Chassis advice please!

Hi guys, I was wondering if you might help me with an age old problem with the SV. I have always found it easier to ride the SV with a pillion on board. I feel that the bike is more planted and that there's more feel of the road as a whole than riding solo. I'd like to remedy this if possible. I've always kept the bike geometry as standard. Do you think I should lower the rear ride height by replacing the dogbones? I tried removing some of the rear preload and that improved things but I can't go adjusting that every time the wife wants to come along? Any ideas? Am I alone with feeling like this?

[yorkie_chris]

Stock rear shock works better when it's bottomed out because it's naff!

New rear shock. Personally I liked the SRAD-750 rear shock but it was no good 2-up. ZX6R shock is OK but too short. Now I have trick one but not ridden on it yet.

I say leave the dogbones alone, if you want to change ride height do it with shock length.

Yorkie thanks for the quick reply. I must confess that I'm blessed with a golden replacement item from Ohlins which is way better than stock. On replacing it I did see that it had the stock height as the original item. When I installed it though I left the preload way too soft, it felt great riding solo but went way down with the missus on board her weighing 90kg and me another 74kg.

[yorkie_chris]

What spring on it? If it is same as stock spring then take it off and use it to beat to death whoever sold it to you

Also, what static and rider sag can you get.

It's always going to feel more planted with a pillion. Stand to reason really. More weight on the back equals more traction on the road. You just need to go out more and chuck the bike through the twisty bits a bit more often.

Spring is Ohlins and ordered to take 75kg optimal. SO that's with me only on board. Still as I've said the bike feels better with the missus. I must stress that I've been riding for more than 10 years and don't have issues when riding other bikes. This is something particular to my SV. Quite curious actually.
Yorkie I've done the static/rider sag thing both for me only riding solo and dual. It's now set for dual riding. When I set it for solo riding I still liked it better with the rear a little bit softer than recommended. Maybe I prefer to have the SV lower at the rear. I also don't like to have my nuts all crushed against the tank as it is. The seat also has an inclination forward which doesn't exist on my friend's Gixxer or my other mate's Blade. I feel fine riding both those bikes solo.

[Bibio]

i always found my sv a bit flighty and that had front and rear changed. i think its just the way the sv is. must admit though that it was a lottttt better with the gsxr bits on it, less bouncy and more 'planted'.

could also be to do with tire presure and tires ?

Originally Posted by barwel1992

could also be to do with tire presure and tires ?

I did play around with pressure but I feel best with 32psi front 35psi rear.

Originally Posted by Bibio

i always found my sv a bit flighty and that had front and rear changed. i think its just the way the sv is. must admit though that it was a lottttt better with the gsxr bits on it, less bouncy and more 'planted'.

What are you riding at the moment?