Vtech Abs Suspension Adjustment For Pillion

Hi, I have a new 09 Vtech with ABS and am going on a longer trip to Somerset with the missus next weekend (8/9th August) with top box and backpack. Can anyone give me some advice on what rear suspension adjustment (in clicks) I'd need. Together we weigh about 364 pounds (me 14 stone or 196 pounds, missus 12 stone or 144 pounds) and add another 30 pounds for luggage.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks :biggrin:

I would think you'd need to max the preload out. You're going to be in the 400lb range. Isn't that the max load the bike is rated for? Anyway, knowing the VFR is undersprung (for most folks) to begin with, I think maxing out the preload would be the right place to start.

The good thing is that since you have the ABS version, if it feels wrong, you can easily reach back and back off the preload a little.

[image: View Post]tyrroneous, on Jul 31 2009, 03:17 PM, said:

I would think you'd need to max the preload out. You're going to be in the 400lb range. Isn't that the max load the bike is rated for? Anyway, knowing the VFR is undersprung (for most folks) to begin with, I think maxing out the preload would be the right place to start.

The good thing is that since you have the ABS version, if it feels wrong, you can easily reach back and back off the preload a little.

Thanks for your help, I'm gonna start with half way to the hardest setting and increase if needed.

[image: View Post]newvfr2009, on Jul 31 2009, 03:37 PM, said:

[image: View Post]tyrroneous, on Jul 31 2009, 03:17 PM, said:

I would think you'd need to max the preload out. You're going to be in the 400lb range. Isn't that the max load the bike is rated for? Anyway, knowing the VFR is undersprung (for most folks) to begin with, I think maxing out the preload would be the right place to start.

The good thing is that since you have the ABS version, if it feels wrong, you can easily reach back and back off the preload a little.

Thanks for your help, I'm gonna start with half way to the hardest setting and increase if needed.

Just checked the manual and 400lbs is the max weight. I'll have to increase the preload to nea max and try it. Thanks again :biggrin:

[image: View Post]newvfr2009, on Jul 31 2009, 03:43 PM, said:

[image: View Post]newvfr2009, on Jul 31 2009, 03:37 PM, said:

[image: View Post]tyrroneous, on Jul 31 2009, 03:17 PM, said:

I would think you'd need to max the preload out. You're going to be in the 400lb range. Isn't that the max load the bike is rated for? Anyway, knowing the VFR is undersprung (for most folks) to begin with, I think maxing out the preload would be the right place to start.

The good thing is that since you have the ABS version, if it feels wrong, you can easily reach back and back off the preload a little.

Thanks for your help, I'm gonna start with half way to the hardest setting and increase if needed.

Just checked the manual and 400lbs is the max weight. I'll have to increase the preload to near max and try it. Thanks again :biggrin:

crank it all the way up to the max then back it off about half a turn - worked great for me - nice and smooth.

[image: View Post]superfunkomatic, on Jul 31 2009, 11:27 AM, said:

crank it all the way up to the max then back it off about half a turn - worked great for me - nice and smooth.

How do you know when you're at Max preload? Does it stop turning? How much preload does each turn equal?

yes, it will only turn so far. once i reach the maximum number of turns then i back it off about 1/2 a turn. i just went by feel. anything less than that much preload and things felt a bit sloppy.

[image: View Post]superfunkomatic, on Jul 31 2009, 08:27 PM, said:

yes, it will only turn so far. once i reach the maximum number of turns then i back it off about 1/2 a turn. i just went by feel. anything less than that much preload and things felt a bit sloppy.

Thanks all, I'll take it to the max and back off half a turn :biggrin:

Not sure how the weather is for you, but last summer g/f and I went away for the weekend and temps where in the 30's (�C) and fully loaded I cooked the rear tire off the bike in just under 600km of highway riding. I'm 205lbs she is 130lbs, but with gear we where around that 400lbs mark too.

defective tire?
the hot weather and extra weight certainly does take a toll on the tire life, but not to that extent.
my rear tire (road2) has some life in it and it's got 13,000 kilometres on it. i think the max. weight for gear and riders is around 400lbs, IIRC.

[image: View Post]dweese, on Aug 5 2009, 01:41 PM, said:

Not sure how the weather is for you, but last summer g/f and I went away for the weekend and temps where in the 30's (�C) and fully loaded I cooked the rear tire off the bike in just under 600km of highway riding. I'm 205lbs she is 130lbs, but with gear we where around that 400lbs mark too.

[image: View Post]superfunkomatic, on Aug 5 2009, 12:22 PM, said:

defective tire?
the hot weather and extra weight certainly does take a toll on the tire life, but not to that extent.
my rear tire (road2) has some life in it and it's got 13,000 kilometres on it. i think the max. weight for gear and riders is around 400lbs, IIRC.

Nope nothing wrong with the tire, just super hot slab and the extra weight, I think it was a BT20 I was running at the time, had about 1000km on it when we left and was almost to the wear bars when we got home. Pressure was good everything, just couldn't take the heat.

[image: View Post]dweese, on Aug 5 2009, 07:22 PM, said:

[image: View Post]superfunkomatic, on Aug 5 2009, 12:22 PM, said:

defective tire?
the hot weather and extra weight certainly does take a toll on the tire life, but not to that extent.
my rear tire (road2) has some life in it and it's got 13,000 kilometres on it. i think the max. weight for gear and riders is around 400lbs, IIRC.

Nope nothing wrong with the tire, just super hot slab and the extra weight, I think it was a BT20 I was running at the time, had about 1000km on it when we left and was almost to the wear bars when we got home. Pressure was good everything, just couldn't take the heat.

I've got Dunlop Roadsmarts on my bike, they've done only 2600 miles. Hope they are OK after the trip :excl:

i'm sure you'll be fine. ;)
not sure what this issue below is - sounds pretty odd (maybe tire pressure).
i've done two trips through western/central US (loaded and two-up) - oregon, desert in washington, death valley, all of the state of nevada - still get about 13,000-15,000 kilometres to a set of tires (this is on BT021 and Pilot Road/Road 2).

[image: View Post]newvfr2009, on Aug 7 2009, 02:02 PM, said:

[image: View Post]dweese, on Aug 5 2009, 07:22 PM, said:

[image: View Post]superfunkomatic, on Aug 5 2009, 12:22 PM, said:

defective tire?
the hot weather and extra weight certainly does take a toll on the tire life, but not to that extent.
my rear tire (road2) has some life in it and it's got 13,000 kilometres on it. i think the max. weight for gear and riders is around 400lbs, IIRC.

Nope nothing wrong with the tire, just super hot slab and the extra weight, I think it was a BT20 I was running at the time, had about 1000km on it when we left and was almost to the wear bars when we got home. Pressure was good everything, just couldn't take the heat.

I've got Dunlop Roadsmarts on my bike, they've done only 2600 miles. Hope they are OK after the trip :excl: