HareBrain Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 Hi there, this is my first post, though I've been working my way through the 8th gen pages over the last couple of nights. I've now had my beautiful white VFR800 for a week. I'm not a very experienced biker -- had a Kawa GPZ550 for a year in the nineties, and spent the last year with a 2013 CBR600FA, nothing in between. The CBR's suspension felt perfect to me -- fairly plush but well-controlled -- and when I test-rode the VFR I found the suspension quite harsh by comparison, especially over less than ideal road surfaces, something a few reviews I read commented on. I thought it was something I'd just get used to, but after a couple of days of riding it was starting to bug me, to the point where I was even starting to wonder if I'd made a mistake, despite loving the bike in almost every other respect. So I went online and found a discussion somewhere else (which I've now lost) containing someone's recommendation of how the forks and shock should be set up. I tried it, and it really makes a difference. It seems to soak up big stuff better, but also isn't so chattery over road imperfections, and it's reduced the on-off feel of the throttle where it's only just open, I guess because bumps aren't being transmitted to the wrist quite so much. These are the settings (the bike was set up as stock when I got it) Forks: preload as stock (fourth notch in line with top of nut), rebound 1.5 turns counter-clockwise from full hard (versus one turn stock). Shock: preload, three clicks clockwise from full soft (versus seven stock), rebound 1.5 turns counter-clockwise from full hard (versus 0.75 turns stock). If I hadn't read that other article, I wouldn't have had a clue what settings to even experiment with, and probably would have just left them alone, so I hope this might be useful to a few people in a similar situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiutis Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 Front rebound only 1.5 turns from full hard? How many total turns are there? I feel like it's still on mostly Hard with only 1.5 turns, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HareBrain Posted June 25, 2017 Author Share Posted June 25, 2017 13 minutes ago, Tiutis said: Front rebound only 1.5 turns from full hard? How many total turns are there? I feel like it's still on mostly Hard with only 1.5 turns, No, there's only just over two turns available on the forks (don't know about the rear). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Rectaltronics Posted June 25, 2017 Member Contributer Share Posted June 25, 2017 48 minutes ago, HareBrain said: Hi there, this is my first post, though I've been working my way through the 8th gen pages over the last couple of nights. I've now had my beautiful white VFR800 for a week. I'm not a very experienced biker -- had a Kawa GPZ550 for a year in the nineties, and spent the last year with a 2013 CBR600FA, nothing in between. The CBR's suspension felt perfect to me -- fairly plush but well-controlled -- and when I test-rode the VFR I found the suspension quite harsh by comparison, especially over less than ideal road surfaces, something a few reviews I read commented on. I thought it was something I'd just get used to, but after a couple of days of riding it was starting to bug me, to the point where I was even starting to wonder if I'd made a mistake, despite loving the bike in almost every other respect. So I went online and found a discussion somewhere else (which I've now lost) containing someone's recommendation of how the forks and shock should be set up. I tried it, and it really makes a difference. It seems to soak up big stuff better, but also isn't so chattery over road imperfections, and it's reduced the on-off feel of the throttle where it's only just open, I guess because bumps aren't being transmitted to the wrist quite so much. These are the settings (the bike was set up as stock when I got it) Forks: preload as stock (fourth notch in line with top of nut), rebound 1.5 turns counter-clockwise from full hard (versus one turn stock). Shock: preload, three clicks clockwise from full soft (versus seven stock), rebound 1.5 turns counter-clockwise from full hard (versus 0.75 turns stock). If I hadn't read that other article, I wouldn't have had a clue what settings to even experiment with, and probably would have just left them alone, so I hope this might be useful to a few people in a similar situation. It might be more useful if readers knew what ya' weighed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corrugated Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 So many variables to consider for suspension setup on any bike. If you get a chance, head over to your local suspension specialist and have them give it a once over as well :) you'll be very impressed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RVFR Posted June 26, 2017 Share Posted June 26, 2017 What ^ he said. Why? Even though I pretty much know the know in how I want a bike to feel like and handle, after I dialed mine in after a complete major up grade which was last year, I thought ok, not Bad, until. I was visiting the track talking to my son, which is a track marshal and low and behold I suspension guru we all know in the circles of who knows what was there, He has the skills setting up all kinds of suspension, when the time looked Right I ask Barry if he had time to feel how the VFR to him is feeling. He said sure bring it over, once there at his tent he push this, wiggled that ,went in got his nifty screw drive and started in on the front. then worked his way to the rear, shook his head , asked if i could turn the ring on the shock, I said sure, moved it one click, then twice, third time was the charm, then me fiddled with the remote reservoir adjustment. Ok. he said good to go. On the way back,Ii hit up a familiar road and went wow, now we're talking, way more planted. and here I thought It was all ready good. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiutis Posted June 26, 2017 Share Posted June 26, 2017 6 hours ago, HareBrain said: No, there's only just over two turns available on the forks (don't know about the rear). Actually, my front adjustments are what you have on yours. Rear preload is at 4 bars, and not sure about the rebound-I'll check tomorrow. I'm 155 lbs and the bike feels stout but not harsh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HareBrain Posted June 26, 2017 Author Share Posted June 26, 2017 9 hours ago, Rectaltronics said: It might be more useful if readers knew what ya' weighed. 190lbs, 86kg. The guy who recommended those settings was 65kg. That's only a 6% difference for bike + rider, so I guess it suits a fair range. I wasn't trying to suggest this as a perfect setting for everyone, BTW, it's just that I couldn't find anything else that recommended any starting adjustments from stock at all. And the local Honda dealer seemed clueless. 7 hours ago, Corrugated said: If you get a chance, head over to your local suspension specialist and have them give it a once over as well :) you'll be very impressed! I'm sure I'll do that at some point -- I had my mountain-bike suspension fettled with great results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Grum Posted June 26, 2017 Member Contributer Share Posted June 26, 2017 Hi HareBrain. Feel very much the same as you. I find the 8th. gen a lot harsher than my three 6 gens I've owned. It's my only criticism l can find with this fantastic bike. I'm going to give your settings a try and see how I go. Failing that I will do as Corrugated suggested and and have it professionally set up for my 80kgs. Thanks for the info. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rckrzy1 Posted June 28, 2017 Share Posted June 28, 2017 On 6/25/2017 at 9:59 PM, Tiutis said: Actually, my front adjustments are what you have on yours. Rear preload is at 4 bars, and not sure about the rebound-I'll check tomorrow. I'm 155 lbs and the bike feels stout but not harsh. At 155-160 myself I too found I needed to take pre load out of front and rear from stock, I think the bike comes set for average over weight americans . I also softened both rebounds about 1/2 turn. And yes the ride is better. But having come from a pig CTX1300 that road like a rock the vfr is still very good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurie Posted July 6, 2017 Share Posted July 6, 2017 I had the same experience. Rode the 200ks home from the dealer and by the time I got home I was regretting my decision to buy the viffer. I left it at the factory settings for a couple of thousand Ks,thinking it might soften over time, it didnt. After a bit of fiddling and test riding ive got it to the point where its acceptable,but it certainly isnt plush. Ive settled on almost zero preload front and rear, and a quarter tun in from zero rebound. I cant recall exactly how many threads/clicks that is.I also dropped a couple of PS1 in the tyres to help smooth out some of the harshness. It dosnt help that the roads in my area are the worst in the state... Cheers Laurie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HareBrain Posted July 6, 2017 Author Share Posted July 6, 2017 After a few hundred miles on the revised settings over a variety of road conditions, it feels fine -- maybe still not quite as plush+controlled as the CBR was, but no complaints. What I mostly complain about now is the turning circle. ;o) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FastM Posted July 6, 2017 Share Posted July 6, 2017 You should set the preload to 25-30mm of sag, with you sitting on the bike - front and rear. This is the place to start. Then adjust from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Thumbs Posted July 6, 2017 Member Contributer Share Posted July 6, 2017 2 hours ago, HareBrain said: What I mostly complain about now is the turning circle. ;o) Tell me about it, a Smugcar turned in a smaller circle than me yesterday ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Rectaltronics Posted July 6, 2017 Member Contributer Share Posted July 6, 2017 2 hours ago, HareBrain said: What I mostly complain about now is the turning circle. ;o) I spent the last couple of weeks riding my friend's NX-650 while my VFR was being repaired from that knock-over. I got really jaded, being able to twist and wind almost Vespa-like through tiny openings in traffic. That, and being able to jump curbs so easily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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