| Author | Message | ||
     Humboldtblast |
need some guidence......put a 25 pound pack and rode yesterday and the bike rode like it was on rails...flawless..did everything right...So without the pack, its good , but nothing like when i had the pack on.So here is my weight and suspension settings... i do ride a bit aggressive.; started with the agressive settings, then went from there. Weight 170-175(with gear and beer belly) Settings for my 03 xb9s .... front-preload 5.5 lines front comp 1.5 front rebound 1.5 rear preload 4 rear comp and rebound 1.25 Need some help, what can i do to make it perform like i had the pack on without having it on ? Still learning how this works.. thanks for any help | ||
| Old_man |
The pack adds weight, making the suspension seem less stiff. If you like that, make the suspension softer, try a little less compression damping first then go from there. (Message edited by old man on October 07, 2006) | ||
| 12r |
The first thing to dial in is the static sag - aim for about 15-30 mm and take it from there. Your F preload is quite high, come down to 4 lines and see how it feels. Similarly the back is a little low, wind it up another notch and go ride. One thing at a time. I have F & R rebound 0.75 turns from max and find it works well for enthusiastic road riding. Even better, release the brakes earlier on the way into a corner - this allows the front to stabilise before you turn in. The XB can corner with the best but charging into corners, braking hard and throwing it in does nothing except make you feel like you're riding really hard. | ||
| Old_man |
The lower number of lines showing makes for a stiffer sprung front. 4 lines would stiffen the front end a great deal more than what he has. | ||
| 12r |
Jack, you are quite right I don't know why I read it that way. Wait, I do - no coffee  (Message edited by 12r on October 09, 2006) | ||
| Humboldtblast |
i did the front preload to 5 to see how it would feel. Well it felt like to front was not getting good contact, lets say it felt less stable if thats the word for it. Been reading on suspension help, but it hard retaining it all (taking 18 units in school, graduating year!). Thanks for the help..keep the suggestions coming!!!!! | ||
| Nutsnbolt |
Keep the front preload as you had it before. Just adjust about an 1/8 of a turn on the front comp/ rebound and that should about do it | ||
| Tleighbell |
I have my front pre-load at 5 and rear at 6 on my 12S. I just dives into the corners. I just got the 12 (had a 9S before)and I had to back off the damping as I found the bike would get quite upset hitting bumps while leaned over. I think a damper would help that problem. No problems with stability otherwise. Any opinions? | ||
| M1combat |
PRELOAD doesn't change spring tension (well, it does..., but just a HAIR in the OPPOSITE direction that you think it does but only from weight transfer). Reducing compression damping might be a decent way to emulate having 25lbs on your back, but only sort of... Where is it not handling the way you feel that you liked, and how? corner entry? On the brakes or just as you get off them? When you roll in? steady state throttle while leaned over? On the gas coming out? Over bumps? In a straight line? A pack would cause a bit more weight transfer either way whether you're on the brakes or gas. It would raise the combined center of gravity. /EDIT to change compression to "PRELOAD"... sorry... (Message edited by M1Combat on October 10, 2006) | ||
| Humboldtblast |
hmmm it's not coming in and out of the corners as well. It felt like i didnt have to take the corners as wide i guess... more stable and felt like it just stuck to the road in and out of entering a corner. As with a steady throttle , it does not feel as stable or contacting the way it did with the pack. Over bumps it s a bit wobbly, i guess you can say...but not drastic. In as straight line its mostly on it, but i figure with the other adjustments it should clean it up.... yea i was thinking about the gravity too... keep it coming thanks all | ||
| M1combat |
I would reduce the compression damping on both ends just a tad (like an 1/8th of a turn), OR, reduce the amount of preload on both ends (add lines to the front, higher ramp position on the rear). I would do the compression damping first. I would only do this myself though... I don't like to make suspension adjustment recommendations so I'm not recommending that you do anything at all. What this will do is "simulate" more mass on the bike because it'll allow the front to dive more on the brakes, allow the rear to dive more on the gas, and allow a slightly lower ride height mid-turn. The drawbacks... If the front gets too heavy to steer on the brakes you've removed too much. If the rear wallows exiting the turn you've removed too much. If either tire slides mid-turn you've removed too much from the opposite end. If it's sliding because there's not enough weight on it... If it slides because there's too much weight on it, you've removed to much from THAT end... This is why I don't make recomendations. Too much can go wrong. I like Shawn Higbee's agressive settings as a start myself... Keep the rubber side down  ... | ||
| Humboldtblast |
Yep i started with those recomendations but need some finer tuning....thanks M1combat.... very nice description...that what i need, will try it and let you know......seems like the trick is to make small adjustments, bike is very sensitive on this... lol......thanks guys....i bet new rubber will make a difference too... |
