| Author |
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Bigblock
| | Posted on Monday, August 17, 2009 - 07:54 pm: | 
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Early '08s (my bike) had the heavy springs, so can't give too much advice there. Sag is total drop with you on the bike in riding position measured from fully extended, front and rear.
THis was what made the most difference for getting my bike dialed in for me. I'm 210 or just under, and well over 220 in gear.
As far as compression and rebound, on my bike I found the comp #s in the manual were a bit stiff, and the rebound numbers fairly close. For me, I found the bike worked a bit better under aggressive riding with the rebound just a bit stiffer compared with the compression, as you might figure from the manual.
I hope I am being clear... 
I have had to stiffen things up a bit as mileage has risen, and also for hot weather. |
Fresnobuell
| | Posted on Monday, August 17, 2009 - 08:21 pm: |
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Unless you are heavy weight, the early 08 springs are probably too stiff. I am going to revalve and respring this winter. |
Avc8130
| | Posted on Monday, August 17, 2009 - 08:49 pm: |
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What is a heavyweight? Quantify please.
ac |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Monday, August 17, 2009 - 09:00 pm: |
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230.
Welcome to the club, buttercup.  |
Fresnobuell
| | Posted on Monday, August 17, 2009 - 09:06 pm: |
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I can't really say. I am probably about 200 in full gear and the I was on the very limit of the springs. They were workable, but it's not optimal to be on the very edge because you can only adjust one way. New springs are definitely a must for me. |
Avc8130
| | Posted on Monday, August 17, 2009 - 09:08 pm: |
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Was hoping I was in the club. Cheaper. LOL
ac |
Ccryder
| | Posted on Monday, August 17, 2009 - 09:46 pm: |
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Yep I'm in the same club. Dave and I set up my suspension per the OM and the only thing I had to do was back off the rear compression dampening 2-3 clicks. Mine is a Feb 08' build so it's got the springs made just for me ;+}
Later all. |
Bigblock
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 03:09 am: |
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I think 220 makes it, Because I had to jack my front preload way up to get it to 35mm of sag, the recommended setting for my forks was way low, around 50 mm. |
Andros
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 03:36 am: |
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Cant wait to do this on mine. My bike is so soft it reminds me of a dirt bike, then again what do (most) Harley dealers know about performance?
(Message edited by andros on August 18, 2009) |
Jdugger
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 06:57 am: |
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> then again what do (most) Harley dealers know about performance?
Slightly more than they know about suspension, which is just about zilch!
Occasionally, you find someone in the dealer that has a racing background or something and knows a few things or has some experience, but I think it's fair to say 99% of HD riders don't give a damn about suspension. |
Court
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 08:40 am: |
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>>>>> then again what do (most) Harley dealers know about performance?
Actually . . . a lot. Take a look at the history of American Motorcycle Racing . . . and look at guys like Mike Patterson, Keith Ulicki and Mike Shattuck . . . toss Don Tilley in that bunch.
The FACT is that if you were going to rate racing knowledge on a basis of motorcycle brands Harley-Davidson would likely be at the top of the heap. |
Rfischer
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 08:55 am: |
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Add Dave Sedlack @ Perfomance Harley here in Syracuse.
Flat-track, road-racing, motocross. |
Jdugger
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 08:57 am: |
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> if you were going to rate racing knowledge on a basis of motorcycle brands Harley-Davidson would likely be at the top of the heap
Perhaps at the factory, but not at most of the dealers. Sure, there are some exceptions, but by and large, dealers make more on "lifestyle accessories" -- HD branded shirts, chrome, and so on -- than they do on bikes.
HD is an amazing brand and an icon of American Culture. Certainly in recent times a story of rebirth and marketing prowess that challenges the legends of the game like Microsoft.
But, the dealers are NOT racing specialists -- that's just not where their bread is buttered. And, it's the dealers us consumers interact with the most, not the factory. |
Court
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 09:10 am: |
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Ahh . . the mind of the young and uninitiated.
I'll give you one thing . . . I think you really believe what you are saying.
And as a bonus . . . I'll share with you that you are patently incorrect and let you do some research.
By the way . . . . polish the logic.
On one hand the discussion is "knowledge of racing" and you are attempting to use as a metric "dealers make more money on". The two are pretty much unrelated.
Racing, to make money, is a fool's pursuit. I've had two race teams, ahh. . . hell, make that 3 as I campaigned a 4-4-2 Oldsmobile that had a lot of success in 1970, and I've had a LOT of fun, won a lot of money . . but never came close to breaking even.
No motorcycle company in the world . . .that includes Ducati, Aprilia, MV Agusta and Norton . . . has the racing heritage that Harley-Davidson does and a significant amount of HD racing occurred at the dealer level, not the factory. |
P_squared
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 09:26 am: |
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But, the dealers are NOT racing specialists
That's a blanket statement. Some might even believe that statement based upon their interaction with THEIR particular dealer.
However, if you ever make your way to Summit Point, WV for an ASRA/CCS race, you might be pleasantly surprised by the HD/Buell DEALER trailers you'll find at that event.
Jdugger, I'll give you that the local dealers HERE are not as race focused/knowledgeable as 1 might like, but that's not true for ALL dealers.
Don't believe me, talk to Joe (Ratbuell) about HD/BUELL of Frederick & their support for Brian B. Or you can ask Tom (Tnxbrider - Tom Bumpus of Bumpus HD/Buell) about his 1125R race bike. Or look at Hal's race parts. Or talk to Chris (Odinbueller - Liberty HD/Buell). The list goes on.  |
Clarkjw
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 09:35 am: |
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When was the last time Harley raced sportbikes in a road race?
TY. |
P_squared
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 09:44 am: |
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When was the last time Harley BUILT sportbikes?
Plenty of dirt track, drag & LSR racing going on by Harley today.
I think they're better off letting Buell handle the road racing, don't you?
Again, the point is that there ARE dealers out there RACING. It's foolish to use a broad brush stroke by making blanket statements based on experience with a limited # of dealers. |
Jdugger
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 09:50 am: |
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If I need to, I'll be happy to do some research on the percentage of HD dealers with racing programs vs. those without.
What percentage of dealers will I find?
I didn't say "none" of the dealers had racing experience. I said HD dealers aren't racing specialists. They sell bikes and lifestyle.
OF COURSE there are exceptions, but as a general rule, if you walk into an HD shop and start talking road racing, you are going to get a lot of blank stares. The guy that sold me my bike is an ex-racer, but he's the only one in the dealership with that experience, and he makes almost all of his income selling touring cruisers... what do you think he knows best?
Most people go to work to make a living. And, as you articulated, racing ain't where much money is made, but a lot is lost.
To get back to the original comments about suspension, and provide a data point: My dealer is owned by a HD dealership conglomerate. They own dealerships through Texas and Arizona, as well as other states. Honestly, I'm very pleased with them overall.
But, I found out I'm the VERY FIRST customer to ever have them replace or service the cartridges in the forks. This is something that happens on just about every race bike and certainly any stock bike right out of the crate! In fact, the dealer didn't even stock fork seals or even fork oil!!! I had to go over to the local race tech dealer and pick up fluids and seals for them.
I'd do the work myself, but for a long story the forks will already be off the bike and it doesn't make sense to pay them to put the forks back on only to take them off as soon as I get the bike home.
In all fairness, I suspect the local Honda shop would be no better off. But, again, I think it's a function of the nature of the dealership business more than anything else.
Court, I love your passion for the HD/Buell brand, but let's be realistic. Profitability is probably the #1 thing that matters to a dealership: Many are relatively small businesses, and need to run a respectably tight ship. That's OK. But, like you point attention to, the dealers that are involved are in it for love, not for profit, and that very fact means a much smaller number of them will participate. |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 09:56 am: |
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When was the last time Harley raced sportbikes in a road race?
2001. Recent enough?
"THE REBIRTH OF A LEGENDARY TEAM
In 1994, Harley-Davidson returned to the top level of professional road racing with the VR 1000 Superbike Race Team. Despite memorable performances during its eight-year run, including a pole position in 1996 and podium finishes by Pascal Picotte in 1999, Harley-Davidson concluded in 2001 that the VR 1000 was at the end of its development cycle and was no longer competitive in the AMA Superbike series. While the program was ended following the 2001 season, the VR 1000 Superbike racing program helped Harley-Davidson develop and refine technologies such as liquid-cooling and electronic fuel injection. The program also led to the development Harley-Davidson's first production liquid-cooled motorcycle, the 2002 VRSCA V-Rod."
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Andros
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 10:42 am: |
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Sorry that was crude of me, and a bit one dimensional. BUT at least here in Denmark 9 out of 10 people who ride Harleys are 300 lbs plus 50-70 year old men who like cruising our freeways not fit speedfreaks who want to ride hard... and our dealerships reflect that, thats a fact. |
Chadhargis
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 11:29 am: |
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Damn, ya'll hijacked my thread! |
Ccryder
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 11:51 am: |
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Damn, it happens to the nicest Buelligans too LOL.
This weekend is looking prime, any time for a ride?
Later |
Bigblock
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 02:41 pm: |
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One of the funnest, safest and FASTEST guys I ride with, is a retired 74 year old jet mechanic, and he ain't skinny.
He rides an R1. Well.
Don't ASSume age or weight equals incompetence, slowness or a lack of passion. |
Chadhargis
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 03:09 pm: |
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ccryder,
Weather is looking nice. Low 80's and sunny.
You can bet that I'll be out riding. |
Ccryder
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 04:18 pm: |
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Saturday or Sunday I have to go to the Wilson Co Fair. DO you want to ride Saturday or Sunday AM? Maybe head up NE of me around Dale Hollow 52-53-85 oh my, my!! |
Chadhargis
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 05:13 pm: |
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Oh...I seem to remember my wife telling me something was going on Saturday, so I'll have to check my social schedule.
Sunday I have to get churched up....so I wouldn't be able to leave till mid morning.
Saturday would work best, just have to make sure the boss doesn't have me scheduled for babysitting duty or something. |
Ccryder
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 05:29 pm: |
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Almost a plan. Mine are easier to alter than yours, so let me know. |
Chadhargis
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - 06:09 pm: |
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Will do. |
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