Firm suspension for off road 1200gs

[mumbo]

I'm new at this...... as the proud owner of a new 1200gs I am a little stumped as to why BMW suggest "full hard" suspension if going on dirt roads. Any ideas? I would have thought "full soft" was better.
Thanks for the tips on the loose bolts on the forks....maybe thats why I dropped it after 300 kms shttp://www.ukgser.com/forums/images/smilies/confused.gif

 

[Phil Clarke]

I reckoned this was for 20 stone Germans doing 70mph across desert tracks with 200kg of luggage. Most other off road stuff has nice soft suspension to take out the shocks and ensure maximum traction. Best option - have an experiment and see what works for you

 

[terayon]

It's basically so you don't put too much stress into the universal joints in the shaft drive. BMW use a cantilever shaft drive which means as the shaft rises it also comes forward, if the suspension is to soft and it bottoms out there is the possiblity of putting the tyre through the underside of the mudguard (as my mate found out on his 1150 in ireland) or damaging the shaft.
I normally put mine about 6 on the front and full at the back, the back skips a little but dropping the tyre pressure helps. and the front handles fine

 

[Cuprinol Man]

Ground clearance has alot to do with it as well, less sag.

 

[riderbob]

I would definitely harden up the suspension. I'm 95 kilos and when the rear is over half way it still bottoms out when off-road.

 

[aspad]

Don't forget to adjust the rebound damping as well

 

[Wildcat]

I'm new at this...... as the proud owner of a new 1200gs I am a little stumped as to why BMW suggest "full hard" suspension if going on dirt roads. Any ideas? I would have thought "full soft" was better.

Exactly what went through my mind when I read the manual! I've never taken the thing off road and I've no intention of doing so, but it's nice to know someone else finds the suspension setting guidance a little strange. As an ex-trials rider the idea of full hard for off road seems counter-intuitive. When I bought mine, the previous owner had set both front and rear to full soft, presumably (being even more vertically challenged than myself) so he could touch the floor. I rode it home 120 miles without noticing any issue with the handling. I've subsequently set both ends to middle of the range for general road use, but on poorly surfaced potholed lanes the jarring ride suggests a softer approach might be better.

 

[cookie]

my experience suggests setting the suspension to just kiss the bump stops on the hardest bumps/rises/dips.

harder than that, and you've wasted your money on long travel suspension

this would apply on or off road.

i've never bothered with setting static sag. seems too arbitrary to me

 

[PIGGLET]

i've never bothered with setting static sag. seems too arbitrary to me

I usually adjust compression and rebound on my KTM to suit the track/trail conditions but after a glance at the manual it stated static sag was critical. I spent a while setting it up thinking that given the "critical" label it would make a noticeable difference.......................
Not a bit of it, couldn't tell any difference whatsoever

My wilbers rear I put on the GS feels so much better off-road out of the box i've not bothered fiddling with it, it feels stiffer in the later stages of travel so doesn't bottom out as much

 

[mumbo]

Thanks to all..... I'm still confused but at least there is some explanation in these replies. Sorry about not replying for a while.... I've been away ski-ing. Yup we do have snow in AUSTRALIA.

 

[byker_tr]

for off road use, my personal preferences (best suitable for me , decided after 2500 km of off-road)
front suspension : softest
rear suspension : screw turned until it's about midway
rebound : a few clicks away from softest setting

i am 105 kg, but dont travel with much loaded on the bike..

 

[Sparky GS'r]

I off-road mine fairly regularly.

I set the front to one off softest.

And the Rear to the Standard mark.

Tyres TKC80 at 20psi.

It bottoms out if I get carried away, but then that's about the time I need reminding I'm not on a pogo bike! And I need to calm down.

Have fun, get it dirty!

Cheers Stu
Ride safe & Rock HARD

R1200GS 04