Author Topic: I want a better/softer ride (Read 8288 times)

Ken_T · « **on:** October 18, 2005, 08:20:57 PM »

I have an 05 B12 and hate the amount of compression damping at both ends of this bike. I've owned lots of bikes and this is the worst riding bike I've had since my V65 Sabre.

Now i know a lot of you young guys want a stiffer setup and that's fine by me but does anyone have any ideas on what I could do to get this thing a little more sophisticated.

How about 2 wieght fork oil? I'm open to ideas. Thanks!

flip · « **Reply #1 on:** October 18, 2005, 09:37:18 PM »

This is just a guess but how about 5 wt fork oil and try to find a used 2g b6 shock. That should soften things up some. That should be a fairly cheap experiment.

oremike · « **Reply #2 on:** October 18, 2005, 11:05:00 PM »

Adding Race-Tec Gold valves will make the front end work much better due to the variable valving. I had the valves installed first, then added the Race-Tec springs to match my weght and riding style. Money well spent IMHO.
Mike M.

PeteSC · « **Reply #3 on:** October 18, 2005, 11:27:19 PM »

Just for the heck of it, what do you wiegh?

oremike · « **Reply #4 on:** October 19, 2005, 09:12:13 AM »

You asking me Pete? If so 250, if not ....nevermind

PeteSC · « **Reply #5 on:** October 19, 2005, 12:03:07 PM »

My bad, was asking Ken T.
I'm having trouble imagining a 'softer' ride on an OEM Bandit.
I'm wondering if this is the shortest wheelbase bike he's had.....what tires and tire pressures he's running, and also if he weighs in a 110 pounds, wet.......or all of the above?

No, never mind. See the Sprint in his list, not sure how the wheelbase compares, but it's not like the Bandit is drastically shorter than what he's used to.

Usually, the OEM suspension is 'too soft' for almost anybody. Too soft for loaded touring, too soft for aggresive riding in twisty stuff.....

Ken_T · « **Reply #6 on:** October 19, 2005, 08:47:29 PM »

No, I wiegh about 230lbs. I think most Bandit buyers are getting off sportbikes. I just don't care to have my fillings jolted out from every freeway expansion joint, it's just stupid. The suspension should absorb bumps not repell the bike off them.

I've read where the 1GB12 was considered too soft and so they bumped the damping and springs on the 2G. Will a 1G shock fit a 2G? Bet a lot of you guys would part with those cheap eh?

Red01 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 19, 2005, 10:03:43 PM »

It'll swap, but drop the ride height since it's a shorter shock.

Ken_T · « **Reply #8 on:** October 20, 2005, 11:43:03 PM »

Flip queried: "This is just a guess but how about 5 wt fork oil and try to find a used 2g b6 shock. That should soften things up some. That should be a fairly cheap experiment."

Good suggestion, is it a straight swap fit? And the length the same? I could swap springs if it's fundamentally the same shock. What is the stock wieght fork oil for 2GB12.

Red01 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 21, 2005, 02:04:48 AM »

I don't know if the 600 spring will swap onto a 1200's shock, but you shouldn't have much trouble finding a 600 rider who'll swap you the whole thing. The 600 shock is a softer operating unit. There's a slight difference in overall length, but I don't know if anyone's ever posted just how different they are in length from the 1200. I do know a few folks here have put 1200 shocks on their 600's.

Stock fork oil is 10w

dsartwell1 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 21, 2005, 06:04:24 PM »

If you don't find one by January, I'll swap you my B6 shock for your 12 shock if you decide to try that. 02 with 19000 miles on it. Don't want to take anything apart until then.

Ken_T · « **Reply #11 on:** October 21, 2005, 08:48:52 PM »

to dsartwell1: Thanks I'll keep that in mind.

I'll prolly do fork oil swap first and ponder shock fixes. I've purchased a Hagon rear for my Trident and was extremely pleased and I see they do have one for the B12, but $$ *is* a factor so...

Thanks all.

oremike · « **Reply #12 on:** October 21, 2005, 09:02:56 PM »

I've thought about this and have this to offer, I had a V-65 Sabre and it's suspention was boingy, the Bandits is several genarations better. So you can adjust the preload on the front and rear of the Bandit. Have you made those adjustments? Also have you checked you tire presure? Modern radials add sidewall flex into the suspention equation, 36 psi front and rear should be fairly soft. I run 38 in the front and 36 in the rear so the front end feels more stable during high G cornering. Adding the Race Tec gold valves did away with the chattering I was getting under brakeing and made the ride feel more"plush".
Mike M.

Ken_T · « **Reply #13 on:** October 21, 2005, 09:53:14 PM »

Oremike wrote: "I've thought about this and have this to offer, I had a V-65 Sabre and it's suspention was boingy, the Bandits is several genarations better."

Not to be contrarian Mike but the definition of better is subjective. I actually owned 2 V-65 Sabres and put about 60,000miles on each one. And I still am a card carrying member of the Sabre/Magna group and have been riding continuously since 1969.

I've made every adjustment possible including tire pressures and nothing works to my satisfaction. I actually wondered if they put the little shock adjustment wheel on backwards. But see, I'm picky and old and I want at least a decent ride. Los Angeles freeways for all their good points (lanesplitting) have these expansion joints that are sheer murder with a bike that has no high speed compression damping and these forks and shock literally lock solid over these joints causing a jackhammer ride that must be experienced to be believed or appreciated. But I've dealt with this before and this will either get fixed reasonably or the bike gets a new home. Horsepower is cheap these days as many bikes are fast but good is another thing altogether.

oremike · « **Reply #14 on:** October 22, 2005, 02:44:20 AM »

I know about Sab/Mags I was a member when I had my Sabre. I still ride with Doug and Jim once and a while. I was the guy with Jim when he had his get off a couple years ago. Anyway that doesn't have much to do with Bandits. I've had my '02 bandit for 2 1/2 years and put 36,000 miles on it. Your right the suspension on the Bandit is off the shelf and could use some improvements. The locking feeling you get is exactly right, the holes in the stock front fork valves are too small and the spring too strong so when the front end gets a good jolt it does hydrolic lock up. RacTec Gold valves have bigger holes and a multi rate leaf spring so they work better over a wider range of inputs. Bikes like the Sabre have a damping rod type front shock where the damping is controled by the viscosity of the oil. A popular upgrade to the damping rod type fork is to install "cartridge emulators". The Bandit has a cartridge type front suspension so doesn't need to be "emulated". I installed both the Race Tec Springs and Gold Valves in the front and adjusted the rear to my likeing. If that doesn't give you what you want then there are lots of aftermarket options for rear shocks Oilins, Penskie, and GP supension comes to mind. You might look at the Race Tec web site, there is a ton of information on it.
Mike M.