2014 ES spring rates please?

[Tony Down Under]

It's on here somewhere but having troubles finding it.......could someone be good enough to tell me what the OEM front and rear suspension spring rates are on the 2014 ES?

Thanks in advance,

Tony

 

[fredz43]

It's on here somewhere but having troubles finding it.......could someone be good enough to tell me what the OEM front and rear suspension spring rates are on the 2014 ES?

Thanks in advance,

Tony

 

[Tony Down Under]

Thanks very much fredz43......exactly what I was looking for mate. With the reduced spring rate in the ES it must have an amazing amount of hydraulic assistance!

 

[fredz43]

Thanks very much fredz43......exactly what I was looking for mate. With the reduced spring rate in the ES it must have an amazing amount of hydraulic assistance!

Yes, it seems odd, but it works well. I have found out though that when it is parked on the sidestand, it doesn't take much to tip it because of the softer spring rate of the shock.

 

[LJM]

Have you checked if your getting 7.5 inches of travel on forks ? On my 2014 no matter what my forks bottom out well short of the advertised 7.5 inches. I'm thinking to much oil in them but I haven't had time to take it in and get it checked out.

 

[tomatocity]

Have you checked if your getting 7.5 inches of travel on forks ? On my 2014 no matter what my forks bottom out well short of the advertised 7.5 inches. I'm thinking to much oil in them but I haven't had time to take it in and get it checked out.

So far I am getting 6ish" but I just discovered preload can be set in + and - . I am not currently not running a skid plate and while checking the Tenere over I found a rough spot on the sump plate. I might have got away with a possible bad situation but it also might be a rough casting. This is reference to how much travel do I need if I am putting the bottom of the engine on the ground during suspension compression's. Then again I might have 1 1/2" clearance remaining.

 

[Tony Down Under]

Yes, it seems odd, but it works well. I have found out though that when it is parked on the sidestand, it doesn't take much to tip it because of the softer spring rate of the shock.

It sort of flys in the face of conventional suspension wisdom. I always thought that correct spring rate was central to suspension performance and if the spring rate wasn't right you were just wasting your time trying to improve things with valving. Obviously electronic suspension is a different kettle of fish......something that I don't know much about but I find it interesting.

 

[sander]

I suppose having a softer spring and more hydraulic control gives you a larger range of damping adjustment.

 

[LJM]

So far I am getting 6ish" but I just discovered preload can be set in + and - . I am not currently not running a skid plate and while checking the Tenere over I found a rough spot on the sump plate. I might have got away with a possible bad situation but it also might be a rough casting. This is reference to how much travel do I need if I am putting the bottom of the engine on the ground during suspension compression's. Then again I might have 1 1/2" clearance remaining.

Not sure if I'm understanding your comment about preload. Are you saying there's a way to adjust preload on the front forks of ES model ?
Thanks

 

[LJM]

I suppose having a softer spring and more hydraulic control gives you a larger range of damping adjustment.

As long s the spring is correct for rider wight I guess that would apply. I'm no expert but if your spring rate is to soft your forks will be to far into the travel length and you'll loose a good portion of your suspension. Normally you want a spring rate that will compress 30%-35% of the travel length when your sitting on the bike this is referred to as rider sag, there is also what is called static sag which is compression with no rider on bike. Every time I've had suspension work done 1st thing they do is check sag and make sure the sag is correct and if not the change springs then go through other steps like valving and oil levels.

 

[frez]

If the spring is too soft, the suspension will compress more just under rider weight, which will leave less compression available when in use. The suspension can still be setup to work across the reduced range but it will not be as optimal. However, the S10 has a large amount of suspension travel (190mm) compared to the majority of road bikes, 120mm for an R1, i.e. the S10 will still have more travel left if it sagged 50% compared to the R1 at 30%.

 

[tomatocity]

Not sure if I'm understanding your comment about preload. Are you saying there's a way to adjust preload on the front forks of ES model ?
Thanks

Correction: 'Preload' is set using the screens of the helmets and luggage. The changes are made electronically.

Test this example. Set Damping to Soft +3 and ride a rough road. Stop and change the setting to Std +3 and ride the same road. You should be able to feel a considerable difference in the front suspension. Soft +3 turns a rough road into "boring" and 'sluggish'.

Refer to 'Adjusting the Front and Rear Suspension' (Preload) pages 4-35 - 4-37 and 'Dampening Force' pages 4-38 - 4-39. Each Damping Force can be set to 7 different (+3, +2, +1, 0, -1, -2, -3).

Yesterday on a 400 mile trip I tested different setting. I weigh 220 and the OEM luggage was not full but heavy. I set the Preload to one Rider and Luggage. In the end I find it should have been two Riders and Luggage. Will test this setting soon. I changed the Damping on almost all the Soft settings and Std +3, +2, +1, -3 and could tell the difference. Have not tested the Hard Preload / Dampening settings yet.