The CB1100 Community Forum
Front suspension? - Printable Version

+- The CB1100 Community Forum (https://cb1100forum.net/forum)
+-- Forum: Honda CB1100 Discussions (https://cb1100forum.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=5)
+--- Forum: General Discussion (https://cb1100forum.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=6)
+--- Thread: Front suspension? (/showthread.php?tid=2023)

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

RE: Front suspension harshness? - pechorin75_imp - 04-27-2014

Just saw the other replies. The rear suspension is set where it was when I bought it--one notch above the softest setting. It feels about right to me--a little on the firm side compared to what my other bikes would be with comparable settings, but still damped and not harsh.

I'll try the zip tie measurement...sounds like a good idea.

RE: Front suspension harshness? - CIP57_imp - 04-27-2014

(04-27-2014, 11:39 PM)pechorin75_imp Wrote: Thanks for the responses, guys. I bought the bike earlier this year with around 900 miles....I have no evidence that the forks have ever been apart--but also no evidence that they haven't. One other detail I didn't mention: When I bought the bike, there was only one line showing on the adjusters. Taking it to three lines, and then finally "wide open," I've noticed very little (if any) change in the way the front end feels.

Vfrpaul, interesting possibilities. Would what you're describing cause other issues as well--like sticking in one position, or one fork compressing and the other not?

If you bought the bike used it could be a number of things, check for any scratches on the clutch and brake levers or any where else on the bike for signs it may have been down.

RE: Front suspension harshness? - pechorin75_imp - 04-27-2014

(04-27-2014, 11:44 PM)CIP57_imp Wrote:
(04-27-2014, 11:39 PM)pechorin75_imp Wrote: Thanks for the responses, guys. I bought the bike earlier this year with around 900 miles....I have no evidence that the forks have ever been apart--but also no evidence that they haven't. One other detail I didn't mention: When I bought the bike, there was only one line showing on the adjusters. Taking it to three lines, and then finally "wide open," I've noticed very little (if any) change in the way the front end feels.

Vfrpaul, interesting possibilities. Would what you're describing cause other issues as well--like sticking in one position, or one fork compressing and the other not?

If you bought the bike used it could be a number of things, check for any scratches on the clutch and brake levers or any where else on the bike for signs it may have been down.

It has a mild scuff on the right bar end from what the previous owner said was a partial drop against the wall of his garage. Otherwise, nothing, and I don't see any evidence that the drop was any more severe than that. The bike rides perfectly straight and handles like a dream (on smooth pavement).

RE: Front suspension harshness? - the Ferret - 04-27-2014

I used a bread wrap twist tie to measure mine easier to control tightness and you don't have to cut them off with a dikes. Put on twist tie, push it down against the seal, sit on bike, squeeze front brake tight, work forks 3 times, measure and photograph.

Adjuster with stock 3 bars showing..about 2" travel

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/suspensionCB1100003_zps3c0048f7.jpg.html][Image: 72e4fb33cacc7ba999499e328070a5aa.jpg]

adjuster backed out 4 bars showing... about 2 1/4 " travel
[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/suspensionCB1100001_zps5e59775a.jpg.html][Image: d207e110fb2d48ed18aad13a68272626.jpg]

adjuster backed out all the way... about 2 3/4" travel
[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/suspensionCB1100002_zps9d91d221.jpg.html][Image: 1d5201aeee6a7dd9888bc383ff85473e.jpg]

I run mine with 4 bars showing

***note I think at about 3 3/4-4" of travel your front fender would smack into your horns.

RE: Front suspension harshness? - CIP57_imp - 04-28-2014

(04-27-2014, 11:42 PM)pechorin75_imp Wrote: Just saw the other replies. The rear suspension is set where it was when I bought it--one notch above the softest setting. It feels about right to me--a little on the firm side compared to what my other bikes would be with comparable settings, but still damped and not harsh.

I'll try the zip tie measurement...sounds like a good idea.

Wow, thank Ferret for being on top of things. I mild drop sometimes can tweak the triples. Try the zips and see how close you are with ferret.

RE: Front suspension harshness? - pechorin75_imp - 04-28-2014

Yeah, thanks a bunch, Ferret. I just went out and did the same thing, and the results are a bit puzzling. I started with it "wide open" (that is, with 4+ bars showing) since that's where I already had it set, and worked back the other way. Both forks compressed evenly each time.

Here's wide open (4+ bars):

[url=http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pechorin75/media/CB_wideopen_zpse11cd41c.jpg.html][Image: 057e0eb251401b1fa5ae2a60018da2b1.jpg]

Here's 4 bars:

[url=http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pechorin75/media/CB_4bars_zpsc088c82c.jpg.html][Image: 77f6cacf9a2e9beab7115e70afafabef.jpg]

Here's 3 bars:

[url=http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pechorin75/media/CB_3bars_zpscd02abff.jpg.html][Image: b3e7adcb3ffec84826ed5a65f79b8901.jpg]

And just for the heck of it, since I was seeing absolutely no difference, I went ahead and closed them all the way down. This is fully shut, zero bars:

[url=http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pechorin75/media/CB_closeddown_zps0fcb2070.jpg.html][Image: dbfa0a36cf74ff3dc8e8539a781cd6ad.jpg]

So, to recap: right at 2" of travel for both wide open, 4 bars, and 3 bars....and about 2 1/8" with them fully closed down. I'm not sure what that means, but something ain't right...

RE: Front suspension harshness? - the Ferret - 04-28-2014

BTW just my 180 pound body weight sitting on it used up 1/2" of the suspension

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/CB1100suspensionbodyweight001_zps72161db6.jpg.html][Image: 86c24b9915f0c44dc38edb539d4aa679.jpg]

RE: Front suspension harshness? - pechorin75_imp - 04-28-2014

I ran out and did the same thing (just sitting), with the adjusters set to 4 bars. I weigh about 225. About 1 3/8" compression.

[url=http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pechorin75/media/sitting_4bars_zps863ddca1.jpg.html][Image: 99fd501ab8bc1f5b6fd0d32beb0a28cf.jpg]

RE: Front suspension harshness? - CIP57_imp - 04-28-2014

It seems there's binding in the triples, it's a very easy adjustment. I don't have my shop manual so we need someone to chime in here. You need to loosen the triple to relax the forks and get them back into alignment. If i remember correctly you also have to loosen the bolts on the wheel.

RE: Front suspension harshness? - pechorin75_imp - 04-28-2014

(04-28-2014, 01:22 AM)CIP57_imp Wrote: It seems there's binding in the triples, it's a very easy adjustment. I don't have my shop manual so we need someone to chime in here. You need to loosen the triple to relax the forks and get them back into alignment. If i remember correctly you also have to loosen the bolts on the wheel.

I have a shop manual, but it's over at my other garage, so can't refer to it right away. If you have a minute, would you mind explaining for the suspension illiterate (i.e., myself) the relationship between the binding you're talking about and the fork compression?