Hi guys, new to the forum and had a question. I just removed the ginormous cans on my 14R and replaced them with the Graves slip-ons saving almost 25 lb on the rear. Unfortunately the suspension set up is not right now. I'm getting a lot of juddering now at freeway speeds over the expansion cracks, the shock is feels like it's inducing a high frequency cavitation, cycling up and down so fast it's giggling my vision. My super smooth ride is gone! Should I back out compression? Rebound? Both?

Back off your preload and your compression and your rebound. The compression restricts the shock during bumps so that needs to be a bit lighter. And when you back off the preload, you need less rebound to control that. Also check the static sag on both ends. But be careful,if you get everything too soft it will wallow and that ain't no fun either.

Thanks Mad, I was afraid of that. That shock is a bitch to adjust! Might as well do the front again too, then.

That sounds like pretty drastic effect from removing 25 lbs of exhaust. Sure its not something loose that's maybe vibrating? I add and remove luggage that weighs well over 50lbs without a noticeble effect on ride.

No kidding - I was completely shocked. I've been riding for over 30 years, with and without luggage and passengers and have never experience anything like it. Something is going on with the shock. It's vibrating up and down at a fairly high rate our the sections of the freeway with expansion joints. Its juddering my butt so fast its affecting my vision. Only thing I can think of is the removal of the pipes, and their weight, because before it was fine over the same stretch. That's been the only change.

The damping adjusters aren't too bad to get to. The preload is a turd. I remove the R/H footpeg bracket and wail away with a hammer and brass punch. But I'm kind of a caveman when it comes to fixing stuff.

Mad

Hmmmm....glad I'm not alone with this method Long shanked flattip driver's what I use(d).Haven't done that with my new bird yet...I've got spanners...but I have to remove the hugger to get em in there...no thanks...

MD sez: I remove the R/H footpeg bracket and wail away with a hammer and brass punch. But I'm kind of a caveman when it comes to fixing stuff.

BWAAAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Oh Jebus, MD! I had tears I laughed so hard!
"Wail away"... lmao!

I don't go 'quite' as far as Mad...I leave the bracket on there;)

Well Hagrid if I can't find my hammer I grab the nearest rock....

Mad

I am gonna have the dealer have a look at my suspension settings, now that you mention it. I have replaced my heavy stock exhaust with an aftermarket, and have never really looked into if the suspension setting is needing adjustment for my weight, and the bike's newer, lower weight.

I've read up on it, but have noone to help me with it (little woman is not at all into mechanical, anything, in any capacity).

I did the Rook method with a zip tie on the fork, and I come up with a mere 3/4 of an inch from what the bike is standing upright with just its own weight to suport, to with me sitting on it, helmet in hand. I think, from what I've read, the front fork difference should be 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 inch or so, correct?

The rear, I'll have to check with someone helping me. But the rear should be just a tad more (1/4 inch) than the front, correct?

* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 5/28/2013 @ 8:57 PM *

I had some pros do mine after all - CRS tuning here in Cali. Wow, great job - what difference! It's beautiful now and much quicker and easier turn in with no loss of straight line stability. Stability over bumps in corners is amazing. Okay, this is going to seem counterintuitive but he actually raised the bike in the front! Not much, but it made a world of difference.

"I did the Rook method with a zip tie on the fork, and I come up with a mere 3/4 of an inch from what the bike is standing upright with just its own weight to suport, to with me sitting on it, helmet in hand. I think, from what I've read, the front fork difference should be 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 inch or so, correct?"

I used the rook settings and I got 1/2". With dealer settings my front end was diving when touching the front brake. It feels a little springy now with the brocks CT on. I need to learn how to set the bike up so i can put the lowering links on.

I just called the dealer and they said they've never had somebody ask them to adjuster street bike suspension according to wait so I guess I'll figure it out Myself It can't be that hard with the videos to watch as a guide

I just called the dealer and they said they've never had somebody ask them to adjuster street bike suspension according to wait so I guess I'll figure it out Myself It can't be that hard with the videos to watch as a guide

What are you trying to achieve?(not meant as a joke or anything);)

It's at the stock setting. I wanted to see if making sure both front and rear settings are set to my weight might make the handling better in corners, especially.

It's also a bit too hard/firm on bumps in the road. The forks take bumps too rough, and the 3/4inch setting would seem to support that. ????

And excuse the spelling in that previous post this is voice recognition on my iPhone not my lack of spelling

* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 5/29/2013 @ 4:36 PM *

Not sure what the stock setting is, but if you'd post the actual settings for preload (how much thread showing above the adjuster) and damping numbers, you could at least compare them to what others have and get an idea if there's a real problem or just a well-deserved adjustment.

I've got front preload 6 lines showing...8 clicks out rebound damping....8 clicks out comp.

Rear...two ring turns tighter on the shock(from stock setting).1 and 1/2 turns out rebound damping...1 turn out comp.(All from fully closed[clockwise])

I weigh 165...w/gear...and typically ride at 80-100 mph.Very stable feeling but not harsh.Smooth,yet responsive.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 5/30/2013 @ 9:09 AM *

Grn I didn't know you were a midget! 165lb w/gear..... no wonder you go so fast!

LOL!!!...I'm 6'1"....'green bean'(pole);)...lost 30 lbs in the hospital=0.Haven't gotten it back yet:(

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 5/30/2013 @ 8:00 PM *

Ok, here are my stock fork settings. As I said earlier, I get only a 3/4 " difference from being on the bike with helment, to the bike sitting upright under its own weight only...........

Five lines showing on the outter, blue preload adjustor.

And the inner, rebound adjustor screws...... The right actually seemed to be only 6 out and the left 7. But the right didn't have a click for that last movement just before seating, whereas the left did click at seating. So I assume they are equal like that.

I weight about 204. And with helment, I assume about 208 or so.

I haven't had a chance to look into the rear setting just yet.

Any help is appreciated.

* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 5/30/2013 @ 9:38 PM *

Well...mine is nicely 'non-bouncing'...and doesn't dive hard or anything like that on brake application.You might try my settings...you don't want the wheels skipping over the pavement from too much stiffness and not enough plush.You can always go back to factory settings and start again....

?what about your compression damping setting?I wish you could tell us what it feels like leaned in...cornering.What it's steering like?

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 5/31/2013 @ 2:03 AM *