What did you do to your bike today?

[CWARD]

The Preload does seem odd but maybe they're thinking it's easier to remove preload than to add it especially with the shock. You need to get the SAG to be about 20-25% of available travel with a full tank and you sat on it in your riding position with all your gear on. Obviously needs to be a two person job to do it right. 

 

Compression is how quick the suspension reacts to the road surface and bumps. Fast compression is for the smaller movements/hits and slow compression for the larger movements, which seems a bit misleading. 

 

Rebound is how quickly it allows the suspension to return. 

 

I'm not familiar with your forks so you will need to consult your manual but usually preload and rebound are on the top of the forks and compression at the bottom but some have rebound in one fork leg and compression in the other. 

 

Usual steps is to set SAG, Compression and then Rebound (which may require fine adjustments of the compression as they act against each other). If you're a pie lover or a bean pole then you may need to swap out the springs if you can't set the sag correctly. Properly sorted suspension is one of the best upgrades you can do and it's not that expensive to have someone do it for you but forget the dealers and find a specialist, lots by the race tracks.

 

[fabiamk2SE]

2 hours ago, CWARD said:

The Preload does seem odd but maybe they're thinking it's easier to remove preload than to add it especially with the shock. You need to get the SAG to be about 20-25% of available travel with a full tank and you sat on it in your riding position with all your gear on. Obviously needs to be a two person job to do it right. 

 

Compression is how quick the suspension reacts to the road surface and bumps. Fast compression is for the smaller movements/hits and slow compression for the larger movements, which seems a bit misleading. 

 

Rebound is how quickly it allows the suspension to return. 

 

I'm not familiar with your forks so you will need to consult your manual but usually preload and rebound are on the top of the forks and compression at the bottom but some have rebound in one fork leg and compression in the other. 

 

Usual steps is to set SAG, Compression and then Rebound (which may require fine adjustments of the compression as they act against each other). If you're a pie lover or a bean pole then you may need to swap out the springs if you can't set the sag correctly. Properly sorted suspension is one of the best upgrades you can do and it's not that expensive to have someone do it for you but forget the dealers and find a specialist, lots by the race tracks.

 

 

Ah. I think ill pay the £40 for a pro to do it   stick to something i know about   

 

Not expecting a magic carpet but i think its more set up for the track atm   

 

cheers for the tips

[CWARD]

It’s well worth it and if you’ve never had your suspension setup before you’ll be surprised at the difference it makes. 

[fabiamk2SE]

2 hours ago, CWARD said:

It’s well worth it and if you’ve never had your suspension setup before you’ll be surprised at the difference it makes. 

 

Did on the Aprilia, just did the Tracer to the specs that MCN suggested. Think this one needs a little more work though to get the best from it   

 

 

[CWARD]

I managed to get out on the KTM this afternoon. I don’t think I’ve had chance to ride it this year and after riding around on the CX500 I’d forgotten how this bike can fly with the slightest provocation. Hoping to meet up with a new group from JemSpeed for ride out over the bank holiday, no idea where they’re going so hopefully will be fun. 

[fabiamk2SE]

48 minutes ago, CWARD said:

I managed to get out on the KTM this afternoon. I don’t think I’ve had chance to ride it this year and after riding around on the CX500 I’d forgotten how this bike can fly with the slightest provocation. Hoping to meet up with a new group from JemSpeed for ride out over the bank holiday, no idea where they’re going so hopefully will be fun. 

 

bit of a difference between the 2 isnt there! 

 

ace. are they related to the shop at all or just a common meeting place? careful around there, im sure you've seen how many crashes theres been on the front haha

 

[Gyp]

New front tyre

[CWARD]

22 minutes ago, fabiamk2SE said:

 

bit of a difference between the 2 isnt there! 

 

ace. are they related to the shop at all or just a common meeting place? careful around there, im sure you've seen how many crashes theres been on the front haha

 

 

Just from the JemSpeed Facebook group of local riders. 

 

I’ve seen the videos. Shame the thief didn’t lose his foot. More of a shame the Jag driver will have to claim of his own insurance. 

Edited 3 May, 2018 by CWARD

[fabiamk2SE]

finally getting stuff sorted now. 

 

Got it on the Abba stand after a small blow-lamping moment to get the aprilia adaptors out . 

 

Washed, dried, cleansed the paint to get any ****ee off, then just used Super Resin Polish and HD wax, buffed to a good finish. 

 

Akrapovics on, radiator guards on, backed compression off 2 clicks to see what happens... Just need to get the sat nav and billet chain adjusters on and perhaps buy a little screen. 

[CWARD]

For those wondering what we’re talking about

 

 

[fabiamk2SE]

2 minutes ago, CWARD said:

For those wondering what we’re talking about

 

 

 

and this  

 

 

Edited 3 May, 2018 by fabiamk2SE

[CWARD]

4 minutes ago, fabiamk2SE said:

finally getting stuff sorted now. 

 

Got it on the Abba stand after a small blow-lamping moment to get the aprilia adaptors out . 

 

Washed, dried, cleansed the paint to get any ****ee off, then just used Super Resin Polish and HD wax, buffed to a good finish. 

 

Akrapovics on, radiator guards on, backed compression off 2 clicks to see what happens... Just need to get the sat nav and billet chain adjusters on and perhaps buy a little screen. 

 

Looking good except for the reflection in the tank of the ugly guy 

[fabiamk2SE]

Just now, CWARD said:

 

Looking good except for the reflection in the tank of the ugly guy 

 

thats why i like biking, whack the helmet on  

[Prykey]

11 hours ago, fabiamk2SE said:

finally getting stuff sorted now. 

 

Got it on the Abba stand after a small blow-lamping moment to get the aprilia adaptors out . 

 

Washed, dried, cleansed the paint to get any ****ee off, then just used Super Resin Polish and HD wax, buffed to a good finish. 

 

Akrapovics on, radiator guards on, backed compression off 2 clicks to see what happens... Just need to get the sat nav and billet chain adjusters on and perhaps buy a little screen. 

 

Nice one 

[Ootohere]

No bike so doing nothing, but while watching the Tour de Yorkshire and cyclists on the telly i am watching the many hundred of bikes heading north through Sunny South Ayrshire.

BMW's a plenty and others, many Harley's,  but the Harley Caledonia Club were heading South with the most wonderful of noise.

Last weekend was busy, this weekend just unreal.

[CWARD]

Changing the discs and pads on my wife’s car and broke the wear sensor so had to nip out to get another. Decided to take the CX500 again. I can’t help but enjoy myself on it, even around town at road legal speeds it feels faster than it is probably because it’s close to its maximum performance where ever I go on it. 

Made even more enjoyable when the idiot in the new Golf GTi, who cut me up on the roundabout , couldn’t catch me up on my nearly 40 year old bike. Again more chuckles watching him doing silly overtakes to try to regain his fragile ego before I lost sight of him in my mirrors. 

 

I had a much better ride than this guy

 

 

[scoobz]

Today i received a set of accel stealth super coils from the USA. Hopefully have them fitted over the weekend.

Driving down to wolverhampton on tuesday, to pick up a tow behind trailer for touring. Hoping it fits in the back of the yeti!!

[CWARD]

4 minutes ago, scoobz said:

Today i received a set of accel stealth super coils from the USA. Hopefully have them fitted over the weekend.

Driving down to wolverhampton on tuesday, to pick up a tow behind trailer for touring. Hoping it fits in the back of the yeti!!

 

Take your spanners and socket set just in case

[scoobz]

1 minute ago, CWARD said:

 

Take your spanners and socket set just in case

Yep, CWARD.  I will have to remove the towbar and it should fit with the seats down and the drawbar between the front seats.

[CWARD]

Most bike trailers have a central beam/drawbar that can be unbolted from the hitch and main body if you need to remove it to get it in the back. Good luck!

[Prykey]

I said having test rides was dangerous......

Edited 4 May, 2018 by Prykey

[CWARD]

Electra Glide? Just a test ride or was you sensible and left your wallet at home?

[fabiamk2SE]

16 hours ago, Prykey said:

I said having test rides was dangerous......

 

So when does it arrive and what have you told the mrs? 

[fabiamk2SE]

22 hours ago, CWARD said:

Changing the discs and pads on my wife’s car and broke the wear sensor so had to nip out to get another. Decided to take the CX500 again. I can’t help but enjoy myself on it, even around town at road legal speeds it feels faster than it is probably because it’s close to its maximum performance where ever I go on it. 

Made even more enjoyable when the idiot in the new Golf GTi, who cut me up on the roundabout , couldn’t catch me up on my nearly 40 year old bike. Again more chuckles watching him doing silly overtakes to try to regain his fragile ego before I lost sight of him in my mirrors. 

 

I had a much better ride than this guy

 

 

 

good effort. yanno what they side, riding a slow bike fast is more fun than riding a fast bike slow. As my mate says, its not what you drive, its how you drive it. 

 

 

[CWARD]

2 hours ago, fabiamk2SE said:

 

So when does it arrive and what have you told the mrs? 

 

I guess “ This old thing? I've just changed the colour” won’t work

Edited 5 May, 2018 by CWARD