| Author | Message | ||
     Treadmarks |
Ok guys, how about a little help with the suspension settings on my Uly. I am wondering what the happy spot is for some other Uly folks. The factory recommended settings work pretty good for nice roads and curves. The problem is, I don't have many nice roads or hardly any curves. I weigh about 185 with gear. I ride daily about 60-70 miles round trip to work. Most of the ride is straight expressway that is always under construction with many grooves, metal plates, and manhole covers, with considerable potholes and gaps in the pavement surface. I often take short cuts through parking lots and have to deal with large speed bumps and medians with curbs. I would like the suspension to be able to soak up the rough spots and have a soft plush ride that uses the full travel of the suspension. I have tried increasing the preload and changing the compression dampening to let it compress quickly and changed the rebound dampening to let it come up slower. It actually handles better at high speeds now, but it isn't gobbling up imperfections like I would like it to. Anyone find a happy spot that they would like to share for similar needs? Any and all help is greatly appreciated. | ||
| Gotj |
First of all, READ THE DIRECTIONS!!!!!  Seriously, have you tried the comfort settings for your weight found in the manual? You didn't mention it if you did. Buell provides elaborate information about setting up the suspension that should provide the baseline for any mods. If that's where you started, then increasing the preload is moving in the wrong direction. Go softer for the cushy ride. Soften both the compression and rebound damping even more. I lot of the "sting" from sharp-edge bumps is caused by high compression damping. | ||
| Johnboy777 |
@ 250lbs, I have my sus. set per the manual, except that i have the front pre-load set one line softer - i like the pre-load just a bit softer than what the manual suggests, up front. works perfect 4 me. | ||
| Maximum |
I smell another mod coming!  | ||
| Jflaig |
I run the lighter pe-load on the rear also. Running @ 275, I run a pre-load closer to 215 for the comfort. I run @ 35 miles each way on similar roads, and this helps soften the bucking. | ||
| Gotj |
Jflaig, Which setting are you running for the 215#, Factory, Ride Quality Enhancement, Enhanced Steering Quickness, or Chassis Control/Handling Enhancement and does it include the Cold Weather Riding adjustment? | ||
| Jflaig |
All setting on mine are set to factory recs, except the rear pre-load. I am calling the pre-load the big knob under the seat. Lightening up here has helped soften the rough roads in NE Ohio. If I am calling things wrong, please correct me. No other adjustments, be it weather or otherwise. This works for me. Seat of the pants feel. Jeff | ||
| Skrobe |
You could (within reasonable limits) change your tire air pressures. Since you are running mostly straight line, you could lower the pressure front and rear to let the tires give a little more. 2 to 3 psi may give the tires more of a chance to absorb some of the shock. You will note that the tires WILL probably run hotter since they are moving - flexing around more. | ||
| Danger_dave |
Move. | ||
| Bearly |
Yep Maximum I think your right. A Uly with 12 inches of suspension travel! | ||
| Bosh |
"Move."  Agreed! Sage advice there!! Sorry Tread, can't offer anything useful. If you get some good shots of the bike with the new paint and airbox cover I'm sure lots of folks would love to see em!!  | ||
| Treadmarks |
Seriously, have you tried the comfort settings for your weight found in the manual Thanks for the slap in the face brother. That is just what I needed. That info is the page before the setup info I usually follow. I did the setup for my weight, then an additional 50% of what they recommended for the ride quality enhancement. You could (within reasonable limits) change your tire air pressures. Good recommendation Skrobe. I went from 36/38 to 33/35. All said and done, the ride to work this morning was awesome. The beeyatch rides lincoln now, and still tracks like it's on rails. Wheelies are way too easy now. Readjusted the rox risers to bring the bars back a little more. The new riding position with the big azz ram air box makes me feel like I am riding in the bike instead of on it now. Why thank ya baby. Thank ya very much.  | ||
| Treadmarks |
If you get some good shots of the bike with the new paint and airbox cover I'm sure lots of folks would love to see em!! Thanks Bosh, The red eyed armadillo is way overdue for a bath. I will get a few shots after bath day Saturday and post em. | ||
| Gotj |
"Thanks for the slap in the face brother. That is just what I needed." I'm sorry that it felt like that. Your post said you were making adjustments that were in the opposite direction to the changes in the manual for Ride Enhancement, e.g., increasing preload. All of the comfort settings DECREASE the Factory Recommended Settings. You still are talking about an "additional" 50%. Did you mean 50% less? | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I have my preload maxed out.  I'll be visiting Traxxion Dynamics soon I'm afraid. Eyeballing one of these:  | ||
| Treadmarks |
I'm sorry that it felt like that. No need to be sorry...I think I liked it.  I wanted the preload a little high to try to keep from banging up the micron when I cut across medians and curbs. I am working on a skidplate for the micron, just not ready quite yet. In the section of the manual that explains about the comfort adjustments, they go on to say that additional comfort could be had by opening the rebound dampening another 1/4-1 turn(or something to that effect-I don't have the manual with me now). So, in addition to the initial comfort setting, I added half of the extra comfort setting as indicated in the comfort section. If that makes any sense...  Thanks for the help Gotj, as it solved the issue. I can't wait for lunchtime so I can sneak in a quickie ride. | ||
| Treadmarks |
Shwiiiiing! | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I want a firm suspension running no preload for my weight with gear. All I'm doing is taking out shock travel to get stiffness. In the end, I've taken a really nice Uly and turned it into a rigid. | ||
| Gotj |
"I'm sorry that it felt like that. No need to be sorry...I think I liked it." Whew!! I thought I had stepped in it with my farkle hero.  Glad you have it sorted out now. |
