Suspension Q's

[Say_Cheese]

Hi all,

I am looking for some advice about the suspension on my bike. It is a K5 650S and I have never touched the suspension since I got it brand new out of the dealers.

The threads that I have found so far around here are all pretty much saying buy new suspension shocks etc. I don't want to do this I would like to set mine up with what is standard on the bike.

First of all I need to know what suspension options there are? I know that on the top of the handlebar there are two screw things. What happens if I turn them? Are they to do with the suspension? What happens if I turn them clockwise and what happens if I turn them anti-clockwise?

When people talk about turning the suspension up or down a click do you actually hear a click or do you have to visualise it?

As you may have guessed I am not even vaguely technically minded but I would like to learn.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Mark

[the_lone_wolf]

google for preload, that's the only adjustment the SV has as standard, and look in the manual for how to adjust it on the bike. hence why people recommend changing the fork internals / rear shock;)

[21QUEST]

I think the first question is, "are you having any issues with the suspension as it is, at the moment?"


Ben

[Alpinestarhero]

I think the first question is, "are you having any issues with the suspension as it is, at the moment?"


Ben

Just what I was thinking. I havn't had any problems with mine, so I havnt changed it (well, sort of - my dad serviced the forks and put in heavier fork oil). The only thing I did was wind up the preload on the rear shock (no adjustment on the front for me, its a 1999 SV) from notch 4 to notch 6 (out of 7) just to compensate for pillion and topbox. Cant notice much differance, but going by theory I decided to do it anyway.

You might notice that now its colder, and the fork oil is more viscous, the suspension might feel more taught?

Matt

[Ceri JC]

What's the mileage of your bike and as others have said, are you currently experiencing any problems with the suspension of handling of the bike, or do you just fancy having a fiddle?

(I'm waiting for someone to say that increasing the preload will "firm it up" and all the suspension experts/pedants will leap on them like a pack of wolves :D)

[Say_Cheese]

Hi,
The reason that I am asking about Suspension is that at the moment it feels hard and thus it picks up every bump in the road.
Would altering the suspension fix this?