Suspension setup question

[The Other PaulG]

OK full disclosure - I've ridden and maintained bikes for 44 years and I still don't really understand suspension settings.

The bike is a Guzzi 1200 Sport.

The issue is that on bends with a badly broken surface, the bike drifts wide, as if the forks aren't reacting quickly enough to follow the uneven surface.

This bike has right-way up forks, and I have adjusters for preload and rebound damping. Currently everything's at factory recommended settings.

On the tosser scale I am a sylph-like 90kg, although Luigi in the Guzzi factory might of course consider that slightly portly. I ride moderately... we're not looking at racing setups here.

The question is, in order to get the forks to follow the road surface a bit better / react faster, what should I adjust, and in what direction?

Any advice gratefully received.

Cheers,

Confused of Bagshot.

 

[theoneandonly]

well first of all ...you're 90 kg ? i think not ! i picture of the scales will do , and do it with your riding gear on.
mine is set halfway between 1 up and 2 up.
36/42 for tyres i run BT 023's i think .
are you s/arm bearings greased or fucked ? likewise the head bearings ( this is me generating a job or two )

Download MOTO GUZZI 1200 SPORT Manual | ManualsLib

www.manualslib.com

owners handbook , start at page 65.

make sure the damper adjusting screw moves first !

count all the clicks , in is stiffer out is softer IIRC.

start soft and work your way harder , step by step.

 

[adventuredon]

As I understand it in basic terms (do not take this as gospel), rear dampening that is too hard/tight causes a run wide scenario. Too soft and turn in is too quick. Preload is how much spring you put into the recoil of the springs. Fronts, during braking, will compress. Damping on that determines how much it allows your front to compress, and at what rate to do so,. I'd prob start to remove some dampening on front and increase preload. Although Lukaz at T Tech will know far more than I. Its recommended at 30k or 10 years to service forks... https://www.superbike-coach.com/coa... is harsh, suspension,will tend to steer wide.

 

[AustinW]

no idea either. My griso and Stelvio both have fully adjustable forks and I haven’t a clue. I just leave them on the factory settings.

But I have been planning a visit to a suspension setup place. £80 for an approximate hour long appointment to set it all up.

Could the forks need a service? I’m sure the guy I’m planning to go to eventually will recommend servicing forks and shocks as I doubt they’ve ever been done.

 

[mikeyboy]

Way too many variables.
Assuming spring rates are close,static and dynamic sag are close.
I back off rebound damping and ride,
If it wallows though corners ,up the clicks on rebound till it stops.
If you’ve got fancy shocks with high speed / low speed/ compression/ preload etc.
You’ve wasted your money

 

[mikeyboy]

Suspension is a very personal thing,
Much like tyres and pressures.
If you decide to visit a “ guru” to get it set up,you need to find someone that “ gets”the bike and riding style.
For instance,
A motor cross guy won’t understand the requirements of someone with a 200kg bike.
A race guy will have the same issues.
Both will set it far too hard.
Speak to denzo,your first point in the set up is correct springs and serviced shocks

 

[brut33]

Have you considered it may be the tyres before you go into suspension set up.

I know very little about suspension set up and believe it's a dark art. I once had a Ducati that I took to a specialist company for them to set up. They made adjustments front and rear and it felt like a new bike when I rode away.
These are the bods who I used but I'm sure there'll be someone near you.

https://www.kais-ohlins.co.uk/

 

[The Other PaulG]

Thanks everyone, that gives me something to work with. Sounds like trial and error might be required.

I will ignore the exceptionally rude aspersions regarding my hobnob habit.

 

[The Other PaulG]

Have you considered it may be the tyres before you go into suspension set up.

I have just replaced the rear, but it was a like for like,for the old Road Pilot 5.

 

[RedRick Esq.]

My advice

Take it to a suspension set up place and pay them the £50 or whatever to do it for you

I say this as someone who has fucked around adjusting sag and static sag and then re bound and compression and never managing to get the both ends of the bike to work in harmony

£50 at The Ohlins centred it in half an hour and it was a revelation

Full disclosure this was on a ducati not a Guzzi but the principles remain the same

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

My advice

Take it to a suspension set up place and pay them the £50 or whatever to do it for you

I say this as someone who has fucked around adjusting sag and static sag and then re bound and compression and never managing to get the both ends of the bike to work in harmony

£50 at The Ohlins centred it in half an hour and it was a revelation

Full disclosure this was on a ducati not a Guzzi but the principles remain the same

Precisely
We were Watching some World enduro racers in Wales on factory bikes, they were jumping 20-30 foot in the air and coming down as if they were riding along, on flat ground
Paddock was full of suspension techs

 

[dean0n0]

Precisely
We were Watching some World enduro racers in Wales on factory bikes, they were jumping 20-30 foot in the air and coming down as if they were riding along, on flat ground
Paddock was full of suspension techs

Their suspension costs more than a 1200 Guzzi, plus, being full-time, serious riders they've a good idea of what they want, or need, from the bike.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Their suspension costs more than a 1200 Guzzi, plus, being full-time, serious riders they've a good idea of what they want, or need, from the bike.

You will never waste money on suspension improvements
Best thing you can do to a bike

 

[er-minio]

I've ridden and maintained bikes for 44 years and I still don't really understand suspension settings.

A few less years and less maintenance on my side, but same.
My advice: the 50+ quid spent on static SAG setup from a specialist is always money well spent.

The only major mod I do to all my bikes is Ohlins shocks, and do the setup (and repeat it over time) to all of them.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

.

The only major mod I do to all my bikes is Ohlins shocks, and do the setup (and repeat it over time) to all of them.

Me too
All my road going bikes have Ohlins, front & rear

 

[Wrinkly]

Was it Micky that always used to say. 'proper suspension set up was worth 20bhp on your average bike' ?

 

[dean0n0]

Was it Micky that always used to say. 'proper suspension set up was worth 20bhp on your average bike' ?

Peace of mind, you know it's going to go where you want it to go, with no drama, wobbles, weaves, wallowing, patter or slaps. (I had an RD250 that seemed to be able to do all these at once) You can brake harder, get the power on earlier and the tyres get an easier time.
Bad suspension can get you in trouble, good suspension can keep you out of it.

 

[EKIMYRF]

no idea either. My griso and Stelvio both have fully adjustable forks and I haven’t a clue. I just leave them on the factory settings.

But I have been planning a visit to a suspension setup place. £80 for an approximate hour long appointment to set it all up.

Could the forks need a service? I’m sure the guy I’m planning to go to eventually will recommend servicing forks and shocks as I doubt they’ve ever been done.

A good upgrade for the griso is a 1200 stelvio rear shock the spring on the std griso is for a 70kg rider


The stelvio shock has a stiffer spring and raises the rear slightly transformed mine

 

[AustinW]

A good upgrade for the griso is a 1200 stelvio rear shock the spring on the std griso is for a 70kg rider


The stelvio shock has a stiffer spring and raises the rear slightly transformed mine

Yeah I’ve read that (Griso ghetto or somewhere).

If I keep my Stelvio 1200 much longer a rear shock upgrade is on the cards, in which case I will get the old one refurbished and fit it to the Griso. Then also get that refurbished so I can put everything back to original if needed.