Dummies guide to suspension.

Do yourself a favour, step away from the bike and let the guys at Kais in Atherton work their magic

 

Convert it to a Mono.

 

Don't touch anything unless you are confident, which I suspect you are not. The bottom screw on the forkleg is for compression damping, the top screw is for rebound and the large nut on the top is for setting the sag. The most important thing you really need to do is set the sag with you and your passengers weight , this will keep the correct ride height of the bike and won't upset the geometry. To do this is quite tricky as both of you on the bike will necessitate a third person to adjust the springs. Have you a bike garage nearby? This would be the easiest option and they can revert it back to standard when you come back.

 

Nothing wrong with having a fiddle yourself, just write down where you start.
Have a read here;

Motorcycle Suspension Setup

 

Really, don't touch it?! Come on, theres nothing wrong with a little fiddle.....

Write down where it is now, read the above helpful link, then try different stuff. Sure it will take longer and its more messing than giving it to someone but the basics are that: basic and if its just to allow a little extra for a pillion not rocket science

Or get it done properly, hassle free and pay an expert :smile:

 

Yeah +1 for nelson.
Nothing wrong with having a fiddle. Not knowing how it's all set right now it's hard for anyone to tell you what to do. For a quick fix turn the preload (nut on top of fork) in another 2 rings, and increase the front compression damping, the screw at the bottom of the fork legs, about 4 clicks clockwise on each leg. It's pointless moving them 1 or 2 clicks at a time as if you can feel that amount difference you should quit the day job and go racing. If the front then feels harsh and choppy knock it back 2, then finally move it 1 if you have to. Obviously if it still dives like crazy, up another 4 and so on. The rear you'd probably want to do about the same, turn the collar down to make the spring about 5mm shorter. Rear compression which is at the top of the shock you can move about 6 clicks at a time as there's more adjustment but work it same as the front. Rebound both ends is probably more important than compression but if the bikes not unstable or loosing traction only have a play if you want to. Best to try it all on your own first though, and don't be affraid. You can always put things back how they were.

 

As already said above,write down exactly the settings you have now.Then take your bike to your fav bit of quiet country road and have a play with the suspension.Only alter one aspect at a time and see if you can feel the difference adding a bit of this or taking a bit off that does.You may not become an expert overnight but getting to know what more/less preload or more/less rebound damping etc is useful.If it doesn't work out,at least you can return the bike to how it was.Have fun!

 

The bike or the girlfriend ?

 

Kin ell .......destroyed !!!!!!! Lol