I know I am setting my self up for a fall here, and its always an emotive subject.... However I have had my 2010 HRC blade for a week now and covered 350 miles on it everything is great apart from the bumpiest ride ever from the front end, Is there anyone else on here about 14 stone kitted, with a good fast road setup I can use as a start point. I have set the sag for me 25mm front (three turns out from soft) - 30mm rear (Position 7 of 10), and increased the rebound and reduced the comp settings which has improved things, slightly, however I am no expert and might be going the wrong way? I had a 1999 r1 with Ktec front fork rebuild and an Ohlins rear shock before so may have been a little spoilt, but I would of thought 10 years of inovation would of improved things on the blade, but the factory setup seems poor and I didn't notice on the test ride!. I don't fancy spending money on a new bike if I can avoid it or is it Ktec, KIAS or maxton for uprated kit.
Mines the same (13st kitted up) I'm going for a motrac suspension set up in the near future. Front is waay to hard.
i am around 17st kitted and off to get mine set up at MH Racing tomorrow, £40 seems a fair price to me
The front is oversprung but has too much rebound I took slowedthe rebound at the front slightly but otherwise left it alone Mine has 1700+ miles and the suspension is just say bedded in At 350 miles it won't be settled yet. 30mm rear sag is way to much. The blade is a flat bike as it is but with that sort of sag it will be sitting like a chopper. Especially if you have slowed the rear rebound. It will be squatting and not able to sit up at he back making it run wide.
I will add a bit more preload, see if I can go to 20mm. I have increased the rebound both front and back after my last ride but unable to get out today due to the weather, will see what improvement or not I get tomorrow. Thanks for the info, much appreciated. If anyone else has any info please let me know seems to be a common thing!
I think your goin to end up in a tangle here Go back to stock and do it more systematic Slow the front rebound a bit first and try that. It will feel less choppy on fast series bumps. Only complaint I have with road settings Fit tie wraps to the front forks take for a ride and ride normal. Do some heavy stops. If your not using the full stroke soften off the front comp BUT leave 15-20mm for bump Softening the front end with preload isn't ideal. If it's that bad fit new springs. Preload is for sag not hardness or softness. I wouldn't slow the rear down. It will be very hard to flick side to side and run wide on the throttle If you find it bumpy take off some comp but you MUST leave some rear rebound on to stop running wide and under heavy braking to keep the tyre on the road - especially as you softened the front so will be lower at the front under braking Get your sag set and leave alone after that. Don't control ride quality with preload. Like I said if it's that far out re spring or take some oil out of the front.
Just re read your first post and it seems to be the front end you mentioned is bumpy Put back to stock and do what I said above - tie wraps, slower rebound, softer comp. Leavethe back alone for now Remember the bike will turn alot quicker this way so be careful
If all else fails, get it set up by an expert. Mine was done by Steve Jordan, near Dorking. Bumpy ride , but handling 200% better.
As Flatstick says, put it back to standard and start again. I just spent an afternoon going out (same route), coming back, giving it a little tweak, going back out, giving it a little tweak etc. I ended up not far from standard but on track i noticed the forks bottomed out under heavy breaking so need to get it refined - however, road riding - its perfect. BTW, everyone rides differently so there is no magic setting - the best setting is whatever gives you the most confidence.
Bottoming out the forks doesn't necessarily mean too soft. Grabbing a handful of brake can give a faulse reading for example as the bike will suddenly dive and use all it's travel where usually it wouldn't It's all trial and error really but generally speaking if you go for a less bumpy ride you will sacrifice handling TBH I find the standard settings very good on the road other than the front getting a bit bouncy while rolling over a series of bumps which slower rebound sorted.
All set back to standard now and going to take the the bike to JHS racing in bristol (anyone used them before) after the first service, and get it set up properly, £30 not too bad at all, and I will have peice of mind I am not doing it all wrong.... Thanks for all the info
That must be just riders sag is it ? I thought to set the susspension up properly you had to spend time on track with the likes of K-Tech or other susspension specialists so that they can dial it all in for you and your riding style aswel as suggesting any change of internals to suit. I am proberly wrong thou lol
I would say that's about right for a ride in service. At trackdays 100% and whitecross etc are about £50 now. K tech won't set your bike up. They just sell you a cartridge kit and shock and let you get on with it.
Useful Link... Motorcycle Suspension Set-up Still haven't had a chance to ride my bike due to a broken wrist but when I do I'll be following this procedure.
The worst thing I eve did on my 600rr was fanny about with the suspension with no real knowledge of what I was doing.... I ended up making it to soft... which meant it was bottoming out, which was the reason I crashed at Mallory Park doing 90mph+
What settings did you end up with? I quite like if 'firm' :heh: but need to sort the rebound out on mine.
