What are you're suspension settings?

[Montrose Sun]

Im a 'set it up and leave it to do all things' kinda guy!

What im after is advice and experience on what is the best all-round suspension settings for a 1200 GS?

2006 1200 GS
6000 Miles
Standard suspension
Brand new Anakee 2's
80% Road riding
20% weekend offroading
6' 3'' Male
18 Stone in weight
Solo riding

Wants -

Extremely confidence inspiring handling
The ability to really push on
Not too bouncy
Offroad ability without having to 'tweak'

Can anybody offer help and advice please?

Thanks

 

[Colin Brown]

IMHO I don't think you will find all you wish on standard suspension. I am sure that some of the more experienced riders will come along with good advice.

 

[Montrose Sun]

I realise it will be slightly compromised, but a good compromise would be good!

 

[John Armstrong]

Sounds like you need a bike with ESA

 

[Schtum]

Crank the rear preload up pretty much all the way. If you'd been of normal size and height, I'd have suggested that you add half a turn of compression damping to the rear shock and run the front shock on the second preload notch. However since you're much too tall and far too heavy, I suggest you add at least one full turn of compression damping to the rear shock and run the front on at least the third notch.

HTH

 

[cookie]

does the standard suspension have compression damping?

 

[Schtum]

does the standard suspension have compression damping?

Strangely enough, it has both compression damping and rebound damping.....

However, if you mean does it have adjustable compression damping, that's a good question. Having just looked at both the handbook and the Haynes Book of Lies, they both say that the adjuster at the bottom of the OE rear shock adjusts the damping so perhaps it adjusts both compression and rebound at the same time.

 

[harry]

I'm not a big ace on a bike, but I do know that my 08 GSA, ESA does not handle anywhere near as sweetly as did my 06 GS with Ohlins F&R.

I think the standard budget suspension is just that, and doubt you will be really happy until you spend some money.

 

[Slowdown]

I think the standard budget suspension is just that, and doubt you will be really happy until you spend some money.

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+1

 

[iangough]

Try, Front normal (standard) Leave alone.

Back (bottom screw - rebound) 1 1/2 turns from fully in (Which is standard settings) and then tighten about 1.5 to 2m. (i.e. one thirtieth of a turn or something like that. Anyway, v.small amount. It does make a big difference)

Then wind your preload all the way in (The big black knob near the seat), and then out 8 full 360 deg revolutions. (Mark the knob with a piece of tape so you count them proper !!)

I have anak 2's too and am 16 st. (albeit slightly shorter )

This makes it quicker turning and totally neutral handling. It also makes the front slightly lighter in a straight line, but then it's so much more positive in the corners.

I ride 26 psi on front and 36 back. Go up to 30 psi on front and 44 psi on the back in the summer. (not sure whether is makes a huge difference, but after lots of tinkering, that's what i'm happy with)

Fine tune whilst riding with the preload, but dont adjust more that half a turn in either direction, otherwise it will make other things feel like they're out of sync.

 

[davidgibson999]

Might be helpful to post what the standard 1200gs settings are front and rear preload and rear damping screw... If you buy a bike secondhand it's likely to have had the standard settings tweaked by previous owner(s)

Just checked the search function and they are:
Stock is 3 notches up on front and normal setting on rear with 1 1/2 turns back from hard on the rebound.

 

[cookie]

Strangely enough, it has both compression damping and rebound damping.....

However, if you mean does it have adjustable compression damping, that's a good question. Having just looked at both the handbook and the Haynes Book of Lies, they both say that the adjuster at the bottom of the OE rear shock adjusts the damping so perhaps it adjusts both compression and rebound at the same time.

some would say standard shock doesn't have much of either

i think the adjuster is for rebound, which has a small effect on compression.

 

[Schtum]

some would say standard shock doesn't have much of either

They'll be the fat ones, then......

I, on the other hand, have been surprised at just how much of a difference half a turn on the damping screw makes.

 

[Happyhenry]

I, on the other hand, have been surprised at just how much of a difference half a turn on the damping screw makes.

You obviously had a good one.

After a lot of tinkering with the standard units on my 07Adv (15months old and 10,000miles), I eventually took the often repeated advice of the group that I ride with and made an appointment with Darren at MCT in Stowmarket.

He reckoned that the front unit on my bike is fine, but to balance the front-to-back, he set it at one click up from standard.

However, the rear unit was barely functioning. It was under-spung even for my boyish 16 stone - demonstrated by the sag (the bike not me). There was no compression damping to speak of - demonstrated by applying weight to the back of the bike - it just rode down on the spring. The rebound damping adjustment all happened in the last 3/4 of a turn to fully in - up to that point the adjuster made absolutely no difference at all - demonstrated by tweaking and bouncing, it was very noticeable . So basically, on near-standard settings I was just bouncing along on the spring with absolutely no compression and negligible rebound damping. The back was squatting when powering out of corners and making the bike run wide etc etc.

He set the bike up as best he could by winding the rebound up to almost full whack and the rebound damping to 1/2 a turn out from fully in. The bike handled much, much better on smooth roads (a real eye-opener) but in the wet and on bumpy roads it was pretty skittish at the back because it was set up so stiff. Nevertheless £80 well spent.

Darren said that he sees loads of GSs. He reckons the quality of the rear units in particular varies wildly due to very poor quality control - for example, the rebound damping adjustment should be linear from one end of the adjustment to the other - it isn't because of budget-level machining and minimal quality control. It is also amazing that they are so under-sprung - for a bike that is designed to be loaded up . Basically they are low budget units.

Anyway, I ended up ordering an Ohlins unit (£), which they had sprung for my particular usage riding style/weight/passenger/luggage etc, then he set the bike up for me and gave me a list of settings for various loads/conditions.

I am absolutely amazed at the bike's handling now, it is totally transformed. In my opinion it's absolutely the best value in terms of fettling that you can have - forget the Akrapovic until you've sorted the suspension - better to be rapid than just sound it

(The standard unit goes back on when I sell it! )

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

FWIW the following works for me:

Weight 78kg

Avons Azaro/ST's at 36 / 42 psi

Front shock one stop less pre-load than standard

Rear shock pre-load on max mark and damping 1/4 more than standard

On the few times I've taken the thing off road I've just backed evrything off (as per the manual) and dropped tyre pressures.

Two up and luggage I add one stop on the front, wind the rear pre-load in as far as it will physicaly go and add a further 1/4 turn of damping.

Having said that, I've some Wilbers winging their way to me very, very soon