Suspension for a light weight ?

[Deadskin]

I've had a couple of test rides on 1200's
but had a lot of trouble getting the bike
to do what i wanted especially cornering
I weigh 150 lbs suited and booted,

I have no probs with the ADV suspension
but like the idea of actually reaching the floor with
the 1200 low seat

Any tips ?

 

[Fanum]

Eat more pies and drink more beer.

 

[Schtum]

Any tips ?

Specify more accurately the difficulties which you've encountered in persuading the bike to do what you want.

How was the suspension set when you rode the bike?

 

[Deadskin]

I have specific problems with over steer,
The front shock was on it's softest setting
and the rear was on standard

 

[Schtum]

Re: Re: Suspension for a light weight ?

I have specific problems with over steer,
The front shock was on it's softest setting
and the rear was on standard

I'd have thought that the softest setting was too soft and you might usefully go up on click on the front.

I found that my bike was fine on greasy winter roads with the front on the 2nd click and the rear on standard. However, come Spring with more grippy tarmac and the desire to have the bike turn in more rapidly I found I had to put more preload into the rear suspension.

ISTR it was Bike Magazine which said that on the standard setting the 1200 drags its arse like a dog with worms........or words to that effect.

 

[Deadskin]

Re:Re: Re: Suspension for a light weight ?

I'm having another test on saturday ,
so i'll have another fiddle with the suspension

 

[Paul Wakefield]

I found that the 1200 needed quite a bit of experimenting to get the right setting but well worth the effort. (Never touched the 1150's settings apart from the occasional preload tweak).

I'm a fair bit heavier than you but FWIW I (and I think many others) have the rear preload quite high - it kills any wallow and makes the bike much more stable at higher speeds. The rear damping is well worth a play with; I have mine a quarter turn up from recommended (I think) and it made a huge difference. The front I have on BM's recommended settings which are quite hard.

Summary: Have a good play, with the rear preload quite high as a starting point.

Paul

 

[Shep]

Hi there

What tyres were fitted?

I found Trailwings made my 1200 unstable and understeer in fast corners.

When i changed to 020's, the bike felt as if it was oversteering but after a couple miles it all felt natural and was just a much quicker steering bike than before, very stable as well!

Rear spring set nearly fully wound in, the front on softest setting.

no adjustment made to damping at all

Then again I'm no lightweight (built for comfort not speed!)

Regards Shep

 

[TheJoker]

The first thing you should do is to set the suspension to it's original setting - get the manual with you when you go out, and take your time to set it up to what the book says.
I'm not much heavier than you, and I have the rear preload wound up quite a lot, it might even be on the max.
I've also upped the front-preload two notches, but that's because I wanted to try how the bike feels - I've been running out of ground clearance on the track, so I was hoping to gain a little bit by upping the front preload...

As far as I know there's now way of softening the front compression damping which I personally think is a bit too harsh - I'll probably also soften the rear compression damping....

... but for you; please start off with what the book says - and also check the tyre pressures - they make a huuuuge difference to under/oversteer.

I'm sure you'll find your setup, it just takes a bit of time.

 

[chippelmike]

Suspension settings

I run mine on the softer side of things BUT When I threw out the Trailwings and fitted Tourances it transformed the bike . So. Check whick tyres the test bike has and be careful what you get when you take delivery of your new bike !!
Mike.

 

[Dave Price]

I'm about 12 stone and after alot of experimenting, I found my best settings were: Front preload 2nd position from softest. Rear preload almost as soft as possible, with rebound screw 180 degrees softer than standard.

If I take a pillion I find that the front can stay the same, but the rear needs winding up close to max.

The 12GS is probably the first bike I've owned, where you can get the settings so far out that the handling, steering and ride quality is dramatically altered. Other bikes I've ridden have rarely had sufficient range of settings to make much difference.

 

[Schtum]

I'm about 12 stone and after alot of experimenting, I found my best settings were: Front preload 2nd position from softest. Rear preload almost as soft as possible, with rebound screw 180 degrees softer than standard.

Since I'm about the same weight as you, I feel qualified to suggest that your bike must turn about as fast as a supertanker.......

 

[Deadskin]

Re:Re: Re: Suspension for a light weight ?

Had a very enjoyable test ride around the dorset country side ,
what was interesting is i've ridden this demo before when it had
300 mls on the clock, today it has 3500 mls, the front settings havn't changed and the rear was on standard as they were last time.
The bike handled very well and did all that was asked,
i've been told i can have a 1200 with the spec i want next week,
the question is should i buy a used one with a few miles and a
worn in front shock

 

[Dave Price]

Since I'm about the same weight as you, I feel qualified to suggest that your bike must turn about as fast as a supertanker.......

It's not your weight that qualifies you to say anything