Preload settings... yet again.

Originally Posted by rictus01

if you've standard springs fitted, max on the front, one click off max on the rear.


Cheers Mark.

Changed this before riding home last night .... did the trick perfectly ..... front end in particular feels much better !!

Never before have I felt so 'over-weight' whilst being less than 12 stone !!

Right, for all you people who believe that adusting the preload doesn't affect the way a bike handles, click on this link and read the section on preload!

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=r...reload&f=false

fzzzzzzzzzzzzzt!

do you have a copy of that book in english?

Originally Posted by custard

fzzzzzzzzzzzzzt!

do you have a copy of that book in english?

It's a bit like being back in physics class all over again!

dunno bout that, i actually want to understand this

[ophic]

Originally Posted by madness

Right, for all you people who believe that adusting the preload doesn't affect the way a bike handles, click on this link and read the section on preload!

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=r...reload&f=false

I read it. It cleared up a few bits and pieces. It will affect ride height, and therefore steering geometry. It will affect where your suspension limits are - ie where it bottoms out or tops out. It won't affect anything else. On linear springs, it doesn't make anything stiffer or softer. It doesn't change the amount or rate of spring deformation occuring if you go over a bump, assuming it hasn't hit the stops.

Interesting point is that adding preload lowers the amount that a fork can extend to follow irregularities in the road. So, if the tyre can't follow the irregularities it must be losing contact with the road, not a good situation.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by madness

Interesting point is that adding preload lowers the amount that a fork can extend to follow irregularities in the road. So, if the tyre can't follow the irregularities it must be losing contact with the road, not a good situation.

This is why you need some sag, but not too much

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

This is why you need some sag, but not too much

What I can't understand is that when I increase my fork preload to achieve 35mm of sag, the front end felt like it was skipping about over bumps/irregularities. Not good when the bikes mid corner.

[ophic]

Originally Posted by madness

Interesting point is that adding preload lowers the amount that a fork can extend to follow irregularities in the road. So, if the tyre can't follow the irregularities it must be losing contact with the road, not a good situation.

The whole point of preload is to get the bike to sit in the middle* of its suspension travel. Generally with no preload it would be sat too low, therefore having loads of extension but very little room for compression. Remember irregularities go up as well as down.

* I realise the optimum point isn't exactly the middle