Pre load and damping

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Cabernet
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Re: Pre load and damping

Post by Cabernet » 09 Jul 2015, 22:44

Dave_W wrote:No advanced stuff. No track days etc. Riding 10 years now. My tyres don't have good reviews so moving to pilot 4s when I've worn my way through this set.

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Spending money on your suspension "might" fix your issue, but just on this bike.

Spending money on checking out your riding, any improvement will work on all the bikes you may ride and possibly fix this issue too.

10 years might sound a long time.
I was doing it wrong for 22 years and 400,000 miles and got my IAM ticket before I met the rider that sorted me out. I had learned to ride around and mask my fault pretty well. It took a keen eye to spot the fault, but when it was brought to my attention and addressed, it set about a chain-reaction that revolutionised my riding.

I know it is nice to see or feel something physical for your cash and how training can appear to have an uncertain return.
A Kentish man living in Manchester.

"As soon as he (Tozzi) started with the personal remarks I assumed he was struggling with the rest of his case", Ross Brawn 2009,

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Re: Pre load and damping

Post by Dave_W » 10 Jul 2015, 00:10

Very true. I suppose I'm like many in that I've ridden purely for the enjoyment without thinking/analysing my riding too much. There's an IAM in Southport I believe and was contemplating it a few years ago but never did it. Since my accident my pelvis is slightly higher on one side which affects my balance a little too so had to learn to ride round that. I'll give ewt a go though. Thanks for the info.

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lee
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Re: Pre load and damping

Post by lee » 10 Jul 2015, 09:02

The std settings would more than likely be fine for your size and style of riding.
The preload is easy to set (if its adjustable on your bike).
Find out the available travel in mm for front and rear.
Sit on bike wearing gear and see how much you compress the suspension.
you want to be using about a third of the available travel when sitting feet up on the bike.

Damping is the black art of feeling what the suspension is doing and adjusting to suit.

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Re: Pre load and damping

Post by Dave_W » 10 Jul 2015, 11:23

lee wrote:The std settings would more than likely be fine for your size and style of riding.
The preload is easy to set (if its adjustable on your bike).
Find out the available travel in mm for front and rear.
Sit on bike wearing gear and see how much you compress the suspension.
you want to be using about a third of the available travel when sitting feet up on the bike.

Damping is the black art of feeling what the suspension is doing and adjusting to suit.
Thanks Lee. It's all a black art to me :) I'll give the preload a go when I'm geared up and see what travel I get. Think the other ideas about doing some advanced are probably worth a try too.

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Re: Pre load and damping

Post by Dave » 10 Jul 2015, 19:58

quite surprised your losing the front ( or getting that feeling ) if your just riding the roundabouts sensibly ! Has the suspension been fiddled with before you purchased the bike ?

Are you applying the front brake while leaning over ? this would compress the forks and give a wash out feel to say the least

The IAM group your talking of is mine In Southport .If your nearby or local , drop me a PM and we will take you for a spin one saturday and try to help you solve the issue. Most modern bikes are set for basic road riding , obviously your model will have a softer setting than a super bike. But you should be stable in corners . This must be affecting your confidence as you will be looking down at the front rather than the corner exit ..

Its an issue that needs sorting because it won't get better. You can upload videos and lots of info on sorting the Sag out on bikes. This is quite straight forward. Make a note of the settings you adjust so that you can always revert back to what does not work for you

it is a minefield of a subject and if you are not confidence its well worth paying an expert suspension specialist £40 or so to get it right .
:

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Re: Pre load and damping

Post by Dave_W » 10 Jul 2015, 20:51

Thanks dave that would be great. All help and advice is greatly appreciated. It certainly is a confidence thing and in the wet I'm feeling like a real novice and feel myself getting tense. I live in Kirkby so not far and usually ride through to Southport via Lydiate. Maybe we can have a chat about the IAM over a brew too.

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Re: Pre load and damping

Post by Dave » 10 Jul 2015, 22:07

ok Mate , I have send you a PM ,Hope it goes ok at Alder tomorrow
:

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Re: Pre load and damping

Post by Barts dad » 11 Jul 2015, 00:15

Cabernet wrote:
Dave_W wrote:No advanced stuff. No track days etc. Riding 10 years now. My tyres don't have good reviews so moving to pilot 4s when I've worn my way through this set.

Sent from my C6903 using Tapatalk
Spending money on your suspension "might" fix your issue, but just on this bike.

Spending money on checking out your riding, any improvement will work on all the bikes you may ride and possibly fix this issue too.

10 years might sound a long time.
I was doing it wrong for 22 years and 400,000 miles and got my IAM ticket before I met the rider that sorted me out. I had learned to ride around and mask my fault pretty well. It took a keen eye to spot the fault, but when it was brought to my attention and addressed, it set about a chain-reaction that revolutionised my riding.

I know it is nice to see or feel something physical for your cash and how training can appear to have an uncertain return.
Geez. You had to ride the equivalent of riding around this planet roughly 16 times to realise what you were doing wrong! Lol

Sent from my GT-I8190N using Tapatalk

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Re: Pre load and damping

Post by Cabernet » 11 Jul 2015, 07:01

Barts dad wrote:
Cabernet wrote:
Dave_W wrote:No advanced stuff. No track days etc. Riding 10 years now. My tyres don't have good reviews so moving to pilot 4s when I've worn my way through this set.

Sent from my C6903 using Tapatalk
Spending money on your suspension "might" fix your issue, but just on this bike.

Spending money on checking out your riding, any improvement will work on all the bikes you may ride and possibly fix this issue too.

10 years might sound a long time.
I was doing it wrong for 22 years and 400,000 miles and got my IAM ticket before I met the rider that sorted me out. I had learned to ride around and mask my fault pretty well. It took a keen eye to spot the fault, but when it was brought to my attention and addressed, it set about a chain-reaction that revolutionised my riding.

I know it is nice to see or feel something physical for your cash and how training can appear to have an uncertain return.
Geez. You had to ride the equivalent of riding around this planet roughly 16 times to realise what you were doing wrong! Lol

Sent from my GT-I8190N using Tapatalk
No.
I had to ride 16 times round this planet in 22 years to find the right rider to spot I was doing something wrong and be able to communicate it in a way I could except.
But hey, the change made the ride so enjoyable, I did the next 16 laps in 5 years.
Slowing down a bit now though.
A Kentish man living in Manchester.

"As soon as he (Tozzi) started with the personal remarks I assumed he was struggling with the rest of his case", Ross Brawn 2009,

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Re: Pre load and damping

Post by Soviet » 11 Jul 2015, 10:48

Cabernet wrote:There can be a lot of reasons for that.
Tyre make and compound.
Tyre temperature (particularly if your a steady rider)
Riding habits.
Posture
Suspension.

How long have you been riding and have you done any advance work on your riding?
I think Cabs sums this up the best from my own experience.

Get the best tyres you can - maximum grip = best potential for your bike
Suspension set up is a must
Suspension upgrades are the best money value upgrades
Brake upgrades are worth considering

But as Cabs states rider experience and confidence are the key elements - I've a lot of riding experience but know there are gaps and I still make mistakes - everyone is still capable of learning and improving ... Most riders (arguably all on the road who are riding sensibly) are operating within the limits of the bike ....so there's normally a chance to push your skills further ...


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