Suspension

[gregs656]

The front end on my bike feels overly hard, and is not 100% planted because of it. It skipped out this afternoon on a corner with several small drain covers on, it's a shite corner but i've never had a bike step out like that. Any suggestions?

cheers

[TonyDevil]

too much preload?

avoid drain covers

[youngy]

wow....erm normally people complain about the front end being too soft.

were you pottering or cornering hard? if you were cornering hard you may have found the limitations of damper rod forks.

when you say skipped out, do you mean the forks locked up? or slid on a drain cover?

[slow codger]

Its not an import is it?, If not I have some very nice soft Japanese special springs, guaranteed to find the bottom of the damper rods and springs.

Dave E

[gregs656]

I mean the front tyre stepped out, enough for me to feel it. I Wasn't really going for it, noticed it on just general riding as well, going over bumps in the road etc. They don't seem to give much at all, they're a lot harder than the forks on any of my previous bikes, and the forks on the 400 were set up for the track. It guess it might be too much preload.I know this is opposite of the norm, i'll get used to it but it's a bit disconcerting.

Also, Martin, coming up to 300 miles, when I reach it, do you think it's worth stepping the 'limit' up to say 6.5k for a hundred miles or so? Or should everything have bed in nicely? O and what oil did you use, i'll keep it on the same stuff.

[youngy]

don't know about the suspension then. preload was set to standard. you could maybe back off the rebound a click - that may soften it a little. I thought it handled and tracked really nicely when I rode it.

might be a good idea to run it like you say. I used a 10w40 semi synthetic oil in it. I don't think it's worth running an expensive fully synth in these things.

[steve speed]

this is going to be tricky ,,,if the forks have std springs in them and its not using its full travel its likely there is too much oil in the forks ,you cannot when changing your fork oil put back a quantity , it has to be a air gap the std fork damping is no more than holes in a plate which you select on the rebound adjuster ,which doesnt do a lot, so the best way of adjustment on the std forks is oil weight and air gap and springs , and the springs are only changed if you cant get your static sag correct , if its jumping about and is not compliant this points to too much compression damping , this you cannot adjust , you have to change the oil weight or the air gap or both , i got sick to death of trying to get the std forks to perform how i wanted so i changed them for the R1 and Evan these need £200 for a re valve ps if your going to change forks don't get 1998/2002,, later ones are much better 2003 on had proper shim stacks

[youngy]

oil level is correct. 140mm air gap. it was fine for me when I rode it.

[steve speed]

then perhaps its just the shiite road , i know Ive never been able to dial out everything ,,what grade of oil did you use ?

[gregs656]

maybe i was just spoiled with the 400, with out riding another one i'll never know. I trust Martins judgment with this bike, if he thinks it was right, it's right. Steve i've been looking at the R1 forks, It will be done eventually I feel.

Will do with the running in, I've now done 300 miles.

[steve speed]

your next problem is that later forks are shorter,,, i do have a spare set of R1 forks that have been serviced no yokes though if your interested

[gregs656]

I can't at the moment, really need to get a new skid lid before I do anything else. How much will you be looking for, just out of interest? they don't seem to fetch extortionate amounts.

[steve speed]

I can't at the moment, really need to get a new skid lid before I do anything else. How much will you be looking for, just out of interest? they don't seem to fetch extortionate amounts.

YOU HAVE A PM

[youngy]

then perhaps its just the shiite road , i know Ive never been able to dial out everything ,,what grade of oil did you use ?

10w

greg i think you're just discovering the joys of damper rod forks

[Kevtrx849]

Hi Greg, i don't think anyone mentioned it but try adjusting your tyre pressures. Sounds like the forks are sorted so must be pressures i would think.