Hi, could I ask for some advice on how to soften my 2007 Blade's suspension. The bike is currently on the 'standard' settings as per the Honda manual and is totally original. It's too skittish over uneven surfaces. I only potter so presume I'm just not working it hard enough or as a faster rider would. I'm unsure, do I reduce both bump and rebound proportionally, or preload too, or front and back together? I feel I'll be buggering around for years without experienced help. Thanks.
First let me say I'm no expert, there are plenty of people on this forum with loads of experience, and I will probably be corrected by some. But this is what I do. I use standard settings as a reference point to start from. The Blade should not be "skittish" if you "potter", I think Mr Honda use a(theoretical) 80-85Kg kitted rider for standard set-up. Preload should be set for your weight to get the correct sag,(considered by most to be the most important thing) YouTube suspension sag, loads of help on there. I tend to then ride the same piece of road adding or removing compression/rebound till I get something that feels good, But as I'm 82KG fully loaded I pretty much use Mr Honda's settings. I think if you are heavier or lighter than the 80/85Kg by some margin, Add preload if you're on the heavier side ,reduce if you are lighter I might be worth checking your tyres/pressures. You could just pay £30 or so and take it to someone who will set it all for you. I decided to fiddle with mine to gain a better understanding of how it works, and because I'm tight as Fook.
Thanks for that. I'm 84kg kitted, front is a T016 brand new 36psi, rear a T015 2yrs old 42psi. I've no problem with the £30 I just wanted to know that I was doing for the future. I've double checked the preloads are at standard and the damping too. Most of the time I'm fine but a bump in a bend can feel like it's flicked the bike sideways rather than been absorbed. A guy with a 600RR sat on mine last week and commented how hard the back felt compared to his. Mine has the yellow rear spring same as others I've seen.
Best piece of advice I can give you is to just take it to someone who sets suspension up for a living. I got mine done years ago and it only cost about £50. It'll be the best money you ever spent.
+1 for suspension setup... it improved my RR7. I would also add, 42psi sounds a bit too high (I know it's what the manual says......) Don't be afraid to experiment with dropping it a little, and see how you get on. The place that setup my suspension recommended 36 all round... by experimentation though, I've settled on 35 front, 38 rear... my bike now has a nice balance to it.
Well worth popping over to a local bike track day. They'll have all the tools and info needed even just for the road. Would be reasonably priced on a track day too. You should even be able to go for a ride and head back to have it checked over, just like the bikes getting theirs set up for the track.
Funny you should say that. A few weeks ago I found the rear was about 36ish and pumped it up to 42, like the manual says, and I swear it felt worse straight away.
Yeah, you don't need to be on the track day itself. Just turn up to the tyre/suspension support company usually set up for the day in the paddock area.
