[bunkerking217]

Unlike me, a lot of you guys on here have rode quads with fully adjustable suspension. You all know how to adjust the preload, compression, and rebound....
This is my first quad with suspension other than stock(no adj. anything)
I do not plan on getting new shocks anytime soon, but I would like to set my quad up with the shocks on it. Any suspension professors out there?!?

 

[cjpoole1]

Heres some info from an old post on Exriders:


For a basic shock setup you want to start with ride height. First start out by putting your quad on a stand and measuring the distance from the axle to a fixed place on the frame ( like the grab bar). Then take the quad off the stand, put on all your gear and sit on the bike in a natural riding position and take another measurement. You should use up about 30% of your travel in this sag. If after you set this up and you get off the bike and the spring tops with no sag that means you are going to have to change springs to a stiffer one bc you were running to much preload to compensate for the soft spring. Your sag with no rider should be only about 5% of your travel. A stock 400EX has 9.1" of rear travel. Your ride sag with rider should be around 2.73in more or less depending on setup. ( on MX you may want more sag for handleing were as GNCC may want less sag for clearance).

Now to set up front suspension sag. You want to do the same thing with the bike off the ground and then when you sit on it. The only difference is now you want to have 20% of the travel for sag. A stock 400ex has 8.2" of front travel so sag should be 2.46". Depending on how much travel you get with your a arms and shocks will determine the sag. Shocks with more travel can have more sag. So aftermarket shocks will run more sag and have more travel.

Next is setting up compression. Compression controls how much force it takes to compress the shocks.Compression depends on what type of riding you do. Motocross and supercross may require stiffer suspension while harescrambles, trails and GNCC will require a softer more plush ride. What you want to do is set up the compression so you use all the travel of the shock without bottoming out hard or just barely bottoming. With the setting too soft the suspension will feel mushy and setting it to hard the shocks will feel harsh and you will feel every little bump you hit because the shock isn't absorbing anything. To get a proper compression setting put the shocks on full soft. Gradually ride faster and adjust the shocks so they are not mushy and absorb the bumps. Keep going untill you nake several adjustments and reach your riding level and have the proper compression. it is okay if you bottom on the biggest jumps you do. You want to use all of your travel for the best ride, but dont let the shocks get beat up or damaged.

After you do compression you can adjust the rebound. Rebound controls how fast the shock returns after being compressed. A soft rebound means faster and hard rebound dampning rebounds slower. There are 2 ways to set up the rebound. First find a nice set of whoops. You can either start on full soft or full hard and go through the whoops at a slow pace. Gradually go faster and then adjust the rebound untill you dont get bucked or the shock doesnt pack up. Then go faster and faster while making adjustments untill you reach your riding speed through the whoops with the correct rebound where you dont get bucked or the shock doesnt pack up. Packing up is when the shock hits a bump compresses and then doesnt get to rebound before hitting the next bump and eventually you have no more travel.

That is a basic way to set up your shocks but specific applications will need different tuning.Big indoor Supercross tracks or freestyle riders will need much stiffer shocks from the big jumps and perfectly groomed non rutted tracks and smooth ramps but would not be good on the out door mx tracks because they can not handle the ruts and little bumps with out being very harsh. GNCC quads will need softer compression to soak up the rocks and roots and be plush.

 

[FAST1]

Nice post CJpoole

Have you followed these recommendations with respect to pre-load on your YFZ?

What were the results?

 

[jbplays]

Thats why i love this forum. You learn so much. Thanx cjpoole

 

[bunkerking217]

definately. Im still a little confused on the pre-load. That is basically how much travel you have in your shocks correct? If so, wouldn't you want as much as you can get?!? More travel = better ride ? right ?

 

[YFZ_53]

Originally posted by bunkerking217@Oct 21 2003, 10:29 PM
definately. Im still a little confused on the pre-load. That is basically how much travel you have in your shocks correct? If so, wouldn't you want as much as you can get?!? More travel = better ride ? right ?

preload has nuthing to do with how much travel you have......... you will always have the same amount of treval because travel is measured from when the shock is fully extended........ know how you preload on jumps?...... thats wat the preload setting is for...... it makes it stiffer/softer when ur preloading....... but wat i think it mainly does is soften or stiffen the ride....... ill come over one day and set ur suspension garret

 

[cjpoole1]

Originally posted by FAST1@Oct 21 2003, 12:27 PM
Nice post CJpoole

Have you followed these recommendations with respect to pre-load on your YFZ?

What were the results?

I can't actually. I only weigh 140 and with the preload all the way down its still stiff for me. Its better but still stiff. The factory shocks are probably valved and sprung for about a 180-200lb rider.

 

[Aussiequadrider]

Chuck,
Mate 140 pounds !
What would you like to be when you grow up son? :lol :lol :lol :lol

Geoff.

 

[cjpoole1]

Originally posted by Aussiequadrider@Oct 25 2003, 04:52 AM
Chuck,
Mate 140 pounds !
What would you like to be when you grow up son? :lol :lol :lol :lol

Geoff.

unfortunately, I was as grown up as i'll get about 10 years ago :cry

 

[YFZ_53]

dnt feel bad man.... im 15 and only 5 ft flat, 90 pounds :lol

 

[daddogrider]

Man, you guys are so lucky! You and a tricked YFZ450 and NUTHIN is gonna touch you!
How do you say eat my roost?

 

[bunkerking217]

I'll be 18 in january and im a little under 6ft. and about 145

 

[seatec]

my heart bleeds for your "light weights" :bawl wish i had that "problem" i'm 6'4" and weigh 280. try adjusting your quad for those stats. i need a stiffer spring for my rear shock for sure cause when i adjust my pre-load for the right sag my quad pogo's up without weight. :lol

 

[DigitMXTracks]

im 6' 1'' and weigh almost 170 the yfz feels amost a bit small to me but i love it

 

[YFZinJay]

Almost 17 and 5'7" ,wiegh 145.....I really dont look skinny.

 

[FAST1]

Originally posted by cjpoole1+Oct 21 2003, 04:44 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (cjpoole1 @ Oct 21 2003, 04:44 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin--FAST1@Oct 21 2003, 12:27 PM
Nice post CJpoole

Have you followed these recommendations with respect to pre-load on your YFZ?

What were the results?

I can't actually. I only weigh 140 and with the preload all the way down its still stiff for me. Its better but still stiff. The factory shocks are probably valved and sprung for about a 180-200lb rider. [/b][/quote]
I'm 5'10" at 175 dry and also feel the YFZ is set up from the factory for a 180 to 200 lb rider.

I've had to relax the pre-load on mine also even at 175lbs.

 

[horsballs]

yeah im 5'3 115 popunds and landing on a yfz is like landing spread eagled on a rock :bawl

 

[BillsBlaster]

Im 5"8 and 130lbs :lol ...

Its stiff for me too, not to bad tho.

 

[Mustache Ride]

i like how this thread turned into how big everyone is and not about suspension.

 

[BC_YFZ450]

well guys i am 6'1" 194 lbs and the suspention settings from the dealer is the best i have found! i tryied different settings and found it either too stiff or too soft so i think your theories are correct on factory suspention settings!

Curt