Importance of setting up suspension for street rider?

[nwills]

I've read many threads about setting up the suspension and with my limited knowledge it seems a little complicated.

From what I understand the bike ships from factory setup for a 80Kg/182Lbs rider. I'm 6" and 184Lbs.

I'm an average rider and don't track. I like to hit it hard on back roads and most of the time ride between spirited or regular urban slow/medium pace.

Should I really make this a priority? Is it crucial I get my suspension setup to help with things like a tank slapper at high speeds or better overall handling from the bike under hard riding (on back roads not track).

From what I can tell this far with around 800 miles on the bike...the suspension feels pretty good overall.....I haven't noticed any issues while riding over bumpy surfaces etc...

[bens1000rr]

Originally Posted by nwills

I've read many threads about setting up the suspension and with my limited knowledge it seems a little complicated.

From what I understand the bike ships from factory setup for a 80Kg/182Lbs rider. I'm 6" and 184Lbs.

I'm an average rider and don't track. I like to hit it hard on back roads and most of the time ride between spirited or regular urban slow/medium pace.

Should I really make this a priority? Is it crucial I get my suspension setup to help with things like a tank slapper at high speeds or better overall handling from the bike under hard riding (on back roads not track).

From what I can tell this far with around 800 miles on the bike...the suspension feels pretty good overall.....I haven't noticed any issues while riding over bumpy surfaces etc...

with your height and weight i dont think you need to do any mods, specially if it already feels great

[kevin_stevens]

Originally Posted by nwills

I've read many threads about setting up the suspension and with my limited knowledge it seems a little complicated.

From what I understand the bike ships from factory setup for a 80Kg/182Lbs rider. I'm 6" and 184Lbs.

I'm an average rider and don't track. I like to hit it hard on back roads and most of the time ride between spirited or regular urban slow/medium pace.

Should I really make this a priority? Is it crucial I get my suspension setup to help with things like a tank slapper at high speeds or better overall handling from the bike under hard riding (on back roads not track).

From what I can tell this far with around 800 miles on the bike...the suspension feels pretty good overall.....I haven't noticed any issues while riding over bumpy surfaces etc...

No.

But you paid for adjustable suspension, and you might as well use it; just like you would probably use the driver's seat adjustments on a new car.

Suspension's primary role is to keep the wheels firmly in contact with the ground under as many conditions as possible, but comfort and personal handling preference are certainly secondary functions. But if you're happy, be happy.

KeS

[HyperM3]

Sometimes ignorance is bliss. Im not saying that as an attack, Im saying it as Im in the same boat.

I have been riding my bike for about a year now and I thought the suspension was perfectly set from the dealer....until I rode a bike that had its suspension set up correctly.

Granted, that suspension was dialed in for that rider, but I could feel little differences that made me more aware of "communication" from the bike feeling the road. When i got back on my bike, I was disappointed. Because of that I started a thread in the suspension section.

That being said, Im going to head over to a reputable shop and have the suspension set up for me. I too only do street riding, no track, but I want to feel safer on the street as well.

[Motif]

YES! it is important...Bike will behave 110% more different after a tune

[A.B.]

at the very least you should set up the sags.

[AMRRA12]

i will say this until I’m blue in the face "suspension is the MOST important mod you can ever do" then tires is #2


IMO
exhaust is a waste of money
bling is a waste of money

[Fungus Amongus]

Originally Posted by AMRRA12

i will say this until I’m blue in the face "suspension is the MOST important mod you can ever do" then tires is #2


IMO
exhaust is a waste of money
bling is a waste of money

Ding ding ding ding ding! Winning.

When you start fiddling with your setup, you will begin to understand what the settings do. You will be much happier not only knowing how to set her up, but how good she feels when you start getting close to a setting you like.

Horsepower=a couple bikelengths in acceleration in a straight line
Bling=people who don't know think it looks cool
Suspension=comfort + confidence and more than a couple bikelengths when the road isn't straight (even when it's straight, too)
Knowledge=priceless

[siglite]

Originally Posted by AMRRA12

i will say this until I’m blue in the face "suspension is the MOST important mod you can ever do" then tires is #2


IMO
exhaust is a waste of money
bling is a waste of money

Ding ding ding, we have a winner.

My bike came from the factory all wrong. Unfortunately, it's STILL that way. It's too stiff, the preloads are not even, and it see-saws/wallows in the corners. These problems certainly reduce grip by altering the pressure of the contact patch on the road while it's acting goofy, and they have a much more dangerous effect. They erode my confidence at the apex. If I didn't have the experience I do, while the bike's wallowing around in the corner because the sag/preload and compression damping haven't been properly set up, I might be tempted to put inputs into the steering or throttle. Those inputs would probably magnify the problem, or worse, introduce a new and more severe one.

I plan to set my sag and start doing suspension adjustments tomorrow. All of my issues will smooth out. Normally, I can get it pretty close for street riding with a couple of adjustments once the sag is set. Adjust, go ride, adjust, good to go.

Going through this process is critical. You're not riding a Harley DynaGlide. You're riding an ultra high-performance race machine. It came to you from the factory with six-way adjustable suspension for a reason.

[nwills]

ok then....sounds like this is something I really should do if I wanna get the best out of my bike's handling...

I guess I can find a shop in the city that can set my sag for me....but when it comes to the suspension settings....isn't that something that gets done only to the rider's taste.

Can someone actually setup your suspension without being the same weight, riding your bike and knowing exactly what you're looking for?

Honestly...I'm not sure I would know what to tweak in my suspension. No one needs to insult me here but the truth is I'm not connected enough to the bike or lack technical riding skill to truly determine I need to do (abc) to achieve (xyz)...maybe I'm not technical enough of a rider to require my suspension to be setup?

Can someone else setup my sag and suspension for optimal handling in day to day conditions?