Subject: RE: suspension settings I have been spending a good part of this year trying to understand the suspension issues with my GTS. I have the stock rear and front on one bike, a stock front on another and WP on the front, rear and front of the rest. A few things I have discovered. 1. The stock spring on the rear in too weak. We made replacement springs. We have 4 left. putting a spacer in does not solve this problem, it just allows for more preload. 2. the front stock shock is basically an Olin but we found a spot of glue preventing the compression adjuster from being used properly. This may only be mine. I am going to sell my WP front. The stock is good enough for me. Also my stock front on my '94 was crap until I had it rebuilt. Again it was just on the one bike. 3. Very important. What I took for overly harsh compression on my WP rear was in fact the preload not being set up enough and the compression not being stiff enough. In other words, I was hitting bottom! once I made these changes then my ride got a lot more comfortable. 4. Check out the linkage below the rear shock. I have found that the bearings there worn out even on my '94 with only 5000 miles. If you put the bike on the center stand, then lift the rear tire. If there is movement up and down, then you need to change these bearings. use moly 60 grease. While on the center stand take the rear tire and try to move it right and left. If it moves then the swing arm bears need to be replaced. There is a shim that was also put in on later models. Both of these problems will mess up the rear suspension. I hope this helps. Mike Coan HTTP://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/mikecoan ----------------------- From: "Pete Lindsley" Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1998 10:20:47 -0000 Subject: RE: Suspension and other things. Henry wrote:- Got some suspension questions. I don't really know how Yamaha set this bike up, vis a vié the weight of the expected rider, but I'd like to make the suspension a bit more plush than whatever the stock settings are. I usually weigh in at about 200-205 LBS. Where do I start to adjust the suspension, both front & rear so that it is softened up without getting too loosey-goosey? Suspension settings are such a personal thing that it's not really possible to give any kind off definitive advice. All I can say is what worked for me. When I bought my bike second hand, the suspension was still set to factory settings and on original tyres. Now I found this to be too soft with the machine bottoming out under some ( not extreme) conditions. Now bearing in mind that I had been used to Moto Guzzi & Ducati machines for more years than I care to admit to. I adjusted the suspension in the following way. 1: Increased spring pre-load to 5 front & rear. (Damping left as standard) NB I Found the handbook direction of rotation for the adjustment of the rear unit to be wrong. I can't say if this is universal so visually examine your unit and turn in the appropriate direction. 2: Road test. The results for me were almost exactly what I was after. The machine felt just like my Guzzi Le Mans especially round the twisty roads through North Wales. On examination of the bike after my 100 mile test run I discovered that the rear tyre was showing the scalloped tread as reported in this news group way back. Now this got me thinking...and I concluded that this was more than likely down to poor or incorrect damping. (I've never had a machine where I could adjust damping before, other than to change suspension oil, for a lighter or heavier grade.) 3: Adjusted front and rear damping. Front:- Compression to 10 clicks out. Rebound to 9 clicks out Rear :- To 6 clicks out 4: Road test. 500 miles The results were astounding I had the spring support that I was used to and needed ( I weigh 245 lb.) and yet the machine stopped bouncing and jumping up and down over the bumpy bits (Roads in rural England can be pretty dire). In fact I can only describe it as a magic carpet ride, hence the 500 mile test trip. It was just too good to come home after only a couple of hours :). Tyres were changed at this time also. I fitted Bridgestone M57 Battleaxes 120/70 17 Front & 170/60 17 Rear. A better profiling match than the original or recommended replacements. Although I may give the 180/55 rear a try next time round. Subsequent to this my good lady and I did 2800 mile round trip to Slovenia without any handling or suspension problems. Now that's two up with heavy camping gear. To say that I was impressed is an understatement. I am now more than an ever, convinced that I made the right decision in buying my dream machine. Good luck with finding what works for you. The adjustments can be boring but the road testing is fun :) Pete Lindsley Whitchurch Shropshire England