RiderSite.com - Motorcycle Forums

Hi,
Bike's been recently fiddled by a mechanic, I've put a zip tie on the fork and noticed that it the suspension travels a bit less the it used to. If I remember correctly it used to go a further 10mm down (you can see it on the pic).

I've also noticed that the preload was increased from 4 lines showing to 3.

I know he'd measured the suspension travel before setting the sag, but... does this look right after a ride? Or should it be travelling a wee bit more?
What do you think?

Does it feel better or worse than before he adjusted it?

This is a good guide for suspension..

http://home.comcast.net/~sl_mille/sag.html

Unfortunately, the new settings and I didn't agree, so I've spent most of yesterday on getting it to what it was/what I like, however I haven't touched the preload.

Just thinking I should be using more of suspension travel

Depends how hard youve ridden it.
If you're backing it into hairpins I'd expect a bit more travel to be showing, but normal roadriding, I (this is all my personal view btw) would want some 'left in reserve' so when I do slam on hard, im not going to bottom out..

Plus how warm was it? Cold fork oil or had it had a decent rideout?

It was around 12-15C yesterday, done about 60 miles. Local B roads, some fast and slow corners, no hairpins though.
Something like this: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ie= ... 9,,0,13.72

To me, that looks as though the suspension isn't using enough travel. I'd reduce the preload in stages and see how/if the zip tie moves. Ideally you want about 10mm unused travel in reserve to cater for extreme events.

Must move my cable ties up again ..... they are in the zone that signifies some "extreme" events have occurred .....

Looks too much preload to me. I think mine end up about 20 - 25 mm from the bottom of the tube normal but bumpy road use. Not got a rule to hand but yours look twice that or more.

D-Rider wrote:Must move my cable ties up again ..... they are in the zone that signifies some "extreme" events have occurred .....

You ran into a container load of pies?

mangocrazy wrote:

D-Rider wrote:Must move my cable ties up again ..... they are in the zone that signifies some "extreme" events have occurred .....

You ran into a container load of pies?

Hmmmm - that'd be nice

Too much preload for sure.

Mine is around 15-20mm from end of travel... she feels a lot better... travel used to be more like you have there before my "winter work"

do it in stages and see how you feel

I realise this is an old thread but I wonder if anyone can tell me how much (if any) fork tube is left with the fork bottomed out? I.e would the cable tie be against the bottom casting after a BO event or would it be sitting ??? mm above? I've backed my preload right off and I'm still not using it all.

At full bump the fork tube is completely covered by the outer tube. You don't want it to get to that, so as long as you have 10-15mm fork tube showing below the cable tie, that's about right. My experience with OE Falco fork springs is that they're too stiff, but that's just a personal opinion.

I've about an inch left, so will leave it fully backed off. I'll pull them out during the winter and send them off for a rebuild & re spring. Thanks.

If you don't know the history of the bike, a previous owner could have over-filled the fork legs with oil and reduced the air gap. That could cause what you're seeing.