Suspension expert in Hamilton? Who? Where? [Archive]

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Mountlocal1

29th October 2007, 19:52

Hey guys, need to find someone in Hams that can help me out with the suspension on my bike... It feels all wrong! Have put them back to the standard settings but its not really any better... Its started to feel pretty dodge on the open road to the point I dont enjoy riding it at the mo... Help!!! :confused:

kickingzebra

29th October 2007, 21:33

might be able to help or point you in the right direction at least.
027 JSDALEY, text or give me a call sometime, bring the bike out I am sure we can work some magic.

HenryDorsetCase

30th October 2007, 13:10

Mountlocal1

30th October 2007, 16:16

You've checked your tyres and headset bearings and swingarm pivot bearings and linkages and all that palaver as well, right?

**UPDATE**

I had the oppertunity to check out 4 other bikes like mine at Dans funeral on Thursday and have changed the front to the same as these. I took the back one up from the factory settings and also checked my tyre pressures. They were 32 front and back. In the instruction manual it says 36 cold front and back. I put 35 in as tyres were slightly warm... The bike now feels completly differant! Feels much more stable on round abouts and a lot more umm.. nimble? If thats the right description? I think the bearings are ok but would like to check bearings in the swing arm as I can feel a funny vibration thru the foot pegs... Whats the easiest way to do this?

Thanks for your help guys... If it were a car I would know what to do...:crazy:

Zapf

30th October 2007, 16:37

I can feel a funny vibration thru the foot pegs... Whats the easiest way to do this?

vibration can also come about from suspension settings.

Zapf

Mountlocal1

30th October 2007, 21:41

Thanks heaps for the info guys... Really appreciated! :niceone:

HenryDorsetCase

31st October 2007, 10:23

The swingarm bearings should still be OK - on an old bike they could be tired, but not on a 2002 model. It's more likely the "funny vibration" through the footpegs (assuming it's not the engine) is the drivetrain (chain and sprockets).
About the tyre pressures - unless you're on a racetrack (with race tyres) it pays to stick to the recommended pressures. I know a lot of "I'm a professional street racer" types like to run lower than normal pressures on the street, but apart from prematurely worn tyres, you won't achieve much by doing this. You will also lose some feel and wet-weather grip (from the 'stipes' or rain grooves) closing up.

weeeeellll. yeah maybe. dunno.

recommended tyre pressures on my Hornet are 36 front and 42 rear. after much experimentation I run 30 front and 32 rear on the road (29 or 30 and 27 F and R respectively on the track). My belief is that the recommended pressures are set with the two fattest americans they could find going as fast as the thing would travel in a straight line but for my mostly one up riding and my low(er) but ever increasing weight they were way too hard.

Experimentation is the key here. I also run much stickier tyres than the stockers of a different brand.

HenryDorsetCase

31st October 2007, 11:20

Sure, experimentation sometimes helps.
With my last set of tyres I found the rear was OK if it was up to 3 psi lower than recommended (didn't improve things, just didn't seem to matter). The front however didn't feel very good if the pressure was even 1 or 2 psi under the recommended pressure, and tended to wander, especially on coarse-chip surfaces. Luckily we don't have much of that in UnZud. :rolleyes:
Then I found out it had very soft sidewalls, and ran it at 2 psi higher than recommended, and it made a huge difference.

I just get this feeling that a lot of motorcyclists see themselves as racers, and have bought into the whole, "I must set my bike up like a racer" thing, when it's not appropriate. Sure, if they're running race rubber and riding like a maniac it might work for them. It doesn't for me (even when I am riding like a maniac:whistle:). Having lower pressures makes the ride a little more 'cushy', but it also gives me less feedback from the tyres and makes the bike a bit more wallowy. Plus running at close to recommended pressures, I can tell very quickly if the tyres need some air - good early warning if I've picked up something in the tread and the tyre's deflating.

Apart from all that, the VFR's not the most svelte bike on the road, and the suspension's due for an upgrade (currently winging its way to D'Auckland as I type this...)

oooohhhhh do tell about the suspension upgrade!

I am so conflicted about my next road bike its unbelievable. What I need is $150k, and not to have to work, and endless summer. What I have is a second hand Hornet and $5 or $10k. Given I will have a fullon scratcher (my "road" NC30 when I rebuild it) and a track only bike, a sporty tourer might be the go. and a VFR is near the top of that list. (followed by a Guzzi California.... only because its so good looking.... you see I am conflicted?) or a Triumph Scrambler. Or a Street Triple. Or a Buell. Or an RSV Mille.

Gah!

Mountlocal1

31st October 2007, 13:08

That has made me remember somthing... Someone told me I should rebuild the shocks with progressive springs and change fork oil etc.

TerminalAddict

31st October 2007, 13:20

is shaun back in business yet?

Renegade

1st November 2007, 14:46

oooohhhhh do tell about the suspension upgrade!

I am so conflicted about my next road bike its unbelievable. What I need is $150k, and not to have to work, and endless summer. What I have is a second hand Hornet and $5 or $10k. Given I will have a fullon scratcher (my "road" NC30 when I rebuild it) and a track only bike, a sporty tourer might be the go. and a VFR is near the top of that list. (followed by a Guzzi California.... only because its so good looking.... you see I am conflicted?) or a Triumph Scrambler. Or a Street Triple. Or a Buell. Or an RSV Mille.

Gah!

if i had that $150k id be looking for that 961ss commando!!!