Essential Suspension Adjustments

[Andrew from Basing]

Wife finally decided to ride pillion on the 1200 GS so looked through the manual for suspension adjustments. The main thing I could see was to turn the rear suspension adjustment knob all the way clockwise until it stops. The bike felt really stable on the straights but a a bit 'whallowey' around the corners - didn't know if I needed to do more to set up the suspension or was this just me feeling the extra weight of a pillion for the 1st time? What are the essential suspension adjustments for two-up riding?

 

[Slowdown]

Try increasing the rebound rate - the little screw at the bottom of the rear shock on the left hand side. I turned it a half turn - it's in the owners manual, i think.

I'm new at this too, so any shared settings are apprecitated

 

[Phil Clarke]

I wouldn't turn the suspension right up - I think the manual says that on the basis that there might be a very large rider and pillion. I set mine to just past medium and turn the rebound screw up to max. thats a 12 stone rider, a 10 stone pillion and about 30kg of luggage. Fine on horrendously bouncy Irish roads.

 

[Shep]

Tyre pressures make a big difference when fully loaded, and unless your a light weight with a slim passenger and just a pair of toothbrushes for luggage the rear suspension wound 3/4 - full in would be OK, you may get away with the front shock backed right off to its softest setting and you can add 1/2-3/4 of a turn in on the rear damping for a more controlled ride when 2 up.

I was impressed with the GS's ability to travel fast and stable fully loaded so perhaps there may be another reason, flat spot on the rear tyre maybe

Good luck

Shep