Dynamic Suspension Question

djm · Jun 17, 2015

Had a look around on the forum and can't find the answer so...

I was out for a long ride on my 1299S last week (amazing bike). I noticed when riding over rougher roads (not potholed, just not billiard table smooth) the bike was kind of pitching me forward and generally bumping me around more than I expected. I had it in sport mode, all default dynamic suspension settings.

Am I right in saying if I want to soften the general ride up a little should I set all 3 suspension options for that mode to softer or softest or should I only soften some of the settings? If I do so, will I still get the same amount of stiffening when braking hard or accelerating, etc or will all that be softer, relative to the baseline softer setting, too? I understand how to change the settings, just not precisely what those changes are doing. I want a compliant ride over rough ground but firm when braking, cornering, accelerating, etc.

Also noticed that when cruising at about 60-70mph the front felt like it was weaving slowly. Not like head shake, just a gentle, slow, slight wobble from side to side. I don't think it was the road and I couldn't see the yoke actually moving. Could this just be tire break in or is it suspension related too? I only have 280 miles on the bike. Tire pressures are all to spec.

Thanks in advance.

fzr100098 · Jun 17, 2015

djm said:
I was out for a long ride on my 1299S last week (amazing bike). I noticed when riding over rougher roads (not potholed, just not billiard table smooth) the bike was kind of pitching me forward and generally bumping me around more than I expected. I had it in sport mode, all default dynamic suspension settings.

I have the Base, but it sounds like you have excessive compression damping. I dialed it back and it's quite plush over the bumps now. I prefer fixed settings

80shilling · Jun 17, 2015

How much do you weigh?

You can mix and match the Dynamic suspension settings; for instance, you can run the rear in harder mode and the front in soft, or many other combinations. Try experimenting with mixing it up and see how it affects the issues you are describing.

djm · Jun 17, 2015

I'm 165lbs or thereabouts, probably 170 with gear. I usually keep everything default but I felt the ride was much worse than my S1000RR with regular suspension over the roads round here. I don't want to lose the advantages of dynamic by putting it into fixed.

I'll try messing around with it but I was hoping to avoid trial and error if there was some kind of science to it, if that makes sense.

80shilling · Jun 17, 2015

djm said:
I'm 165lbs or thereabouts, probably 170 with gear. I usually keep everything default but I felt the ride was much worse than my S1000RR with regular suspension over the roads round here. I don't want to lose the advantages of dynamic by putting it into fixed.

I'll try messing around with it but I was hoping to avoid trial and error if there was some kind of science to it, if that makes sense.

So, have you set your sag yet? Your spring sag, will determine how much travel you will get out of your suspension and your weight and riding style will determine the type of valving (rebound/compression) you will need to use.

You are on the lighter side, so I would try leaving the suspension in dynamic mode and then choose softest and see how it feels; if the bike is pitching at one end, or the other, then stiffen up that end, by choosing to go a step or two harder in your dynamic settings and leave the end that feels stable, alone.

I have set up my suspension in Fixed mode for track days and really fast weekend rides, but I switch it back to dynamic mode for my commute - I have it in softer mode at both ends; softest is too mushy for me at 195 lbs.

You WILL have to play around with the settings, even in dynamic mode, to get the bike to your liking and you will HAVE to set your sag properly (there will be comments saying you don't, but they don;t know what they are talking about). Set your sag at the front to 38mm TOTAL sag and to 28mm TOTAL at the rear, as per my conversation with the Ohlins techs at Ohlins USA.

To measure sag, lift the bike at each end, write down the measurement, then let the bike sit after pushing it up and down a bit and measure again; then finally sit on the bike and sit in your normal riding position and have a friend measure again. What you are looking for, is the difference between the initial measurement with the suspension fully extended and the final one with you on the bike.

Watch this.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjGgq1z9zbo

And this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mK3flKxf41U
Cheers.

djm · Jun 17, 2015

A lot of good info there - thank you. I have not set anything yet so let me watch those videos and make some changes

eigres · Mar 2, 2016

Dynamic or semi dynamic suspension question

Can someone qualify that on the Ohlins dynamic suspensions (in Dynamic mode) it is necessary or not to setup rider and static sag? Looking for a definitive yes / no response than opinions on suspension setting with all due respect?

NotR1GSXZXR · Mar 3, 2016

i would say yes

TurboLag · Mar 3, 2016

Sag is spring settings, which the dynamic mode does nothing on. Get it done. Yes.

centeroff · Mar 3, 2016

start by taking 3 or 4 clicks of rear compression out, and go from there, they seem to be setup for a 300 lb. rider from the factory, you will probably take 2 or 3 rounds of pre load out of the rear spring, and a couple clicks of compression out of the forks, that made a huge difference for me on the high speed bumpy stuff.

80shilling · Mar 3, 2016

eigres said:
Can someone qualify that on the Ohlins dynamic suspensions (in Dynamic mode) it is necessary or not to setup rider and static sag? Looking for a definitive yes / no response than opinions on suspension setting with all due respect?

Definitively YES! You HAVE to set sag correctly.

Dynamic Suspension Question

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