Need help with adjusting the suspension....

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08'Bullet

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I have searched the forums and found some great information on adjusting the suspension settings but I need some newbie help here.

I have the 08'AE.....Im a big fellow...6'4, 360lbs.

I need some advice on what suspension settings need to be made, how and where to do it. I bought a Tech Manual and have pored over it but don't know which way to adjust, and do I adjust the front or back or both?

The problem I'm having is the front end hits bump's like a brick. It makes the dash rattle even on small bumps. YES I checked to make sure nothing on the dash was loose.

The front end also feels like it wants to loose grip in the turns to. I am really hoping someone will help a newb out and tell me how to start making some adjustments till I can get it tuned in.....

 
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The "search" feature (upper right, below the 6 motorcycles) is your friend.

Here's a decent starting point for someone almost exactly half your weight:

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=14779

And another from a guy much closer to your weight

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?s...ront+suspension

This is from the bin o'facts https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?s...60&hl=facts

Suspension

(NOT checked for '06, but recommended for '03 - '05)

Front preload: Many like 2 to 2.5 rings showing per Warchild

From SportRider, the complete article and tuning guide Clicky

Front spring compression (lines showing): SR:2, WC:2-2.5, JA:2

Rebound clicks out SR:4 JA:6

Compression clicks out SR:7 JA:8

Rear preload - SR:Hard JA:Hard

Rear Rebound clicks out SR:3 JA:6

(rear compression is not adjustable on stock shock)

SR - Sport Rider recommendation

WC - Warchild info

JA - JeffAshe settings JeffAshe clicky

Spring rates and conversions (Thanks FJRFencer):

1 N/mm = 5.724 lb/in (springrate)

1 N-m(torque) = 8.85 lb-in (torque)

From Lee At Traxxion

There are two shock springs on the Gen1 and Gen2 FJR.

Specific to Lee's experience with the '05 (Gen1) and '06 (Gen2):

(Gen 1) '05 has a short 1400 lb/in spring AND a longer 670 lb spring.

On the soft setting, the two springs are used in series and provide a 440 lb/inch rating.

On the hard setting, the short spring is locked out and the single 670 lb spring is used.

(Gen II) '06 has a short 1800 lbs/inch spring AND the same 670 lb longer rate spring as the Gen I.

Learned from testing and measuring the (Gen II) '06 shock: The soft setting was upped from the Gen I to make it more useful to a wider range of riders while the hard setting was left unchanged from Gen I.

(Physical dimensions were exactly the same on the '05 Gen 1 and the '06 Gen II)

Good luck,

RsvlFeej

 
RsvlFeej.....thanks for the reply, I have seen that information you pasted in but my main problem is not knowing if the issues I'm having is from to hard of a setting or to soft.....

If it's to hard of a setting, where from? Front or back? or vice versa with the settings being to soft.....

I hate being a noob at this but everyone has to learn sometimes....suspension adjustments and what all the different suspension components actually do seem to be rocket science at this point....

 
RsvlFeej.....thanks for the reply, I have seen that information you pasted in but my main problem is not knowing if the issues I'm having is from to hard of a setting or to soft.....
If it's to hard of a setting, where from? Front or back? or vice versa with the settings being to soft.....

I hate being a noob at this but everyone has to learn sometimes....suspension adjustments and what all the different suspension components actually do seem to be rocket science at this point....
Oh. Sorry. I misinterpreted. I'll find out how the REAL suspension guys do aftermarket settings next Wednesday :yahoo:

But, I started where you are with my '05, so I'll try to think back...

1) Check your tire pressure with a good gauge. As heavy as you are, I'd think 42 PSI front and rear (I run 41 - 41.5F and 42R) would be close. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP - your tires can make or break the ride - as you'll find when you replace your first worn set with new rubber - you get a new bike every 4 -5K miles.

2) Go for a ride so the ride feeling is fresh in your mind, then turn the knurled knob on the bottom of the rear shock all the way in - clockwise [CW] (gently near the end) and back it off 10 -12 clicks AND set the Hard/Soft lever to "Hard", then go for a ride. After that, set your front end to the settings advised by cdogman

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?s...ront+suspension as a starting point, then go for a ride.

I know on my '05 the rear shock came from the factory adjusted ALL the way out, so I was constantly bottoming out (side stand, pegs, center stand, even the pipes would hit occasionally). The front damping and rebound were set way too light also - from the clean area on my forks, I could see that I was using almost all the available travel. The dealership thought I had bottomed so hard once that it broke my front fender. I did hit an ABS bolt on my SuperBrace before they redesigned the brace for more clearance.

I run 1 1/2 or 2 lines (knurled adjuster visible at the top of each fork - CW = harder suspension) spring preload - adjust both forks evenly.

Can't remember what I set compression damping at - 11 clicks out from full, maybe? Damping is set with a screw on the lower back of each fork, I think the first screw above where the hub hooks to the forks. Again, adjust both forks evenly.

Here's a primer I just put together based on a Wilbers troubleshooting table:

Front shock

Jolting ride, front wheel tends to hop

Compression damping too high

Fork springs too hard

Front end dips fast/far when braking

Compression damping too soft

Slow rebound, steers poorly in ess curves and over bumps

Rebound damping too high

Chatters after bump, wanders in corners

Rebound damping too low

Sluggish suspension movement, tends to hop, wanders in corners

Rebound and compression too high

Rear shock

Rear wheel hop, bumps jolt entire chassis, may have headshake when accelerating

Compression damping too high

Rear wheel chatter on bumpy surfaces

Compression damping too low

Turns easily, but twitchy feel. Rear wheel hop, suspension doesn't compress much

Spring preload (hard/soft lever) too high

Compression damping too high

Bike bottoms out, hops on bumps, can't maintain line in esses

Spring preload much too low or spring too hard

Compression damping too low

On multiple bumps, rear compresses early, then stays hard and hops.

Rebound damping too hard

Steers poorly in bumpy curves, going downhill, or as lean angle changes

Rebound damping too soft

Suspension movements magnified in curves and over bumps

Compression and rebound damping too high

Hope this helps.

 
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I have the 08'AE.....Im a big fellow...6'4, 360lbs.
The problem I'm having is the front end hits bump's like a brick. It makes the dash rattle even on small bumps. YES I checked to make sure nothing on the dash was loose.

The front end also feels like it wants to loose grip in the turns to. I am really hoping someone will help a newb out and tell me how to start making some adjustments till I can get it tuned in.....
The suspension settings for a solo rider of 360lbs is different from the suspension settings for a rider and passenger with a combined weight of 360lbs. While you might be able to find a shock setting that would work, the OEM fork springs are too light for your weight even if you max out the preload. Talk to a good suspension shop (GP Suspension would be a good starting point) or go to Racetech's website (to see what they recommend for your weight) and get some heavier springs before you waste a lot of time trying to find the right damping settings.

 
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RsvlFeej.....thanks for the reply, I have seen that information you pasted in but my main problem is not knowing if the issues I'm having is from to hard of a setting or to soft.....
If it's to hard of a setting, where from? Front or back? or vice versa with the settings being to soft.....

I hate being a noob at this but everyone has to learn sometimes....suspension adjustments and what all the different suspension components actually do seem to be rocket science at this point....
I have been having the same problems with my 06, i am 5'10 and 250 and all I can say is ready the owners manual and go trial and error till it feels right. At first I set mine to almost as firm as possible and the ride absolutely sucked and then I backed off to just a little more than stock and it is much better. A friend has penskes aftermarket and his ride is very nice but at this time I am unwilling to spend that kind of money. good luck and you will get it. Everett

 
RsvlFeej.....thanks for the reply, I have seen that information you pasted in but my main problem is not knowing if the issues I'm having is from to hard of a setting or to soft.....
If it's to hard of a setting, where from? Front or back? or vice versa with the settings being to soft.....

I hate being a noob at this but everyone has to learn sometimes....suspension adjustments and what all the different suspension components actually do seem to be rocket science at this point....
Oh. Sorry. I misinterpreted. I'll find out how the REAL suspension guys do aftermarket settings next Wednesday :yahoo:

But, I started where you are with my '05, so I'll try to think back...

1) Check your tire pressure with a good gauge. As heavy as you are, I'd think 42 PSI front and rear (I run 41 - 41.5F and 42R) would be close. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP - your tires can make or break the ride - as you'll find when you replace your first worn set with new rubber - you get a new bike every 4 -5K miles.

2) Go for a ride so the ride feeling is fresh in your mind, then turn the knurled knob on the bottom of the rear shock all the way in - clockwise [CW] (gently near the end) and back it off 10 -12 clicks AND set the Hard/Soft lever to "Hard", then go for a ride. After that, set your front end to the settings advised by cdogman

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?s...ront+suspension as a starting point, then go for a ride.

I know on my '05 the rear shock came from the factory adjusted ALL the way out, so I was constantly bottoming out (side stand, pegs, center stand, even the pipes would hit occasionally). The front damping and rebound were set way too light also - from the clean area on my forks, I could see that I was using almost all the available travel. The dealership thought I had bottomed so hard once that it broke my front fender. I did hit an ABS bolt on my SuperBrace before they redesigned the brace for more clearance.

I run 1 1/2 or 2 lines (knurled adjuster visible at the top of each fork - CW = harder suspension) spring preload - adjust both forks evenly.

Can't remember what I set compression damping at - 11 clicks out from full, maybe? Damping is set with a screw on the lower back of each fork, I think the first screw above where the hub hooks to the forks. Again, adjust both forks evenly.

Here's a primer I just put together based on a Wilbers troubleshooting table:

Front shock

Jolting ride, front wheel tends to hop

Compression damping too high

Fork springs too hard

Front end dips fast/far when braking

Compression damping too soft

Slow rebound, steers poorly in ess curves and over bumps

Rebound damping too high

Chatters after bump, wanders in corners

Rebound damping too low

Sluggish suspension movement, tends to hop, wanders in corners

Rebound and compression too high

Rear shock

Rear wheel hop, bumps jolt entire chassis, may have headshake when accelerating

Compression damping too high

Rear wheel chatter on bumpy surfaces

Compression damping too low

Turns easily, but twitchy feel. Rear wheel hop, suspension doesn't compress much

Spring preload (hard/soft lever) too high

Compression damping too high

Bike bottoms out, hops on bumps, can't maintain line in esses

Spring preload much too low or spring too hard

Compression damping too low

On multiple bumps, rear compresses early, then stays hard and hops.

Rebound damping too hard

Steers poorly in bumpy curves, going downhill, or as lean angle changes

Rebound damping too soft

Suspension movements magnified in curves and over bumps

Compression and rebound damping too high

Hope this helps.


Ahaaa....that is exactly the type of information I was needing to know....thanks a bunch.....I will try some of it and let you know how it's going!

 
i think you will find success. i had front end chatter and i had dialed in TOO MUCH preload and not enough damping on the forks.i dont know why people recommend adding preload to the front forks for heavier weight, because my weight preloads the forks just fine, and so i needed less preload for my size. (well over 250lbs) and more damping.

 
Okay folks I had a chance to do some adjusting today and thought I would update everyone.

Pre load is at 3, Rebound Dampening is 12 and compression dampening is 15. I also made the 1" higher seat adjustment.

All I have to say is WOW! Feels like a completely different bike.

 
Okay folks I had a chance to do some adjusting today and thought I would update everyone.
Pre load is at 3, Rebound Dampening is 12 and compression dampening is 15. I also made the 1" higher seat adjustment.

All I have to say is WOW! Feels like a completely different bike.
I hope you have all that backwards!!!???

The number of clicks counted, is Counter-clockwise from the fully-closed/full-clockwise position.

If you weigh 360 lbs. and are running rebound and dampening at 12/15 clicks, you are about to set a new standard for scraping grooves in pavement!!!

 
Okay folks I had a chance to do some adjusting today and thought I would update everyone.
Pre load is at 3, Rebound Dampening is 12 and compression dampening is 15. I also made the 1" higher seat adjustment.

All I have to say is WOW! Feels like a completely different bike.
I hope you have all that backwards!!!???

The number of clicks counted, is Counter-clockwise from the fully-closed/full-clockwise position.

If you weigh 360 lbs. and are running rebound and dampening at 12/15 clicks, you are about to set a new standard for scraping grooves in pavement!!!

hmmmm, don't think so.

I fully closed the knob and screw (clock wise) then counted how many clicks I went back out (counter clock wise). The knob turned 12 clicks out and the screw 15 clicks out

from the fully closed position.

 
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Okay folks I had a chance to do some adjusting today and thought I would update everyone.
Pre load is at 3, Rebound Dampening is 12 and compression dampening is 15. I also made the 1" higher seat adjustment.

All I have to say is WOW! Feels like a completely different bike.
I hope you have all that backwards!!!???

The number of clicks counted, is Counter-clockwise from the fully-closed/full-clockwise position.

If you weigh 360 lbs. and are running rebound and dampening at 12/15 clicks, you are about to set a new standard for scraping grooves in pavement!!!

hmmmm, don't think so.

I fully closed the knob and screw (clock wise) then counted how many clicks I went back out (counter clock wise). The knob turned 12 clicks out and the screw 15 clicks out

from the fully closed position.
You'll know real quick if your settings are too soft because the bike will wallow up and down like '76 Cadillac and it'll feel uncertain through turns. Ideally, your preload front and rear should match so that when you hit a dip, the bike goes down and up evenly, not with a pogo feeling that happens when one's too soft in relation to the other end.

This is a sweet handling bike but it can be a handful if the suspension isn't set up right, and that will take some time and experimenting.

I wonder if the engineers at Yamaha thought that most people in the world weighed 160 lbs. (my weight) when they designed the suspension. I hardly had to make any changes at all (2 clicks firmer on rebound at the rear and front) to make mine perfect....for me. I'm even tempted to go about 2 lbs. less on tire pressure front and rear; the recommended pressures gives a bit of a harsh ride.

 
After riding almost 100 miles (straights and twisties) I still feel like the adjustments I made feel really good compared to what it was when I started this thread.

When I first started adjusting I had the set up at 3 lines, 10 clicks, and 10 clicks......

It was so hard that I had severe problems holding a line in a curve and once swung all the way over into the oncoming lane and onto the grass shoulder.

I almost lost it when a couple of mail boxes on the side of the road came at me. Luckily I got the bike back onto pavement and across over into the correct lane.

I got home and set it to where it's at now and the bike rides great!

 
I seriously thought about leaving this one alone. I know I SHOULD, but...

First, if you are 6-4 and 360 lbs., you could pound my a$$ into the pavement. But you need to hear the gospel according to, well... me!!!

The FJR like most Jap bikes, was designed around a typical male, which the Jap engineers believe is 5'10" tall and weighs 165 lbs. Compression/Rebound clickers set at 10/10 is very close to stock setups. At 360 lbs. you would have to be 4'0" tall to be anywhere close to working with that range.

If suspension settings are causing you to overshoot corners badly enough to be dodging mailboxes, please do us all (and especially yourself) a favor and slow down. Slow down long enough to take your bike to a suspension specialist and get it set up for your size.

I KNOW that three lines of front preload and 12/15 compression/rebound on stock springs and valves AIN'T IT!!!

 
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Listen to Deacon Ashe -- after fighting with the suspension on my 05, I finally ended up dead on his recommendations on my 05. The 08 got set the same from the get-go.

I found the sport rider settings to be WAY too harsh for normal consumption.

 
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