Wanted: Book about motorcycle suspension

[pritch]

Try "Sportbike Suspension Tuning" by Andrew Trevitt
ISBN-13: 978 1 893618 45 9
ISBN-10: 1 893618 45 5

I'll second that.

Wish I'd seen this post before I went hunting for the book. At least I have the book handy now.

"Sportbike Suspension Tuning" contains a handy trouble shooting guide (but I haven't had to use that since Robert did the suspension : )

From memory, although I can't locate it quickly, there is a suggested training session at the end of which you should understand the effect each of the adjusters will have. I always intended to spend a morning on that but never have. Now that I'm retired?

This book is a good first suspension book and I think would suit the OP. Once read and understood you'll be ready to delve into the more technical manuals.

[pritch]

Robert, It's too bad that you don't do the occasional tour around the country sorting out suspenders for those interested in getting their bikes setup by someone who really knows what they are doing. I don't have time to come up to New Plymouth to get mine done and I realize tools and other gear would be a pain to transport. I've had a well known bike shop in Wgtn try and set it up, but I've never been happy with the results.
I'm happy with everything about the SV , except the bloody suspension.

If you ever toured the country ( kinda like a traveling peddler/gypsy ) I'd buy your wares!

He does. Every summer. Week after week. When he gets home his wife and kids wonder who this strange bloke is.

[Robert Taylor]

Robert, It's too bad that you don't do the occasional tour around the country sorting out suspenders for those interested in getting their bikes setup by someone who really knows what they are doing. I don't have time to come up to New Plymouth to get mine done and I realize tools and other gear would be a pain to transport. I've had a well known bike shop in Wgtn try and set it up, but I've never been happy with the results.
I'm happy with everything about the SV , except the bloody suspension.

If you ever toured the country ( kinda like a traveling peddler/gypsy ) I'd buy your wares!

Look for some initiatives in the future. BUT, this is all about TIME ( OR LACK THEREOF )and very real COSTS. The hours that we put in are just insane. ''Live to work''

Fortunately Im not at the stage where Id either threaten to top myself ( due to the taxing nature of what we do ) or have a need to be assessed for my mental stability ( or instability ). Thats a good thing ( being mentally stable ) if you are a suspension tuner, as you are dealing with stuff that affects safety .

Dont be led to believe by any ill informed keyboard warriors that the SV can be sorted out with just external adjusters. For pretty much everyone the front forks are just dire. They have progressively wound springs in them that are too light in start rate, so they blow through their stroke and get too progressive too quick. If nothing else a set of linear springs that are correctly preloaded and careful selection of oil viscosity and height will yield a very decent improvement at affordable cost. The rear shock isnt as bad and can be successfully revalved, plus resprung if neccessary. The link ratio is very aggressive so preload and ride height needs to be on the money so that the shock does its best or most of its work in the more supple part of travel, before it even ''arrives'' at the more accelerative / aggressive part of the link curve.

[Robert Taylor]

He does. Every summer. Week after week. When he gets home his wife and kids wonder who this strange bloke is.

Thatcher is dead, peace to her soul. And Enoch was so right

[Ocean1]

Robert, It's too bad that you don't do the occasional tour around the country sorting out suspenders for those interested in getting their bikes setup by someone who really knows what they are doing.

He does.

I was talking to Robert about a wee job on the Buell a couple of days ago. And one's own workshop simply can't be beat for getting things done, so p'raps we should organise a trailerload of Wellington area work for him.

[Drew]

I was talking to Robert about a wee job on the Buell a couple of days ago. And one's own workshop simply can't be beat for getting things done, so p'raps we should organise a trailerload of Wellington area work for him.

I own a truck, we could keep him busy for months.

[Robert Taylor]

I own a truck, we could keep him busy for months.

Frankly, working out the back of a truck just doesnt cut the mustard if you are running a proffessional operation. Of course we have a workshop trailer and also a portable kit of benches and a finite amount of equipment if we decide to not tow the trailer. But that is for going to race meetings / events where you are principally working with pre-prepared kit. You know the limitations of what is possible. Here at our base in New Plymouth we have a properly laid out workshop with machining facilities, spring testing equipment, vacuum bleeding equipment,all parts, special tools and service info to hand and a three phase suspension dyno etc etc ad infinitum.

[Smifffy]

Frankly, working out the back of a truck just doesnt cut the mustard if you are running a proffessional operation. Of course we have a workshop trailer and also a portable kit of benches and a finite amount of equipment if we decide to not tow the trailer. But that is for going to race meetings / events where you are principally working with pre-prepared kit. You know the limitations of what is possible. Here at our base in New Plymouth we have a properly laid out workshop with machining facilities, spring testing equipment, vacuum bleeding equipment,all parts, special tools and service info to hand and a three phase suspension dyno etc etc ad infinitum.

I think he was proposing to bring up a truckload vs the suggested trailer load...

[Robert Taylor]

I think he was proposing to bring up a truckload vs the suggested trailer load...

That would be more ideal yes, nonetheless I think it important to have expressed the limitations of working away from ''full facilities''

[Drew]

I think he was proposing to bring up a truckload vs the suggested trailer load...

That would be more ideal yes, nonetheless I think it important to have expressed the limitations of working away from ''full facilities''

Say it together now. COMMISSION!

[BuzzardNZ]

Say it together now. COMMISSION!

I was thinking more along the lines of BULK DISCOUNT.

[Robert Taylor]

I was thinking more along the lines of BULK DISCOUNT.

VALUE is a much better expression. As in all trades there are people that sell stuff cheap, thats usually tantamount to cutting corners and delivering a lesser job.

[Ocean1]

I think he was proposing to bring up a truckload vs the suggested trailer load...

Aye. We could block out a solid few days worth of shop time, send the bikes up one weekend for a return trip later that week.

'Course, it'd mean we wouldn't get to ride 'em home...

[BuzzardNZ]

VALUE is a much better expression. As in all trades there are people that sell stuff cheap, thats usually tantamount to cutting corners and delivering a lesser job.

Fair point and I agree.

When you do travel to other places ( i.e. Wellington ), I presume you 'rent' out a workshop in the locale you're in for the duration of your working stay?

[Robert Taylor]

Fair point and I agree.

When you do travel to other places ( i.e. Wellington ), I presume you 'rent' out a workshop in the locale you're in for the duration of your working stay?

As eluded to we much much prefer to work under our own roof where we have EVERYTHING to hand and can therefore also do the job much more quickly. The logistics of doing off site are just not so easy