I finally had a chance to try my new suspenders. Lindemann reworked forks, Penske shock, stock springs, and basic setup by Solomoto. (Thank you SM!) 1,100 miles over four days to the Hells Canyon Motorcycle Rally in NE Oregon and back. Virtually every kind of road that I ever ride, and the verdict is: Perfect enough!
The harshness is gone, my confidence is back, and all is right with the world. This is the suspension that Honda should have given us in the first place. Smooth and supple and adjustable over a wide range to cope with pretty much any road condition and anybody's personal preferences. Finally, a year after purchasing my bike, I couldn't be happier with it.
Coming home from NE Oregon, I spent a fair amount of time dealing with some really serious side- and head-winds. I was reminded of the Motorcycle Consumer News review -- and my own personal experience last summer -- that called the VFR 1200 pretty scary in a sidewind. Even that is tamed. Amazing what good suspension will do.
I've still got stuff to do. Front sag is way off (Lindemann apparently cut 3/4 inch off the stock spring spacers when he installed 10" springs in the place of the stock 232mm ones), but I've got stock spacers on order, and I like the way the 20mm lower front handles. I might not ever have tried such a "radical" setting if I hadn't had to, but once the stock spacers arrive so I can put sag in it's proper place, I'll be raising the forks a similar amount in the triple clamps (or raising the rear) so I don't lose the feel I experienced this past weekend.
If anybody else is unhappy with the stock setup and its harsh, wooden feeling and the lack of confidence you have in grip levels, I can only encourage you to find some way to add compression damping adjustability front and rear. I doubt that it matters much how you do it (Race Tec, Penske or Ohlins cartridges, Lindemann or your favorite suspension guru's reworked and revalved forks, and any of a number of good rear shocks), just do it.. I'd advise against changing the stock spring rates until after you've changed the dampers. There's plenty of time later if you decide you want it stiffer, but my guess is that you'll be happy with stock.
Signed,
A Very Happy Camper...
:tour:
The harshness is gone, my confidence is back, and all is right with the world. This is the suspension that Honda should have given us in the first place. Smooth and supple and adjustable over a wide range to cope with pretty much any road condition and anybody's personal preferences. Finally, a year after purchasing my bike, I couldn't be happier with it.
Coming home from NE Oregon, I spent a fair amount of time dealing with some really serious side- and head-winds. I was reminded of the Motorcycle Consumer News review -- and my own personal experience last summer -- that called the VFR 1200 pretty scary in a sidewind. Even that is tamed. Amazing what good suspension will do.
I've still got stuff to do. Front sag is way off (Lindemann apparently cut 3/4 inch off the stock spring spacers when he installed 10" springs in the place of the stock 232mm ones), but I've got stock spacers on order, and I like the way the 20mm lower front handles. I might not ever have tried such a "radical" setting if I hadn't had to, but once the stock spacers arrive so I can put sag in it's proper place, I'll be raising the forks a similar amount in the triple clamps (or raising the rear) so I don't lose the feel I experienced this past weekend.
If anybody else is unhappy with the stock setup and its harsh, wooden feeling and the lack of confidence you have in grip levels, I can only encourage you to find some way to add compression damping adjustability front and rear. I doubt that it matters much how you do it (Race Tec, Penske or Ohlins cartridges, Lindemann or your favorite suspension guru's reworked and revalved forks, and any of a number of good rear shocks), just do it.. I'd advise against changing the stock spring rates until after you've changed the dampers. There's plenty of time later if you decide you want it stiffer, but my guess is that you'll be happy with stock.
Signed,
A Very Happy Camper...
:tour: