As an "Option" wouldn't it be nice if dealerships offered suspension upgrades?

[pilot]

On new bikes.

How many times have we seen a rider getting a new bike and then waiting nearly forever :turtle:to even "set-up" the suspension's preload and damping for "their" ride:(. Not everyone is 5'8" and 170 (thanks Matty for the #'s).

A properly dialed in shock and forks would do wonders for the ride (at least that's what I've heard).

What are your thoughts on this?



Just a rambling thought.

[RyNo24]

I am sure they would, but it would be just another add-on to the already high add-on price lol.

[rybo]

Sure it would be nice, but the truth is the average dealership salesperson isn't going to get it right anyways. To think that they're going to bring out a tech (who may or may not be any more knowledgable in this area than the salesperson is) from his $75 a billable hour job to set up a bike they've already made their money on...well, it's just not going to happen.

Getting the bike properly set up suspension wise takes a lot of time, and it's time the dealers aren't likely to invest. Sure, if done well it would make a better situation for the customer/rider, but it still costs the dealership money instead of them getting to keep it.

[irdave]

I think people waiting at all is pretty silly, but most people are unaware of how good it could be- I mean, you only know as good as you've ridden...

Honestly, I have yet to see a bike come with the right spring rates FOR ANYBODY front and rear. Sometimes the front is good but the rear is too soft or stiff. Or the rear has about the right spring rate but the front is WAY too soft. Example: Honda. Rear springs pretty close for a big guy, typically. Front spring WAY too soft- like from the factory with a 0.78 kg/mm when a 120lb woman would need a 0.85... And I would run a 0.95... Riddle me that.

I'm not sure what they're (the factory) actually thinking.

This is, honestly, why I'm a little concerned when people say,"I left it set how it came from the dealer- the factory just *must* know what's right." Dirt bikes, close. Sport bikes, no way.

And that's why I make time to be available at the track- so people can get their stuff dialed in. And why I keep a boat load of springs in stock. They're that important.

[konichd]

On new bikes.

How many times have we seen a rider getting a new bike and then waiting nearly forever :turtle:to even "set-up" the suspension's preload and damping for "their" ride:(. Not everyone is 5'8" and 170 (thanks Matty for the #'s).

A properly dialed in shock and forks would do wonders for the ride (at least that's what I've heard).

What are your thoughts on this?



Just a rambling thought.

Not every manufacture basis 5'8" 170, The spring rate for a ZX10R for instance is set up for a 140 lbs rider. Hence why smaller SV owners are buying stock 10R shocks and putting them on. They are setup for their size. This is probably the same for other manufacture's as well. FYI

[Sortarican]

To add to Pilots original premise, why don't manufacturers offer a few upgrade options along the lines of auto companies.
Sure sometimes you can improve by going from the 'base', to the 'S', to the 'R' type models, but that's it.
They could do it at the dealership level like they used to do with the muscle cars.
Factory ships the base unit and the dealer has bolt on upgrades pre packaged for installation locally.

I hate taking functional parts off and either having them wasting space in the garage, or hassling with selling them someone that thrashed thiers.


...- like from the factory with a 0.78 kg/mm when a 120lb woman would need a 0.85... And I would run a 0.95....

I've been picking up parts for upgrading my suspension and was baffled by what the factory #'s were on my '00 R6.
(.78kg forks and 9.24kg shock.)

I'm 6'2" 200lbs so the shock spring is only off by a little, but the fork spring rate is what's called out for a 100lb street rider. (Via Race Tech's formula.)
Why the Hell would they mix rigidity levels like that?

[rybo]

I've been picking up parts for upgrading my suspension and was baffled by what the factory #'s were on my '00 R6.
(.78kg forks and 9.24kg shock.)

I'm 6'2" 200lbs so the shock spring is only off by a little, but the fork spring rate is what's called out for a 100lb street rider. (Via Race Tech's formula.)
Why the Hell would they mix rigidity levels like that?

The only think I can think of is $$....they got a bitchin deal on the fork springs that saved them $1 per bike X the million bikes they produced??

[Sortarican]

The only think I can think of is $$....they got a bitchin deal on the fork springs that saved them $1 per bike X the million bikes they produced??

7213

[irdave]

And honestly, I've worked on bikes that have been "set-up" by one of the local shops that does race stuff... The customer sure was happier *after* I adjusted his suspension. What does this mean? I don't know- maybe a shop would need a suspension specialist? Hardly worth it. Most shops simply sell solutions in the form of shiny bits without the ability to adjust them to work properly together- which is unfortunate. The customer pays big bucks for some fancy parts and they aren't set up even close- so the customer either bags on the parts or doesn't get the full benefit...

Solution? See a specialist. Just like you wouldn't go to a general practitioner/family doctor for LASIK, maybe look up a suspension specialist for getting suspension work. Does it help the newb? Only if you, the newb's friends, help them out and steer them correctly...

[sky_blue]

Dave set up my suspension so my Honda would handle with precision cruising the Starbucks parking lot.:batman: