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I am trying to stiffin up the suspension using the adjustments available on the concours. I am using the chalmers manual. The rear shock is not a problem. The front shocks are a different matter as I don't quite understand what the manual is indicating. Apparently the factory sets the shocks for a rider of 150lbs (something I have not seen since I graduated to long pants). This setting is indicated on the adjusters but the exposure of 5 lines. There are 7 lines of adjustment available. I tightened the adjuster so that only 3 lines were showing. I assumed that most of the adjustment play would be fore potentially heavier riders. So my question is, have I moved the adjusters in the right way to get a stiffer ride or should I have went the other way and exposed more lines.
Any help would be appreciated. Tks

You turn clockwise(right) to increase the preload(stiffen), and yes you will see less lines.

Thanks for the input. I was hoping that was the case.

Ideally you want the fork to compress 1/3 of its full travel when you sit down.

HYPERR wrote:Ideally you want the fork to compress 1/3 of its full travel when you sit down.

On a dirt bike? A street bike? A sportsbike?

Suspension is a PITA to get right but most bikes only let you adjust the sag. For most street bikes you want 30-35 mm of sag. Pick up Lee Parks total control of Keith Code's twist of the wrist two for a detailed means of setting up your suspension.

Either way for the best setup you're probably going to want new springs. Which is good news because more 2001 bikes have never had the fork oil serviced. Grab some new spring, new fork oil and you're set.

storysunfolding wrote:

HYPERR wrote:Ideally you want the fork to compress 1/3 of its full travel when you sit down.

On a dirt bike? A street bike? A sportsbike?

Suspension is a PITA to get right but most bikes only let you adjust the sag. For most street bikes you want 30-35 mm of sag. Pick up Lee Parks total control of Keith Code's twist of the wrist two for a detailed means of setting up your suspension.

Either way for the best setup you're probably going to want new springs. Which is good news because more 2001 bikes have never had the fork oil serviced. Grab some new spring, new fork oil and you're set.

Since the OP asked specifically about the front fork preload of a 2001 Concours, that is what we will concentrate on.

First of all, 30-35mm is the general roundabout sag for a Big Four sportbike. 35mm is actually the general consensus for allaround street riding on one of those bikes. However, that is because the 35mm basically fits right into the 30% rule of sag, which is considered the ideal sag. Most japanese sportbikes including my '04 CBR600RR has a suspension travel of 119mm. 30% of that is 35.7mm. That is why people aim for around a 35mm sag.

Now herein lies the problem with telling everyone to aim for 35mm of sag....it only really works for a bike with that range of suspension travel. For example my Hypermotard has a front suspension travel of 165mm! 30% of that is 49.5mm. The general consensus on the Ducati forum and professional suspension experts is that a 50mm sag on the front of the Hypermotard is ideal.

Now lets go back to the 2001 Concours. I couldn't find the specs on that exact year, but I found it on the 2004, which I assume would have the same suspension travel as the 2001 as they never changed that bik. The front suspension travel on that bike is 139.7mm. So using the 30% rule, the front sag should be 41.91.

Yeah- but I don't believe in absolutes and pointed out two sources that cover all types of bikes from dirt to supersport Further covers how to adjust not only sag, but rebound, compression and takes into account stiction.

But that's fine- I'm going to sail away now

storysunfolding wrote:Yeah- but I don't believe in absolutes and pointed out two sources that cover all types of bikes from dirt to supersport Further covers how to adjust not only sag, but rebound, compression and takes into account stiction.

But that's fine- I'm going to sail away now

Does the old Concours even have rebound and compression adjustment on the forks?

That's a good question. According to google the rear shock has it. Granted for a 9 year old bike, hopefully someone's eventually gotten around to upgrading it. Suspension is always the first thing I adjust on my own bikes.