Hi. I have a 2003 Buell XB9S Lightening, that I just purchased. I recently set the suspension based on the weight range recommendations in the owners manual. Everything went fine except the front fork rebound damping screws seem to be different lengths. Following the manual, I turned the adjustment screw all the way to maximum, then turned back the specified number of turns. However, the screw on the right side of the fork goes down noticeably further than the left side before hitting the stop. So when I back them out an equal number of turns they do not appear even. The rest of the damping screws appear to hit the stop at about the same point as the left fork. The right fork rebound screw appears to be the odd one. My question: should I make the adjustment based on number of turns from maximum (as the manual says), or should I adjust the two screws so they are visually even, given the right screw maximum starts further into the screw casing? Since setting according to the manual I notice my bike seems to hang onto right turns just a little longer than left turns. It is very subtle, so I am not sure it is really happening or if I am just imagining it.
Thank you!
It sounds like your forks need servicing by a professional. Your instincts were right, they should be about equal length, so something BAD has happened to one of the forks. I would recommend going to a sport bike speed shop that specializes in suspension work to have this fixed since the guys at HD barely know how to change the spark plugs on a Buell in most cases.
A good shop can not only repair the damage, but help you to set the suspension exactly right for you (the Buell manual is just a ballpark setting) by checking the sag in the suspension, and they can even upgrrade your forks and shocks for you.
Arguably the best in the business is Max at traxxion dynamics. They have drop in cartridges that allow the showa forks to come close to the Ohlins used by the pros. Not that the showas are bad, In fact Buell always put decent factory suspension on their bikes, which is why it's repairable, instead of needing to replace it.
- If you need clarification, ask it in the comment box above.
- Better answers use proper spelling and grammar.
- Provide details, support with references or personal experience.
Tell us some more! Your answer needs to include more details to help people.You can't post answers that contain an email address.Please enter a valid email address.The email address entered is already associated to an account.Login to postPlease use English characters only.
Tip: The max point reward for answering a question is 15.
Both are adjustable. The forks have an adjustment screw. Press down on the front end while standing next to the bike. It should rebound fairly quick but it shouldn't start to go back down again on it's own (oscillates due to not enough damping). Adjust screws evenly on both forks (exact same amount) clockwise and repeat process mentioned until rebound is smooth and doesn't oscillate. The same applies to the rear but you have only one adjustment on the Ohlins reservoir for the monoshock assembly. Do the bounce test and adjust clockwise until the rebound feels firm and doesn't oscilllate. It should handle like a beast and wheelie much easier now.
Rebound - screw on top of fork leg - screw all the way in clockwise then screw out anti clockwise , 1 click for hard, 5 clicks for standard and 10 clicks for soft rebound damping.
compression - bottom of each fork leg - again screw all the way in clockwise and the 1 click anticlockwise for hard, 6 clicks for standard and 13 clicks for soft compression
Spring preload FR
To increase the spring preload and
thereby harden the suspension, turn
the adjusting bolt on each fork leg in direction
a. To decrease the spring preload
and thereby soften the
suspension, turn the adjusting bolt on
each fork leg in direction b
NOTE: _
Align the appropriate groove on the adjusting
mechanism with the top of the
front fork cap bolt.
_
CI-10E
Rebound damping force
To increase the rebound damping
force and thereby harden the rebound
damping, turn the adjusting screw on
each fork leg in direction a. To decrease
the rebound damping force and
thereby soften the rebound damping,
turn the adjusting screw on each fork
leg in direction b.
CI-02E
Compression damping force
To increase the compression damping
force and thereby harden the compression
damping, turn the adjusting screw
on each fork leg in direction a. To decrease
the compression damping force
and thereby soften the compression
damping, turn the adjusting screw on
each fork leg in direction b.
CI-02E
1. Current setting
2. Front fork cap bolt
Setting
Minimum (soft) 8
Standard 6
Maximum (hard) 1
1. Rebound damping force adjusting screw
Minimum (soft) 26 clicks in direction b*
Standard 13 clicks in direction b*
Maximum (hard) 1 click in direction b*
* With the adjusting screw fully turned in direction a
1. Compression damping force adjusting screw
Minimum (soft) 20 clicks in direction b*
Standard 13 clicks in direction b*
Maximum (hard) 1 click in direction b*
* With the adjusting screw fully turned in direction a
_
Although the total number of clicks of a
damping force adjusting mechanism
may not exactly match the above specifications
due to small differences in
production, the actual number of clicks
always represents the entire adjusting
range. To obtain a precise adjustment,
it would be advisable to check the number
of clicks of each damping force adjusting
mechanism and to modify the
specifications as necessary
CI-10E
Rebound damping force RR
To increase the rebound damping
force and thereby harden the rebound
damping, turn the adjusting screw in direction
a. To decrease the rebound
damping force and thereby soften the
rebound damping, turn the adjusting
screw in direction b.
CI-14E
Compression damping force
To increase the compression damping
force and thereby harden the compression
damping, turn the adjusting screw
in direction a. To decrease the compression
damping force and thereby
soften the compression damping, turn
the adjusting screw in direction b.
CI-14E
Setting
Minimum (soft) 1
Standard 4
Maximum (hard) 9
Whole process where need to turn toward "a" means clockwise and "b" counterclockwise. From Yamaha service manual. Hope this is good enough info to help you out. Good?
front fork setting 6 e.g 6 rings out damping set to 1/2 turn clockwise without clicking rear suspension spring preload set to 3 and rebound damping 8 clicks out from fully turned in
set your compression out 10 or 11 your rebound 9 or 10 and your fork oil height to roughtly 380cc.since its in 03 u should drain the fork oil out, u have to unscrew the top cap of the fork while its in the triple clamps( because its easier this way), loosen then take the fork out of the clamps, unscrew the top caps and pull the fork tube down and turn the fork upside down to drain the oil out then hang the forks up upside down for about 15 minutes then add the new oil right in the fork tube were you'll see a spring, just add the oil in there and you'll be fine and u should replace it with a good medium weight oil
There is too much involved to include everything, but I can describe to you what everything does.
You have compression dampening which slows the rate at which the shock or forks can compress. Then you have rebound dampening which slows the rate at which the shock or forks can extend.
The compression adjuster on the rear shock is toward the top, sticking out sideways where the resivoir mounts to the side of the shock. The rebound adjuster can be seen below the swing arm on the side of the shock.
The compression adjusters on the front forks can be seen from the top. (its the one in the center, the other is an air bleed) The rebound adjuster is in the center of the lower fork leg, and can be seen from below the fork.
The settings are measured in the number of "clicks" from seated. More clicks from seated will be softer, and less clicks from seated will be stiffer. The best thing to do is to see where you are now and adjusting from there. I like to write them down as I go. Turn the adjuster clockwise untill it stops and take note of the number of clicks. DO NOT FORCE IT! You should also check your service manual and take note of the standard setting, and also take note of the maximum number of clicks you can go from seated. You dont want to screw the adjusters out farther than the max, shock damage can result.
You might try changing to the standard settings and try adjusting from there. If the bike doesnt ride at least moderately decent at the standard settings, your shock and/or forks may need a rebuild.
Generally speaking more compression dampening in the rear will result in less bottoming but a harsher ride. Less would result in the oppisite.
More rebound dampening in the rear will result in too slow of extension and packing up which will make the bike swap in the whoops, but it will not tend to buck you or throw you into a nose dive over a jump. Less would result in the oppisite.
In the front, more compression dampening will be about the same situation as described above with the shock.
More rebound dampening in the front forks can tend to take pressure off of the front wheel in corners causing washout, but too little can make the bike want to loop out over jumps.
×