Suspension Setting

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May 18, 2012
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Lansing, Michigan
I know I know... a lot of you have talked about it before. Just want to get my suspension rebound and dampening set somewhat close.

Base Model
Suspension in Progressive mode
I weigh about 150 with full gear.
Set sag to my weight, but didn't do rebound and dampening.
Just trying to get it close for now. Til I can get a professional to dial it in for me.
 
I know I know... a lot of you have talked about it before. Just want to get my suspension rebound and dampening set somewhat close.

Base Model
Suspension in Progressive mode
I weigh about 150 with full gear.
Set sag to my weight, but didn't do rebound and dampening.
Just trying to get it close for now. Til I can get a professional to dial it in for me.

Given your weight (or lack there of :D ) this may well be close??

Panigale standard | Feel The Track
 
When they say "clicks out" I assume it is that many clicks in from full soft? Compression, rebound and preload. Not sure I even want to mess with it. Only thing that has been done is the preload. It feels too soft and bouncy in the front but harder in the rear. Worth estimating it based off "Feel the track?" or forget that and get a professional to do it? I think it's $80 to do it at Grattan Raceway, you don't have to run out on the track either. I just need a road setup.
 
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When they say "clicks out" I assume it is that many clicks in from full soft? Compression, rebound and preload. Not sure I even want to mess with it. Only thing that has been done is the preload. It feels too soft and bouncy in the front but harder in the rear. Worth estimating it based off "Feel the track?" or forget that and get a professional to do it? I think it's $80 to do it at Grattan Raceway, you don't have to run out on the track either. I just need a road setup.

Clicks out mean "miles from base" :D

Turn all the way in clockwise, turn counter-clockwise and count the clicks.
 
-- just for fun, and to confirm......

-- 1 to 30 clicks out

-compression: 1 is hardest 30 is softest (as you open the valve up towards 30 the more oil passes thru the valve so the compression is softened)

-rebound: 1 is slowest 30 is fastest (as you open the valve up towards 30 the more oil passes thru the valve and the rebound responds faster)

-- do we all concur ? :)
 
-- just for fun, and to confirm......

-- 1 to 30 clicks out

-compression: 1 is hardest 30 is softest (as you open the valve up towards 30 the more oil passes thru the valve so the compression is softened)

-rebound: 1 is slowest 30 is fastest (as you open the valve up towards 30 the more oil passes thru the valve and the rebound responds faster)

-- do we all concur ? :)

"Open, soft, fast" would be 30 clicks out, "Closed, hard, slow" would be 0 clicks, correct?
 
"Open, soft, fast" would be 30 clicks out, "Closed, hard, slow" would be 0 clicks, correct?

That's right; you won't have that many clicks with the base, but otherwise correct. Turning the adjusters clockwise just screws a needle valve into an orifice, closing off oil flow; backing it out does the opposite.

You won't get it truly sorted at your weight with stock springs, but you can move it in the right direction. Stock damper settings on the base are 10/10 at both ends, so right about in the middle of their adjustment range (which isn't terribly wide, though you can certainly tell when you change it). If you're looking for more bump compliance on the road (likely with stock springs), you're going want to try backing off on the compression damping (more clicks out). I'd think you want to avoid reducing rebound from stock since the bike's oversprung at your weight and you want some damping help to avoid too-quick rebound.

But if you haven't felt what range you have, you should. Back all your dampers out about 20 clicks on comp and rebound and go ride the bike on a stretch of road that's representative of what you want the bike to work well on to see how it feels that way. What you'll notice is chassis dive and wallowing as you brake and accelerate and a generally loose feeling, but the bike will be perfectly rideable at street pace like that - the adjustment range is not huge. Then close all the dampers down to maybe a click from full in and re-ride that same stretch of road for comparison. What that will do is show you right off what you have to work with; all you can do with OEM suspension is end up somewhere within that range.

My guess is at your weight on OEM springs, for street riding on normally bumpy roads you're probably going to end up with a bit less compression damping than stock with a bit more rebound; say 12 or so out on comp and 6-8 out on rebound. The smoother the roads and the harder you ride the more you're going to want to tighten the damping up to control the chassis. For track use as in the posted setup link, you're accelerating and braking a LOT harder than you will on the road; a general purpose road setup is a bit more like a wet setup for the track.

The best thing to do is pick a good stretch of road and do repeats on it with different settings back to back for comparison. And don't be afraid to overshoot on settings; just like getting your eyes checked for prescription lenses, you do it the same way; go a bit too far in both directions and work back to where you like it. You're not going to get it ideal with the stock springs, but you can find a reasonable compromise between compliance and chassis control.
 
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SteveB if you could PM me some info on how to do that, that would be great. That way we can talk amongst ourselves. I just have a few questions
 
Base model with ABS, set on F.
Weight: 93Kgs

Front
Preload(the red nut at the top) 5.5 turns from fully open (anti clockwise)
Compression(base of strut) 8 clicks (from full clockwise)
Rebound(inner top of strut) 5 clicks (from full clockwise)

Rear.
Spring preload: 147mm (spring length) (Adjust with C spanners)
Compression(Top) 7 clicks (from full clockwise)
Rebound(shaft) 5 clicks (from full clockwise)

Feels ok for road use.

Al.
 

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