Suspension setup.

[Jono]

Does anyone change their suspension setup when touring two up with luggage? If so, just the rear or what? Off to Scotland in June 2 up with luggage, just curious to know if I should consider it, mine is set at factory standard at the mo d34l , not fiddled with it since owning the bike. ta for any advice, and make it simple for me to understand c7u8 .

 

[Canadian Bird]

Suspension

When riding two-up with fully loaded Givi luggage, 3 bags, my setting is on hard.

 

[Dark Angel]

Does anyone change their suspension setup when touring two up with luggage? ...make it simple for me to understand.

Never touched it. As far as I'm concerned, the 'Bird is perfect for two-up touring with luggage (if you're carrying less than 30 stone all-up). Lorraine and I have a combined weight of around 25 stone and we've often done 10-hour day-trips with luggage. Above that workload, you may need Ohlins (or the like) on the rear. :h

Riding solo (on uneven roads), the 'Bird can develop some serious rear wheel weave when cornering but, two-up, this is all but eliminated. :yo:

Finally, if you're two-up with a passenger and panniers (I use Oxford soft), make sure to load the luggage "high" or you might find it touching down when cornering "with enthusiasm"! :}

 

[Quiney]

I have increased the damping a little.
The factory setting is usually mid-way, I increased it to half way between there and max (if you get the drift) Its an easy job with a long screwdriver.

Reason for doing it - just stiffened up the rear a little. Carring similar weight to Eric but with full Givi luggage. Have to agree that once loaded the Bird is 'planted' and no problems at all.

 

[Burgessz]

suspension set up

Hi out there!!!:yo:

Suspension set up, now your entering the Black art world, however toured all over the Pyrenees last year 2 up and with full Givi system and tank bag on the 2001 Bird and didn`t alter a thing. This year my wife and I are going on a 2006 Bird to France and Spain, went to Oulton Park for the BSB the other week for the weekend altered the setting of the rear shock by 1/4 of a turn harder making that 3/4 of a turn from fully in the Bird felt a little more planted and stable, so thats how it will be set up for this years european trips. At the end of the day it is what suits you and the way you ride as we are not all blessed with the talants of Rossi.

Burgessz
Grahamman8um

 

[kenneth B]

I have a 1998 Carb, I put stiffer springs in the front forks and put a spacer in the rear to make the rear shock longer. I gained better handling solo and two up feels the same. This was advice i got from Blackbird spares.

 

[Dark Angel]

...put a spacer in the rear.

...DOH! :-:

Using a 6mm spacer to increase the ride height is an absolute must on the 'Bird - it's become so much of a second nature to fit one immediately that I'd forgotten a-all about it! p0pc0rn41

Nice one, KennyB! :yo:

 

[Burgessz]

suspension set up

Hello!:yo:

Oh yes!!! The little 6mm spacer on the top of the rear shock, how did that slip my mind? The best ?1.00 you will ever spend and 20 minutes fitting it, what a doddle and such mighty gains add a set of bar risers for that extra bit of comfort and leverage and hitting those appexes becmes second nature and alot less hassle.

Burgessz

Grahamman8um

 

[AlexBlack]

Out of interest

how would you fit the spacer (esp in 20 mins!)? I would do mine but it took me half a day to remove my shock and hammer the preload adjust round to where it needed to be! so now I'm loathe to touching the damn thing.. Also, does it tip the weight forward noticably?

cheers...

 

[willibet]

how would you fit the spacer (esp in 20 mins!)? I would do mine but it took me half a day to remove my shock and hammer the preload adjust round to where it needed to be! so now I'm loathe to touching the damn thing.. Also, does it tip the weight forward noticably?

cheers...

I'm interested in doing this too but also assumed it was a dockyard job. Anyone got a procedure then?

 

[Wolfie]

bike on main stand on block of wood

seat off

loosen off the shock top nut, is right by the tank

slide slotted spacer in between cross bar and top of shock

do up nut

replace seat

rear of bike is now higher by about 20-25mm, place more weight on front tyre, makes bike turn quicker, took my one out cause i aint good enough rider to need one.

 

[Jono]

, took my one out cause i aint good enough rider to need one.[/QUOTE]

I think that says it for me to! fl4g71

 

[Dark Angel]

took my one out cause i aint good enough rider to need one.

I think that says it for me too! fl4g71

No, no, NO!!

It's all "Me, me, ME" with you guys, innit?!

...It's NOT about you...! It's about the peculiarities of the Honda Blackbird and the way it handles...

...Fitting a spacer will help you to appreciate how good a rider you really are...! :yo:

As standard issue, the front end of the 'Bird is very soft, especially on downward, off-camber turns. Raise the ride-height at the rear and you'll get much more positive (reassuring) feedback from the front. (Ever felt as if the front tyre has no grip - even though it has?! Ever felt a sinking feeling when you tip the bike into a fairly sharp, downhill bend? What YOU need is to fit a spacer!).

After fitting a spacer, the difference in the handling/feedback is significant and, if Honda ever get around to sorting the bike for a revamp, raising the rear ride height should be the first thing they do to (IMHO) the best built and most reliable bike in the Honda range of motorcycles...

...BEAT 'em to it and fit yer own ride height "fix".... g0nn3

...When you DO...

...You'll KNOW why I think it makes sense... bl4hbl4h

 

[Wolfie]

No, no, NO!!

It's all "Me, me, ME" with you guys, innit?!

...It's NOT about you...! It's about the peculiarities of the Honda Blackbird and the way it handles...

...Fitting a spacer will help you to appreciate how good a rider you really are...! :yo:

As standard issue, the front end of the 'Bird is very soft, especially on downward, off-camber turns. Raise the ride-height at the rear and you'll get much more positive (reassuring) feedback from the front. (Ever felt as if the front tyre has no grip - even though it has?! Ever felt a sinking feeling when you tip the bike into a fairly sharp, downhill bend? What YOU need is to fit a spacer!).

After fitting a spacer, the difference in the handling/feedback is significant and, if Honda ever get around to sorting the bike for a revamp, raising the rear ride height should be the first thing they do to (IMHO) the best built and most reliable bike in the Honda range of motorcycles...

...BEAT 'em to it and fit yer own ride height "fix".... g0nn3

...When you DO...

...You'll KNOW why I think it makes sense... bl4hbl4h

errrrrr nah!!!! triedin for 2 years then tried it without as my style and pace changed, found out i dont need it cause i no longer ride the way i used too. I now ponder along to the point where 50cc scooters are cursing me for being in the way!!!

 

[Dark Angel]

I now ponder along to the point where 50cc scooters are cursing me for being in the way!!!

( :blush: GULP!)...Well...Maybe the spacer's not for everyone, I guess...

...Just tryin' to help...'at's all...No fence meant... p0pc0rn41

 

[Wolfie]

( :blush: GULP!)...Well...Maybe the spacer's not for everyone, I guess...

...Just tryin' to help...'at's all...No fence meant... p0pc0rn41

none taken at all.


but i have to ask that if a little spacer was such a brillant thing, why aint it got honda stamped on it, or (getting deep and mucky now) is it used by the poor riders to make them feel better????

no offence to anybody was something that just crept into my head like.

 

[Dark Angel]

If you don't take sugar in your tea/coffee - you hate it when you drink one with two sugars and you can't understand how anyone could drink the muck...

If you don't smoke you can't believe the that anyone would want to breathe in that muck...

If you don't like the spacer...

Every once in a while, the "simple", individual customer will highlight a problem that has not been identified or addressed by a world-wide, multi-billion dollar corporation. But that doesn't mean that the customer is "right". I still believe that the Blackbird is the best value-for-money sports tourer on the market, even though it's design is ten years-old! I'm also on very recent record as having stated my added belief that the 'Bird is the best-handling, two-up, fully-loaded touring bike and that, two-up, its handling faults are all-but eradicated.

Maybe, just maybe, Honda designed the bike with this in mind.

Any company that commissioned those adverts must be years ahead of the game (but NOT ahead of Vale Rossi who is far, far beyond his time...

...Just like the Blackbird!)

 

[Gerrard]

If you don't take sugar in your tea/coffee - you hate it when you drink one with two sugars and you can't understand how anyone could drink the muck...

If you don't smoke you can't believe the that anyone would want to breathe in that muck...

If you don't like the spacer...

Every once in a while, the "simple", individual customer will highlight a problem that has not been identified or addressed by a world-wide, multi-billion dollar corporation. But that doesn't mean that the customer is "right". I still believe that the Blackbird is the best value-for-money sports tourer on the market, even though it's design is ten years-old! I'm also on very recent record as having stated my added belief that the 'Bird is the best-handling, two-up, fully-loaded touring bike and that, two-up, its handling faults are all-but eradicated.

Maybe, just maybe, Honda designed the bike with this in mind.

Any company that commissioned those adverts must be years ahead of the game (but NOT ahead of Vale Rossi who is far, far beyond his time...

...Just like the Blackbird!)

Thats very deep your Honor.... :bow:
PS.
I always drop the pressure too when fully loaded due to the high tempratures over here, other wise it just shreds the tyre.
Had one tyre that I only got 1600 miles out of it, due to the heat and that was just touring speed.
Zippo.

 

[Dark Angel]

Had one tyre that I only got 1600 miles out of it, due to the heat and that was just touring speed.

OH, Yeah-hhhh???....(I've seen your "touring speed"...!... Dunno how ya made it to 1600!!!) :bow: :-:

:yo: :}

 

[Gerrard]

none taken at all.


but i have to ask that if a little spacer was such a brillant thing, why aint it got honda stamped on it, or (getting deep and mucky now) is it used by the poor riders to make them feel better????

no offence to anybody was something that just crept into my head like.

Hi Wolfie.
There are lots of things that you can put on a bike to either help maintenance or give you better riding - things like spacers, huggers, melboy seats, bar risers, end cans even AVONS - but they ain't got Honda stamped on them!!
Zippo.