Suspension tuning

[braol]

I just installed progressive springs in with 15w fork oil. I haven't been able to ride it, waiting on signal generator, but I have been reading about suspension tuning. When I push down on the forks it goes back up past and then back down to it's resting point and when I'm sitting on it and push down on the forks it tops out goes down and then up again to it's resting point. Everything I've read says when you push down it should go up and stop at it's resting point. Do you think I should go with 20w oil or ride it and see how it does first? I'm thinking to ride it then try 20w and go from there. Thanks in advance.

[KEITH KRAUSE]

I haven't tried the "up and down" method you describe.
I just install a PVC pre-load spacer that will give me approx' 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" drop when I sit on the bike. For me, this gives a good ride quality. I have Progressive springs and shocks and use 15 wt too.
I run around 8 to 9 psi.

[Brando]

You should have 25mm of sag both front and back

The easiest way to adjust forks is with plastic ties on the crome tubes. Put them on and slide them to the seals with the bike unloaded(no rider) Then sit on the bike legs up on pegs. Then get off and measure how much the ties moved up. It should be 25mm or 1in. Adjust the top pre-load screw or cut sections of pvc tube if you don't have pre-load screws to put in the top of the progressive springs to increase the sag. Never put air in forks. Ask racers and mechanics, nobody puts air in forks.

Tomorrow I'm picking up my forks from Race Tech. They are putting in valve emulators. They told me NO AIR.

[tfb]

For a very good, user-friendly guide to suspension tuning and set-up, go to

http://oldskoolsuzuki.info/

and then navigate to 'Seven-Eleven' and then hit the link to 'Suspension Setup for Dummies' (9th link down, in the left-hand column).

Mike.

[KEITH KRAUSE]

No air in forks? NOBODY puts air in forks? I wonder how many manufacturers we can name that have air in the forks?
With the Progressive springs, you can run zero psi but I prefer 8-9 psi, which is about 3-4 less than when I had stock springs. Just my preference.
I'm not saying you're wrong but I really don't care what some mechanics say and I'm not a racer. My bike is only on its second set of seals, is 26 years old and has about 130,000 miles. I like the ride. I wouldn't change a thing.

[Clone]

I know a lot of guys with bikes who have air preload front forks. UUUmMMM, all of them use air in their forks with oil of varying weight and spacers of various lengths. Of course we are not professional racers, but some people do use air with fair results.

[JayH]

You didn't mention what bike model bike you ride and whether or not you want to ride in cold weather. The use of lighter oil in cold weather will give you a better damping ability compared to a heavier oil.

I'm not sure what the comment about adding air to the forks was about but most of the GS bikes that have air forks are supossed to have a minimal amount (~8 psi) of air in them.

Ride the bike around w/ a plastic tie on the fork tube. This is a great way to monitor your suspension setttings changes for the front fork.