Bottoming out??
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Extend your forks completely and measure from the bottom of the fork tube to the top of the seal. Then check against the listed Max fork travel in the manual. That'll let you know where bottom is.
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Zip-tie in front fork should be banned, because it causes much more problems than bottoming out...
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Because reaction to zip-tie-position is usually something random like this:
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I believe that came from Dave Moss (not random). It's certainly not a hard fast rule, but it's a quick way to see that you are in the approximate range of suspension function.
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Sometimes Dave Moss gives good info, sometimes bad info. That 80% vs 20% is really bad info.
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I'm (We're) listening....?
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First you should understand what is "bottom out", and how long and why and where the front end bottoms out.
If the front end bottoms out, and front end/ front wheel of the bike stays on a straight (or constant) line, bottom out is no problem.
If the front end bottoms out too much/ too long, front end/ front wheel starts to act like a snake, and goes from side to side.
In both cases front end uses 100% of its total suspension travel.
This is the first time I've heard of bottoming out being ok or not a problem? If there's 80mm of total travel for example; all 80 may not be within a working range correct?
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DUH,What did he just say ??
Skydivr,I and any suspension Tech will agree that the simplest way to determine fork travel without electrical means of measuring fork travel while riding is a Zip-tie.
It is a basic bare bones way to monitor fork travel.
Think of it as a Data Recorder.
Frankenthe3rd's static measurement is helpful but,how much fork travel is being used under heavy braking and how much suspension travel is used while road or track riding the motorcycle ?
Skydivr,I and any suspension Tech will agree that the simplest way to determine fork travel without electrical means of measuring fork travel while riding is a Zip-tie.
It is a basic bare bones way to monitor fork travel.
Think of it as a Data Recorder.
Frankenthe3rd's static measurement is helpful but,how much fork travel is being used under heavy braking and how much suspension travel is used while road or track riding the motorcycle ?
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Well, then we should first agree if we are talking about some random stock street suspension or stock track suspension or OPs suspension or what...?
We're talking about the stock OEM suspension on my 2011 S1kRR that the manual says has 120mm of fork travel and I use exclusively on the track.
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Zip tie does not tell you where and why and how long front end bottomed out, so do not think of it as a Data Recorder.
Any any reasoned suspension Tech will tell you that.
Zip tie will only give you one and only info: Front end bottomed out somewhere, for some reason, for some totally unknown period of time.
And if you are using Frankenthe3rd's measurement, remember to press down the front wheel in case of top out spring keeping the last millimeters hidden/ to get the actual total length of the front fork.
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Do you have hydraulic bottom out locks in it or not?
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It does not matter what type of suspension being used.
Question,how much of the 120mm of fork travel is being used on any given day, on any given track,on any given lap ??????.
Are the forks chattering upon corner entry,is the front end pushing through the corner,are you unable to make the motorcycle complete the corner. Does the front end dive while braking ?????
That's What I'm Talking About
Question,how much of the 120mm of fork travel is being used on any given day, on any given track,on any given lap ??????.
Are the forks chattering upon corner entry,is the front end pushing through the corner,are you unable to make the motorcycle complete the corner. Does the front end dive while braking ?????
That's What I'm Talking About
Thx for all of the replies guys. It wasn't my intent to start a heated debate on the value of zip-ties use to determine fork travel. I just wanted to know if I was bottoming out or not. The best way to ask that question here and get useful information was with an image showing how much travel i've used. At this point I don't care why, how or for how long, all I wanted to know is, if it was or wasn't. Based on info here, I'm not bottoming out but, i'm getting close. I'll recheck my sag settings then make the appropriate adjustments. Thx again guys!
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