| Author | Message | ||
     Truk |
I weigh 205lbs with all my gear. I have a 2003 xb9r. I do aggressive back road riding, some of the roads are smooth, but a number can be a bit rough. When I got the bike last week it was set up real stiff all over (e.g . - Rear preload was at ramp 7). The guy that had it before me was a bit bigger than me. I Inflated the OEM tires to Factory specs. I rode it as I got it and decided it needed a change. It was too stiff and harsh I began by setting it up to the factory setting front and rear. Rechecked the tires to be sure of the pressure. Things felt a bit worse but in the other direction, a bit of wallowing around. Decided I need to stiffen it up a tad. Would be interested in hearing how your's is set up. Please include your riding weight and bike model. Also, do you count the four rings showing on the front preload as the three you can read and the fourth being the one at the very top? That is the way it appears in the handbook Thanks for your input... | ||
| Tpoppa |
It is a common misconception that you need a stiff suspension setup for aggressive riding. If you ride on bumpy roads, too stiff is worse than too soft, especially for hard cornering. I like to ride the tight twisty roads in Ohio, which can be bumpy. I have the front setup slightly softer than stock, the rear is way softer than stock. Here is some good information: http://sportrider.com/tech/146_0006_susp_trouble/ | ||
| Danvetc |
Truk, I'm still playing with my settings on my XB9SX, but I have noticed that with winter temps, (even here in south Georgia,) I like it softer than recommended factory settings to cut down on front tire chatter on hard cornering. If you had not heard, the CityX has different forks than the other XBs, and I will not be certain about this until it gets hot, though. (I am same weight as you, too.) | ||
| Lpd22 |
Tpoppa- Where abouts in cleveland do you live? Truk-I keep my settings right at the stock settings(03 9r/145lbs). Works just right for me. | ||
| Midknyte |
I had mine set up soft and found that it ended up doing one of the wierdest things to diagnose. The front end was diving under engine braking and causing a very disturbing feeling of forward momentum. I felt like I was going too fast. Not going to stop in time. Mostly I think because the dive was happening during non-braking (when you apply the brakes, you know there's going to be "some" dive. But like motion sickness - it was happening when I was not consiously a part of it.) | ||
| Tpoppa |
LPD, I am from Parma. I usually ride in SE Ohio. It makes for a long day (usually 400-500 miles, but its worth it. Some of the best twisty roads in the country are in SE Ohio. | ||
| Chickenhauler |
turk,look up suspension settings on the search.xb board.that should give aggressive setting.atleast a place to start. i used them and wow what a diff. | ||
| Ingemar |
Front Preload..........: 2 lines showing Front Rebound........: 1 1/2 turns out from all in front Compression.: 3/4 turns out from all in Rear Preload............: 6 (1 down from stiffest) Rear Rebound..........: 1 turn out from all in Rear Compression...: 1 1/4 turn out from all in I'm around 195 pounds. | ||
| Lpd22 |
Tpoppa- Sounds fun. I would like to explore the rolling terrain of SE OH. Let's hook up and ride some saturday when the weather breaks. I live in the suburb of Westlake. | ||
| Chainsaw |
XB9R, 180 lbs with gear. I use the stock settings. I've tinkered with other settings, including the "aggressive" settings and didn't find any improvement for me. Adjust in small increments! You will be able to feel a change as small as a 1/4 turn. | ||
| Sokota |
try both extremes,full hard settings go for hour ride,full soft settings go for hour ride or so,helps understand full range of suspension.back to stock settings adj. from there or try suggested settings ,you have the extremes to reference to. kind of like adj. a fuel screw. | ||
| M1combat |
I used the settings that Ingemar posted... I have since reduced the front preload by two lines, and will be stiffeneing the damping soon. I may go back to where I have only one more line showing on the front. That would put me at three. I haven't changed the rear, it seem to be planted quite well. I'm about 225 w/ gear. | ||
| Two_buells |
This was printed in one of the last Battle2Wins | ||
| Two_buells |
 | ||
| Lpd22 |
Very nice. |
