[net.cycle] Need advice on suspension setup

pauldan@hou2e.UUCP (P.SAUNDERS) (03/14/85)

I just took delivery on my first motorcycle (Honda VF700 Sabre), and
I'd like to start playing around with the suspension.  Would anyone
care to answer a few questions?

1)  The recommended pressure in my front forks is 0-6 psi.  Does
    someone make a low-pressure gauge to measure this?  A tire gauge
    that goes from 0-80 psi doesn't do the trick.  Also, can I install
    some sort of crossover between the forks to equalize the pressure?

2)  On my rear monoshock (pro-link), what's the difference between
    rebound damping adjustment and air pressure adjustment?  If one is
    set hard (or soft), should the other also be set hard (or soft)?

3)  When carrying a passenger, Honda recommends increasing rear tire
    pressure from 32 to 40 psi, and firming up the suspension.  Does
    anybody really fiddle with all of this each time the bike is ridden
    with a passenger, or is it okay to set the bike up somewhere in
    between the ideal solo and two-up settings?

Also, any feedback on fairings would be helpful- I never imagined 60mph
would be that windy!

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Dan Masi
AT&T Bell Laboratories
Holmdel, NJ 

allegra!ark2!dan  or  allegra!hou2e!pauldan

rich@hpfcrs.UUCP (rich) (03/19/85)

> I just took delivery on my first motorcycle (Honda VF700 Sabre), and
> I'd like to start playing around with the suspension.  Would anyone
> care to answer a few questions?

I bought a 750 Sabre last summer.  It was my first bike, so my
comments lack a historical perspective.

>     Also, can I install
>     some sort of crossover between the forks to equalize the pressure?

As an aside, why don't the manufacturers always provide crossovers?
It seems to me imbalance would at least add to stiction and wear, if
not be unsafe.
 
> 2)  On my rear monoshock (pro-link), what's the difference between
>     rebound damping adjustment and air pressure adjustment?  If one is
>     set hard (or soft), should the other also be set hard (or soft)?

The magazines complained about the suspension of the Sabre; I think
they found excessive damping -- both compression and rebound, front
and rear -- yet some wallowing in the turns.  It does seem to me to be
impossible to arrive at anything close to a soft touring setup.
I have been unable to discern much difference between positions '1' 
and '4' on the rebound damping.  Since there's so little difference, 
I rarely take the time to play with it anymore.  Perhaps mine is 
abnormally insensitive.  Or perhaps I am.
 
> Also, any feedback on fairings would be helpful- I never imagined 60mph
> would be that windy!

I closed my eyes and dished out the bucks for the factory fairing.  I
don't remember what I paid for it, but it's expensive for what you
get.  It's a compromise between a cafe and a full touring fairing.

Good features:

- Narrow (not really a full touring fairing)
- Well integrated with the bike
- Light (40 lbs)

Bad features:

- Head is in the full blast 
- Expensive
- Squeaks and rattles (probably a generic fairing complaint)
- Narrowed field of vision in mirrors

> Dan Masi
> AT&T Bell Laboratories
> Holmdel, NJ 

Rich Carr
Fort Collins, CO
hpfcla!rich-c