| Author | Message | ||
     Boney95 |
The harder/stiffer your suspension is set, the easier you should be able to carve a corner right? When I first got the bike last year spring, I rode off the lot with the stock settings. I rode around like this for about a month until I took it in to the dealer to have them adjust the suspension to my weight (200lbs). Well after the adjust, I noticed the bike is now a bit harder to turn. Meaning, holding a tight line throughout the corner, and sometimes a bit hard to make dive into a curve. Over the winter I went over the suspension myself and noticed it was a bit off so I made the correct adjustments. But the bike is still a bit hard to turn, just as much as it was before. Now I rode a buddies 12Ss last weekend, which has a softer suspension setup for my weight, and she felt easier to turn? What's up with that? As my bike is now, I have no problems getting a solid lean angle, as I have little to no chicken strips. So could someone give me the 101 on suspension? I understand that the manuals suggested setting are not golden, so should I just drop all of the settings down a notch? | ||
| Iamarchangel |
I found that for my weight on 9R, that the manual's settings were too harsh. I went a couple of notches softer and I'm pleased with that. That, and a change to Road Attack tires, has my chicken strip at less than an inch now. | ||
| Fullcircle |
I have tried the settings in the manual and found that the front was way soft for me. Then went with the aggressive settings, found they were better but I still did not like the front, also found that it would stand up violently if I touched the front brakes in a corner or trailed them at all. Now I have the front end stiffened up quite a bit, it does steer slower but feels better and the stand up tendency has been greatly reduced. Still playing though. | ||
| Andymnelson |
"found that it would stand up violently if I touched the front brakes in a corner" You don't have Dunflop shoes still do you? | ||
| Iamarchangel |
I don't know much about street tires yet but I did not like the feel of the front Dunlop. Now that I have the Road Attacks, sorry to keep plugging them, it is such a huge difference. Suspension felt right, tire felt skaty. | ||
| Fullcircle |
I have Pilot Power 2CT's on it now. they will be replaced with a set of Bridgestone BT016's tomorrow. I have an 03 R and it appears the forks were upgraded to 43mm in 05. May be why the aggressive settings did not work for me. | ||
| Dooley |
ok stupid question, but what are chicken strips?  sorry to hijack thread, but I read that so many times but cant figure out what that is, I know it has to do with tires though.....thanks | ||
| Boney95 |
It's the portion of the tire on both sides that never comes in contact with the road because you're being a puss and not leaning the bike over enough, as it was built for. It I was at my computer I'd post a pic. But they are clearly visible, the chicken strips will look shinny, not all roughed up as the rest of the tire. I'm sure someone will post a pic. | ||
| Jraice |
One thing to remember, harder settings in the front will also raise the front, thus making the bike turn in less. I would go back to stock settings and play from there. If you want more turn in first thing I would do is bump up the rear preload one level (as the manual recommends, I just did this the other day and the bike feels pretty nice, flickable yet stable and holds the line very nicely)... Then from there (again as the manual recommends) you can lower the front by reducing preload, this will increase break dive however, and then the manual goes on to list other adjustments to increase turn in. But again, I think the best thing to do is go back to stock settings and adjust from there. And BTW, I am no god so take my words with a grain of salt, I still have 3/4" of chicken strips on the front tire  . | ||
| Dooley |
thanks boney, that was the only thing i though it could be, thanks for explaining the "chicken" part of it. | ||
| Boney95 |
Jraice, you're right on. I just received an email from a reliable Buell guru that sent me some suspension guidelines by Buell test engineer, finished 5th place at the Daytona 200 this year, Shawn Higbee. Here it is: For Faster/Easier Turn In 1st: Increase rear shock preload one position. 2nd(If More Is Desired): Reduce front preload by turning the adjuster counterclockwise until an additional line is visible. 3rd(If Even More Is Desired): Increase rear compression clockwise on quarter to hald turn. 4th(If More Is Desired): Increase front rebound clockwise one quarter turn. | ||
| Hammer71 |
I have no problems getting a solid lean angle, as I have little to no chicken strips Has nothing to do with suspension. Just a side note less strip actually slows you down. +1 on the above Higbee settings I run his settings as well and bike is on rails at all speeds. also what tires are you running? and at what pressures. Each of those have a great deal to do with turn in and handling. | ||
| Jraice |
On the note of tires... For the Pirelli's the XB's are coming with now, is the recommended 34/36 what everybody is using? | ||
| Hammer71 |
For good riding days(dragging knees, pegs and shifter I'll drop 2lbs each. For track days I'' start at 28/30 and go from there usually end up around 24/26 | ||
| Boney95 |
Im running the OEM Diablo T's at 34/36. I just bumped up the rear preload up to setting 5, now just waiting for the weather. |
