Suspension Set-up

[fz1don]

I finally had someone (Ken Wheeler at Deals Gap) set up my suspension this past weekend. If you are like me and afraid of trying it yourself, you really need to find somebody that knows what they are doing and have it done. I am amazed at the difference it has made in my 05. It handles and rides so much better than it did, it's almost like getting a new bike for just a few dollars. Even with my Givi top case on, I don't get that vague feeling in the front end any more. Three Cheers for KEN WHEELER!!!

 

[Canadian FJR]

I'll give one cheer, great service. Stopped in for an oil/filter change one time while staying (playing) at the Gap.

Canadian FJR

 

[Sticky Throttle]

Read and apply this already-available forum wisdom on FJR suspension settings...Linky :thumbsup:

 

[fjrrider]

I would like to add one thing about suspension settings....

There are a few guys on this board who have a lot of experience with suspensions...but they didn’t come out of the womb that way it was/is acquired knowledge.

If you don’t experiment with your own ride... No you won’t gain any experience either!

1. Your bike has suspension settings from the factory....its in your manual. Make sure your bike is set at the factory standards.

2. Set yourself up a short test area....1-2 miles will work....should include some bumps, turns, braking and quick acceleration points. Ride this loop many times at factory setting. It is important that you have a loop to ride/test on. Its very difficult to do this on an out and back day ride.

3. Then experiment with your suspension...if nothing else...make a few loops on full hard compression...then full soft, just to see how that feels…you won’t hurt it! Same thing with rebound, then combine the two.

If you always go with what someone else recommends (and it might be better than what you had) but you'll never figure out what really works best for you! If your gonna invest all that money in a bike and equipment….spend a little time and figure it out!

 

[wheatonFJR]

I would like to add one thing about suspension settings....

There are a few guys on this board who have a lot of experience with suspensions...but they didn’t come out of the womb that way it was/is acquired knowledge.

If you don’t experiment with your own ride... No you won’t gain any experience either!

1. Your bike has suspension settings from the factory....its in your manual. Make sure your bike is set at the factory standards.

2. Set yourself up a short test area....1-2 miles will work....should include some bumps, turns, braking and quick acceleration points. Ride this loop many times at factory setting. It is important that you have a loop to ride/test on. Its very difficult to do this on an out and back day ride.

3. Then experiment with your suspension...if nothing else...make a few loops on full hard compression...then full soft, just to see how that feels…you won’t hurt it! Same thing with rebound, then combine the two.

If you always go with what someone else recommends (and it might be better than what you had) but you'll never figure out what really works best for you! If your gonna invest all that money in a bike and equipment….spend a little time and figure it out!

Scott...great post. I will take your advice this spring. However, in northern Illinois, we typically don't have loops... we have squares and rectangles.

 

[fjrrider]

I would like to add one thing about suspension settings....

There are a few guys on this board who have a lot of experience with suspensions...but they didn’t come out of the womb that way it was/is acquired knowledge.

If you don’t experiment with your own ride... No you won’t gain any experience either!

1. Your bike has suspension settings from the factory....its in your manual. Make sure your bike is set at the factory standards.

2. Set yourself up a short test area....1-2 miles will work....should include some bumps, turns, braking and quick acceleration points. Ride this loop many times at factory setting. It is important that you have a loop to ride/test on. Its very difficult to do this on an out and back day ride.

3. Then experiment with your suspension...if nothing else...make a few loops on full hard compression...then full soft, just to see how that feels…you won’t hurt it! Same thing with rebound, then combine the two.

If you always go with what someone else recommends (and it might be better than what you had) but you'll never figure out what really works best for you! If your gonna invest all that money in a bike and equipment….spend a little time and figure it out!

Scott...great post. I will take your advice this spring. However, in northern Illinois, we typically don't have loops... we have squares and rectangles.

The last time I rode one of your bikes the suspension was horrible! :lol:

I hope we can get a bunch of us together...maybe this fall and do a TBA! You gonna be up for it?

 

[petey]

The last time I rode one of your bikes the suspension was horrible! :lol:

fjrrider, what did you expect? you rode his bike through the ditch and across a field, and then you pulled on the handlebars like crazy.That alone, will screw up the suspension. Just sayin :lol: :lol:

 

[wheatonFJR]

The last time I rode one of your bikes the suspension was horrible! :lol:

I hope we can get a bunch of us together...maybe this fall and do a TBA! You gonna be up for it?

Yep, early to mid October sometime after EOM would work for me...

My suspension should work much better this time...load testing into a ditch doesn't help the front forks...so I hear.

I'll be checking my suspension settings on the squares and rectangles up here, so I should have it dialed in by then.

 

[wheatonFJR]

The last time I rode one of your bikes the suspension was horrible! :lol:

fjrrider, what did you expect? you rode his bike through the ditch and across a field, and then you pulled on the handlebars like crazy.That alone, will screw up the suspension. Just sayin :lol: :lol:

Thaaaat's right petey...now that you mention it.

I think Scotty boy owes me some suspension work. :clapping:

:lol:

 

[Khunajawdge]

I would like to add one thing about suspension settings....

Yo, this IS how I do it! :clapping: