I'd have asked him what is a bike for a bigger person.
He probably would ahve suggested some repli racer ... and I'll go, yea if you want to be scrunched up like a golf ball then sure it is.
Cool.
Buddha.

6'2", 215 lbs, my 89 with its stock clipons and heavier fork oil are fine for me, shock is cranked up to 7 though. Probably eventually going to try a front end swap and sv650 shock.

5'11 & 275...it was fine...I did a few 600kms (375mile) days and I was fine ...I only changed bikes because I wanted more power (yes, I'm immature...what can I say )...it was a great bike...reliable, good on fuel, easy to maintain, light (didn't realize how light it was until I rode something else for a while) 

Later.

I'm 6'3 and 320. It's fine for me, but I do need to stiffen the suspension. The back end bottoms out a little too easily riding here in Anchorage, since the roads aren't very well maintained.

the back end bottoms? never had that happen even if i throw on my GF and im as big as you... front end is a whole different story... your shock might be shot...

Quote from: crzydood17 on June 28, 2011, 02:36:49 AM
the back end bottoms? never had that happen even if i throw on my GF and im as big as you... front end is a whole different story... your shock might be shot...

It depends if the preload has been adjusted or not.

So, runabout879, have you adjusted the preload to higher than 4?

Michael

Quote from: mister on June 28, 2011, 03:46:03 AM

Quote from: crzydood17 on June 28, 2011, 02:36:49 AM
the back end bottoms? never had that happen even if i throw on my GF and im as big as you... front end is a whole different story... your shock might be shot...

It depends if the preload has been adjusted or not.

So, runabout879, have you adjusted the preload to higher than 4?

Michael

Really makes me wonder if the Australian delivered GS has a different suspension to the US models cause as I have stated I am 210lbs and have not even come close to bottoming out front or rear suspension on my stock GS. And that's with some pretty spirited riding sometimes on rough roads.

Quote from: Twisted on June 28, 2011, 04:07:08 AM

Quote from: mister on June 28, 2011, 03:46:03 AM

Quote from: crzydood17 on June 28, 2011, 02:36:49 AM
the back end bottoms? never had that happen even if i throw on my GF and im as big as you... front end is a whole different story... your shock might be shot...

It depends if the preload has been adjusted or not.

So, runabout879, have you adjusted the preload to higher than 4?

Michael

Really makes me wonder if the Australian delivered GS has a different suspension to the US models cause as I have stated I am 210lbs and have not even come close to bottoming out front or rear suspension on my stock GS. And that's with some pretty spirited riding sometimes on rough roads.

I agree. And wonder the same thing.

Michael

I doubt it...but you never know...he did say that he was in Anchorage, which is Alaska (although there could be another Anchorage that I don't know about)...nasty frost heaves in the paved roads, and sink hole type pot holes on graded surfaces...I lived in Yellowknife, NWT for a couple of years...-52C daytime highs in the dead of winter, not nice ...the sun is only up for three to four hours around Christmas time, so it can get kinda nasty...and in Anchorage, I would assume that the humidity in the soil is much worse (Yellowknife was mostly rock...if you wanted a basement in your house you had to blast )

So I can see where he might bottom out...especially if he hasn't cranked up the preload to 6 or 7...

Later.

6'1 350 here on stock suspension, will be upgrading to stiffen a bit as the front bottoms out on RR crossings

yup front needs new springs even if your a featherweight rear needs a new shock for 2 up or heavy riders...

Quote from: crzydood17 on June 28, 2011, 02:58:40 PM
yup front needs new springs even if your a featherweight rear needs a new shock for 2 up or heavy riders...

Me and twisted have STOCK suspension and the bike rides fine. Blanket statements do Not help anyone.

The front does NOT need new springs even if you're a feather weight. YOUR bike might, some other people's might - but - not everyone does.

The rear does two up fine without a new shock as well. Set it up correctly and it will be fine. Of course, going by the nonstop complaining about the suspension from the US riders, I'd say your suspension just has to be set up different. Cause the Aussie riders just don't seem to be getting these constant bottoming out problems.

Every bike is different. Judge your own bike accordingly.

Michael

the front on a GS is notoriously weak and dives with little weight, upgraded springs add control under braking and cornering. If you two up and add up to more than 350-400 lbs the rear spring is not enough and preload does not affect spring rate, you probably wont bottom out but you will sag super low. I for the squishy front is good for you thats great, for the majority of riders it seems to be a problem.

Majority? Ever heard of the term the minority have the loudest voice? People are not going to make threads saying " I have no problem with my suspension, it is fine" are they? People do make threads to complain about their soft suspension though. So saying the majority of people have a problem with the GS's suspension is a big call when a lot of owners out there are actually happy with the bike the way it is stock.


The suspension on the GS is soft just like the engine is not overly powerful but in the end it is sufficient and does the job well for me. The shocks are not a major handicap that slows the bike down.

Just saying.

Not to jump in the middle but it also depends on the bike.  Older, well used bikes may have weak/worn springs.  Newer bikes may ride much better just due to less age/wear.  Adfalchius barely brakes 100 pounds but she likes her CBR front end over the worn stock '95 one she had.  I still have the stock front end on my '01 GS and it does fine with my 250 lb ass on it.  To each his own   

-Jessie

At 5'7" and 153 lbs I feel I am way too heavy for my bike.  Just kidding.

My 89 GS had less than 5000 miles when I bought it and it was as soft as a 50cc mini dirt bike.I think some other countries and some newer US models got a spring upgrade.The only way to know without doing a compression test is to measure the spring wire thickness and count the coils.

Yeah, the shock may be just worn out. It is set at 7 currently. I'd hate to spend the $300+ to put the stock one on to find out it is she same though. Might try it just to see. The biggest problem is, the dealership up here is just a little low on parts for motorcycles, since they mainly sell ATVs and Snowmobiles. Takes a couple weeks to get parts in, unless you're willing to pay for faster shipping.