Front Suspenders!

[Shep]

Hi all

I've read a few threads about the 1200 having an over stiff front end (oo er missus) but I never had any problems untill this mornings cold ride to work (-4 snow)

The front end felt over damped (I think, I'm no expert at springs and things)

Questions are?

Does damping oil get significantly thicker around freezing point (If so, would backing of the damping, if possible, make any difference)?

Could it just be that I was taking it alot easier due to the posibility of a bit of ice/snow?

Has anybody from colder climates had the same problem?

Comments from warmer climates (Greece, NZ Austrailia etc) unless sympathetic will be ignored.
(only joking)

Regards Shep

 

[shedracer]

My guess would be that the oil would be thicker when cold and so would effect the damping, but once you have ridden the bike for a while, the oil would soon heat up. In very cold weather its still not going to flow as well as when the weather is hot!

 

[Bert]

ouch!!

Question is?

"Does damping oil get significantly thicker around freezing point?"

ermmm. d' H
Yep, bit like some GS'ers brains in this cold weather

 

[TheJoker]

d'Oh!

Use the 1150 trick, before going out to the bike, make sure you have plenty of heat in your pipe, morning paper and a cuppa tea with you.

Start said motorpropelled vehicle, and put glowing red hot pipe under front shock. Sit on bike while it's warming up nicely, read paper and enjoy nice cup-o-tea. When tea is finished, pick up pipe, take bike off centerstand, signal-mirror, and away. Enjoy nice tract^D^D^D^D^Dbike and a refreshing pipe of tobacco.

Sorted, guv!







Erhm, yes, it oil gets thicker when cold, dunno how much tho.

 

[Shep]

Hi Bert & Thejoker

Er, thanks for that, I guess the question was a bit simple, I really needed to know if the difference of the oil being -4 today
and - 2 last week would really make that much difference?

Look forward to hearing from sombody that can answer the question Ta!

Regards Shep

 

[TheJoker]

Shep,

It's very hard to tell, as the oil isn't the only thing that'll get stiffer in the cold.

Your tyre for example won't be as flexible, but then on the other hand cold air means less pressure.

One way of finding out would be if you can store the bike in a, for example, warm garage till it warms up, take it for a ride (but be careful as the cold air will probably coll the damper-oil down quite quickly). Then to compare, keep it outside and go for a ride down the same road.

However, I doubt there should be much of a difference between -4 and -2 C Unless oil doesn't get "thicker" in a fairly linear way..

Let's hope some true expert comes along soon, someone unlike me whos' just babbling

 

[Mouse]

And there's not much you can do about it anyway, as the standard shock hasn't got damping adjustment.

 

[TheJoker]

And there's not much you can do about it anyway, as the standard shock hasn't got damping adjustment.

I'm sure you could rectfy that with an old radiator thermostat and zip-ties??

 

[Mouse]

I'm sure you could rectify that with an old radiator thermostat and zip-ties??

Ooh, a challenge!