Need suspension tips for 2 up riding

Discussion in 'General VFR Discussions' started by Got_Wings?, Mar 5, 2009.

  1. Got_Wings?

    Got_Wings? New Member

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    So I just got my new-to-me 03 VFR 2 weeks ago and am ready to take the wife for her maiden voyage on it.

    My question is, I'm looking for tips/advice on a proper suspension set up for 2 up riding. I'm 5' 11", 195 and she is 5' 10", 135 lbs for reference. I know there is no 'magic' setting, and that alot of it is just personal preference...just looking for some overall advice from those who might be well versed in the workings of our suspension.

    I have a general knowledge and understanding of rebound damping and spring pre load, how they work etc. Is there any 'ratio' if you will that should be applied when setting the rear pre load and damping? How should that differ from the front's setting? I guess I've always been tentative to tinker with these, but know there are many benefits to be had from doing it correctly.

    Also, while we're on the subject, what might be a good setting for sport riding with just myself?

    Also in regards to tire pressure, should that be increased at all? FYI the weather here in AZ on Sat. is supposed to be highs in the upper 70s. (Gotta love it!)


    Thanks in advance guys (and gals)!
    Jason
     
  2. Got_Wings?

    Got_Wings? New Member

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    I found this since I posted, very helpful video:

    ON THE THROTTLE

    Still open to hearing any tips or advice!
     
  3. soundmaster31

    soundmaster31 New Member

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    as a big man (6'4" and 345lbs) I would suggest cranking the suspension preload all the way up if it's stock. Don't forget your front forks either. The stock suspension is pretty crappy at handling this kind of weight. I switched to an Ohlin's with 350lb spring and couldn't be happier. Money well spent. (I still need to replace my front fork springs though) The ride may be a little bit harsh but that depends on the condition of your rear shock. Mine had 27K miles on it already, and it was crappy but it was near the end of it's life anyways.

    Tire pressure. ALL the way to max PSI. 36 Front, 42 Rear I believe. This will help keep your tires wearing evenly and allow the bike to handle normally without feeling too "squishy"


    As far as sport riding by yourself with a stock setup, well set the sag and go from there. Sportier is going to tend to be on the hard side when ever you hit bumps you'll know it, but your tires won't lose much contact with the road.
     
  4. 02 VFR Rider

    02 VFR Rider New Member

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    I have my 02 set up for myself ( 152lbs ) and i leave it at that ( sag set for my weight )
    other then that set rebound so when i give hard push down it compresses and rebounds at aprox same speed. I am driving on the street not the track.
    I have no problems with someone on the back weighing 135lbs. I also give mt step son rides as well he is 6'-3" and 195 him I feel on the back and dragg the kitty cat on the ground when doing hard corners ( more right hand then left ) but still did not change settings and bike does nothing funky.
    So i would say just set up sag for your weight and dont worry about messing with it just enjoy.
     
  5. soundmaster31

    soundmaster31 New Member

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    I agree that the bike doesn't act out of line at all under heavy loads. The only time the suspension wasn't adequate for me in street riding was the huge frost heaves and potholes here in Michigan. She'll handle like a dream if the suspension is set up correctly.

    As far as the amount of weight she can handle and still be sporty is right near the bike's weight limit. However, that all depends on where the weight is carried(pilot,passenger, or luggage) If it's all in the pilot (like me haha) then you can push the limit some. I won't say how much weight I've had on the poor VFR on here because I'll get flamed.:crazy::bolt:
     
  6. Spectre

    Spectre New Member

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    I ride a 2007 VFR 800A, but I'm not familiar with the 2003 VFR800A. At any rate, if the rear suspension between these two bikes is essentially the same, the ABS versions (unlike the non-ABS) have a rear suspension in which the spring pre-load is adjusted via a 'spring pre-load adjuster knob' found on the right rear of the bike.

    This knob has 35 spring pre-load positions ('clicks') for different load and/or riding conditions. In contrast, the non-ABS bikes have a 5-position spring pre-load which can only be adjusted with a special wrench.

    Here's how I like to think of things here. With the non-ABS version of the rear spring pre-load, you can only choose one of 5 settings, in which '1' is the least stiff. On the other hand, the ABS version offers a convenient knob with 35-click adjustable preload positions, with 35 clicks being the most stiff.

    35/5 = 7. That is, when you dial or 'zero' back the 35-click adjuster knob on the ABS bike to the first click, or the most relaxed setting, and you then begin increasing pre-load one click at a time, every 7 clicks will roughly compare to the 5-positions of the spring pre-load available on non-ABS version.

    Obviously then, the 35-click ABS version allows one to more precisely dial-in a given amount of rear spring pre-load compared with the non-ABS version, but these 35 available clicks may seem baffling to dummies like myself unless you keep this ratio of 'clicks' betwen the ABS vs. non-ABS versions in mind as guideposts.

    So, let's say that you initially want the rear spring pre-load of your VFR 800A to roughly approximate the #2 setting on the non-ABS version. You would count off 14 clicks, right? (7 clicks 'ABS' = 1 click non-ABS; 14 clicks ABS = 2 clicks non-ABS, etc.)

    Let's further suppose that you find 14 clicks on your ABS bike to be a bit too mushy for your total weight (solo), including full gear, but you also find 28 clicks to feel a bit too stiff. Well, you have 13 clicks in between 14 and 28 to play and experiment with, right? And so it goes.

    I'm 5' 9" and 195 lbs. I've rode 2-up on my VFR (she was ~ 5' 7", 120 lbs.) and I offer the following thoughts. First, the stock VFR's front suspension is not easily adjustable from ride to ride, and even then the adjustments are rather limited. Best solution is to set the front suspension more towards the stiffer end, and then some, and once you've found a sweet spot, leave it there, and forget about trying to fine tune it if you ride 2-up.

    On the other hand, the rear spring pre-load on the ABS version is, as mentioned, very easily and more precisely adjustable, since you have 35 clicks to play and experiment with (rather than only 5) simply by turning a knob.

    My 2007 VFR 800A is currently being refitted with Race Tech front and rear suspension rebuilds, and I've not yet had an opportunity to test the results. That said, when I was riding the bike with its stock suspension, I found that for solo riding, after much experimentation I came to like a rear spring pre-load setting in the vicinity of 18 clicks. When riding 2-up (she wore full gear), I found that ~28 clicks seemed to feel about right. YMMV.
     
  7. sgd

    sgd New Member

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    Yeah, I too was thinking this but the owners manual states that the standard position on the ABS is 7 clicks in from fully soft (all the way counter-clockwise and then 7 clicks in the clockwise direction). Strange eh? I ride with 18 clicks and I weigh about 220 - I guess the standard settings are aimed at an average Japanese person not a fat Brit like me.

    Any suggestions for setting the rear rebound? The roads are fairly rough around here so I am considering increasing it in quarter-turn intervals over the next week and seeing how it responds. Any and all advice welcome though?
     
  8. Got_Wings?

    Got_Wings? New Member

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    I took the bike to a local race shop to have them set the suspension 'correctly' given my weight...ie measure and set sag, all that.

    $30 later I realized I wasted my money because:
    1. Turns out I had the rear set correctly already - at 19 clicks from 'full soft'.
    2. The front forks were set WAY soft by the previous owner, so in order to match them to my weight (proper sag), the tech had to turn them only 2 clicks away from full HARD.

    I found that with this setting, the bikes front end would bounce up and down a lot, the faster you went and the more bumpy the road. I coulnd't take it...and went back to a happy medium. I'm now about 5-7 turns away from full hard setting. Maybe it's not 'ideal' for fast canyon carving...but how often am I really doing that? It's certainly comfortable now.

    FYI I'm 5'11, 195lbs. When riding 2 up with the wife (5'9, 135lbs) I find that even all the way to the full hard setting out back is still too soft for my liking.

    My .02
     
  9. Spectre

    Spectre New Member

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