I've started noticing that I'm lifting my left foot off the peg when I downshift, and then noticed that space between my toe and the lever could be leading to weak upshifts.  No problem, I'll adjust the gearshift lever down a few ticks, but that started me thinking...

With things that can be adjusted on a motorcycle (suspension, control positions, etc.), how do you know that something needs to be adjusted?  Do you just start mucking about with random things and see if it's better/worse?  Do people have a method for this kind of tinkering?

My challenge is that (being a newbie), I have no basis for comparison.  It's not easy to tell if something is better without a baseline.  It's even harder to consider what might be better without a realization that it's bad in the first place.

I'm reminded of what a friend of mine used to say: "Camry owners love their cars because they have absolutely no idea what driving a car should feel like."  I feel like I might be in the same position with the GS.    I could have the world's worst suspension and have no idea...

You are correct in that it just by trial and error, but mostly it's a comfort thing; the controls are adjustable to you and your body/hands/feet/riding style.

And, you've touched on my favorite subject - suspension...here: http://www.peterverdonedesigns.com/introduction.htm

I learned that I needed to move my clutch and brake levers after going to a Ducati open house about setting up your bike...

My wrists were ALWAYS hurting, even when I was hyperfocused on not putting weight on them...  Well, my levers were nearly flat, so I angled them down...  Problem solved.  

Quote from: RVertigoMy wrists were ALWAYS hurting...

That is not from the bike; that is the carpral tunnel from being a PW  :lol:

Anyway, I have not had to adjust too many things on my bike as it feels pretty good to me. I also have little to compare it to. Of course I did have to adjust the chain once or twice, and I knew that needed to be tightened because it had a little "slap" in it so I used the specs from the manual to check the suggested slack, and sure enough, it was over the suggested limit.

Everything else, atleast so far, feels right. In the future I would like to adjust the rear shock (or upgrade it, still undecided) but thats about it.  :mrgreen: I think when it comes time to adjust things, trial and error will be the way to go, though.

Quote from: PhaedrusThat is not from the bike; that is the carpral tunnel from being a PW  :lol:

:lol:

That and being a geek that is always attached to a keyboard...  AND a bassist...

I'm screwed three ways.   :dunno:

Since I adjusted the controls, I've had WAY less of a problem.

Quote from: scratchAnd, you've touched on my favorite subject - suspension...here: http://www.peterverdonedesigns.com/introduction.htm

I was just reading through the section on "Rider position & Controls" and came across mention of the "Foot operated brake light switch."  I guess the author doesn't think much of the rear brakes. :lol:

Quote from: PhaedrusAnyway, I have not had to adjust too many things on my bike as it feels pretty good to me.

That's sort of my point.  When I picked up the bike, the dealer showed me what I'd need to do to adjust the gearshift, the clutch, brake, etc.  I recall riding away and thinking everything was fine.  Now...after a few thousand miles...I realize that it could be better.

As for the suspension...ask any Camry owner if their suspension feels squishy and loose (it does...on all of them) and they'll probably look at you sideways.  Put them in a Porche, BMW, or similar for a while and they'll understand what you're talking about (and then they'll scrap the Camry).

In other words, we think it is "good" because we don't know any better  :lol:

Quote from: BadgerAs for the suspension...ask any Camry owner if their suspension feels squishy and loose (it does...on all of them) and they'll probably look at you sideways.  Put them in a Porche, BMW, or similar for a while and they'll understand what you're talking about (and then they'll scrap the Camry).

My wife has an Avalon, now I've never driven a performance car, but I know body roll, like a bouy bobbin' on the surface of the Atlantic in a bad storm, is bad.

Quote from: scratchMy wife has an Avalon, now I've never driven a performance car, but I know body roll, like a bouy bobbin' on the surface of the Atlantic in a bad storm, is bad.

It's not just performance cars.  Well, I suppose you could call a BMW 525i a performance car...but it's a 5-passenger sedan.  It still handles crisply and doesn't dive forward in hard braking.  Not as nice as, say, a 911 (they "squat" when they brake...mmmmmm).  The larger Acuras, Infiniti's, etc.--despite their weight--seem to do just fine.  The thing is, some cars (that happen to be the most popular in the U.S.) just have crappy suspensions...and no one seems to care (or notice).

I love rental cars (not known for their handling characteristics) becuase they feel like a carnival ride when sliding around a corner sideways.  :mrgreen:

And they're really fun to fall asleep in at 3 in the morning going 75mph! The body roll from the swerving within the same lane, or should I say, and still being able to keep it in the same lane, is pretty amazing when you are startled awake by the reminder that you're driving.

Quote from: Badger

Quote from: scratchI love rental cars (not known for their handling characteristics) becuase they feel like a carnival ride when sliding around a corner sideways.  :mrgreen:

And because you can thrash the bloody hell out of them and not feel bad! Yah!


And all the adjustments you feel you need is the beginning of the Modder's Disease that will be seeping into you soon enough. The tinkering with your bike will seem like a constant thing eventually. At least that's what it's like for me right now. There is just always more you can do. I finished some more up today, and I'm going to adjust my levers to better fit my riding style (more agressive, I need the levers to be reachable when I've got the throttle pinned). It's wonderful how everything is so adjustable on bikes. You can tailor it to fit YOU exactly how you need it. It's way harder and less common on cars.