Suspenders, confusing init?

[martybabe]

I have recently acquired a GSX1400 Suzuki and I gotta say I'm pretty happy with it but...

It blew around like a scooter in a gale in the slightest of breezes.Clearly not right for such a big heavy naked bike. I checked the head races ,tyre pressures etc to no avail, so I decided it must be the tyres and looked forward to the day they needed changing.

In the meantime (beyond) gave me some suspension settings to get the most from the 14 in the twisties ,as this scoot comes from the factory a bit on the squidgy side. I dialed the settings in yesterday but it was pissin down so I took her out this arvo.

Here's the thing, it handels brilliantly now, a true carving machine but it dawned on me at some point during the ride, it was really windy, I noticed because I was blowing around like a flag but the bike was totally unaffected, even in the strongest gusts. It is a totally awesomely different bike, a precision missile.

I've just had the ride of my life, 20 mins turned to three hours, me ass was killing me but I didn't want to go home.Its like being born again, Woooooo fackinghoooooooooo.

Question.......in simple terms, what the hell just happened how the heck can suzzy settings affect how the bike blows around in the wind. I am confused but euphoric.

p.s. Big thanx to BEYOND p.p.s If your kind enough to answer my question,please don't be giving me, if a wheel was in two parts the bottom part moves faster than the number I first thought of. It'll be wasted on me.

[beyond]

Hey, I'm pleased I could help. That's what we are all here for mate

As I keep saying to people with GSX1400's the factory settings really are crap. Once you get the right settings dialled in you are as close to sport bike suspension settings as you are going to get. I have found the factory suspension to be ideal for all types of riding once dialled in correctly and these bikes are a dream in the tight stuff.

Even the ground clearance (which isn't bad considering the comfort levels) can be gotten around by just using upper body weight to leverage the bike around the corners. It looks funny but works when you need that bit more cornering speed.

I don't know why the new settings have cured your wind buffeting problem but pleased to hear they have. I suspect that with preload and damping at standard things are really just too squidgy and the new settings have dealt to that.

Enjoy your riding mate. You'll be hard pressed to find a bike as versatile as these

[jrandom]

... can be gotten around by just using upper body weight to leverage the bike around the corenrs.

A bit like this then?





Right, this thread is now officially a GSX1400 Owner's Club zone, everyone else can now piss off while we congratulate each other on having such fuckin great taste in motorcycles.

[beyond]

A bit like this then?





Right, this thread is now officially a GSX1400 Owner's Club zone, everyone else can now piss off while we congratulate each other on having such fuckin great taste in motorcycles.

Not quite hanging right off knee down like that. Better for the track than the road but if it floats your boat go for it

Yep, a few of us here know a great bike when we see one.

[jrandom]

On another note, while what beyond says about the stock suspension is absolutely correct (it's really quite good when set up right) I myself, unlike beyond, am a crap rider and need bling to make up for it, so I'm going to be getting a set of bright blue Penske bouncies off Shaun Harris later this month.

I shall be sure to report on what (if any) difference they make.

In fact, beyond, I'd be quite keen to plop you on Betty and see what your comments are on how the Penskes feel, too.

[kiwifruit]

A bit like this then?

[YOUTUBE]AyIPlDjUGYo[/YOUTUBE]

[jrandom]

I've just had the ride of my life, 20 mins turned to three hours, me ass was killing me but I didn't want to go home.Its like being born again, Woooooo fackinghoooooooooo...

Yeah, GSX1400s are like that, aren't they?

Did you see the review I wrote after I rode one for the first time?

[beyond]

In fact, beyond, I'd be quite keen to plop you on Betty and see what your comments are on how the Penskes feel, too.

Sweet. Be honoured mate

[HenryDorsetCase]

[YOUTUBE]AyIPlDjUGYo[/YOUTUBE]

criminy, what a dreadful song.

nice to see knee down on a bohemiath like the big 14

[jrandom]

criminy, what a dreadful song.

kiwifruit has a veritable library of such material.

[jrandom]

Better for the track than the road but if it floats your boat...

Nah, you won't ever see me riding like that on the road. I just put the photo up for a laugh, and because I'm proud of it.



(As a matter of fact, the photographer was the previous owner of the Snail, my poor neglected '99 GSX-R750.)

[martybabe]

Yay, I'm in a club, doesn't exactly roll off the tongue though does it, I'm in the gsx1400 club. Should have called it the dozer or blaster blade or blue swift or

Anyway, we may be members of the fastest growing bike club in NZ but we're not elitist any one can answer my question, please.

What has wind stability to do with suspension set up?

[ynot slow]

Maybe an oil/air cooled suzuki club?

The GSX1400 is a nice beast,still not sure about the naked part for me,but it grows on ya,still with a cc just under half of the 1400,is enough to give me/us a good buzz for the time.

[martybabe]

Yeah, GSX1400s are like that, aren't they?

Did you see the review I wrote after I rode one for the first time?

yaes I did mate, to the point and not to many big words. Look ya both know you made me buy the bike now stop patting yourselves on the back, I said I'd get the beers in didn't I.

Oh and ditto mr beyond if your ever down the naki you can sling a leg over mine and be all guruish. .

[Boob Johnson]

Hey congrats Marty

Always great to get something like that sorted out so easily. Sorry can't think for the life of me why such adjustments would make that kind of difference.



We have a ride on tomorrow night 6pm leaving from the Caltex on Eliot street if your still fizzing & need to stretch ya legs