Carrying pillions / luggage

[Richyplops]

I'm very new to my Glee and adjustable suspension and damping in particular.  I'm looking at taking a pillion on the back shortly and I'm struggling with what adjustments I need to make to the forks, rear suspension and damping.  Does anyone have any advice please?  

[Oop North John]

I'd put the rear pre-load up to near maximum, and leave the rest all alone.

[Redsoul]

I'd put the rear pre-load up to near maximum, and leave the rest all alone.

+1

[mr_diver]

+2

I wouldn't play with anything other than rear preload until you're familiar with the bike, and then only adjust fork preload and rear damping when you understand the result of adjusting specific settings to achieve required results.

[UK_Vstrom650]

+3

I put my preload on maximum and went to the south of France and back with no issues.

[Richyplops]

Thanks all. You've cleared that doubt up for me. I was confused that adding preload may not be the thing to do if I was about to further load the suspension with a pillion, but I'm clear now. I won't be touching anything else just now. Great advice. Cheers.  

[Jacko]

Yes, wind the preload up on the rear, leave the damping standard, it's OK for most riding as it is and load makes little difference to it unless you're scaring the crap out of your pillion.

Adding preload to the forks to balance things out a little is a good idea but not requisite, for now. These blokes have more experience with the Vstrom than I so go with them, but don't discount it completely, if you find the front too soggy and diving too much under braking you could try upping the preload on the forks (so, screwing the adjusters in, make sure they're adjusted evenly, the lines on the sides of the adjusters help here).

While preloading doesn't alter spring strength it can stiffen things up adequately for more weight, it's why it's there after all.

[Tusker]

hmmmm  GS does it via a little computer and electronically..  also has an intelligent front suspension that doesn't allow nose dive  


just saying  


I only know cos I wasa there when my friend picked one up this weekend  

[Jacko]

The Ultimate Riding Machine.

If you have the income to buy and maintain one. That fancy front suspension is riddled with complex linkages and ball joints that are difficult/expensive to service or repair. Yeah, it's trick, but it's also uniquely challenging on the maintenance front, OK if you're one of those people who doesn't look at the bill when the BMW man hands it to you, but not so good for the likes of me.

[mr_diver]

forget the front Suspension, have you seen what work is involved then the engine output splines go at around 10k miles (mainly 1150RT's but know issue will all 1200's)

you may as well buy another bike with the labor charges you'll get.



I'm going to resist any further rants tonight  

[Juvecu]

But shaft drive is sooooo much better than a chain

[iansoady]

Why? Agreed with the old type of chain but in my experience X ring are near enough fit and forget.

missed the smiley. :text-givemebeer:

[skinny5216]

Think someone has a problem with BMW's  

I have also heard of people complain to BMW when the shaft drive failed at 198000 miles on an old k75  

[Richyplops]

Cheers for the advice all.  As a first post test bike the Glee is a much better option for me in terms of gaining experience and having something that doesn't break the bank. I did visit a BMW dealer to look at their adventure bikes but to be honest I didn't like their "better than you" attitude so walked away - their loss!  I'm more than happy with what I've got and the back up of the spot on info given on this site.

 

[Jacko]

I'm not quite as anti as some on here, if I was in the GS1200s target demographics' income bracket then I'd have one, the new one rides like nothing else. However, if I was planning to take a bike to North Africa I'd take something a lot less complex and a lot more Japanese.

[skinny5216]

They are good at carrying you and pillion with plenty of luggage across Europe though, I will give them that.
I changed from my K1200RS SE because of the weight.   plus can't afford a new one