Front suspension?

[pechorin75_imp]

Well, I went ahead and tried the "quick and dirty" method, and I don't really think it changed anything. I saw slightly more compression of the forks (up to about 2 1/4" from 2" even), but I may have been using more force than I was this morning...and anyway, that figure didn't change at all when I adjusted the preload to various settings (unlike Ferret's, which got considerably more compression as he decreased(?) the preload). I wasn't able to test ride to see if there was any change in feel.

Other data points: The fork compression with me just sitting on the bike remained the same as before (about 1 3/8") regardless of the preload setting (this was significantly higher than Ferret's reading).

So...unless you guys have other ideas, I think I'll test ride it next time there's a break in the weather and see if anything's different (I kinda doubt it). Meantime, I'll spend some quality time with the shop manual and decide if I want to tackle this job myself or take it to the pros. The bike should still be in warranty...but am I wrong to assume that something like this probably wouldn't be covered?

Lastly...what do you think about the idea that rather than binding in the triple clamps, it's just an issue of too much fluid in the forks?

[CIP57_imp]

Well, I went ahead and tried the "quick and dirty" method, and I don't really think it changed anything. I saw slightly more compression of the forks (up to about 2 1/4" from 2" even), but I may have been using more force than I was this morning...and anyway, that figure didn't change at all when I adjusted the preload to various settings (unlike Ferret's, which got considerably more compression as he decreased(?) the preload). I wasn't able to test ride to see if there was any change in feel.

Other data points: The fork compression with me just sitting on the bike remained the same as before (about 1 3/8") regardless of the preload setting (this was significantly higher than Ferret's reading).

So...unless you guys have other ideas, I think I'll test ride it next time there's a break in the weather and see if anything's different (I kinda doubt it). Meantime, I'll spend some quality time with the shop manual and decide if I want to tackle this job myself or take it to the pros. The bike should still be in warranty...but am I wrong to assume that something like this probably wouldn't be covered?

Lastly...what do you think about the idea that rather than binding in the triple clamps, it's just an issue of too much fluid in the forks?

P,

You should be getting more travel. Sitting on the bike to compressing the shocks is a mere 3/4", I can see why it would be harsh. I doubt the original owner fooled with the hydraulics ( fluids ) but you never know. I'm out of ideas without breaking down the front end.

[Guth_imp]

If the forks have been opened, the wrong fluid height would cause this also.

As Ack mentioned, it sounds like there might be too much fork oil installed. This would allow the initial sag to occur when sitting on the bike, but once you've reached maximum compression for the amount of oil in the tubes, I don't believe that it's going to give any more. The end result would be a very small amount of travel left to absorb bumps and such.

[Cormanus]

As always on this forum, I'm learning lots. I look forward to pechorin solving the problem and telling us what it was.

[pechorin75_imp]

If the forks have been opened, the wrong fluid height would cause this also.

As Ack mentioned, it sounds like there might be too much fork oil installed. This would allow the initial sag to occur when sitting on the bike, but once you've reached maximum compression for the amount of oil in the tubes, I don't believe that it's going to give any more. The end result would be a very small amount of travel left to absorb bumps and such.

Reading the service manual, it would appear that simply removing the forks and checking/correcting the fluid level is a (relatively) simple procedure. And if I'm understanding correctly what the others have said, taking the forks out of the triple clamps entirely ought to resolve any potential binding issues...so I'm thinking that's what I'll try.

[Barkingshins_imp]

If the forks have been opened, the wrong fluid height would cause this also.

As Ack mentioned, it sounds like there might be too much fork oil installed. This would allow the initial sag to occur when sitting on the bike, but once you've reached maximum compression for the amount of oil in the tubes, I don't believe that it's going to give any more. The end result would be a very small amount of travel left to absorb bumps and such.

Reading the service manual, it would appear that simply removing the forks and checking/correcting the fluid level is a (relatively) simple procedure. And if I'm understanding correctly what the others have said, taking the forks out of the triple clamps entirely ought to resolve any potential binding issues...so I'm thinking that's what I'll try.

Reading the service manual, it would appear that simply removing the forks and checking/correcting the fluid level is a (relatively) simple procedure. And if I'm understanding correctly what the others have said, taking the forks out of the triple clamps entirely ought to resolve any potential binding issues...so I'm thinking that's what I'll try.
You have to remove the forks from the triple tree to adjust fluid level huh? Is that pretty typical? I don't have to with my old KZ. You just jack the front wheel off the ground, remove the top bolt and measure the distance from the top of the inner tube to the oil level. Then you just add or drain oil till your measurement is at spec.

[pechorin75_imp]

If the forks have been opened, the wrong fluid height would cause this also.

As Ack mentioned, it sounds like there might be too much fork oil installed. This would allow the initial sag to occur when sitting on the bike, but once you've reached maximum compression for the amount of oil in the tubes, I don't believe that it's going to give any more. The end result would be a very small amount of travel left to absorb bumps and such.

Reading the service manual, it would appear that simply removing the forks and checking/correcting the fluid level is a (relatively) simple procedure. And if I'm understanding correctly what the others have said, taking the forks out of the triple clamps entirely ought to resolve any potential binding issues...so I'm thinking that's what I'll try.

Reading the service manual, it would appear that simply removing the forks and checking/correcting the fluid level is a (relatively) simple procedure. And if I'm understanding correctly what the others have said, taking the forks out of the triple clamps entirely ought to resolve any potential binding issues...so I'm thinking that's what I'll try.
You have to remove the forks from the triple tree to adjust fluid level huh? Is that pretty typical? I don't have to with my old KZ. You just jack the front wheel off the ground, remove the top bolt and measure the distance from the top of the inner tube to the oil level. Then you just add or drain oil till your measurement is at spec.

I'm not sure...might be able to do it that way, though might need to remove the handlebar, and I'm not sure if measuring at an angle would complicate matters. I was planning on removing them from the triple clamps because of an earlier suggestion that there might be some binding going on at that level.

[jodyz_imp]

Because I'm "mass centralized" (saw that in Cycle World as a description of someone with a beer belly), I've considered getting fork springs and rear shocks correctly setup for my weight (~290 lbs light with gear on), but I've yet to search and commit to such a mod. I don't recall seeing anyone on the inter webs changing CB1100 fork springs for such a "pudgy" rider. Oh well... don't have the spare cash to do it now anyway.

[Ridem32_imp]

I don't think it forks binding! I would say fork oil. Check oil first. Could be wrong from factory or from PO. Your bike with your weight your forks should move more than that. If your bike tracks straight down the road I really think it's wrong amount of fork oil. I would drain oil and add the correct amount and weight. That way you will know for sure that you have the right amount of fork oil. At factory if done by person or auto filled it could very easy be wrong. JMO. Sounds like a simple thing to me. But let us know.
Michael
Reading the shop manual now! I take it your bike is a 2013?? It's takes 16.7oz in each fork. With forks off bike oil should be 4.6 inches from the top. If it's a 14 model right fork takes 17.1ozs left fork 14.7ozs. Forks off of bike right fork 4.4inches from top left fork 7.3inches from top. One more thing with no weight on your bike if you pull up on your forks do they come up much ? (With just weight of bike) meaning when you sit on it do they go down more than they should then get hard? At any rate I think it's wrong amount of oil in your forks or fork. You can remove forks easy and quickly. If your bike is less than a year old take to a dealer. But it's summer and I know they busy meaning they may have your bike for awhile. Why the 14 has 2 different oil capacitys I'm not sure. May be due to the ABS braking one caliper grabbing more than the other? I will recesrch that
Michael

[Aussie_imp]

Does anyone know what the ideal weight / height is for this bike? When Honda design bikes do they have an 'ideal' or average height / weight rider and then factor in differences through suspension settings/fork oil weight etc? For example I imagine they wouldn't set the bike up in an ideal world with a 40kg rider or a 100+kg rider, maybe something in the middle?