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OK,
had the c14 since June last year and other than a couple of suspension changes I have just ridden it hard and long. Rode around a very heavy front end and hung my ass off the seat to get it to turn.
Anyway, I'm on a ride on the weekend with a race mechanic who is following me through the twisties and comments that I seem to have to work the bike to get it to turn. Tells me I ride extremely well but seem I have to work hard. I tell him I have to remember that in the real tight bits its a "battleship" and it is as it is.
We go off for a drink and while me and the other guy are at the bar he visits the bike and resets the front, tells me, if its **** just stop and I'll put it back to where it was. So I head off and WOW, no more heavy front end and no more hard work. When we stop I thank him and he said, well there is 3 of us here so why not do the sag here and now. Out comes his little tap measure and he sets the front and rear and I take off again on what feels like a new bike, UFB, it feels like I am riding my Triumph ST, smooth and fast through the corners and no more hard work.
And here I was jsut riding around the issues thinking "it is what it is " when in actual fact it is MORE than it is when set up right.
Now just have to let go on those bad habits I developed riding it with a poor setup
Oh it good to be happy
Cheers
Poddy
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If you've never setup your suspension, this is well worth the effort.
For the best results pay a professional to set it up for you.
There are many of these people around.
I paid $170 to get mine setup.
He recommended fitting a stiffer spring on the shock and stiffer fork springs but set it up as best he could with the OEM parts.
Made a MAHOOSIVE difference to the handling and comfort.
Yes, better handling AND better comfort.
I had initially done the static sag myself (35mm rear and 32mm front) but what he did was nothing short of magic.
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I would have to agree one of the best things you can do to make your bike more comfortable and handle better. This is the first of many bikes I have owned that I did the suspension set up on following some recomendations found on this board and the internet. Typically I just rode them at the factory settings. I don't have the luxury of access to a suspension specialist in my area but I am quite happy with the outcome of my tweaking.
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So how do I find someone who knows what they are doing?
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I agree, having your sag set to your weight is well worth the $!
I had never done it to any of my prior bikes, but once I had it done to my Connie I took my Gixxers down there the same day to have them set as well. I will always do this to all my bikes going forward, it made a huge difference in handling for me.
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There is a stretch of pavement near my house that throws a lot of challenge to any suspension. It's my test track for settings and evaluations of preload and dampening. Sometimes the smallest of final tweaking produces the most satisfying results!
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And I thought that this was going to be a thread about plastic surgery.
Put another way, "That's what she said."
Brian
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How do you you know what the proper sag numbers are. I have read anywhere from 20 to 35 mm as a desired amount.
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That's a really good question. I'm sure that there is an accepted 'range'.
We've had lots of questions on setting suspension and I don't know if anyone has looked here:
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?board=33.0
Good stuff all around.
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That's a really good question. I'm sure that there is an accepted 'range'.
We've had lots of questions on setting suspension and I don't know if anyone has looked here:
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?board=33.0
Good stuff all around.
Thanks for that. Once things dry up and I get some time, I am going to see what mine is set to and make some adjustments. I have no complaints but if it could be better? Why not?
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Why not, indeed!
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OK,
had the c14 since June last year and other than a couple of suspension changes I have just ridden it hard and long. Rode around a very heavy front end and hung my ass off the seat to get it to turn.
Anyway, I'm on a ride on the weekend with a race mechanic who is following me through the twisties and comments that I seem to have to work the bike to get it to turn. Tells me I ride extremely well but seem I have to work hard. I tell him I have to remember that in the real tight bits its a "battleship" and it is as it is.
We go off for a drink and while me and the other guy are at the bar he visits the bike and resets the front, tells me, if its **** just stop and I'll put it back to where it was. So I head off and WOW, no more heavy front end and no more hard work. When we stop I thank him and he said, well there is 3 of us here so why not do the sag here and now. Out comes his little tap measure and he sets the front and rear and I take off again on what feels like a new bike, UFB, it feels like I am riding my Triumph ST, smooth and fast through the corners and no more hard work.
And here I was jsut riding around the issues thinking "it is what it is " when in actual fact it is MORE than it is when set up right.
Now just have to let go on those bad habits I developed riding it with a poor setup
Oh it good to be happy
Cheers
Poddy
Do you know where he set it at? Would you mind sharing the settings?
Problem with the Suspension setting thread is that there is no discussion on where to set the sag?\
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Do you know where he set it at? Would you mind sharing the settings?
I wrote a full explenation about setting sags on here, not sure where it is now though
Problem with the Suspension setting thread is that there is no discussion on where to set the sag?\
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I wrote a full explenation about setting sags on here, not sure where it is now though
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=7802.msg93975#msg93975
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Interestingly enough, I couldn't find it by just scanning through the pages but I've moved it into the suspension area in the Wiki for the C14. The above link still works.
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Kiwi,
when you published your explanation I immediately printed it out, went home and... still have that sheet on my desk. I haven't had the time and weather to get around to do it
Big trip coming, I should better get started with those tweaks...
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Kiwi,
when you published your explanation I immediately printed it out, went home and... still have that sheet on my desk. I haven't had the time and weather to get around to do it
Big trip coming, I should better get started with those tweaks...
+1 Me too....got a trip to the Smokies in about a month...can't wait!
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Can't really tell you exactly what he did as I was on the bike while a mate held it and he set the sag. More on the front as the rear wasn't too bad.
Major difference in bike handling, it's like I went and bought a new bike.
Ver very happy :-)