I had my suspension set up a few days ago, and the bike was brilliant when I rode it the 20 miles home. I took it our again today and it was a pig! A bone shaking, rattly mess. Nothing has changed since it was set, it's just feels ridiculously hard now! Any advice as to what it could be caused by?
Probably not far off round these parts... but I could feel every single bump today, right up the spine
Check that nothing has come undone or hanging off. Anything that they may have touched. I take it you didn't set it up?
I checked the chain alignment today but tightened everything up as normal. I didn't touch anything else. It was not me that set it up... The set up was great 2 days ago
If nothings been touched since it was set up for you and after 20 miles there's a dramatic backwards step, then I'd take it straight back and get the shop to check it. Something may have come loose and be about to cause a catastrophe . . .
Cold oil in forks and shock?? I'm not at home (England) but I see its chilly in the morning right now. Try a bit of accelerating and braking to shift the oil about a bit and warm it up reducing viscosity.
Mary Hinge that's seeming like a possibility as it was ridden for 30 miles, set up over an hour, ridden home and was thoroughly warmed up when I set off. Today it was around 15 degrees c when I went out. I find it hard to think that the oil would be so easily affected. I might try a fettle from cold in the next few days. This source looks helpful... Motorcycle Suspension: - A Troubleshooting Guide - Motorcycles
I'll wait for a warmer day and see what is going on. Suspension is a very interesting subject when looked in to.
Some people who race change their fork oil based on ambient temperature and fork oil does take a while to warm up (its getting blasted with cold air all the time). Mary is on to something here. Davy
So, we should all be feeling like we are riding Bone-shakers, 'cos the temp has gone down a couple of degrees Have you still got the same oil in it from before the set-up?
Yes. But before the set up it was all over the place as the forks fitted aren't the ones that came on the bike from the factory
I agree - I can't believe a road bike would feel perfect one day and awful the next because of fork oil temp!
No its not going to be the fork oil temp. Warming up is one thing but it wouldn't make that much difference if it dropped 10 degrees. If you're not happy, take it back. Most suspension places will carry on adjusting till you're satisfied as it's a personal feeling. It's not twiddle twiddle 'there you go that's now set up'. I expect the preloaded needs some serious looking at given that it's originally for a heavier bike. Other adjustments are for rate of travel and distance (rebound and compression) rather than making it feel solid. Good luck Edit. Just thinking about it, I wonder if the Speed Triple forks have a heavy oil (7.5 or even 10 weight) in them to cope with its weight. I think 675 would be 5 as standard which would make a difference
We're all assuming it's the forks Btw. Could it be the shock? Could the swing arm pivot have seized whilst it's been sitting and need stripping /lubing?
It's a 4 month old bike, with fresh grease on the moving parts so I don't think it's a seizure issue. I have spoken to Mark at MADASL already and he obviously suggested to come back and he'd have another fiddle (he actually offered this when I left the workshop the first time, so it's not like he has seen me off. The guy does nothing but deliver great customer service.) I'm just curious as to what it might be in the mean time as he's away for a week and I can't see him until he is back. I have been thinking all morning about it; maybe it is the oil grade as it seems logical that a system set for a heavier bike would be more easily affected by increased viscosity. I have realised that logic doesn't always enter in to suspension setup voodoo and I'm certain Mark will sort it.
All suspension set up is a compromise based on that particular day. I had them all written down for various tracks when racing but ambient conditions on the day usually meant I tweaked it. The basics of sag shouldn't change too much but adjusters are there to be adjusted. If it feels hard back the compression damping off a couple of clicks. They should have given you a sheet with all the settings on, use this as a base and work around it. Bet if you went on a trackday today it would probably too soft once you got into it.
