Front Sag for 225 lb Hoosier Lardass

Baketech · 07-18-2003, 1:07 PM

Starting to fiddle with the stock suspension on my 01...would like to hear some actual track settings from guys in my weight range - 225 geared, ready to go....

Rear - Stop #7 = 30mm Sag
Front - 2 Bars Showing = 45mm Sag

Am I in the ballpark for a compromise?

Not particularly looking for a discussion about how to achieve the correct sag via mods.... I have followed the suspender threads and understand the limitation of the stock bits....but looking for a good compromise until I can get the forks done.

dB · 07-18-2003, 1:22 PM

With stock suspension...set your front to no lines showing (and it still won't be enough). Sounds like your close on the rear.

Pete · 07-18-2003, 2:03 PM

25-30mm should be your target for both the front and back, for aggressive riding/track days, no matter what your weight is.

BigDawg · 07-18-2003, 2:54 PM

Not to shag bake's post but what do you recommend for spring weight for a guy 215ish without gear (maybe 220'ish with)? I was thinking 1.0's or so. Any suggestions?

Thankx.

Sorry Bake

Denny · 07-18-2003, 3:30 PM

They say the target for front sag is 30mm, even less for the track. My results after changing to .95 springs: with 4 lines showing loaded sag=30mm. At position 7 of 9, rear sag=30mm. I weigh 190lbs without riding gear, probably 200 with gear. The bike feels noticebly firmer and better planted front and rear with the new fork springs. It doesn't dive as much under braking. For my first track day with stock springs I cranked the pre-load all the way down. I found that with the stock springs and my weight, the pre-load adjusters only made a few mm difference but I was able to get down to 55mm which was not enough for the track. I put a zip tye around my fork rod and pushed it up before each session to get an idea of how far it was traveling-I was bottoming out.

ccwilli3 · 07-18-2003, 3:50 PM

baketech,

if thats max preload on the front and thats the best you can do, then thats as good as it'll get.

The rear is okay, but what is the bikes unloaded sag (without you on it)? I'd bet it isn't enough...

BigDawg · 07-18-2003, 4:13 PM

Quote:

Denny : They say the target for front sag is 30mm, even less for the track. My results after changing to .95 springs: with 4 lines showing loaded sag=30mm. At position 7 of 9, rear sag=30mm. I weigh 190lbs without riding gear, probably 200 with gear. The bike feels noticebly firmer and better planted front and rear with the new fork springs. It doesn't dive as much under braking. For my first track day with stock springs I cranked the pre-load all the way down. I found that with the stock springs and my weight, the pre-load adjusters only made a few mm difference but I was able to get down to 55mm which was not enough for the track. I put a zip tye around my fork rod and pushed it up before each session to get an idea of how far it was traveling-I was bottoming out.

So you think 1.0's will be ok or should I go with the .95's? At this point anything will be an imporvement.

Thankx.

Baketech · 07-18-2003, 4:28 PM

Quote:

ccwilli3 : baketech,

if thats max preload on the front and thats the best you can do, then thats as good as it'll get.

The rear is okay, but what is the bikes unloaded sag (without you on it)? *I'd bet it isn't enough...

I still have 2 lines to go up front....but I went from 4, so I want to ride the bike before moving it any further......hate to make such a huge change all at once.
Maybe at the track, I'll crank in the rest to see what happens....

Didn't measure unloaded rear sag....I added 2 clicks from where I have been riding the bike....

mmeacham · 07-18-2003, 5:29 PM

I had to go to .95 springs. 190lbs+22lbs gear. ( where do you guys get gear so light? I weighed mine, boots, helmet, leathers, = 22lbs)

The stock springs had to be completely tight to get pre load correct, and I was still bottoming out. Do the tie wrap thing, and you will see.

Rear seems ok.

Baketech · 07-18-2003, 5:30 PM

My gear was around 28lbs....

HondaGal · 07-18-2003, 5:34 PM

We just had our suspension set up at the track by an Ohlins guy. *The front sag should be somewhere around 35 and the rear @ 28...for the 'Blade. *That's for track riding. *It may be too stiff for the street though. *Again, it depends upon your shocks too. *

Remember, the 929 and 954 have different forks...there are no lines on the 954. *

edit: set the sag first...that's the most important to get done before messing around with the other settings.

Bacchus · 07-18-2003, 6:35 PM

Quote:

Baketech : My gear was around 28lbs....

####! You ARE a lardazz!

####! All of my ####### riding gear only weighs 15 ####### lbs. What the #### is with that?!

signed,
pip

Denny · 07-18-2003, 7:05 PM

Quote:

BigDawg : Quote (Denny @ July 18 2003, 2:30pm)They say the target for front sag is 30mm, even less for the track. My results after changing to .95 springs: with 4 lines showing loaded sag=30mm. At position 7 of 9, rear sag=30mm. I weigh 190lbs without riding gear, probably 200 with gear. The bike feels noticebly firmer and better planted front and rear with the new fork springs. It doesn't dive as much under braking. For my first track day with stock springs I cranked the pre-load all the way down. I found that with the stock springs and my weight, the pre-load adjusters only made a few mm difference but I was able to get down to 55mm which was not enough for the track. I put a zip tye around my fork rod and pushed it up before each session to get an idea of how far it was traveling-I was bottoming out.

So you think 1.0's will be ok or should I go with the .95's? At this point anything will be an imporvement.

Thankx.
We have a 10kg weight difference. Split that front and rear then split again for each fork and that's 2.5kg on each fork. For a rate of 0.95kg/mm that's less than 3mm extra preload required so 0.95 should work. To be sure, ask Dan Kyle. They recommended the 0.95 for me.

Chain · 07-18-2003, 7:05 PM

FWIW Baketech, I'm at max fork preload on my 954 and one click from full hard on the rear shock. My front sag is about 7mm excessive in front and I'm perfect out back. Full preload on the forks might be just perfect for you - I'm a bit heavier.

Stainless brake lines for me next week. New Racetech fork springs in another pay period or so.

Baketech · 07-18-2003, 7:36 PM

Baccillus....
I'll give you the fact that your gear is lighter, but....do flip flops and Oakleys really constitute gear....

My leathers weigh more because they are 'man' sized.....took about half a cow.....Mooooooo mmmmoooooooo

Chain · 07-18-2003, 7:37 PM

Quote:

Baketech : Baccillus....
I'll give you the fact that your gear is lighter, but....do flip flops and Oakleys really constitute gear....

My leathers weigh more because they are 'man' sized.....took about half a cow.....Mooooooo *mmmmoooooooo

You DID sorta ask for that, Bac. LOL

Bacchus · 07-18-2003, 7:44 PM

Baketech! LOL...

Baketech · 07-18-2003, 7:48 PM

Okay....now I have a different tack on this sag issue....that I have not seen discussed in other threads....

Understanding that you cannot achieve ideal sag numbers on a stock front end....is it better to set the rear with equal sag to what you could get up front, or go with the ideal number.

In other words, assuming I can only get 40-45mm sag up front, will the bike be better balanced if I set the front to a similar number, or the 'good' number of 25-30.....??

abtech · 07-18-2003, 8:59 PM

Add a passenger and all be will be good . . .

You really need to max out the front preload with stock springs. You're pi$$ing in the wind if you don't. I had to and I weigh around 185 with gear.

Denny · 07-18-2003, 9:56 PM

Quote:

Baketech : Okay....now I have a different tack on this sag issue....that I have not seen discussed in other threads....

Understanding that you cannot achieve ideal sag numbers on a stock front end....is it better to set the rear with equal sag to what you could get up front, or go with the ideal number.

In other words, assuming I can only get 40-45mm sag up front, will the bike be better balanced if I set the front to a similar number, or the 'good' number of 25-30.....??

Try it both ways and see what you like. When I increased the preload on the rear, it felt better for me even when the front was still at 55mm. Without the extra pre-load it felt like a low rider.

mmeacham · 07-19-2003, 12:43 AM

Quote:

abtech : Add a passenger and all be will be good . . .

It's what Dan Kyle said to me, The 954/929 are set up for two up. With a passenger it acualy unloads the front so you get better handling. Weird huh.

BushrodW · 07-19-2003, 12:43 AM

I went with .90's in front and a 17 kg/mm (952 lbs/inch) shock spring. I weigh 240 lbs. nekkid.

For an idea you might go to racetech's website and go through their online spring rate calculator. It king of gives you a place to start from.

RaceTech Website

Baketech · 07-20-2003, 6:51 AM

Thanks for all the info guys....I finally got to ride the bike with the stiffer front...not too radical of a change, so I'll probably dial in the rest at the track tomorrow...

ratter · 07-20-2003, 9:53 AM

Quote:

BushrodW : RaceTech Website

The page is down or it's not a good link