Motorcycle Handling Problems and Suspension Set-Up-spun5

For most street riders, the dealing with of their motorcycle hardly ever comes into question unless something is worn or broken. Actually most classics (older than 25 many years) were not fitted using the sophisticated fully adjustable suspension which is commonplace on present day bikes nowadays. and MX machines, around the other hand, have commonly had adjustable suspension to maximize the dealing with and grip of their machines.

Correcting any handling dilemma on the motorbike is usually a complicated matter, based around the trigger. In the first instance, the mechanic ought to analyze the problem to determine if it's becoming caused by a single of three items:

1) A worn component

2) A broken or broken component

3) An adjustable part out of specification

Worn Components

Worn elements, which include tires, typically have an impact on the dealing with of the motorbike within a progressive, but detrimental, way. Apart from an apparent lack of grip (particularly when ), worn tires can also show poor stability, and even patter.

Worn fork leg or shock seals will permit the damping oil to escape which is notably risky with the case of the front forks as oil can get onto/into the .

A lack of oil during the forks or shocks will give the handling a pogo stick have an effect on and can adversely affect the bike’s cornering ability. Also, as the compression damping will be less effective, the forks will dive more than normal under heavy braking.

Worn fork bushes can also induce stiction inside the tubes which can causes patter; this stiction can trigger the fork tubes to lock which will remove any suspension characteristics from the forks (no springing or damping).

Broken Components

Almost any element on the motorbike that breaks can cause a handling challenge. The rider have to investigate thoroughly if he finds a broken item, not only to repair it, but also to determine why it broke.

Adjusting the Suspension

Making adjustment to a motorcycle’s suspension should start with setting the bike up to the factory recommended specifications. When all is said and done, the factory will have spent many hours with professional riders fine tuning the motorcycle before offering it to the public. In general, most riders will find the factory settings to be best. However, riders looking to optimize the settings, or looking to correct a handling challenge (having ensured there is nothing badly worn or broken), can make some changes to the bike’s handling based on a known issue.

There are four main dealing with issues that appear on the motorcycle due to incorrect adjustment or settings.

Patter

Patter is typically caused by incorrect damper settings about the forks, stiction from the fork bushes, out of round tires, severe out of wheel/tire and/or too much air pressure during the forks (where so equipped).

Additional causes of patter include too much oil in the forks resulting in less compressible air from the legs, and cavitation on the damping oil.

Weave

Weave is really a condition where the motorcycle will not track properly in the straight line. This condition is generally due to worn tires, but , loose swing-arm or may also result in this challenge.

Pogo Stick Effect

As the name implies, this is often a condition in which the motorcycle bounces up and down like a pogo stick. The root causes are usually under-inflated tires, ineffective rebound damping (often combined with soft springs) and out of round tires.

Harsh Ride

Feeling every bump, ripple or pot hole as a harsh shock back through the handlebars and seat is how old motorcycles without suspension felt to ride. This gives a clue to what can induce this issue on a more modern bike with front and rear suspension.

The causes of a harsh ride are over-inflated tires, too much compression damping, stiction inside the forks (often experienced on the motorbike with ) stiff side walled tires (old tires can have this trouble), incorrect quantity or grade of oil in either the front forks or the rear shock/s, and incorrect springs.

In an extreme case (usually with a barn find motorbike) the swing-arm bushes or fork bushes may be sized.

General Managing Issues

The following general notes should also be considered when looking at lead to and effect of managing issues. However, although these items are more applicable to a road race machine, they can affect a street bike too.