suspension question - what and why

Originally Posted by lukemillar

Can someone explain to me what "planted" means?

I suppose for me it would mean that there is less negative feedback. Like my new shock vs old, getting on the power now feels better than not, makes the bike work better with power on. Before it would have wollowed and moved around and woud feel horrid.

So I suppose its a bike feeling better.

Originally Posted by ThEGr33k

I suppose for me it would mean that there is less negative feedback. Like my new shock vs old, getting on the power now feels better than not, makes the bike work better with power on. Before it would have wollowed and moved around and woud feel horrid.

So I suppose its a bike feeling better.

Your case is different, because your old shock was actually shot so upgrading was necessary and replacement OE shocks are stupid money!

Originally Posted by lukemillar

Your case is different, because your old shock was actually shot so upgrading was necessary and replacement OE shocks are stupid money!

Well... it was kinda because the OE shock on the falco is not far off as bad as the SV Aprilia screwed up on that front.

I suppose any upgrade/improvement in cornering might come under the more "planted" thing.

Originally Posted by lukemillar

Most people could benefit from setting their bikes up for their weight to ensure that the suspenders they have are working in the optimum zone before swapping out forks and shocks. You'll also learn a lot more that way.

But you'd have to have suspenders that can be adjusted, I don't think that adjusting preload alone on OEM would solve all problems. Having a good quality shock which can be adjusted would though.

Originally Posted by the_lone_wolf

tricky then, most problems will happen during the brake and turn in or when you accelerate out of the corner

if it's when you get on the throttle to come out of the corner then your shock isn't damping the compression enough to prevent the back squatting, increasing the wheelbase and causing it to run wide

if it's mid corner on a neutral throttle then it's unlikely to be a suspension problem, could well be an alignment thing, although that would surely manifest itself as understeer in one direction and oversteer in the other?

Since having my new chain and sprockets, and hence my wheel alignment re-done, the handling has got alot better. However, i do get the feeling of what you describe in your second point; the rear "squating down" and the bike feels loooong. I'll have to have a more carefull think about whats happening and then post on here. The bike does feel better when maria is on the back...

Are all normal telescopic forks with damper rods and all USD forks with cartridges? Or it's not related?

[yorkie_chris]

Not related, there are normal ones with cartridges. But I'm not sure if there have been USDs with damper rods.

Originally Posted by alpinestarhero

Since having my new chain and sprockets, and hence my wheel alignment re-done, the handling has got alot better. However, i do get the feeling of what you describe in your second point; the rear "squating down" and the bike feels loooong. I'll have to have a more carefull think about whats happening and then post on here. The bike does feel better when maria is on the back...

I suggest checking sag if thats the case! You know how?

Originally Posted by ThEGr33k

I suggest checking sag if thats the case! You know how?

+1

I had the same feeling. Bike felt better with wife on board then I adjusted sag and happy with or without her, if I may quote U2

The problem you have alpine is that the back inst compressing enough when you get on the power, this causes the front to push as weight isnt getting shifted backwards, so the front starts to slide.

Cheers.

Originally Posted by zunkus

+1

I had the same feeling. Bike felt better with wife on board then I adjusted sag and happy with or without her, if I may quote U2

No you cant!