Front suspension: left and right on different pre-load settings.

[laperlenoire]

Hi,

I just noticed on my front suspensions, the pre-load setting on the left fork is set to 1 and the one on the right fork is set to 2 or higher.

Is that right ?
What should that tell me about the suspensions ?
How does it affect my bike and what should I do or consider doing ?

Thanks.

[jambo]

There are 2 possibilities here:

1) Someone has taken some careful measurements and is compensating for a different spring & spacer length in one fork
2) Someone has set one differently to the other because they weren't paying attention.

I'm going to go with the balance of probability being on option 2.

Set them both to one of the 2 settings, it's not out by enough to make it dangerous as is, but there's no reason to have these set differently.

Jambo

[laperlenoire]

There are 2 possibilities here:

1) Someone has taken some careful measurements and is compensating for a different spring & spacer length in one fork
2) Someone has set one differently to the other because they weren't paying attention.

I'm going to go with the balance of probability being on option 2.

Set them both to one of the 2 settings, it's not out by enough to make it dangerous as is, but there's no reason to have these set differently.

Jambo

My weight is 70kg and height is 1m78cm: any idea of what should be the settings of the front and rear suspensions ?

Thanks.

[jambo]

How much preload you need will depend on weight, along with your riding style and the type of roads you ride on.

You can set it up technically using a guide such as this one (http://www.gostar-racing.com/club/motorcycle_suspension_set-up.htm).

Alternatively you can work on the assumption you're at the lighter end of the scale and set it so they are almost fully out, and dial in a little if your forks bottom out.

Jambo

[Mark_h]

Or "if it aint broke, don't fix it".

Any problems while riding with the current settings?

Maybe go for an emotional tune-up, wind one in half and one out half. Chances are having a shave in the morning will make greater difference to the handling but confidence tweaks are always the best.