Suspension Settings

[D6Nutz]

I've only got a very basic understanding in these matters and I would just value some input....

Yesterdays ride was a little "spirited" to say the least, and generally the bike is working very well (especially as it's 10 years old now). The only thing I have noticed is the amount of travel on the suspension, I guess under breaking. I've got tie wraps on the forks and they where about 1/2 an inch from full travel, is this normal or should I be looking at putting a little more compression on ??

[Perkles]

I've only got a very basic understanding in these matters and I would just value some input....

Yesterdays ride was a little "spirited" to say the least, and generally the bike is working very well (especially as it's 10 years old now). The only thing I have noticed is the amount of travel on the suspension, I guess under breaking. I've got tie wraps on the forks and they where about 1/2 an inch from full travel, is this normal or should I be looking at putting a little more compression on ??

Have you set the sag for your weight yet ?

[D6Nutz]

The suspension was setup by Griff a couple of years ago.

My weight has dropped a little but I think the M7's have given me some more confidence in the front than I've had for a while.

[duke63]

As i understand it, the forks will bottom out when they are about 1cm from what appears to be full travel on the fork leg. It might be that you are experiencing very occasional bottoming out when braking very hard and it might be worth adding a little compression.

Have you changed the oil in the forks since you had the bike, Jon?

If not it might be worth giving that a go as new oil will make a big difference.

[Deegee]

I'd say you're not far away from ok, as long as you can't feel it bottoming out at any point it shouldn't be too far out, if you're in any doubt have chat with a suspension pro, it's normally money well spent.

[D6Nutz]

@duke - the oil was changed towards the latter part of last year and it transformed the front of the bike.

The suspension isn't actually bottoming but it is close. I guess I'm asking if that's normal.

[Kwacky]

Next time try to eat a smaller piece of cake.

HTH

[Spudda]

I've found this .... not sure if it helps or not

http://aprilia.rsvmille.home.comcast.ne ... _guide.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[C00kiemonster]

Best way is to record your current settings and make a couple of clicks on the front and see how it feels. A very personal and complex feeling IMO. The important thing is to record when you make changes and then how it felt.

Eventually you get a feel as to what's working for you.

I upped the preload a little on the front of mine to lessen the dive and softened the rear by changing the spring, works for me, but may not for you of course.

I'm defo no expert though... That's the other path if you have the £€

[Deegee]

If you're braking as hard as you can at times (intimated in op) and the forks aren't bottoming out, and the back end isn't getting too light under that hard braking it isn't a million miles out. Yes you can play with the settings, as Cookie says always make a note of what you started with and what you did, (plus write your comments down as you won't remember 3 settings on what the first one felt like), but the idea is to use most of the travel for your style of riding, both for comfort and consistent tyre contact.

[duke63]

TBH i think you would notice if the forks are bottoming out as the front would go solid under heavy braking.

[Paul]

You need to find a balance between having it so soft that the forks bottom out, or so hard that the rear wheel lifts far before the end of your fork travel.

The tie wrap on my race bike is about an inch above the bottom of the forks, I can brake hard enough for the rear wheel to start lifting while will having enough travel in the forks left spare incase of hitting a bump

[Monty]

It's bloody dark art!

The physics is very simple, but applying it chuffing voodoo. I'd get a man in!

[Perkles]

I would take it to k-tech and let them sort it,they transformed my gsxr 750 ,the front end was plush afterwards