Mouse
Registered user
In very basic terms, how should I set up the suspension for off roading?
Cheers.
Cheers.
Suspension set up for the rough stuff
- Thread starter Mouse
- Start date
Mouse said:
Mouse
Registered user
Ok maybe not that basic 
By "harder" do you mean more preload or more damping?
The thing is, when I have been riding on a very rough surface with the preload turned up high, the suspension hardly moves and the whole back end of the bike just bounces around everywhere. That's what it feels like anyway!
I was thinking along the lines of more front preload but less at the rear and less rear damping (slightly) too - on the theory that when standing on the pegs less weight is over the rear wheel.
By "harder" do you mean more preload or more damping?
The thing is, when I have been riding on a very rough surface with the preload turned up high, the suspension hardly moves and the whole back end of the bike just bounces around everywhere. That's what it feels like anyway!
I was thinking along the lines of more front preload but less at the rear and less rear damping (slightly) too - on the theory that when standing on the pegs less weight is over the rear wheel.
Septic
Registered user
suspention
I usually wind the front up to the 3rd or 4th notch
and put the back on hard and i leave the preload on normal
stevie
I usually wind the front up to the 3rd or 4th notch
and put the back on hard and i leave the preload on normal
stevie
personally - i'd have said as soft as possible not to cause bottoming - but with increased damping.
go an bounce on a pukka MX-er - its soft as a soft thing but with well controlled damping.
aim for that relative to your weight.
seems 95% of GS'ers are FB's - so you may need hard setup anyway.
please post your weight in your underpants to give us a clue
ps - FB=big fat lardy bastids
go an bounce on a pukka MX-er - its soft as a soft thing but with well controlled damping.
aim for that relative to your weight.
seems 95% of GS'ers are FB's - so you may need hard setup anyway.
please post your weight in your underpants to give us a clue
ps - FB=big fat lardy bastids
ag1s
Guest
Re: Re: Suspension set up for the rough stuff
may I say that preload has nothing to do with making the suspension softer or harder, it just changes the ride height and the ratio of the +ve to -ve travel.
So, to avoid bottoming increase the preload sensibly, having in mind that if it is too much, then the rear wheeel might leave the ground. Also decrease the dumping so the suspension will be more absorbent.
Depending on the terrain, you will also want to increase the front preload ( front ride height). It will do wonders to the bike's ability to ride over bumps as it transfers weight to the back wheel making the front lighter. Do not increse it too much as the front will be very tempted to leave the ground.
a.
may I say that preload has nothing to do with making the suspension softer or harder, it just changes the ride height and the ratio of the +ve to -ve travel.
So, to avoid bottoming increase the preload sensibly, having in mind that if it is too much, then the rear wheeel might leave the ground. Also decrease the dumping so the suspension will be more absorbent.
Depending on the terrain, you will also want to increase the front preload ( front ride height). It will do wonders to the bike's ability to ride over bumps as it transfers weight to the back wheel making the front lighter. Do not increse it too much as the front will be very tempted to leave the ground.
a.
Bronco Billy said:
BlackBetty
Guest
motomartin said:personally - i'd have said as soft as possible not to cause bottoming - but with increased damping.
go an bounce on a pukka MX-er - its soft as a soft thing but with well controlled damping.
aim for that relative to your weight.
seems 95% of GS'ers are FB's - so you may need hard setup anyway.
please post your weight in your underpants to give us a clue
ps - FB=big fat lardy bastids
Is that why She's on top then
BTW Glad to see her back!
Mouse
Registered user
Thanks for the ideas chaps. Based on (limited) previous experience I'm tending towards ag1s's suggestions - ie raise the front a bit, and set the rear preload low but not so low that it grounds out all the time.
I'll go have a play tonight and experiement Maybe if I up the front preload enough I'll be able to manage something better than my usual pathetic wheelie attempts
I'll go have a play tonight and experiement
Maybe if I up the front preload enough I'll be able to manage something better than my usual pathetic wheelie attempts 
motomartin said:personally - i'd have said as soft as possible not to cause bottoming - but with increased damping.
go an bounce on a pukka MX-er - its soft as a soft thing but with well controlled damping.
aim for that relative to your weight.
seems 95% of GS'ers are FB's - so you may need hard setup anyway.
please post your weight in your underpants to give us a clue
ps - FB=big fat lardy bastids
Follow MM....................that's on the right lines.
However the stock supension on a oilhead GS (plus most aftermarket stuff) hasn't got the range of adjustment to handle any fast off roading on 0.25 of a tonne of road biased motorcycle.
Try a ride on a 450/520/640 KTM and you'll see how limited any GS is, at anything faster than 10-15mph on a gravel road.
Tried my Dakar 650 off-road yesterday in bone dry, dusty conditions and compared to a pukka dirt bike - it handled like a right pig and it's more capable off-road than a 1100/1150/1200GS
Mouse
Registered user
Mine's a 1200 so that's 0.22 tonnes
Mind you I'm 0.1 of a tonne myself.
I'm not really looking to compete with "proper" dirt bikes, just get a decent set up for the GS
Cheers again all!
Mind you I'm 0.1 of a tonne myself.
I'm not really looking to compete with "proper" dirt bikes, just get a decent set up for the GS
Cheers again all!
ag1s
Guest
No Johny, he is not right!
For two very simple reasons:
1) as i said 'soft' is no soft, is low
2) off road is much more than gravel road, it is road that forces the suspension to long movements. Combine that with low speed (which you do in such conditions) and you can see very easily that if you increase the damping, then the bike will throw you out of the seat on the first bump.
Have you ever notices the difference between GS and GSA bikes? The spring and dumping are a lot stiffer on the GS.
Off road riding requires long traveling plush and compliant suspension.
For two very simple reasons:
1) as i said 'soft' is no soft, is low
2) off road is much more than gravel road, it is road that forces the suspension to long movements. Combine that with low speed (which you do in such conditions) and you can see very easily that if you increase the damping, then the bike will throw you out of the seat on the first bump.
Have you ever notices the difference between GS and GSA bikes? The spring and dumping are a lot stiffer on the GS.
Off road riding requires long traveling plush and compliant suspension.
JohnnyBoxer said:
Off road riding requires long traveling plush and compliant suspension.
er ........ exactly.
i think you're getting your knickers in a twist as to what exactly is soft on a GS, what is hard and what preload does.
and its damping - not dumping
hey - everyones right.
increasing the preload will try and raise the rideheight, but a gs is lardy so it won't do much
increasing the damping will compensate for the increase in shock speed travel.
its all relative - cos of the weight anyway.
i'd rather have a slightly lower softer well damped bike than a higher hard,jiggly,unforgiving bike.
but as JB says - the suspension adj hasn't got the range to do that.
er ........ exactly.
i think you're getting your knickers in a twist as to what exactly is soft on a GS, what is hard and what preload does.
and its damping - not dumping
hey - everyones right.
increasing the preload will try and raise the rideheight, but a gs is lardy so it won't do much
increasing the damping will compensate for the increase in shock speed travel.
its all relative - cos of the weight anyway.
i'd rather have a slightly lower softer well damped bike than a higher hard,jiggly,unforgiving bike.
but as JB says - the suspension adj hasn't got the range to do that.
motomartin said:Off road riding requires long traveling plush and compliant suspension.
er ........ exactly.
i think you're getting your knickers in a twist as to what exactly is soft on a GS, what is hard and what preload does.
and its damping - not dumping
hey - everyones right.
increasing the preload will try and raise the rideheight, but a gs is lardy so it won't do much
increasing the damping will compensate for the increase in shock speed travel.
its all relative - cos of the weight anyway.
i'd rather have a slightly lower softer well damped bike than a higher hard,jiggly,unforgiving bike.
but as JB says - the suspension adj hasn't got the range to do that.
Spot on MM.............my sentiments exactly.
Most GS'ers wind the preload up to the max, thinking it it will improve the suspension response, whilst all the happens is a slightly higher but hard, jiggly ride.
A better bet is to fit a spring for the weight carried and set it up to have a smooth, well damped ride.
The GS Showa stuff hasn't got the range and the spring's too light for 2-up with luggage anyway
Anyway the GS is a lardy arse 250kg monster, then add a rider and/or pillion +/- luggage with a permitted all up weight of 400kg.
What do you expect??
Anyhow the remote preload adjuster is the weak point in the whole set-up, with a potential 400kg, resting on the O ring
ag1s
Guest
JohnnyBoxer said:
It is better to drop the issue as the conversation is getting too sentimental!
Similar threads
