Adjusting Ride Firmness

[Vestakid]

Does anyone know what driver weight necessitates the maximum settings? The owner's manual gives weight necessitating medium settings, but nothing else. I weigh 210 pounds and don'y know where to set the spring and the shock.

[seangd]

If you're talking about a bike with ESA...

I'm 220 and I've found that the bike seems to ride best with a setting of "rider with luggage". The instrument display shows 1 helmet and a suitcase. Is that what you're talking about?

[Caol]

'07 w/ESA

I'm in the 280-310 zone (Beemer's the only bike with a big enough payload! ) and keep the pre-load in the "rider with luggage" mode. Then I flip between the damping around to suit the ride. The only time I've, normally, used the "two-up" position, is with a passenger. I'm pretty sure I've been close to the max GVWR on the bike!

I'm coming up due to refresh the suspension (67,000km on the bike) this winter and may go with a third party that may be able to customize the ESA to my mass and riding situation.

Kyle

[Vestakid]

I do not have the ESA option. I have to set them manually, after removing the seat. That is what I am talking about. Since I don't know what weight the shock and spring are designed to carry at maximum setting, I don't know how much over the mid-point setting I should adjust them to, or indeed if they are linear from minimum to maximum.

The ride seems stiff. Should it be?

[deilenberger]

I do not have the ESA option. I have to set them manually, after removing the seat. That is what I am talking about. Since I don't know what weight the shock and spring are designed to carry at maximum setting, I don't know how much over the mid-point setting I should adjust them to, or indeed if they are linear from minimum to maximum.

The ride seems stiff. Should it be?

The ride can be "stiff" feeling for several reasons:

1. Too much weight can mean the shock is bottoming out. It bottoms out somewhat softly, since the rubber bumper around the shaft works like a secondary spring, preventing it from actually banging to full compression. In this case - more preload (especially on the rear shock) may help (which seems counter-intiuitive, but trust me - it works.)

2. Too much preload - that's the opposite situation. Too much initial spring compression can result in a stiff ride. The stock springs on the R12R are linear (meaning the force required to compress them is a constant). If you have too much preload - then the ride can feel stiff.

3. Too much damping. The only adjustment on the stock shock is for rebound - ie - how fast the shock allows the spring to decompress the shock after the force that compressed it is removed. Too much rebound damping can cause the shock to "stack up" - ie - going over several bumps in a row quickly may not allow the shock to recover if the damping is too high, and the shock ends up fully compressed.

You might notice I mostly commented on the rear shock. The front shock has much less effect on ride quality then the rear - most of our weight is on the rear. For now - lets just look at the rear.

What to do?

1. Adjust the preload (via measuring dynamic "sag".) See if it's within a normal range.
... then ...
2. Check to see if the shock is bottoming out.

For #1 - I'd suggest reading my suspension adjustment page: http://www.eilenberger.net/Suspension/suspension.htm

For #2 - Put a small tie-wrap snuggly on the shaft of the rear shock. Put it midway between the rubber bumper and the body of the shock. Go for a ride. If when you come back, the tie-wrap is embedded in the rubber bumper - you're bottoming out. You need more preload.

That will get you started in the right direction. Your weight isn't the ideal BMW weight (which I believe is a svelt 165lbs..) but it's not so far over that you can't compensate for it. I'd be very suspect of the sag - which means preload adjustments are likely needed.

Once you get the back end right - then it's time to look at the front end. My suspension page covers how to do that..

[Vestakid]

THANK YOU !!!

[Mustang Man]

I don't believe the front shock is adjustable, at least the owners manual doesn't list any adjustment.
Am I missing something?
MM

[deilenberger]

I don't believe the front shock is adjustable, at least the owners manual doesn't list any adjustment.
Am I missing something?
MM

I'd have to get one of mine down off a shelf to check (it was long ago replaced with a real shock.. and then somehow I bought a "spare" from FleaBay, so I have two of them sitting way up on a high shelf), but I seem to recall that perhaps the preload was adjustable - or not. It's been a long time. I know damping is not adjustable in any manner on the stock front shock.

Good excuse to get some real suspension on the bike. I was watching mine "work" today on a rough back road - I can look down slightly and watch my auxilary lights (fastened to the fork sliders) moving up and down. An amazing amount of movement is going on that I never feel in the ride or handling of the bike. It might surprise you just how much some good suspenders can help the ride comfort of the R12R..

[BLAIR1200R]

For #1 - I'd suggest reading my suspension adjustment page: http....

GREAT INFO ! ... thank you sir!

I think that's a great way to spend a Saturday, setting up and documenting suspension settings.

Makes sense to run through the same procedure with my wife on-board, so when we really take to the road, we're safer and more comfortable.

[objectuser]

For #1 - I'd suggest reading my suspension adjustment page: http://www.eilenberger.net/Suspension/suspension.htm

What I think would be cool is to have a table with settings by weight (driver + luggage or whatever). I know that some people will prefer a stiffer or softer ride than the "default", but it seems like a table by people that have already gone through the process would save some people (like me ) a lot of time and aggravation (I'm not at all mechanically inclined, as my dealer can testify * 2).

Or, baring that, if someone around 195 without gear can tell me what works for them, I'd be grateful!

[deilenberger]

For #1 - I'd suggest reading my suspension adjustment page: http://www.eilenberger.net/Suspension/suspension.htm

What I think would be cool is to have a table with settings by weight (driver + luggage or whatever). I know that some people will prefer a stiffer or softer ride than the "default", but it seems like a table by people that have already gone through the process would save some people (like me ) a lot of time and aggravation (I'm not at all mechanically inclined, as my dealer can testify * 2).

Or, baring that, if someone around 195 without gear can tell me what works for them, I'd be grateful!

It would be great - but IMHO given the variations on riders/bikes/suspension/springs/tires - about impossible to really do. What comes closest to that is setting everything toward the middle of the adjusting range and hoping the person who manufactured your shock took all those things into account (not that they could - but it's nice wishful thinking..)

It really IS a process to get the suspension adjusted to YOUR liking and needs. Variables that come into play are springs (progressive vs linear and spring rate for either - 4 variables right there for each shock - x 2 for front and rear), total suspension travel (lowered suspension with less travel, normal suspension with normal travel, lowered suspension with normal travel - again X2 since the shocks can be different.) Tire pressure, bags or no bags normally mounted, stuff carried on the bike, windshield or not, and on and on. Way too many variables and we haven't even started at the rider weight ranges yet..

So - that's why I wrote up what I did. I tried to explain (1) what we're trying to accomplish (2) how we might go about that (3) how to make the adjustments (4) how to determine if things are better or worse. That takes a bit of effort on your part - but the results will be worth it AND long-term. You'll also have an idea of how to make quick adjustments if needed for additional weight when touring.

If it's unclear - please make some notes on what's unclear and pass them back to me via PM.. I'll see if I can make it clearer for everyone.

Good luck!

[objectuser]

Well, I was mostly thinking focusing on the R1200R, since we're in that forum.

Your explanations and procedures certainty seem comprehensive. I don't want to come of as not appreciating it: I do! I just was hoping to cheat from someone that understood it.

[mogu83]

[quote="objectuser"]Well, I was mostly thinking focusing on the R1200R, since we're in that forum. [quote]
From what I've seen of Don's well done maintenance tips (and all the pictures he's posted) they are all centered around and pertaining to his R1200R.

[objectuser]

From what I've seen of Don's well done maintenance tips (and all the pictures he's posted) they are all centered around and pertaining to his R1200R.

I just meant that if the table of settings focused on the R1200R, that removes one of the variables.