Suspension issues

4116 Views 8 Replies 5 Participants Last post by RidingRonin, Mar 26, 2016

Phil_B

Discussion Starter · Mar 26, 2016

Seems there's people with good knowledge on here....

First thing, I'm a small bloke, only 140-145lbs. When I get on the bike there's hardly any movement at all, I've set the preload on the rear to the lowest setting.

Here's the issues...

Rear - As said, very little sag when I mount the bike. While riding small bumps are ok, medium to large bumps and I'm being pushed out the seat.

Front - Pretty much as the rear, but obviously it's my hands/arms that are taking the impact. Smooth road cornering is ok, get a corner with bumps and the front is very skittish.

I'm not even at the stage where I'm pushing the bike and my cornering confidence is low. I find I'm backing off and keeping myself more upright.

Pretty sure it's not a tyre problem, as I feel the bump as the bike has it's 'moment'. My guess is the suspension is just too hard for a lightweight rider.

Any thoughts?

Save

1 - 9 of 9 Posts

Endopotential

· #2 · Mar 26, 2016

Just to cover the simplest of possibilities, any chance that the preload is actually set to the max hardest setting?
Easy to get mistaken, as the notches aren't numbered.

Looking at the bike from the left side, twisting the collar clockwise / towards the front will decrease preload.

I'm about 155lbs and with the preload at the second notch, I get about 30mm of sag sitting on it. Makes for a soft ride, but I do wish there was adjustment for the rebound.

Save

Phil_B

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 26, 2016

I'm 99% sure I've gone the right way, as I had no movement at all on the rear when I bought the bike. Now I get some, but not much.

Save

Endopotential

· #4 · Mar 26, 2016

Time to fatten you up! More kidney pie, or bangers and mash, or whatever you blokes eat on the other side of the pond!

Hmm, that's a bummer, as I keep reading the R3 is ideal for guys our weight.
Shouldn't be an issue for a new bike, but are the pivots for the swingarm well lubricated? If you put a heavier friend on it, can you get more sag? Maybe you just got a defectively stiff spring.

Save

RidingRonin

· #5 · Mar 26, 2016

I hated the stock rear shock at first. I found that bumps were very hard, and it became quite soft at higher speed. I think this is because most of the suspension is in the spring, and not much compression rebound, so at higher speed it becomes a bit squishy whilst its really firm at lower speeds. I found that the back liked to hop around a lot going fast into a corner, and like you I found it a bit intimidating.

Changing tyres greatly helped the hopping, so if you're on stock tyres swap 'em out.

I'm very used to my bike now, and the shock doesn't bother me much at all. I know exactly where it's limits are and when the back is hopping too much. You can control it with practice very well.

It would be nice to have compression rebound adjustment though, so I might invest in the YSS shock to test it out. Honestly though, just get miles under your belt and get a good feel for how hard you can push the bike and yourself, just get yourself there gently.

I can't say I've ever had a problem with the front, and I do push my bike hard regularly. It could be better, sure, but I've had no issues, except maybe for the dive under heavy braking, but again it's a quirk you can get used to.

See less See more

Save

Kojiiro

· #6 · Mar 26, 2016 (Edited)

RidingRonin said:
I hated the stock rear shock at first. I found that bumps were very hard, and it became quite soft at higher speed. I think this is because most of the suspension is in the spring, and not much compression rebound, so at higher speed it becomes a bit squishy whilst its really firm at lower speeds. I found that the back liked to hop around a lot going fast into a corner, and like you I found it a bit intimidating.

Changing tyres greatly helped the hopping, so if you're on stock tyres swap 'em out.

I'm very used to my bike now, and the shock doesn't bother me much at all. I know exactly where it's limits are and when the back is hopping too much. You can control it with practice very well.

It would be nice to have compression rebound adjustment though, so I might invest in the YSS shock to test it out. Honestly though, just get miles under your belt and get a good feel for how hard you can push the bike and yourself, just get yourself there gently.

I can't say I've ever had a problem with the front, and I do push my bike hard regularly. It could be better, sure, but I've had no issues, except maybe for the dive under heavy braking, but again it's a quirk you can get used to.

By compression rebound, do you mean compression and rebound?

Op: I'm in your weight range and haven't had a prob compressing the rear. Set it in the middle and see if you can compress it. While on the side stand, push down on the seat a few times.

Just to add, if you don't "feel" the bike saggi g, doesn't mean it didn't actually sag. Try to actually measure it's sag with a yard stick or whatever.

Save

Phil_B

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 26, 2016

Endopotential said:
Time to fatten you up! More kidney pie, or bangers and mash, or whatever you blokes eat on the other side of the pond!

Made me laugh! Love bangers and mash haha

I can live with the rear, it could be better but understand it's budget suspension. Never had any cornering issues with it, it's more the front. It's just an odd occasion, unpredictable, I've felt like the bike was going down the road. Maybe I'm pushing harder then I think. Just think it feels a little hard all round.

Save

CBRpilot

· #8 · Mar 26, 2016

I am 155lbs, and I have no real issues with the suspension other than it being a little soft when riding aggressively.
I DO have a problem with the TIRES. As so many before me have said.... the tires do not inspire confidence!

Save

RidingRonin

· #9 · Mar 26, 2016

Kojiiro said:
By compression rebound, do you mean compression and rebound?

Op: I'm in your weight range and haven't had a prob compressing the rear. Set it in the middle and see if you can compress it. While on the side stand, push down on the seat a few times.

Just to add, if you don't "feel" the bike saggi g, doesn't mean it didn't actually sag. Try to actually measure it's sag with a yard stick or whatever.

Yes I did, my tablet keypad plays up, that should have had a forward slash between them.

Save

1 - 9 of 9 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month