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Okay fellas. I know this will sound really weird, but in all my years of riding bikes and working on them, I have never played with suspension as far as adjusting them. Always been satisfied with how the bike runs when purchased, etc. Anywho, I noticed my 11F feels like it's absorbing every single bump and wave in the road and passing the buck to me. I feel it in the seat as well as the handlebars. I was on a road last night that looked flat, but obviously not, as it was like a rollercoaster for a good couple miles. My question is how would I adjust my suspension to make up for this? I know how to adjust suspension, lol, but my question is, do I want a more stiff ride, or a softer ride?
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1979 XS1100F
2H9 Mod, Truck-Lite LED Headlight, TECHNA-FIT S/S Brake Lines, Rear Air Shocks, TKAT Fork Brace, Dyna DC-I Coils, TC Fuse Block, Barnett HD Clutch Springs, Superbike Handlebars, V-Star 650 ACCT, NGK Irridium Plugs, OEM Exhaust. CNC-Cut 2nd Gear Dogs; Ported/Milled Head; Modded Airbox: 8x8 Wix Panel Filter; #137.5 Main Jet, Viper Yellow Paint, Michelin Pilot Activ F/R, Interstate AGM Battery, 14MM MC, Maier Fairing, Cree LED Fog Lights. -
Hmm. I just read on the Triple forum that my fork oil may be low causing the lack of dampening. I'll wait to see what you guys say.1979 XS1100F
2H9 Mod, Truck-Lite LED Headlight, TECHNA-FIT S/S Brake Lines, Rear Air Shocks, TKAT Fork Brace, Dyna DC-I Coils, TC Fuse Block, Barnett HD Clutch Springs, Superbike Handlebars, V-Star 650 ACCT, NGK Irridium Plugs, OEM Exhaust. CNC-Cut 2nd Gear Dogs; Ported/Milled Head; Modded Airbox: 8x8 Wix Panel Filter; #137.5 Main Jet, Viper Yellow Paint, Michelin Pilot Activ F/R, Interstate AGM Battery, 14MM MC, Maier Fairing, Cree LED Fog Lights. -
Remember Goldielocks?
If you have the adjustment tool, I would suggest that you change something, go for a ride, see if it made a difference, decide if the difference was good or bad, and go from there.
It may be that you can only go one way, i.e. the shock preload is all the way to the top, so all you can do is look at what you have, make adjustments from that point.
Bring it by, and I'll tell you exactly what to do.
CZComment
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Yeah, I'll put that trip on my to-do list, lol.1979 XS1100F
2H9 Mod, Truck-Lite LED Headlight, TECHNA-FIT S/S Brake Lines, Rear Air Shocks, TKAT Fork Brace, Dyna DC-I Coils, TC Fuse Block, Barnett HD Clutch Springs, Superbike Handlebars, V-Star 650 ACCT, NGK Irridium Plugs, OEM Exhaust. CNC-Cut 2nd Gear Dogs; Ported/Milled Head; Modded Airbox: 8x8 Wix Panel Filter; #137.5 Main Jet, Viper Yellow Paint, Michelin Pilot Activ F/R, Interstate AGM Battery, 14MM MC, Maier Fairing, Cree LED Fog Lights.Comment
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bump
Tire psi may be at max (for fully loaded). I usually ran less. Less transmission of small bump vibrations.79 F; CNC cut 2nd gear dogs; Ported/Milled head; Modded Airbox 8x8 bottom auto filter; more initial timing adv. , less Cent., no Vac. Adv.Comment
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Hi Ian,
One more case of: Which model are you riding? Please add to your profile. I know this is a general question. If you have air valves on the top of the forks check the pressure. Most recommend 7 to 15 psi.
If you have lost the oil in the forks it will be more bouncy not stiffer.
Phil1981 XS1100 H Venturer ( Addie)
1983 XJ 650 Maxim
2004 Kawasaki Concours. ( Black Bear)Comment
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My bad, I forgot to write that in even though it was on my mind. '79F. Standard everything.1979 XS1100F
2H9 Mod, Truck-Lite LED Headlight, TECHNA-FIT S/S Brake Lines, Rear Air Shocks, TKAT Fork Brace, Dyna DC-I Coils, TC Fuse Block, Barnett HD Clutch Springs, Superbike Handlebars, V-Star 650 ACCT, NGK Irridium Plugs, OEM Exhaust. CNC-Cut 2nd Gear Dogs; Ported/Milled Head; Modded Airbox: 8x8 Wix Panel Filter; #137.5 Main Jet, Viper Yellow Paint, Michelin Pilot Activ F/R, Interstate AGM Battery, 14MM MC, Maier Fairing, Cree LED Fog Lights.Comment
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It's freakin' freezing outside, so going for a ride is out of the question, lol. But, I did have a chance to look things over. The preload on the rear is one notch below the very top setting. So, do I want to go up or down to lessen the bumps I am feeling. The PO (SHOUSEY440) rebuilt the front forks, so, I know those are good. No adjustment on those that I could see (stock).1979 XS1100F
2H9 Mod, Truck-Lite LED Headlight, TECHNA-FIT S/S Brake Lines, Rear Air Shocks, TKAT Fork Brace, Dyna DC-I Coils, TC Fuse Block, Barnett HD Clutch Springs, Superbike Handlebars, V-Star 650 ACCT, NGK Irridium Plugs, OEM Exhaust. CNC-Cut 2nd Gear Dogs; Ported/Milled Head; Modded Airbox: 8x8 Wix Panel Filter; #137.5 Main Jet, Viper Yellow Paint, Michelin Pilot Activ F/R, Interstate AGM Battery, 14MM MC, Maier Fairing, Cree LED Fog Lights.Comment
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If the 79 is like the 78 (I think they are similar), they are adjustible. The tops of the fork tubes have a way of pushing in the adjuster and twisting it slightly to hold it in place with a pin and notch inside the tube. There are three positions for preloading the springs. Also, the fork oil might be too high a viscosity. The oil is really supposed to be a dampener, but if the oil viscosity is high, you will feel a rough ride, especially in cold weather. The rear shocks are adjustible, just look closely at them and you will see.Skids (Sid Hansen)
Down to one 1978 E. Stock air box with K&N filter, 81H pipes and carbs, 8500 feet elevation.Comment
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Ian- if you want less front spring preload, pop off those rubber deals on top the tubes and use a BF screwdriver and turn ccw (maybe cw) while using downward pressure to chose the lesser of the two preload steps. The screw will pop up about a half inch. Simply a spring preload adjustment. Your bike doesn't have the air over hydraulic like the specials do.Last edited by shousey440; 10-28-2012, 06:22 PM.79 F; CNC cut 2nd gear dogs; Ported/Milled head; Modded Airbox 8x8 bottom auto filter; more initial timing adv. , less Cent., no Vac. Adv.Comment
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Also, the oil viscosity is stock.79 F; CNC cut 2nd gear dogs; Ported/Milled head; Modded Airbox 8x8 bottom auto filter; more initial timing adv. , less Cent., no Vac. Adv.Comment
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Increase rear suspension preload is burn rubber; less preload is wheelies. Other than that it's just about ride. Some guys upgrade to aftermarket rear shocks. You will see the prelod steps on the outside of those rear shocks.79 F; CNC cut 2nd gear dogs; Ported/Milled head; Modded Airbox 8x8 bottom auto filter; more initial timing adv. , less Cent., no Vac. Adv.Comment
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I know I may sound ignorant for saying this, lol, but all I want to do is not have the bike feeling like it's going over train tracks as I'm driving down certain roads. Do I want more preload, or less preload on the shocks?1979 XS1100F
2H9 Mod, Truck-Lite LED Headlight, TECHNA-FIT S/S Brake Lines, Rear Air Shocks, TKAT Fork Brace, Dyna DC-I Coils, TC Fuse Block, Barnett HD Clutch Springs, Superbike Handlebars, V-Star 650 ACCT, NGK Irridium Plugs, OEM Exhaust. CNC-Cut 2nd Gear Dogs; Ported/Milled Head; Modded Airbox: 8x8 Wix Panel Filter; #137.5 Main Jet, Viper Yellow Paint, Michelin Pilot Activ F/R, Interstate AGM Battery, 14MM MC, Maier Fairing, Cree LED Fog Lights.Comment
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Ian,
Here is the correct way to set up your suspension.
How to set suspension sag
Doing mine involved replacing all of the springs, but the result was worth it.Marty (in Mississippi)
XS1100SG
XS650SK
XS650SH
XS650G
XS6502F
XS650EComment
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Lol, I think I'll just go out there and turn some stuff and go for a ride. Thanks for the guide though.1979 XS1100F
2H9 Mod, Truck-Lite LED Headlight, TECHNA-FIT S/S Brake Lines, Rear Air Shocks, TKAT Fork Brace, Dyna DC-I Coils, TC Fuse Block, Barnett HD Clutch Springs, Superbike Handlebars, V-Star 650 ACCT, NGK Irridium Plugs, OEM Exhaust. CNC-Cut 2nd Gear Dogs; Ported/Milled Head; Modded Airbox: 8x8 Wix Panel Filter; #137.5 Main Jet, Viper Yellow Paint, Michelin Pilot Activ F/R, Interstate AGM Battery, 14MM MC, Maier Fairing, Cree LED Fog Lights.Comment
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