Suspension issues?

[RUN666]

So are you bottoming out the front or rear?

Once or twice but, objectively, not all the time. I find, unlike my suspension specialist, that the fork and shock absorber are relatively/enough hard.

 

[Jagster]

No mention about what anyone weighs. Has anyone measured the rider sag front and rear? If the springs are too heavy for your weight, the ride over bumps will never be good. Lateral handlebar movement is not right. What happens when you take your hands off the bars? I had a fairly new T120 and the headstock bearings were loose. I can’t believe the Showa suspension is not top spec. I can believe the springs are too heavy for many riders. I’m 165 lbs and the stock shock springs on my Rocket classic didn’t move at all.

Let's not forget that our biking gear can also add substantially to our over all weight, so this needs to be taken into account.
It's not always clear when people state and then compare weights and suspension settings, that all the weight has been taken into account.

 

[Si3RBlack]

Hi everyone. Am a new R3 owner in the UK, recently picking up a newish GT from a local Triumph dealer. Only completed about 130 miles so far, but something doesn't feel right about the suspension. At all speeds, there seems to be a very slight 'shake' or bounce to the bike (highish frequency) almost like riding over a slightly rutted road surface, which can be felt through the bars and seat. Suspension settings are factory standard and changes in road conditions have no effect. Perhaps the wheels need balancing, but they both have wheel weights attached and there is no evidence of any being dislodged. Any suggestions?

Where are you based first of all? I have a 2021 Rocket 3R Black. I went to a local suspension specialist who showed me how the front and rear were working independently of each other. It cost me £75 to be tuned in to the suspension and the bike handles like a dream. Unless one has a frew grand to through at Ohlins you will never max out the bikes chassis and suapension on public roads considering the issues we all have with our roads. It is well worth a visit to a suspension specialist near to you get get a proper set up. That's what I did and what a difference?

 

[RUN666]

Where are you based first of all? I have a 2021 Rocket 3R Black. I went to a local suspension specialist who showed me how the front and rear were working independently of each other. It cost me £75 to be tuned in to the suspension and the bike handles like a dream. Unless one has a frew grand to through at Ohlins you will never max out the bikes chassis and suapension on public roads considering the issues we all have with our roads. It is well worth a visit to a suspension specialist near to you get get a proper set up. That's what I did and what a difference?

Ok that's good but, in the end, what did your specialist do? Give us the settings used for your bike, your weight and tell us if anything has been changed (oil, springs, etc.). Thanks in advance.

 

[Si3RBlack]

Ok that's good but, in the end, what did your specialist do? Give us the settings used for your bike, your weight and tell us if anything has been changed (oil, springs, etc.). Thanks in advance.

The bike is stock. No additional oil or new springs. All standard. I have no idea how clicks in or out he did. The Company are present at all the domestic race rounds in the UK and are well known on the circuit. However one of the things he did do was sit me on the bike in all my riding gear and meticulously measured the travel,sag rebound. No idea what the gadget he used was but lasers were involved of some sort and weights and strings. Whatever he did the bike was 100% totally better handling all round and more compliant.

 

[RUN666]

The bike is stock. No additional oil or new springs. All standard. I have no idea how clicks in or out he did. The Company are present at all the domestic race rounds in the UK and are well known on the circuit. However one of the things he did do was sit me on the bike in all my riding gear and meticulously measured the travel,sag rebound. No idea what the gadget he used was but lasers were involved of some sort and weights and strings. Whatever he did the bike was 100% totally better handling all round and more compliant.

OK, so I offer you something... you'll see it's not very complicated, even a guy from the City could do it:
you take a paper, a pen and a flat screwdriver (not too big). You stand next to your bike and screw in all the adjustments on the fork and shock absorber, note the number of revolutions/clicks you find and then do the opposite. Finally, you communicate these results to us so that everyone can benefit from your expertise. Thanks in advance !

 

[Si3RBlack]

OK, so I offer you something... you'll see it's not very complicated, even a guy from the City could do it:
you take a paper, a pen and a flat screwdriver (not too big). You stand next to your bike and screw in all the adjustments on the fork and shock absorber, note the number of revolutions/clicks you find and then do the opposite. Finally, you communicate these results to us so that everyone can benefit from your expertise. Thanks in advance !

Apologies but I am no expert. I am just fortunate to live 5 miles from one of the best suspension tuners in the north of the UK. I will pay a visit and ask accordingly over time.

 

[Ezayakyala]

OK, so I offer you something... you'll see it's not very complicated, even a guy from the City could do it:
you take a paper, a pen and a flat screwdriver (not too big). You stand next to your bike and screw in all the adjustments on the fork and shock absorber, note the number of revolutions/clicks you find and then do the opposite. Finally, you communicate these results to us so that everyone can benefit from your expertise. Thanks in advance !

This is what I did. I stuck a screw driver in my tail bag and removed the side cover. Went around my hood on the worst roads I could find and adjusted in increments until I felt it dialed in. Then I took it for a quick jaunt around faster roads and twistys and firmed it up a touch in the rear. I would say I’m 95% happy with the results but not too unhappy that the 5% bothers me. I would say that suspension adjustment is a skill that’s very much acquired through trial and error and helps you setup your bikes how you like it. Keep the manual open on your phone if you need to remember which way to turn things. It’s really impossible to screw up as the stock settings are documented.

Best thing I ever did was I stopped getting my
Guitars and motorcycles setup by someone else and learned to do it myself. Saves me a lot of money and I find so much more satisfaction in personalizing it to myself.

Wish I could work on the bike myself with oil changes and things like that but I have 2 young kids and you can’t do that stuff when you’re rushed or you will strip a screw or mess something up. So for me it’s worth the money offloading that to someone else.

 

[RUN666]

This is what I did. I stuck a screw driver in my tail bag and removed the side cover. Went around my hood on the worst roads I could find and adjusted in increments until I felt it dialed in. Then I took it for a quick jaunt around faster roads and twistys and firmed it up a touch in the rear. I would say I’m 95% happy with the results but not too unhappy that the 5% bothers me. I would say that suspension adjustment is a skill that’s very much acquired through trial and error and helps you setup your bikes how you like it. Keep the manual open on your phone if you need to remember which way to turn things. It’s really impossible to screw up as the stock settings are documented.

Best thing I ever did was I stopped getting my
Guitars and motorcycles setup by someone else and learned to do it myself. Saves me a lot of money and I find so much more satisfaction in personalizing it to myself.

Wish I could work on the bike myself with oil changes and things like that but I have 2 young kids and you can’t do that stuff when you’re rushed or you will strip a screw or mess something up. So for me it’s worth the money offloading that to someone else.

Hi,
I understand your point of view perfectly given that this is what I do for all of my motorcycles...I maintain them to the maximum of my possibilities (drains, adjustments, changing parts etc.). My point was simply that, as we registered on a forum to, among other things, communicate our "stuff" to members, it seemed logical to me to have this kind of information. I also carry around with my screwdriver but if someone has an impeccable setting to send me I will gladly apply it.

 

[RWR1956]

Thanks Jagster. Already saw this care of another thread I came across and tried the settings but problem persists. Still think it's wheels/tyres or both. Played around with other settings as detailed in handbook but no change. Speaking to dealer tomorrow.

Jagster
Thought you might like to know the result of my findings. Did not accept the dealer's road assessment of the bike(a supposed 'expert' on R3s said he could not find any fault, said it was a combination of tyres, road conditions blah, blah). Took it in for 600 mile service and asked them to check wheel balance and bearings. Turns out front wheel was 34g out of balance!! Problems solved. So much for their 'expert' opinion