Adventurer Suspension

[BMWon2]

Just bought the Dual Sport Riding DVD and they addressed suspension setup (sag etc) but noted it didn't apply to the BMW. Anyone with the formula for our suspension setup.
Thanks,

[Polarbear]

Suspension is a very personal expectation kind of thing, as I see it. Some off road riders like a softer feel in the suspension, vs a rock hard jolt supsension. I've raced, toured and generally ridden everywhere off road in my life and I like a softer setup on mine. You will find arguements all over the board, regarding how to do yours, but the bottom line is YOU and what feels good. You definately do not want a "bottom out" condition in your suspension, so HOW heavy do you ride the bike and are you TWO up, etcetc.. Answers to these questions will give some good clues to what you need for shocks and springs. I ride two up, packing camping gear, Jesse Bags, etc and really load test my new GSAdventure! Recently did this to Mexico, AZ and Death Valley, two up in the dirt:). The stock suspension never bottomed out and did quite nicely overall. With this kind of load, I was pleasantly surprised the OEM shocks did so well. I am 250, my wife 150lbs. and we clearly loaded the GSA to its maximum limit. Never once did it give any indication of overload:). If you can ride this way, heavy and rocks,sand,dirt,mud,snow,etc., you can ride anywhere. Your suspension can be stiff or soft as you prefer. I will keep my OEM's for a while, when I may change to Ohlin's, as one of my past GS's had. PRICEY, at 1500$ and may well worth it when the OEM's go too soft. The better shocks have spring options, for loading the bike in various ways, as two up, fully loaded kind of stuff:). The heavier spring may be for you, but knowing full well it may be too stiff, even on its weakest setting! Know what you buy, because its not cheap:). Randy13233:thumb :usa

[empeg9000]

I cant speak about off-roading but I am with Polar Bear. I like a soft suspension, even when riding quick but not so soft as to wallow, so I like the rebound dialed in high along with proper sag. I find a soft suspension handled irregularities

[kbasa]

Just bought the Dual Sport Riding DVD and they addressed suspension setup (sag etc) but noted it didn't apply to the BMW. Anyone with the formula for our suspension setup.
Thanks,

The cool thing is that you can set static sag for both front and rear on a telelever equipped BMW. I've used the standard formulas to great success.

Remember that on a constant rate spring equipped shock, preload does not adjust spring rate, but rather how much suspension travel is used up when you and your stuff are on the bike. Too much sag and the bike will require more effort through the bars and feel like it's understeering. Too little sag and the bike will fee nervous and lack stability.

When you ride by yourself, you should have one spring position and when you ride with gear and/or a passenger, you should have another known good position. Mark them on a piece of duct tape under the seat so you remember them. I express them as a number of turns in from full out.

Damping is adjusted to suit the rider weight as well. Ideally, damping (not dampening, which is what happens to your pants when your suspension isn't set up right) should stop your bike from going up and down inside of one cycle. Alteratively, too much damping will make the bike "packdown". When this happens, the shock will be so damped that it can't fully extend again, which will induce the same effect as too little spring preload.

The objective of suspension is to keep the wheels on the ground. Compliance is the key word here, and chassis oscillation control is the objective.

[Retarded Jarhead]

I had a friend help me set up the sag on my KLR a few years ago and that made a difference but;

Is this even possible on an ESA equipped bike like my new GSA?

[kbasa]

I had a friend help me set up the sag on my KLR a few years ago and that made a difference but;

Is this even possible on an ESA equipped bike like my new GSA?

Not with ESA, sorry.