How much preload?

[jazzmanb]

read this post as well as others regards damping/preload before attempting a two up fully loaded trip to the lakes on friday...been over previously one up with luggage ..bike was ok but a little front end light,followed some pointers on here regards settings i,m 95 kilos my wife about 70 then vario top box and wolfmann soft panniers...started at 10 full turns on preload 4 on damping,bike was lethal couldnt get above 15-20mph and bars were starting to go...after 4 attempts at tweaking harder and harder in p..n down rain i gave up took luggage off and chucked it in car...bike is 08 model,low miles standard shock..any suggestions would be helpfull

 

[v8legend]

I think you've gone way too far on everything. It's best to do these things in small doses.

I usually ride the bike wth about 2 turns from fully out on the preload. Then, I add a couple of turns to the preload when 2up and with luggage. I only increase the damping by 1/2 to 1 turn.

 

[Shadwell]

i have ridden my 8 one up, two up and fully loaded around morroco and never new anything about preload and what not and never adjust it, whatever it is and i have had no problems??

 

[Packer]

Very very usefull... thanks!!!

Only an another question... you say that 9 turns is "almost max" but my knob can 20 turns...

Multiply all the numbers by 2.

 

[Old Den]

Sorry lads but pre-load is an often misused term and would be better if called `ride height adjuster`. The spring rate ie 50nm or 285lb/in(same thing) does not change when loaded by a pillion . The bike will sit lower because of the extra weight acting on it. Lifting the bike to the same ride height as one up using the refered to `Preload adjuster `will not change the spring rate, it is still the same. However with the extra weight the spring will travel further and store more energy , so it maybe required to adjust the damping. If you are lucky and have seperate compession and rebound adjusters then this is easy. Those with only one adjuster commonly refered to as compression does in fact adjust both compression and rebound together in most cases . The ideal situation would be to change the spring to match the extra weight of the pillon and also adjust the damper rates to match the spring. BMW have already done this with the ESA 2 system.
Could rabbit on a bit more but thats my two pence worth. Cheers...

 

[Dean]

GS Payload

Payload (with standard equipement)

1200 GS. 211 kg

F800 GS. 236 kg

F650 GS. 237 kg




Motorrad figures.

 

[v8legend]

Payload (with standard equipement)

1200 GS. 211 kg

F800 GS. 236 kg

F650 GS. 237 kg




Motorrad figures.

Hi Dean

I'm not quite sure what you're saying here. N'or how it's relevant to the question. My definition of payload is the total weight of rider plus pillon plus luggage. If you're saying that a 650 can carry more (payload) than the 800 and 1200 then fine, but what relevance is that to suspension adjustment?

 

[Dean]

Sorry lads but pre-load is an often misused term and would be better if called `ride height adjuster`. The spring rate ie 50nm or 285lb/in(same thing) does not change when loaded by a pillion . The bike will sit lower because of the extra weight acting on it. Lifting the bike to the same ride height as one up using the refered to `Preload adjuster `will not change the spring rate, it is still the same. However with the extra weight the spring will travel further and store more energy , so it maybe required to adjust the damping. If you are lucky and have seperate compession and rebound adjusters then this is easy. Those with only one adjuster commonly refered to as compression does in fact adjust both compression and rebound together in most cases . The ideal situation would be to change the spring to match the extra weight of the pillon and also adjust the damper rates to match the spring. BMW have already done this with the ESA 2 system.
Could rabbit on a bit more but thats my two pence worth. Cheers...

Hi Dean

I'm not quite sure what you're saying here. N'or how it's relevant to the question. My definition of payload is the total weight of rider plus pillon plus luggage. If you're saying that a 650 can carry more (payload) than the 800 and 1200 then fine, but what relevance is that to suspension adjustment?

Its relevent to the thread and what people expect of there suspension your right payload is what you impose - put on the bike including added bling, luggage rider pillion (ALL)

if your 17 stone and you pick up your 17 stone pillion you can twidle your little knob as much as you like what ever way you look at it your flogging a dead horse, and a wobbly one

i,m with old Den in theory


And I never said it Motorrad do in there specifications word (innit)

 

[Dave Ett]

Just as a tangent to this thread, the last post that Everywhere just made highlights at least ONE area where BMW have cut costs (corners?) with the 800...

The 1200GS has a lever under the headlamp that you can flip to lower the headlamp to allow for passenger/luggage weight... nothing so sophisticated on the 8's eh?

Greg

Cut corners? Or saved weight and complexity more like. To adjust my headlight I just grab it and shove - it moves to where I want it without any extra levers, cogs, wheels or pulleys.

Typical they went over the top with the barge like 1200...

 

[jazzmanb]

I think you've gone way too far on everything. It's best to do these things in small doses.

I usually ride the bike wth about 2 turns from fully out on the preload. Then, I add a couple of turns to the preload when 2up and with luggage. I only increase the damping by 1/2 to 1 turn.

ok doke will give it a try thanks

 

[jazzmanb]

i have ridden my 8 one up, two up and fully loaded around morroco and never new anything about preload and what not and never adjust it, whatever it is and i have had no problems??

dont suppose you know your settings?...cheers