Suzuki GSX650F Forum - www.GSX650F.biz

Love my bike!

I haven't had much time to ride it because of the snow. The snow is beginning to melt now, but the lingering problem of dirt and cinders makes most back roads rather perilous.

I rode today for about 45 minutes and only lost traction one time -- coming from a main road onto a street, there were cinders in the turn. It was no big deal; I regained traction a moment later as I completed the turn.

But I'm a mechanically non-inclined rookie with lots of questions for the wizened masters of this noble steed!

Particularly, how the rear suspension works. I know nothing about it, really. I know the tools needed to readjust it are under my seat.

The problem is, going over asphalt in very poor repair, I get big shocks up my back and into my shoulders. When going over very large pot holes I even hop in my seat.

I think this means my rear shock is "too hard" but is it a preload or damping issue? Once I know which to adjust, should I adjust it up or down, and should I adjust the other setting as well?

Thank you kindly for any advice. Also, as spring comes upon my North American and European amigos, I bid you all a happy return to motorcycling!

It means you're suppsosed to get your butt up off the seat and use your legs to absorb the shock, and avoid the potholes if at all possible. Keep your elbows bent too to absorb shock, don't stiffarm. Softenning up the suspension means you'll have more sag and less travel. It's the compression damping that would need to be adjusted, but that's not adjustable.

Bikehigh is right, going over any bump or pot hole big enough to see you need to get on the pegs, or avoid them. Pot holes kill tires and wheels. If however you find in normal riding that with smaller bumps you are bottoming out the rear shock, then I would suggest your preload (spring) is set to low. On the other side if you are feeling every little bump then the preload could be too high as could be the dampening. Somewhere in this forum is a thread about setting the rear shock. I'm 200 lbs and the factory set has been fine for me.

I just raised the preload on the rear spring from 3 to 4 prior to this weekend's riding, looking for a little better turn in in the twisty stuff. Some of my riding took me on some pretty torn up urban roads. I felt no harshness. I'm thinking I may jack it up a notch in the front, and another notch in the rear.

The bike is set up for the average size rider , whats your weight ?
Yeah as said above there is a post on where your setting are for people ,but havn't got time to find it.

I ride over some pretty gnarly country roads! This be Amish country, after all...

Anyway, I'm not sure what the bike is set at. I looked at the rear shock (the front forks cover the rough terrain with no problems) but I couldn't tell much by looking at it.

I'm 175 lbs or about 80 kg. I don't know whether that makes me large or not compared to the intended "average" rider.