Spyder Shock Adjustments

[Questions]

For us heavier guys out here is there any pro's or con's of changing the factory settings on the shocks? Right now mine is set to 150lb rider plus cargo, and I am a solid 230lbs all by myself. The bike seems to ride and handle just fine as is.

 

[Trickie Dick]

welcomeI'm a little heavier than you (260) and I have mine set to the max front and rear. Seems to corner better than when I was running a softer setting. My next mod is going to be the sway bar for better handling.
I also ride 2 up with the wife now and then so I need the stiffer setting.
Dick

 

[Questions]

Sounds good,,,,I need to read up on these sway bars, several people here have gotten them.

 

[bjt]

welcomeI'm a little heavier than you (260) and I have mine set to the max front and rear. Seems to corner better than when I was running a softer setting. My next mod is going to be the sway bar for better handling.
I also ride 2 up with the wife now and then so I need the stiffer setting.
Dick

+1 Though I don't ride two up very often, I weigh around 260 and have my springs set to max all around and I have the Evoluzione sway bar. I like the handling this way. :thumbup:

 

[jgwoods]

+1 Though I don't ride two up very often, I weigh around 260 and have my springs set to max all around and I have the Evoluzione sway bar. I like the handling this way. :thumbup:

You like the handling- how is the ride? It is pretty bumpy around here- eastern MA- with lots of potholes and such. I weigh 320 and have the spring preload set in the middle of the range. It leans a lot in corners but I am liking the way in handles the rough roads so I don't really want to stiffen the ride.

 

[DynamoBT]

Gosh, I must like it bumpy because I'm well under 200 lbs and I have mine set to the max all the way around. I do ryde two up with hubby on the back quite frequently. But I leave the settings alone when I ryde solo. NH roads can't be any smoother than MA! I just like the way it handles.

The sway bar is also on my list of things to get next season. Everyone says it's well worth the cost.

 

[Tom in NM]

Hmmmmm . . . .

. . . . I weigh 145# and on a stock Spyder find the factory settings to be on the stiff side. ( I also ride with the tires on the firm side ) That is fine with me, though I will be knocking it down on notch. It takes about another 150# on the back before the current setting "smooths out" rough road and bumps.

Right now, handling is great. I didn't do too much with the weight on the back, so I don't know what softer will handle like.

Tom

 

[jabba11]

I adjusted my fronts this morning to 4 and back to 5. I am 5 11 and 215 lbs. I like the ride on the front but may step back a notch on the rear I felt it was a little stiff riding to work. I would like to get my wife on th eback and see how that feels first though

 

[bjt]

You like the handling- how is the ride? It is pretty bumpy around here- eastern MA- with lots of potholes and such. I weigh 320 and have the spring preload set in the middle of the range. It leans a lot in corners but I am liking the way in handles the rough roads so I don't really want to stiffen the ride.

We have a lot of potholes too and probably ten times that number of pothole "repairs" where they just heap a few shovelfuls of road patching asphalt into the hole and let vehicles pack it down. Needless to say, many of the roads aren't very smooth. My perceived difference in the ride feel is that I get more road surface feedback with the springs set to the max tension but it's what I would expect from a sportier type vehicle. I prefer the stiffer front end and less swingarm travel over a front end that allowed too much body roll in turns and a swingarm that would bottom out on the rough roads.

 

[Firefly]

I'm a fat ba$tard size--- so I put them all the way firm and didn't like how it felt--- backed them off 1 notch and added the sway bar and really like it now.

NOTE: Jack the Spyder up when making these adjustments--- that will lessen the chance of breaking the adjustment cam. Spraying with WD40 and letting is sit a bit before making the adjustment is a good idea too.

 

[jgwoods]

I just moved mine to the same as Firefly- one notch down from full on tight. A brief roadtest shows very little extra harshness and somewhat better control - less lean- on turns.

I am definitely considering the sway bar. I'll ride another 500 or so and decide.

 

[Love2Ride]

I'm a fat ba size---

DUDE! I almost spit my soda on the screen. :roflblack: You know, you really shouldn't hold back. heehee

 

[FANG]

Ryde is different for each individual. When I bought the Spyder I was 300+ lbs but had the factory settting for the shocks, I now weigh 190 (yea I had by pass surgery) and the shock settings are at the max. I ryde more aggressively now than I did when I first got the spyder. I like the way it corners with the stiffer settings.
the evo sway bar is my next mod -- can't wait to get that on the spyder.