two up the front end was to skittish on rippled back road turns . So I backed the front compression out another two click to 10 out and put a pillion abord with the rear on hard ,,, now thats what I call handling , gone is the wallowing and also gone is the front end tucking in on mid corner bumps. I still have a plush solo ride with the rear on soft . :clapping:

I weigh in at about 92 Kilos with gear and the pillion about 75 kilos with gear . Top box on but almost empty.

Thanks for the starting point .

 

[McRide]

I reset the suspension to Haulin Ash settings way back when and the ride (on Avon Storms) was a huge improvement. Since then I've changed to MPR2 tires and am now getting wobbles (holy ****) and weebles (****). At speed above 80mph, it's like the tires are loosing contact. Feels like the rear jumps an inch to the right while the front jumps an inch to the left. Is this holy **** **** experience from the tires or incompatible suspension settings? Tires have been run at 40/42, 38/40 and now I'll try 36/38. I assume the rear shock is original with 40K, same for front end. Have set rear at both hard and soft.

Anyone had this? Comments appreciated.

 

[08Missile]

I guess this "thank you" to Jeff isn't really needed, but THANK YOU, JEFF. Today I changed my suspension settings to exactly what you recommended in your original post and my 08 Missile is under control. I could go on and on but for those of you who haven't "customized" your suspension settings yet, DO IT NOW! IT'S EASY! The advantages for me were:

1. Bike is lower and more stable at stop (I'm only 5'6")

2. I'm closer to handlebars (more comfortable, no risers necessary)

3. Extremely stable in turns

4. Extremely stable during "spirited" acceleration

5. Extremely stable while stopping quickly

6. Extremely stable through wind, grooves in pavement, tar snakes, etc.

Hey Yamaha, sign Jeff up before he gets away. You'd probably sell even more FJR's if they came this way from the factory.

Stiffer is better! (That's what she said)

Thanks again, Jeff

And thanks FJR Forum

 

[WBill]

Got my '05 set at 2-6-8-6 (soft for one-up, hard for two-up) and haven't seen the need to change anything after six months. New settings are really an improvement over factory standard settings for the kind of riding I do. My wife had no complaints as pillion, either.

Recently, I rode a 22 mile stretch of dirt road "Apache Trail" in central AZ, Roosevelt to Tortilla Flats. Those settings worked fine for that, too, although the Feej is by nature a handful on sketchy roads. I was neither the fastest nor the slowest thing out there on that day.

Thanks to the OP, it really helped. WBill

 

[Aasland]

I reset the suspension to Haulin Ash settings way back when and the ride (on Avon Storms) was a huge improvement. Since then I've changed to MPR2 tires and am now getting wobbles (holy ****) and weebles (****). At speed above 80mph, it's like the tires are loosing contact. Feels like the rear jumps an inch to the right while the front jumps an inch to the left. Is this holy **** **** experience from the tires or incompatible suspension settings? Tires have been run at 40/42, 38/40 and now I'll try 36/38. I assume the rear shock is original with 40K, same for front end. Have set rear at both hard and soft. Anyone had this? Comments appreciated.

My first question is whether your tires are balanced correctly.

Second .. with 40k on your shock, it might not be damping much. As for your forks, your bushings probably have no teflon left on them and are worn out of spec. Not to mention the fluid is probably oatmeal.

 

[lazbm]

Embarrassed to ask! :blushing:

Ventured to adjust my suspension per Jeff's recommendations, but found the following:

The Rebounding Damping Force (front) adjusting knob should have 17 clicks total for the entire range of adjustment, per the user manual.

1 click out = Hard

17 clicks out = Soft

On my bike the entire range is:

Left side = 26 clicks

Right side = 30 clicks

Why so many? And, why unbalanced?

Am I counting/using it wrong? Had no problem with the no. of clicks with the Compression Damping Force screw (front) and Rebound Damping Force knob (rear).

Please help.

Thanks.

 

[griffithds]

I would like to thank everyone with input on this subject. I thought my bike handled fine so I was reluctant to make the recommended changed. I'm sitting here shaking my head in amazment at the difference these settings made to my 06' FJR. It's like I bought a new bike. :yahoo:

 

[wheatonFJR]

Jeff Ashe's post is now in "my favorites"...I got's some suspension niggling to do on this FJR#2 of mine.

 

[Bellerophon]

Let me be the latest to say, Thank You Jeff! I've had my 2008 AE for about a month now, and had been a little disappointed in the handling as opposed to my previous 2006 FZ1. Of course it is a much heavier bike, so I never expected it to be as flick-able as the FZ, but the front end dive was really bugging me.

I first checked what the stock out of the box settings for my FJR were and they were certainly out of whack. Either it came from the factory that way, or the assembly tech at Snake River Yamaha has a weird sense of humor. Here is how I found it: fork preload at 3 on both sides, rebound 11 left leg & 12 right leg, compression 14 left leg & 11 right leg and finally rear rebound at 10. I changed to 2 - 8 - 8 & 6. I took it for a short neighborhood test ride and the front end dive is gone. In fact while testing for front end dive I inadvertently tested the ABS as well. I can't wait to take it on the Banks, Lowman, Idaho City loop (Idaho's version of the "Tail of the Dragon") to really test it out.

If you haven't checked your suspension settings out, you need to do it soon. You will not get the full appreciation of your FJR until you do.

 

[Jagermeister]

.. with 40k on your shock, it might not be damping much. As for your forks, your bushings probably have no teflon left on them and are worn out of spec. Not to mention the fluid is probably oatmeal.

+100

Jeff Ashe's settings were great for me...until 20k. The FJR stock suspension has a life span of 15k - 30k, depending on your ride style.

Now, I'm upgrading to aftermarket suspension, as has Haulin'Ashe.

 

[Wannabe_4x4]

I have an 09 FJR, and posted a similar new thread about tire pressure and suspension settings. As of today 6/20/09, the best combo I found with Metzler 880 tires is this...

I weigh 330 lbs even. I took the rear bags off.

Front tire - 32 PSI

Rear tire -36 PSI

Front forks - preload is at 3rd line, compression is 12 clicks out from the hardest setting, rebound dampner is 18 clicks out from the hardest (ie, turning counter clockwise).

Rear shock - preload set to Hard, rebound dampner is 18 clicks out from the hardest (ie, turning the dial from the right TO the left)

Has anyone had a similar experience or settings?

 

[Pat C]

I was just wondering if you do the front adjustments do you have to the rear?

 

[RadioHowie]

[SIZE=36pt]DIE, ZOMBIE THREAD.....DIE!!![/SIZE]

 

[Bellerophon]

DIE, ZOMBIE THREAD.....DIE!!!

 


I don't get it Howie. This is one of the most useful threads on the site, especially for us FJR Noobs. It really gave me a head start on FJR suspension settings. It's interesting to hear what others have tried and what does, or does not work.

 

[Bustanut joker]

Still.. Ya ain't gotta open it now do ya?

:jester:

 

[RadioHowie]

I don't get it Howie. This is one of the most useful threads on the site, especially for us FJR Noobs. It really gave me a head start on FJR suspension settings. It's interesting to hear what others have tried and what does, or does not work.

Still.. Ya ain't gotta open it now do ya?

I'm a victim of my own bad forum reading habits...

Every time I decide to knock off reading for a while, I do the "Mark forum as read" dealio so when I come back, all I have to do is click the little "new replies" icons. And every now and then, I get sucked into one of these mummified *******s.

Not to imply the thread doesn't have any value....it's just you can't kill them with a damn keyboard...it takes a bit of witty reparté from Bustanut to truly kill a thread, and I know if I reply to one of these great-grandad threads, Bust'll be right on my heels and his participation will kill it for sure! :****:

 

[Bustanut joker]

Aww dood! Where's the love gone?



:jester: