Loading up the PD.

[Captain Black]

And riding off on a two night camping trip today.

Just want to see how it rides fully loaded, so probably head for deepest darkest Wales, pitch the Nallo 2 GT and have some chill time.


Want to see if the standard shock is upto the job.

 

[B Murr]

probably head for deepest darkest Wales,

Always wise when heading into remote regions to let someone know when you are expected back so that a search can be organized in the wilderness should you be late.

 

[Rob Farmer]

And riding off on a two night camping trip today.

Just want to see how it rides fully loaded, so probably head for deepest darkest Wales, pitch the Nallo 2 GT and have some chill time.


Want to see if the standard shock is upto the job.

They're terrible fully loaded and the rear shock was never up to the job

 

[Beemerboff]

Pillion or not? With one you are limited to the amount of luggage and its location but I have never heard of a stock shock failing due to load.
Without one no problems, but handling will be better if you put the heavy items in a bag on the rear seat, and are careful with the location of the rest
General idea is to keep as much as possible weight within the wheelbase , as close to the centre line as possible, and balanced side to side - you may have to make up a little balance beam to achieve to check that if you have side cases which are offset.
Read the book on the maximum load for your rear rack too - at almost 10 kg empty a 30L Hepco and Becker top box is three times the max load for my G/S rack and is probably over for the GS too.
Last picture I saw of the usually reliable Rob's bike had about 110 % of the luggage behind the wheel spindle -------http://ukgser.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

 

[Rob Farmer]

Last picture I saw of the usually reliable Rob's bike had about 110 % of the luggage behind the wheel spindle -------http://ukgser.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

Don't know what you mean

Actually. an hour or so before the photograph before was taken - The big red roll bag just has a big down sleeping bag in it so very little weight. Tent and camp bed on the seat to keep the weight as far forward as possible. Wasn't too bad apart from the shitty wilbers (another fecking wilbers let down) spring loosing its strength and shrinking and the crappy Continental tyres being a nightmare. Oh! and then the gearbox exploded

 

[Norfolk Tiger]

And riding off on a two night camping trip today.

Just want to see how it rides fully loaded, so probably head for deepest darkest Wales, pitch the Nallo 2 GT and have some chill time.


Want to see if the standard shock is upto the job.

Don't forget your new coffee brewkit

 

[dr nosh]

Don't forget your new coffee brewkit

 

[Captain Black]

They're terrible fully loaded and the rear shock was never up to the job

F*** that was a learning curve !!

So standard shock spring set at its hardest setting, didn't touch the damping adjustment.
I'm fully loaded for camping , Hileberg Nallo GT, tarp with heavy poles, spare ground sheet , Helinox chairs, sleep mats, cooking gear, pots pans , gas, etc etc etc .

Now I was still on the main tank of fuel but nothing like full , it was like riding on the main stand with the front wheel up in the air ! this did not feel good .

I dropped 20 litres of fuel in, are that's much better

Collect pillion and associated shite filled hold all , with wine !

Loaded up and ready for the off

Feck me... Massive bar shakes at set off speed.. I thought at that point this ain't gonna work!
Anyway being a dickhead I pressed on and once above walking pace everything smoothed out and settled down.

So much so it was at its best at about 70 mph on the motorway. Anything at slow walking pace, be it stopping or setting off caused the wibble wobbles ! Anyway managed 200 mile round trip without adding fuel and it wasn't that bad on the move at all. Ran as sweet as a sweet thing

I'm running those cross over Sahara tyres ? 40 psi rear, 36 psi front .

Not sure if damping the shock up and playing with tyre pressures would change much.

I'd risk the TT fully loaded like this 50 miles to the docks and then short hop to the site on the island then I'm running load free.

New shock upgrade ?

New up rated springs in the front ?

I'm sure it can be improved with some modern add ons.

In short then it handles like shit at low speed, doesn't stop.

But I love it !

A challenge it is .

I'll spanner check everything before I go to the island for peace of mind-ish

 

[Captain Black]

Pillion or not? With one you are limited to the amount of luggage and its location but I have never heard of a stock shock failing due to load.
Without one no problems, but handling will be better if you put the heavy items in a bag on the rear seat, and are careful with the location of the rest
General idea is to keep as much as possible weight within the wheelbase , as close to the centre line as possible, and balanced side to side - you may have to make up a little balance beam to achieve to check that if you have side cases which are offset.
Read the book on the maximum load for your rear rack too - at almost 10 kg empty a 30L Hepco and Becker top box is three times the max load for my G/S rack and is probably over for the GS too.
Last picture I saw of the usually reliable Rob's bike had about 110 % of the luggage behind the wheel spindle -------http://ukgser.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

Yep two up, see my reply above .

 

[Captain Black]

Don't forget your new coffee brewkit

It's amazing that MSR reactor stove with the coffee press

Can make upto 2 litres of fresh coffee ..... Glorious !

 

[Rob Farmer]

Mine was like that all the way to Istanbul. The crappy Wilbers Spring got progressively lower, I couldn't adjust the preload after the first attempt because we rode in heavy rain for days that coated the bikes in a fine grit, this jammed the adjusting collars.

 

[DrFarkoff]

So lets get this straight You have a fully loaded bike "AND Pillion" which you admit the whole kit and caboodle is "heavy"

You have set the Preload on the spring to its heaviest "but" Left the damping at std ???

It might not solve it but damn it should help having the damping set up too

Tyre pressures? Get them from the website for the tyre manufacturer I had issues years ago using what the manual said only to find that Pirelli had gone down the 36 Fr 42 Rr route

If you are on a straight bit of road and you are unloaded and sitting at about a steady 45 mph and you release the throttle (assuming it snaps shut?) and release your grip off but VERY near the handlebars (i.e. Hover your hands "just" off the grip), does the bike shake its head on deceleration?

If so your Head bearings could do with a check and maybe a grease

 

[Captain Black]

Mine was like that all the way to Istanbul. The crappy Wilbers Spring got progressively lower, I couldn't adjust the preload after the first attempt because we rode in heavy rain for days that coated the bikes in a fine grit, this jammed the adjusting collars.

I fine challenge

Like anything I think you just learn to ride round the problem, not ideal though especially all the way to bloody Istanbul .

Did you sort it for the return trip ?
I'm tempted now by the " shock factory " rear spring before the TT trip!

 

[Rob Farmer]

No it never got sorted. After several thousand miles of the bike kicking and bucking on poor Eastern European roads it all felt the same anyway. Both David and myself came back with knackered suspension.

 

[Captain Black]

So lets get this straight You have a fully loaded bike "AND Pillion" which you admit the whole kit and caboodle is "heavy"

You have set the Preload on the spring to its heaviest "but" Left the damping at std ???

It might not solve it but damn it should help having the damping set up too

Tyre pressures? Get them from the website for the tyre manufacturer I had issues years ago using what the manual said only to find that Pirelli had gone down the 36 Fr 42 Rr route

If you are on a straight bit of road and you are unloaded and sitting at about a steady 45 mph and you release the throttle (assuming it snaps shut?) and release your grip off but VERY near the handlebars (i.e. Hover your hands "just" off the grip), does the bike shake its head on deceleration?

If so your Head bearings could do with a check and maybe a grease

I can never get my head around factory settings on tyres they always seem over inflated to me ?
The preload was always set at the heaviest since I got the bike and I've never twiddle with the damping screw, never had to really as I've never full loaded the bike with camping gear etc.
maybe I should wind the damping fully in and go from there, counting the " clicks " however many of those there are. I did the bar thing test at 70 it was fine , but recall trying it at lower speed ( not sure what ) and got a bit of a wobble, to much weight on the back = light front end I thought.
I fancy the head bearing are fine, nice steering feeling and no movement on the push and pull test of the forks when its on the centre stand.
As per Robs idea on the GS80 thread I'm really tempted by the " Shock factory " rear suspension unit . If I could get the uprated spring and that would cover most solo / loaded/ pillion situations. If they could set the spring at the factory for my intended use then I just play with the damping button. It must be fine on that set up with 48 clicks of movement on the adjustment!
If its an easy swap over onto the PD I may just ring them next week.

 

[DrFarkoff]

as mentioned in post its the Tyre manufacturers rather than Bike manufacturers

Usually there's a pressure guide if you use the bike selector

Re suspension:- I work it if you are For example 15 stone ish?? You probably need 30 ~ 40% load

So set the Preload around a third of the way from Softest and if the damping has say 10 clicks from Soft to Hard Set it at 4 clicks from Softest and see how bike feels

You want the Suspension to be supple but firm As My Bike racing buddy used to say set the front like a pair of 18 yr old boobies i.e. Firm and Well supported and the back like a pair of 30 year old ones still firm but a bit more free movement

If you have suspension hardened up all the way the only suspension you have left is the flexing of the tyre

 

[chrisshrops]

I have a shock factory on my mono ,it's very good ,well made and the damping works a treat I just up t a few clicks If I have a pillion ,well worth it .
no doubt you will think the front is shite one the back end is sorted

 

[Captain Black]

as mentioned in post its the Tyre manufacturers rather than Bike manufacturers

Usually there's a pressure guide if you use the bike selector

Re suspension:- I work it if you are For example 15 stone ish?? You probably need 30 ~ 40% load

So set the Preload around a third of the way from Softest and if the damping has say 10 clicks from Soft to Hard Set it at 4 clicks from Softest and see how bike feels

You want the Suspension to be supple but firm As My Bike racing buddy used to say set the front like a pair of 18 yr old boobies i.e. Firm and Well supported and the back like a pair of 30 year old ones still firm but a bit more free movement

If you have suspension hardened up all the way the only suspension you have left is the flexing of the tyre

Thanks for the info, I've searched for Mettzler Sahara enduro 3 inflation guide but can't find one for the gs100PD.
Anyways, I've ordered the Shock Factory set up , should be here in ten days or so. never thought to ask if he did front front uprated springs etc..

Like chrisshrops says the rear set up may make the front feel even worse ? Never thought of that.

 

[Rob Farmer]

The Sahara3 tyres were made for the paralevers and were standard fitment. The inflation guide is on the sticker under the seat.

 

[DrFarkoff]

2.2 bar front and 2.3 rear based on an R80 GS