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Rear suspension adjustment

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anonymous
  • Start date Start date
A

Anonymous

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Happy Friday, folks! So, I was curious what ya'll thought my rear suspension setting should be set to on my 1980 GS850GL. There are five (I think) settings that adjust the spring tension (right?). I weigh 190 lbs and I occasionally ride with a 190 lb passenger.

Since I bought the bike four months ago it's been on the most-compressed setting and the ride has been very stiff. I feel every little vibration and bump in the road, but have always thought that it was just the nature of my 25 year-old beast (with 90+k miles). I can't believe I never thought to look at the suspension...

I was also told to drain the front forks and replace with 40wt oil. The process, as it was explained, sounded VERY simple- is there any part of it that I should be concerned about? I do live in Oregon where air temps vary between maybe 45 and 100 degrees and I ride as twisty a road as I can find. :)

Thanks.
 
Why don't you set the shocks at 3 and see what happens?

The 40 wt is much too heavy. Get some 10 wt fork oil and use that to refill. Be precise in how much you put in each lef.
 
oh, I meant to ask that question, too: how can I adjust the shocks? I certainly don't have the stock tool kit and tried to use a wrench, but it wouldn't move even with a moderate amount of torque. I didn't want to hurt anything so I stopped.

What do you mean by "be precise in how much you put in each lef." I figured I'd just fill it up, but should I put a measured quantity in?
 
Your bike has a specific amount of oil that is supposed to go into each leg. If you have a manual it will tell you, or call the dealer. It is usually given in ounces, ml, or inches of fluid. Find out what the stock oil is and go one step heavier if you don't like it now. If it had 5wt put in some 10wt, etc, etc. If you put in the next step higher and still want more, the guys at works suspension told me a trick of 1 teaspoon of 90wt gear oil in each tube will raise the viscosity about 2.5 points. Thereby making a 10wt into a 12.5wt. If you go to your local bike repair shop they will probably let you use one of their shock wrenches for a couple minutes to adjust your rear shocks.
 
The front and rear suspension need to be tuned to each other. If you look in your repari manual you should find the settings on teh rear shock taht correspond to the air preload on the front forks.

I hope that your fork seals are in good shape. If so you should be able to change the oil easily. The hight and ounces/ml will also be in your shop manual. If you do not have one, get one. Do not rely on memory. The oil is not all the way to the top.

After you put the exact amount of oil in, both forks must have exactly the same amount, You will need to add the air pretension. You will need a very sensitive air guage for this. You will only be putting 4 to 20 PSI in. The space is very small, so it only takes a second or 2 to fill it to 20 PSI. Do not use a compressor. Use a small hand pump.

Based on the amount of air you have then check your manual to determine what setting to have it on.

I weigh 220 Lbs. The fornt forks have 14 PSI in them and the back shocks are set to the 4th setting out of 6. You can change this setting with a screw driver inserted into the adjuster. The adjuster moves with some force and will pop once you get over the bump.

I have a 1980 GS 850 GL.

The pressure in the forks and the setting on the rear shocks need to be tuned together or else you will be unhappy with the ride and handling. Again check your manual.There is a great section in my Clymer manual on this.

Basil
 
Thank you all very much.

...I think I've put off buying a manual long enough... ;)
 
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