AT Suspension upgrading options ?
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I dont think there are any issues with the front end at 100kg, wind on some pre-load. Depends on what the intended use is but dont know why you would spend money on that from the get go.
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Hyperpro, Touratech and Ohlins have options
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The springs handle the mass (weight) of bike and rider. Bike is the largest part at say 540lb; with 160lb rider total 700lb. With 200lb rider total 740lb = 6% total difference despite the rider himself being 25% heavier.
Just set the rider sag with the preload adjusters. 25% of front travel and 33% of rear. Only consider stiffer springs if you can't get proper sag setting with preload maxed out.
Just set the rider sag with the preload adjusters. 25% of front travel and 33% of rear. Only consider stiffer springs if you can't get proper sag setting with preload maxed out.
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480 Posts
Agree with black99s, don't buy anything until you try adjusting the suspension preload as he suggests. I am heavier than you but can get this bike to ride pretty nicely, solo or two up. I find the rear needs loads of extra preload compared to the front. Two up with lots of luggage would be a problem for me though, I would have to invest in the rear at least.
Why 25%/35% I've not spotted that recommended on any suspension tuning sites (I'm trying to get aftermarket suspension on an NC750X right)
Mike
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I replaced fork and shock springs with Hyperpro primarily for the 20 mm increase in height. I planned on changing fork oil as usually Honda's looks like whale mucous but factory fork oil was red and high quality. Changed out with Hyperpro's 15 wt replacement. More adjustment for my weight, more than half of pre-load remaining for heavier loads.
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I have ordered Hyperpro front and rear kit also, from touratech.
My reasoning is that the rear suspension on the road, is for me at virtually full preload. No extra for wife or luggage and we have a trip planned. It feels awful with a pillion.
If I'm doing the rear, I might as well upgrade the front to even/balance things up.
I expect it to be a good upgrade and be noticeable, although as a solo bike the suspension is fine on road.
My reasoning is that the rear suspension on the road, is for me at virtually full preload. No extra for wife or luggage and we have a trip planned. It feels awful with a pillion.
If I'm doing the rear, I might as well upgrade the front to even/balance things up.
I expect it to be a good upgrade and be noticeable, although as a solo bike the suspension is fine on road.
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Google 33% rider sag
Site won't let me post links - not enough posts to qualify?
Look at racetech.com/page/id/30 -- the table is a good summary.
Setting sag correctly allows you to use full suspension travel without bottoming out.
Good luck
Ah yes - I can see that you AT guys would be looking at the dirt bike table entries, but for the NC I'm really following the street bike recommendations which are more or less the same for front and back in percentage terms.
As an aside - supposed adventure bikes are the biggest sellers (at least in the UK), but no specialist supsension tuners or websites seem to cater for this type of bike (ie big traillie lookalikes that are really road bikes). The suspension firm who fitted my Wilbers and Ractetech emulators is a very experienced racebike and tyre devlopment specialist but I'm sure he doesn't believe me when I say I don't want 'handling' I want a soft ride.
Mike
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208 Posts
There is a suspension specialist in Northern Ireland in Greyabbey. He is Clarence Bell at PLR Suspension. Telephone 028 4278 8854
He is a true expert and on occasions when I have visited him there have been motocross bikes on benches having their suspensions fettled. He accordingly knows "soft" suspensions very well. I am sorry I didn't go to him when I was messing around with my NC but the agency for Wilbers was with another individual who does not have the same expertise. We learn. Clarence is one of those who will find a fix for a problem and if he has to manufacture a special part to make something work, he will do so. There is nothing to lose by giving him a buzz. His specialty suspension is Ohlins but he will work with all makes.
He is a true expert and on occasions when I have visited him there have been motocross bikes on benches having their suspensions fettled. He accordingly knows "soft" suspensions very well. I am sorry I didn't go to him when I was messing around with my NC but the agency for Wilbers was with another individual who does not have the same expertise. We learn. Clarence is one of those who will find a fix for a problem and if he has to manufacture a special part to make something work, he will do so. There is nothing to lose by giving him a buzz. His specialty suspension is Ohlins but he will work with all makes.
I've appreciated your advice on this and the NC forum Griff - particularly your pioneering work in replacing the stock suspension. But Northern Ireland is a helluva trek for me :crying: and probably even further for most people on this AT forum.
The guy I am using near York, sounds like yer man in that he has had to make special bits up to make the Racetech emulators work with this new Showa DBV fork, but when I look at the springs he has used and the weight of oil I think he's leant more towards sportsbike performance handling than off-road softness - which is where I wanted to be. He's going to have a go at shifting it more that way on Wednesday so fingers crossed.
Mike
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Best of luck. Unfortunately Andreani were thinking the same way as your specialist where I was concerned. I don't think it occurred to them that plushness was a requirement for the NC. However plushness is also going to be limited somewhat by the length of suspension travel . Emulators and spring rate changes are fiddly, but when they are eventually set up to ones liking they are reputed to be excellent.
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Just fitted the Hyperpro rear spring on mine and am finding it much less vague on the bumps. I added 3 extra clicks of rebound from what I had been using stock. The bike sags a lot less and only need a click of preload whilst highway riding when I had the stock shock wound up to about 3 clicks off maximum. At 105Kg out of the shower I am not a lightweight. really happy with this change, apart from the swearing until I managed to get the unit out of the bike. I took a lot less time to get it back in. Cheers all.
I think the stock suspension is OK for mild off pavement use as long as the bike is not loaded down, and you don't ride too fast. However, I may be doing both from time to time, so things are changing. It may not be a lot of help to those not in the US, but Konflict Motorsports in Washington state will be reworking my front suspension internals and spring rates, and the rear shock will be changed for a TT Extreme mainly because it has both low and high speed adjustments. The stock forks are surprisingly good on washboard and I didn't want to loose that completely. My hope is that the low speed adjustment will do the trick. Konflict's owner has an Africa Twin which has been fully modified for adventure riding and that's a plus in my mind. He asks lots of questions about riding experience, how fast you do the whoops, how high a ledge you would ride off of without hesitation, etc., to get a good handle on how to set the spring rates. On my last long ride (4 weeks) I weighed everything I was wearing and hauling just as soon as I got home. My co-riders did the same and we were all right at 65 pounds. Consider 20 pounds of helmet, boots, Klim gear, and the rest is camping and traveling stuff including the panniers. It's an interesting exercise.
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Hi, I just returned from a 3 day ride where my AT was fully loaded with panniers and camping gear. I found the rear suspension way too soft and sag was excessive with max preload. I am 88kgs starkers plus the weight of the load. A heavier spring is definitely a requirement for even gentle off road conditions. Before I head down that path, has anyone fitted a new Ohlins shock? I am interested to see how they perform before getting a new spring and re-valve on the stock unit. thanks
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