Suspensions and Newbies to the FJR and FJR Forum

[6uldv8]

Just a quick note to all the newbies like myself on this board. I'm new to the board and new to the FJR but I can tell you they both work great! If you've just got your new or new to you FJR please take advantage of the search function on this board and learn some things. Do yourself a huge favor right off the bat and adjust your suspension! I know it looks complicated and scary and you probably don't want to go messing with the factory setup...BUT....it will (or did for me) be the easiest but most improving adjustment you can make on your bike! I don't know if it improved all the claims that I read in various threads but it darn sure made a huge difference in the ride and handling of my bike! Go ahead...search "suspension" and especially find "Jeff Ashes" thread. You'll be much happier after your next ride!

Thanks!

 

[Shifter125]

What settings did you like best? How much do you weigh?

My bike should arrive in a week or so. I'm 162lbs. and am planning on adjusting to:

F Pre: 3

F Reb: 8

F Comp: 8

R Pre: Soft

R Reb: 8

 

[6uldv8]

You'll have to do the search and read about the lighter riders....I'm in the 275 range so my settings would be rockhard solid for you.

 

[chrisflock]

You'll have to do the search and read about the lighter riders....I'm in the 275 range so my settings would be rockhard solid for you.

I'm close to that range and would be interested in your settings.

 

[Shifter125]

Thanks...just checking. (I've done all the research, that's how I came up with my settings.)

 

[6uldv8]

Right now I'm at:

2 lines preload

7 clicks rebound

5 clicks compression

5 clicks on Rear Rebound

All those are backed off the max.

I might go to 1 line showing on Preload but I'm happy with what I have at the moment.....I'm limited in experience and knowledge. lol

 

[Foxhuntr]

You'll have to do the search and read about the lighter riders....I'm in the 275 range so my settings would be rockhard solid for you.

Damn, my wife and I together don't weigh that much! :yahoo:

 

[double_entendre]

You'll have to do the search and read about the lighter riders....I'm in the 275 range so my settings would be rockhard solid for you.

Damn, my wife and I together don't weigh that much! :yahoo:

Skinny gloating *******.

The redhead joined a gym a while ago that gave her free admission for me if I went when she did. So one day I finally gave in and went with her. Went back to the locker room to change into workout attire and, "Hey, there's a scale in here. Why not?"

"HOLYMOTHERFUCKINGJESUSHCHRISTFMHWHATTHEFUCK?!??!?!"

Ummmm...190 pounds?

Yeah, yeah, it's lighter than some folks, but given that when I used to get on a scale with regularity I was 155, really now....

So I've been going and working out a few times a week lately and now I'm down to 189 pounds. :lol:

Most of that is just that I'm losing fat and putting on muscle, so I'm not too upset about it.

Oh.

Suspension settings. I've got an Ohlins in the back and had GP Suspension redo the front, both through the group buys that Warchild sets up from time to time. The stockers are unmitigated garbage compared to the aftermarket stuff. "Hard" and "Soft?" Is this a motorcycle or a Cialis advertisement?

So if you can afford that (selling children is a legitimate option ), it's definitely the way to go. I think my stockers were dead at 10,000 miles--the bike hobby-horsed hideously on the freeways.

Rancho

 

[HaulinAshe]

What settings did you like best? How much do you weigh?
My bike should arrive in a week or so. I'm 162lbs. and am planning on adjusting to:

F Pre: 3

F Reb: 8

F Comp: 8

R Pre: Soft

R Reb: 8

You're on the right track and that's a good starting place. Just remember that it takes new suspension several thousand miles to settle in. I wouldn't sweat the details or deviate much from those settings until you get at least 5,000 miles on the new bike.

 

[kolonial72]

I haven't put the bike through it's paces yet, but here goes anyway. My 6'2" tall mass weighs in at 239 lbs. The settings on my '05 are the same as HaulinAshe's, and they work fine. There is a bit of a firm (not hard) bounce when I hit light to moderate moguls, not sure how I feel about that yet. And yes, as a newbie myself, I completely agree with 6uldv8 - do some research on this forum! (Remember the google search tip.) Oh, and adjusting the suspension setting is about the easiest thing you can do to a MC.

 

[Chris_Johnson]

Oh, and adjusting the suspension setting is about the easiest thing you can do to a MC.

True, but adjusting it well is rather more difficult. I am afraid I copped out and took it to my not-so-local suspension specialist. He spent a fair amount of time on it (it is an AE and he loved the handlebar gearchange) but said that it was best to accept that it was not a bike to hustle through twisties unless you paid $2000 for trick parts and changed its character completely. He did, however, effect a noticeable but not life-changing improvement.

Regards

Chris

 

[Foxhuntr]

In my case, after adjusting, it felt better, but not earth-shaking. My riding partner however, said "You are now riding as fast through the corners as you used to on your FZ1". So you may be improving more than you realize.

 

[HaulinAshe]

Oh, and adjusting the suspension setting is about the easiest thing you can do to a MC.

True, but adjusting it well is rather more difficult. I am afraid I copped out and took it to my not-so-local suspension specialist. He spent a fair amount of time on it (it is an AE and he loved the handlebar gearchange) but said that it was best to accept that it was not a bike to hustle through twisties unless you paid $2000 for trick parts and changed its character completely. He did, however, effect a noticeable but not life-changing improvement.

Regards

Chris

If he took you from bone stock settings and you did NOT go "Holy rebound Batman!", then he did not get anywhere near what the stock suspension is capable of delivering. Stock suspension is good, not great, not awesome, but pretty darn good when properly adjusted and maintained.

Do yourself a favor. Check all of his settings, write them down carefully, then do the research and some experimenting yourself. It takes 5-minutes max. to set everything back if you don't like what you did.

 

[HaulinAshe]

I haven't put the bike through it's paces yet, but here goes anyway. My 6'2" tall mass weighs in at 239 lbs. The settings on my '05 are the same as HaulinAshe's, and they work fine. There is a bit of a firm (not hard) bounce when I hit light to moderate moguls, not sure how I feel about that yet. And yes, as a newbie myself, I completely agree with 6uldv8 - do some research on this forum! (Remember the google search tip.) Oh, and adjusting the suspension setting is about the easiest thing you can do to a MC.

The increased "bar impact" you feel from small, sharp bumps, is the compromise of tighter low-speed compression without having a separate high-speed compression adjustment. Progressive front springs might help that for you.

 

[thompsonian]

Just a note to say that Mr Ashe knows his stuff! Hell he fixed mine in the parking lot at EOM right before the picture was taken. I still owe you some repayment my man! I had no clue that mine was set so shabbily before and I was riding the hell out of it!

 

[Chris_Johnson]

If he took you from bone stock settings and you did NOT go "Holy rebound Batman!", then he did not get anywhere near what the stock suspension is capable of delivering. Stock suspension is good, not great, not awesome, but pretty darn good when properly adjusted and maintained.Do yourself a favor. Check all of his settings, write them down carefully, then do the research and some experimenting yourself. It takes 5-minutes max. to set everything back if you don't like what you did.

It would take a bit longer than 5 minutes. One of the things he did was to drop the forks as far as possible in the yokes, because even unloaded the bike's weight uses up a considerable amount of the fork travel. The guy has an excellent reputation and has people coming from the opposite end of the country for suspension set-up. I have found from previous bikes he has finessed for me that it takes several hundred miles of varied riding to appreciate how neatly he has compromised the various demands made from the suspension. I intend to leave well alone.

Regards

Chris

 

[HaulinAshe]

...I intend to leave well alone.

I must have misinterpreted because I got the impression that you are not happy with the results.

Glad you are happy with it.

 

[crankshaft]

...I intend to leave well alone.

I must have misinterpreted because I got the impression that you are not happy with the results.

Glad you are happy with it.

I changed mine for the first time down at Deal's Gap with the help of Adrianky (a member of this board). I did notice some difference. But I also noticed my front tire feeling like it was slipping out. I don't know if was the suspension change or just the stock Bridgestone front tire. I have approx 3000 miles on the bike. I was riding two up at the time

 

[YooperDick]

So, what would be a considered diagnosis if, when leaned over in a corner and encountering a bump in the road, that the bike has a tendency to stand up? Or, is this the end result of the front wheel diving in?