[chr|s sedition]

Ok people, i need some suspension help.

i got my current bike (03 R1) used, and do not know how much the original owner tweeked out the suspenion from stock. I've tinkered with it a bit to dial it in to what 'feels good' when riding. However, i'd like to get it adjusted for optimum performance for type of riding i do and body weight, but don't know where to start.

can anyone direct me toward a web site or give me any suggestions.

thanks in advance,
-sedition

[gmdboston]

Come see me after the National, call me 6/22

[chr|s sedition]

will do. thanks!

-chris

[Tricky Mike]

Sportrider.com has a pretty extensive suspension setup guide. I actually tried their settings and found them to be pretty good. Others have had good things to say about the suggested settings for their bike. Obviously they're just good for a starting point, as they don't take consider things like weight, riding style, etc...

I've found the biggest (and often easiest) thing you can do is properly set your static sag.

Aaaanyway...
here's that link for anyone interested...

Full Article:
http://www.sportrider.com/tech/146_0006_susp/

Bike setup guides:
http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/146_susp_settings/

[chr|s sedition]

*nods* i had set my R6 to their standards, and it was great. the problem with the R1 is that since i got it used, I don't know 'how many clicks out' some of the settings are from stock.

[Tricky Mike]

10-4 on that.
Shouldn't really be an issue, though. If you're pretty happy with the way it is now, but would like to give it a shot, you could just treat it like you would a stock carb mixture screw... Turn your adjusters in until they seat (tighten them gently until they hit their stops... one at a time) and count how many clicks, lines, revolutions or whatever it took to get there. Write it all down as you go... then re-set everything to sportrider's specs. Ex: 12 clicks out from fully seated on rebound, 10 clicks out on compression, etc (just examples). If it makes it better, Rock. If it ends up making matters worse, you can always go back, re-seat all the adjusters you changed and then back them out according to your notes to get it back to where it is now... If it took 10 clicks in to fully seat your fork rebound, then 10 clicks out from fully seated will bring you right back.

To really get it dialed in specifically for you would take a little more time/testing... getting sag set properly, etc. But using sportrider's specs will probably take all of 15 minutes to try. May make a difference in the meantime.

-Mike

[chr|s sedition]

Originally posted by trickphoto
Turn your adjusters in until they seat (tighten it gently until it hits it's stop...

Thanks mike....I didn't know that they "stop" when they get maxed out. I thought they'd keep clicking beyond the max...the manual said something like "don't go beyond X clicks"...which seemed to indicate that it didn't stop when you were 'maxed out'...

can anyone confirm?

[By-Tor]

First things first.......... Set your sag to your weight with full riding gear on. Here is a good link with pretty clear instructions.

http://www.racetech.com/articles/Sus...AndSprings.htm
You'll need a couple of buddies to help out and a tape measure that has metric measurements.

Then play with the comp/rebound settings.

[Tricky Mike]

Originally posted by chr|s sedition
Thanks mike....I didn't know that they "stop" when they get maxed out. I thought they'd keep clicking beyond the max...the manual said something like "don't go beyond X clicks"...which seemed to indicate that it didn't stop when you were 'maxed out'...

can anyone confirm?

True.
They may not stop on the way out (I've never been daring enough to try). But they should definitely stop when turning (tightening) them in, which is what you want to do to get a point of reference. I'd be willing to bet the manual was referring to not backing the adjusters out too far, which would make sense.

Something else just occurred to me... if the previous owner swapped out fork springs (for a different spring rate) then you can pretty much throw the sport-rider base settings in the Charles. Though... if the previous owner was even slightly squidly, I'd bet they didn't do any suspension work... Fork springs don't make your bike "wicked fast, doode" Either way, it can't hurt to give it a shot if you feel like tinkering.

[By-Tor]

You can throw away the Sport-Rider settings if the test rider was different weight than you also.

[Tricky Mike]

Originally posted by trickphoto
Obviously they're just good for a starting point, as they don't take consider things like weight, riding style, etc...

Originally posted by By-Tor
You can throw away the Sport-Rider settings if the test rider was different weight than you also.

Very true. I'm not suggesting that anyone view the SportRider settings as anything more than a starting point.

Hmph... just re-read my post... I said "take consider"?... Um, "take into consideration" maybe? Me no type so good sumtymes.

[HBerry]

Chris--

Are you going down to GMD anytime soon? If so Ill meet you in boston and head down there with you. People keep telling me to eff around with my suspension, so I might as well have the experts eff with it.

[chr|s sedition]

Originally posted by HBerry
Chris--

Are you going down to GMD anytime soon? If so Ill meet you in boston and head down there with you. People keep telling me to eff around with my suspension, so I might as well have the experts eff with it.

I'm gonna call him today to check in with whats up...I'll PM ya when i find out whats going on.

[HBerry]

Tell him a 636 will be tagging along also

[Manny]

Originally posted by chr|s sedition
I'm gonna call him today to check in with whats up...I'll PM ya when i find out whats going on.

PM me too dude. Even if he can't work on my bike that day cause hes busy with you clowns I'd tag along to learn a little sumpin sumpin.