Suspension adjustment

Bushyar15

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I don't know how, when I got the ST, I suddenly forgot everything I knew about suspension.... 30 years of riding and roadracing, using everything from Ohlins, Penske, and even White Power, out the window.

I'm about 220 lbs nekked. I left the suspension at stock settings. While I originally thought I'd be doing maybe 80/20, I'm closer to 50/50. Got bounced around quite abit in the off-road sections and bashed my plate good. Then I took the advice of someone, and turned down all my preload because they said it would soften the ride and it'd handle better in the rough stuff, which I did. I then quickly nailed a rock which has a huge long gash the length of my skid plate cause I bottomed.

After communicating with Jaxon and Stoltec, who reassured me what I did know about suspension was correct and following some recommendations on this site, like cranking the rear preload all the way down and leaving 2 lines on the front, and 6 turns from full stiff on all other adjustments, the bike is totally transformed! Took it out on a quick dirt road by the house and intentionally hit washaboards potholes, sand and gravel.... In the word of George Takai, "oh my".... Night and day from stock settings. Felt almost like a completely different motorcycle. I wasn't bounced around and jarred. Where on this particular dirt road I was comfortable only doing 40ish with the stock settings, 60 was now comfortable

While there is still not enough preload in the rear, it's way better.

So do yourself a favor and adjust that stock suspension!!!!! Of course YMMV....
 

low drag

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Re: Do Yourself a Favor and Adjust Your Suspension.

Well heck I have to hook up with you to set mine! 14 and I have made some adjustments, mine was way too stiff but totally new to all this. It handles better on the pavement and trails but figure I should get the 'sag' set and get a better understanding of what the specific adjustments do.

I've searched for definitions of the terms but don't get much, just how to adjust said function. I get what preload is and what impact it has but beyond that I'm a bit lost.
For instance I think rebound means the wheel is pushed back down after you go over a bump. If I set that too hard will that make the bike feel stiff? If so I think there's an opposite adjustment, similar to preload.

As you can see I have a lot to learn.
 

Bushyar15

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Re: Do Yourself a Favor and Adjust Your Suspension.

The one thing I noticed is that most people think it's too stiff when in reality it's too soft with everything bottoming out... That's what I thought, that it was too stiff and that was what was bouncing me around and followed the advice of softening up the suspension... Stiffening it up is what it actually
helped!


I can help you adjust it!
 

Bug Dr.

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Southern Ozarks
Re: Do Yourself a Favor and Adjust Your Suspension.

I've been tweaking my suspension since I picked it up from the dealer two months ago. I tried your formula and I think I'm done tweaking. The bike is much smoother and handles much better.
Thanks for posting this formula, Bushy ::003::
Mike
 

Mzee

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Re: Do Yourself a Favor and Adjust Your Suspension.

Bushyar15 said:
I don't know how when I got the ST, I suddenly forgot everything about suspension.... 30 years of riding and roadracing, using everything from Ohlins, Penske, and even White Power, out the window.

I'm about 220 nekked. I left the suspension at stock settings. While I originally thought I'd be doing maybe 80/20, I'm closer to 50/50. Got bounced around quite abit in the off-road sections and bashed my plate good. Then I took the advice of someone, and turned down all my preload cause the said it would soften the ride and it'd handle better in the rough stuff... Which then I quirkily nailed a rock which has a huge long gash the length of my skid plate.

After communicating with Jaxon and Stoltec, who reassured me what I did know about suspension was correct and following some recommendations on this site, like cranking the rear preload all the way down and leaving 2 lines on the front, and 6 turns from full stiff on all other adjustments, the bike is totally transformed! Took it out on a quick dirt road by the house and intentionally hit washaboards potholes, sand and gravel.... In the word of George Takai, "oh my".... Night and day from stock. Felt almost like a completely different motorcycle. I wasn't be bounced around and jar'ed. Where on this road I was comfortable only doing 40ish, 60 was now comfortable

While there is still not enough preload in the rear, it's way better.

So do yourself a favor and adjust that stock suspension!!!!! Of course YMMV....
What is the exact formular you used please?
 

Bushyar15

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Re: Do Yourself a Favor and Adjust Your Suspension.

I think he meant "settings". I got the "numbers" from reading other peoples posts. But my understanding is that you should be able to set you rebound and compression as soft as you can without "bottoming" or "topping" out the suspension…

I'm sure there is more to it than that and the pros will chime in. But these settings seems to work well… I'm taking it out a for a bit longer ride tomorrow and will report back!
 

Mzee

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Re: Do Yourself a Favor and Adjust Your Suspension.

Bushyar15 said:
I think he meant "settings". I got the "numbers" from reading other peoples posts. But my understanding is that you should be able to set you rebound and compression as soft as you can without "bottoming" or "topping" out the suspension…

I'm sure there is more to it than that and the pros will chime in. But these settings seems to work well… I'm taking it out a for a bit longer ride tomorrow and will report back!
Thank you. If you can spell out what you did to your suspension that will be very helpful. You see some of us have very very limited experience in suspension setting.
 

Bushyar15

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Re: Do Yourself a Favor and Adjust Your Suspension.

Sure. BTW I took it out yesterday for a proper off-road ride and the changes were definitely a vast improvement over the stock settings.

Rather than try to scan pictures or take pictures, I'll reference the Owner's Manual that came with my bike and should have come with everyone's bike.

DISCLAIMER: The following is what I did. I take no responsibility if you strip, over tighten or screw up your suspension in any shape, manner, or form doing what I did...

For Front/Fork Preload Setting: Page 4-25, First picture. Spring Preload Adjusting Bolt - Turn in direction "A" (clockwise) till there are 3 lines showing above the Front fork cap bolt. Reference the second photo in the manual to see how they count lines). Use a box wrench or socket to turn these bolts or you could slip and bugger up the bolts. They'll work, just looked "hacked"

Fork Rebound - Page 4-26 Fork Rebound is on top of the forks Using a flatblade, carefully turned in direction "A" (clockwise) till they stopped. DO NOT use excessive force!!!! I then counted 6 clicks in direction "B", counter-clockwise

Fork Compression - Page 4-26, second diagram on the page - using a flatblade screw driver turn in direction "A" (clockwise) till they stopped. DO NOT use excessive force!!!! I then counted 6 clicks in direction "B", counter-clockwise

I ENSURED BOTH FORK LEGS HAD THE EXACT SAME AMOUNT OF CLICKS and lines showing.

Rear Shock Preload Page 4-27 - First diagram. Put the motorcycle on the Center-stand, turn the knob in direction "A" (Clockwise) till the indicator is even with "HARD".

Rear shock Rebound Damping, Page 4-27 Second Diagram Turn in Direction "A" till it stops. (Clockwise if you are laying on your back looking up at the bottom of the shock). Then turn 6 clicks in direction "B" (Counter-clockwise if you are laying on your back looking up at the bottom of the shock)


Thats what I did :)
 

Big Blu

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Re: Do Yourself a Favor and Adjust Your Suspension.

I'm with ya 100% Mr. Bushyar15! The stock suspension is pretty damn good when properly set up, I think it's one of the strong point of the S10.

I'm always amazed by the number of folks who spend big $$$ to "upgrade" the suspension components, "Hey I got Ohlins"! Most have never tried to dial in the OEM components, they don't know how, so they spend big buck for bragging right to Ohlins!

Paul
 

528Hz

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Re: Do Yourself a Favor and Adjust Your Suspension.

::026:: and you won't buttom out as much off road hopping
 

Mzee

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Re: Do Yourself a Favor and Adjust Your Suspension.

Bushyar15 said:
Sure. BTW I took it out yesterday for a proper off-road ride and the changes were definitely a vast improvement over the stock settings.

Rather try to scan pictures or take pictures, I'll reference the Owner's Manual that came with my bike and should have come with everyone's bike.

DISCLAIMER: The following is what I did. I take no responsibility if you strip, over tighten or screw up your suspension in any shape, manner, or form doing what I did...

For Front/Fork Preload Setting: Page 4-25, First picture. Spring Preload Adjusting Bolt - Turn in direction "A" (clockwise) till there are 3 lines showing above the Front fork cap bolt. Reference the second photo in the manual to see how they count lines). Use a box wrench or socket to turn these bolts or you could slip and bugger up the bolts. They'll work, just looked "hacked"

Fork Rebound - Page 4-26 Fork Rebound is on top of the forks Using a flatblade, carefully turned in direction "A" (clockwise) till they stopped. DO NOT use excessive force!!!! I then counted 6 clicks in direction "B", counter-clockwise

Fork Compression - Page 4-26, second diagram on the page - using a flatblade screw driver turn in direction "A" (clockwise) till they stopped. DO NOT use excessive force!!!! I then counted 6 clicks in direction "B", counter-clockwise

I ENSURED BOTH FORK LEGS HAD THE EXACT SAME AMOUNT OF CLICKS and lines showing.

Rear Shock Preload Page 4-27 - First diagram. Put the motorcycle on the Center-stand, turn the knob in direction "A" (Clockwise) till the indicator is even with "HARD".

Rear shock Rebound Damping, Page 4-27 Second Diagram Turn in Direction "A" till it stops. (Clockwise if you are laying on your back looking up at the bottom of the shock). Then turn 6 clicks in direction "B" (Counter-clockwise if you are laying on your back looking up at the bottom of the shock)


Thats what I did :)
You are truly an Angel. Not everyone is technically and mechanically oriented. So in spelling it out as you have done, for some of us who are slow learners, you do us a great favour. Now once again thank you very much, you be blest. ::012::
 

J.A.P

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Re: Do Yourself a Favor and Adjust Your Suspension.

Thanks a lot Bushyar15 for taking the time on the settings breakdown. I'm a complete noob when it comes to adjusting a suspension. Our dimensions seem similar. I don't do a lot of off road, mostly on road in the twisties. I take trips on my bike, loaded pretty good on the way there and back as it's a lot of camping. I of course unload when it's time to hit the fun stuff. Would your settings be good for the style of riding I've described? I'm trying to figure all of this out with research but if you guy's could chime in I'd really appreciate it. I hope this is ok to ask in this thread, I think others may use their bike in a similar manner. Thanks in advance for the help.
 

Bushyar15

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Re: Do Yourself a Favor and Adjust Your Suspension.

Those settings will definitely be an improvement over stock, even on-road. IMO, by setting the preload (Sag) properly, (well as close as you can given the rear preload doesn't offer enough preolad for most, even on "hard"). It will make corner "turn-in" more responsive since the bike steering angle will be closer to what it should be.

Just riding to the forest/fire roads, handling was improved. Some of getting to the mountains involves the freeway and curvy canyon roads. I did not notice any harshness on the freeway nor any bad behavior in the canyons...

Now when it comes to adjusting compression and rebound settings this is the general rule of thumb I've always followed whether it be my road going Ducati or my road-racing Aprilia; You set the compression damping as soft as you can without bottoming the fork or shock. You set the rebound as soft as you can without "topping" out your shock or forks. Since they are tied together to make a "system", it may take some going back and forth so that it works that way.

Again, thats general rule of thumb I used. Of course when I raced I'd make adjustments depending on the track conditions. But we're not talking racing...

Again, the above is my experience, I'm sure others will have differing opinions and schools of thought. I'm not saying mine is gospel, its what I use.... YMMV
 

Ramseybella

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Re: Do Yourself a Favor and Adjust Your Suspension.

Did the front yesterday A+ adjusted the rear last night let's see how it works.
I am fully loaded and heading out to maybe rainy Ouray within 30 minutes.
Any Tenere's in Ouray give me a call (505)795-8029 should be about 3:30 or so.
Will try to get a spot at the Amphitheater CG. :-\
 

OldRider

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Re: Do Yourself a Favor and Adjust Your Suspension.

Ramseybella said:
Did the front yesterday A+ adjusted the rear last night let's see how it works.
I am fully loaded and heading out to maybe rainy Ouray within 30 minutes.
Any Tenere's in Ouray give me a call (505)795-8029 should be about 3:30 or so.
Will try to get a spot at the Amphitheater CG. :-\
They're all broke down. Something in the water???
 

tomatocity

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Re: Do Yourself a Favor and Adjust Your Suspension.

Who with stock suspension, adjusted or not, have set the SAG on their Tenere?
 

TenereStreets

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Re: Do Yourself a Favor and Adjust Your Suspension.

Just had my suspension adjusted at a track day by Dave Moss. He's suggested raising the forks 10 mm in the future. Has anyone done this? (without also lowering the rear)

As for where I ride, mostly California canyons and plan to do a track day next month. When off road it's either maintained dirt roads or fire roads.
 

Bushyar15

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Re: Do Yourself a Favor and Adjust Your Suspension.

So raising the forks in the triples effectively attempts to compensate for too much sag in the rear, so the bike is not so raked out. It should improve steering response.

If you lower the rear you are basically undoing what you did to the front-end. The goal of raising the forks is to put more weight on the front-end and return the steering geometry closer to what it should be...

So that we are clear, we're taking about letting the bike drop down 10mm in the front so that 10mm more of the fork is sticking up through the triples... We are NOT talking about raising the "bike" itself or dropping the forks in the triples effectively raising the front end...



TenereStreets said:
Just had my suspension adjusted at a track day by Dave Moss. He's suggested raising the forks 10 mm in the future. Has anyone done this? (without also lowering the rear)

As for where I ride, mostly California canyons and plan to do a track day next month. When off road it's either maintained dirt roads or fire roads.
 

BHTENERE

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Re: Do Yourself a Favor and Adjust Your Suspension.

I have done the 10mm rise of the forks and appreciated the quicker turn in of the bike.
 
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