Poor handling motorcycle? Suspension may not be at fault.

[doc]

it's funny how people always think that standard suspention is crap, when the manufacturers spend thousands developing it......

As has been pointed out though they have financial constraints as in they need to make money,what i find more amusing is people that have no idea if there standard suspension is good or bad but change it anyway then ride in such a way that the standard suspenders would have been well adequate.

Yep I agree look at Harley suspension, basically pretty poor . But when you mention that to the dealer they usually answer , most prefer to customise their bikes and change it anyway.

All this suspension stuff gets a bit anal , unless you are on a track . How could you set a road bike suspension up perfectly then travel to the South Island from Jaffa-land carrying a load, which can vary in weight. Surely high tech is not necessary on the road. Owner adjustments aren't dangerous as some would have us believe.

[Robert Taylor]

Yep I agree look at Harley suspension, basically pretty poor . But when you mention that to the dealer they usually answer , most prefer to customise their bikes and change it anyway.

All this suspension stuff gets a bit anal , unless you are on a track . How could you set a road bike suspension up perfectly then travel to the South Island from Jaffa-land carrying a load, which can vary in weight. Surely high tech is not necessary on the road. Owner adjustments aren't dangerous as some would have us believe.

That messing around with high tech suspension is only relevant to the track is as big a misconception as any that I have heard. There are plenty of BMW owners out there who have purchased high quality suspension with a very wide adjustment range and have successfully overcome such issues.

Those that have sampled high quality suspension will vehemently disagree that high tech is unneccesary for the road.

[doc]

That messing around with high tech suspension is only relevant to the track is as big a misconception as any that I have heard. There are plenty of BMW owners out there who have purchased high quality suspension with a very wide adjustment range and have successfully overcome such issues.

Those that have sampled high quality suspension will vehemently disagree that high tech is unneccesary for the road.

Sorry but personally.You mention BMW and anal springs to mind. No character, no noise, no performance, no interest. Im really sorry but to me motorcycles are supposed to be a bit basic. I'm talking road bikes here, not much you can do with that sort of stuff out of cell phone reception in Haast Pass, when it shits itself.

[Shaun]

That messing around with high tech suspension is only relevant to the track is as big a misconception as any that I have heard. There are plenty of BMW owners out there who have purchased high quality suspension with a very wide adjustment range and have successfully overcome such issues.

Those that have sampled high quality suspension will vehemently disagree that high tech is unneccesary for the road.

Sorry, but I have, and comfortably disagree that High tech is neccesary for the road.

After market is deffinately better, but std will not kill you or others- it may slow you down a bit, but is that such a bad thing.

Spending more time at a track day, and learning your self and bike more, would be a much wiser and safer advantage.

Bugger, probally just lost myself more shock sales

[Edbear]

...ask an industry expert before committing to something that on th face of it is a quick fix. You may be surprised how approachable we are, and that every communication does not have to be a sale!

Good point, Robert! It does amuse me to see poster's disagreeing with you...

As has been pointed out though they have financial constraints as in they need to make money,what i find more amusing is people that have no idea if there standard suspension is good or bad but change it anyway then ride in such a way that the standard suspenders would have been well adequate.

A good point, too! I feel that while my standard suspension is adequate for my riding, even two-up, a top-shelf suspension setup may be wasted on me. I mean I thought my '89 GSX-F600 handled pretty well...

... When you actually ride a motorcycle with top shelf suspension components on it that are set up specifically for you it is then that you realise just how average standard suspension is. Anyone who says different is actually in a state of denial. ...When I worked for the NZ Yamaha distributor as their technical manager I was prepared to believe that the original suspension was ''excellent'' Having now worked with suspension for over 22 years and distributing the worlds No 1 suspension product I now know quite different.

As I indicated above, I have yet to ride a bike with top-shelf components properly set up, so have nothing to compare. I know that should I get to ride such a bike, I may then realise how average mine is. I don't comment on thechnical matters about which I know little, preferring to defer to those who do, such as you and Shaun. I seem to recall you recommending to those championing standard suspensions to actually ride a bike set up by suspension experts...?

[Robert Taylor]

Sorry, but I have, and comfortably disagree that High tech is neccesary for the road.

After market is deffinately better, but std will not kill you or others- it may slow you down a bit, but is that such a bad thing.

Spending more time at a track day, and learning your self and bike more, would be a much wiser and safer advantage.

Bugger, probally just lost myself more shock sales

We are NOT always talking about speed! More compliance, control and preload adjustabilty for varying loads is EXACTLY what many road riders are looking for, be they BMW riders ( that have just been disparigingly referred to )or on any other brand of bike.

It is a big misconception that top shelf aftermarket shocks are all about racing and track days.

[Edbear]

...Spending more time at a track day, and learning your self and bike more, would be a much wiser and safer advantage.

Bugger, probally just lost myself more shock sales

Well, maybe not, mate! Over the three and a half years I had the GSX-F600 and became more confident in my riding, I naturally increased my corner speed from Nana pace to somewhere near average and the better I became as a rider, and the more familiar I became with the bike, the more aware I became of the limits of the standard suspension. So doing track days and becoming better riders, should rather, make the rider aware of the shortcomings of the stock suspension leading to a desire to improve it!

After 12 months with the Boulevard, I am relaxed and comfortable and can throw it around to its limits. I know it would benefit from better suspension, but cost is the current limiter. So I ride it within its, (and the wife's!), limits.

[Robert Taylor]

Well, maybe not, mate! Over the three and a half years I had the GSX-F600 and became more confident in my riding, I naturally increased my corner speed from Nana pace to somewhere near average and the better I became as a rider, and the more familiar I became with the bike, the more aware I became of the limits of the standard suspension. So doing track days and becoming better riders, should rather, make the rider aware of the shortcomings of the stock suspension leading to a desire to improve it!

After 12 months with the Boulevard, I am relaxed and comfortable and can throw it around to its limits. I know it would benefit from better suspension, but cost is the current limiter. So I ride it within its, (and the wife's!), limits.

Good post! That is exactly what happens, its a case of being positive about all the possibilities for improvement OR you can be negative and knock those who aspire to improvement.

[jonbuoy]

If you have those glorified bicycle ball bearings in your head races its well worth thinking about upgrading to tapered steering head bearings.

[Shaun]

Well, maybe not, mate! Over the three and a half years I had the GSX-F600 and became more confident in my riding, I naturally increased my corner speed from Nana pace to somewhere near average and the better I became as a rider, and the more familiar I became with the bike, the more aware I became of the limits of the standard suspension. So doing track days and becoming better riders, should rather, make the rider aware of the shortcomings of the stock suspension leading to a desire to improve it!

After 12 months with the Boulevard, I am relaxed and comfortable and can throw it around to its limits. I know it would benefit from better suspension, but cost is the current limiter. So I ride it within its, (and the wife's!), limits.

Your reply to this, is exactually what I am Saying! you say, after 3 years, you learned the limits of your bike, as you increased your own rider input!

So you grew to know your bike limits Well done

[Shaun]

If you have those glorified bicycle ball bearings in your head races its well worth thinking about upgrading to tapered steering head bearings.

Deffinately mate!!!!!!!! ALL BALLS stearing head bearing kits are brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[GSVR]

Might learn something here.

What is the prefered bearing for steering head bearings?

Angular contact ball bearings or tapered cylindrical roller bearings.

I know what my answer and reasoning is. jonbuoy may be able to give his?

[sinfull]

Found this site somewhere and it looks like a go, but of course someone as illiterate as me would have to read it a doz times first ! http://www.moto-racing.co.uk/Guides/...nsionSetup.htm

Know that the triumphs suspension is lacking when it comes to adjustment and revaulving is commonplace but money is a factor here and would like to have it a bit better for the track day on may 16th
Couple of questions though
A/ should someone like me even be trying to set up my suspension ?
B/ where the hell is the rebound adjustment screw on the 1050's front forks ?
C/ Just bought the bike and its an insurance job after being binned (no serious damage, ridden it a bit and it just dont feel right in the front, feels like rebound, could it be too much rebound that caused the bin ???

[nodrog:Me]

?
B/ where the hell is the rebound adjustment screw on the 1050's front forks ?
???

both at the top off the forks, one fork is rebound, one fork is compression.

yep its weird

[Shaun]

Found this site somewhere and it looks like a go, but of course someone as illiterate as me would have to read it a doz times first ! http://www.moto-racing.co.uk/Guides/...nsionSetup.htm

Know that the triumphs suspension is lacking when it comes to adjustment and revaulving is commonplace but money is a factor here and would like to have it a bit better for the track day on may 16th
Couple of questions though
A/ should someone like me even be trying to set up my suspension ?
B/ where the hell is the rebound adjustment screw on the 1050's front forks ?
C/ Just bought the bike and its an insurance job after being binned (no serious damage, ridden it a bit and it just dont feel right in the front, feels like rebound, could it be too much rebound that caused the bin ???

Could have been sus set up that caused the bin, cannot say for sure without checking the bike over!

You stated track day on May 16? If that is the Moto-tt day, I will be attending it, and check over the set up with you if you want me too?

Just PM or text me, to book some time, I get very busy on those days helping loads of people.