Ergonomics and Suspension

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LINEAWEAVER

LINEAWEAVER

Joined
Jul 16, 2001
Messages
3,249
Location
El Sobrante, Ca. 94803
Based on current ergonomics and suspension how does Husaberg rate as a trail bike?

I ask as most general offroad motorcycles seem to benefit from a reduction in seat height and center of gravity. Tight single track, etc, seem to favor a reduction in overall height of some 3 - 4 inches.

I understand the need for long travel in severely harsh terrain in particularly when speeds are high, however, what about the general enthusiast?

Many professional SX and DT riders are small in stature. Maybe 5'6" and under 150 pounds.

Are the majority of Husaberg owners big and / or tall ?

I am 6'1" with a 34" inseam and weigh some 200 pounds ready to ride. Even with my relatively long legs the OE seat height of most offroad bikes seems tall for optimum general handling.

The SM with proper wheels has proved to be a nice compromise.

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Dale
 
The height of enduro bikes always seems a bit excessive untill you ride the machines.The trade off for excessice height is suspension travel and it appears that for most of us we would prefer to have the suspension travel.
One thing I noticed at the ISDE was that almost all the really good enduro guys are indeed tall men,it could very well be that in fact enduro's is the motorcycle sport for tall guys.As a case in point if you can find my pic of Husabergs fair haired boy and WEC 2006 junior champ the seat on his bike is level with his hip.
 
Re: RE: Ergonomics and Suspension

nsman said:
The height of enduro bikes always seems a bit excessive untill you ride the machines.The trade off for excessice height is suspension travel and it appears that for most of us we would prefer to have the suspension travel.
One thing I noticed at the ISDE was that almost all the really good enduro guys are indeed tall men,it could very well be that in fact enduro's is the motorcycle sport for tall guys.As a case in point if you can find my pic of Husabergs fair haired boy and WEC 2006 junior champ the seat on his bike is level with his hip.
Click to expand...

Hi Bruce,
Thank you as such indeed confirms my suspicion.
When I was in Sweden the men were big and quite tall. I found it difficult to ride the motoryce while they just muscled it around.

I am much faster on a shorter bike, however, "Dale don't jump". :lol: LOL

Regards,
Dale
 
I found the pics for you. Go to race and ride reports of nov30/06 titled Frygugs photos.
Kelsow posted my pics for me click on long ride hom
If you will notice JL is holding the flag for the swedish team and does not look any taller than the rest of the team.
Then check pic #15 or 16 and see where the bike stands next to him.
Then check where a husaberg stands next to you....
 
Re: RE: Ergonomics and Suspension

nsman said:
I found the pics for you. Go to race and ride reports of nov30/06 titled Frygugs photos.
Kelsow posted my pics for me click on long ride hom
If you will notice JL is holding the flag for the swedish team and does not look any taller than the rest of the team.
Then check pic #15 or 16 and see where the bike stands next to him.
Then check where a husaberg stands next to you....
Click to expand...

I have a very cool software program that will allow me to scale it.

Thanks,
Dale
 
The illusion is that you only feel like you are faster on a shorter bike.The truth is you are not.I am 5'9" and I dont care if I need a ladder to get on the thing i love long travel!
 
Re: RE: Ergonomics and Suspension

nsman said:
The illusion is that you only feel like you are faster on a shorter bike.The truth is you are not.I am 5'9" and I dont care if I need a ladder to get on the thing i love long travel!
Click to expand...

Course times don't lie Bruce. :)
I'm faster with less travel. Did I mention "Dale don't jump".(ie doubles, triples, etc.)

My depth perception is terrible. I quit MX when "Big Air" became popular.

On that note everyone should watch this video:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 9427789623

Long before David Bailey was injured Danny "Magoo" Chandler was paralyzed as a result of coming up short. That was all it took for me. With DT, you are likely to be killed and that I can live with, so to speak. LOL

Regards,
Dale
 
I'm 5' 7.5", 5' 8" after a visit to the chiropractor :D, and I don't mind the seat height at all. I only ride trails and judge how well my riding is that day by how often I take my feet off of the pegs, and secondly how many times my arse hits the ground... :lol: So when I'm moving the seat height doesn't bother me... No problems kicking the bike or anything like that. The only time the seat height is trouble is when I stop and I can't touch the ground. :oops:
 
Hi Dale,
I am not a jumper either,suspension for me is for soaking up the gnarly terrain so I can keep my feet on the pegs.For me its about rider position,throttle position and trail position and I cant ride my way with my feet on the ground.
 
nsman said:
Hi Dale,
I am not a jumper either,suspension for me is for soaking up the narly terrain so I can keep my feet on the pegs.For me its about rider position,throttle position and trail position and I cant ride my way with my feet on the ground.
Click to expand...

Bruce, Bruce, Bruce,
How many times have you found yourself in a nasty off camber where a mere dab would have prevented you from going over the high side?

I believe one should have the suspension and ergonomics which best suit the terrain and personal riding style.

Me, I like to back it in and steer with the throttle. Unnecessarily tall motorcycles are not particularly well suited for such antics.

Paul Thede Quote:
"The best you have ridden is the best you know"

Good topic with potential productivity, yes?
Just like the good old days.

Regards,
Dale
 
Dale,Dale.Dale,
For too many years I avoided the newest dirt ware because I subscibed to your philosopy.I too thought I would be better off if I could dab here and there to save a spill.
Then one day I took a new RM Suzuki on a trail ride....in just a few moments the light came on in my head and I stopped to see if I could kick myself in the arse for not riding the new technolgy sooner.
Long traver suspension is better plain and simple,you just point the bike and shoot,you fall off less and for a older guy like me you can ride for a longer period of time and it is so much easier on your body.
Because the longer travel suspension allows the bike to maintain a more stable ride height you are upset less by a bump or a camber...in effect you can use your body and throttle to correct a problem where if you have less travel the effects of the terrain are transmiited to you sooner,requireing a dab.
 
Not exactly true Bruce.
Longer travel = increased potential for steering geometry changes.

If you point and shoot through bumpy terrain you are correct.
If you turn and rely on a front brake overly tall suspension is not all it is cracked up to be.

For what it may be worth I scaled a factory "outdoor" MX bike against a production model (SX Copy) and guess what? The factory bike was smaller by three inches. 8O

Perceived reality is reality, or is it?

Remember when a torsionally rigid chassis was considered superior in road racing?

Currently flex (to a point ) is considered desirable serving as suspension when G'd out against the banking.

Most everything comes full circle eventually. You know, nothing new under the sun and all.

Physics has not changed, only the perception.
Dale
 
I think I'm about the same size as you Dale. For me I wouldn't care if the seat was 3" taller.
For me it's about the standing position on the bike.
I installed the factory bar risers but could use some ones slightly taller to be perfect.
Other than that I think the ergos on the Bergs are perfect.
On my DRZ I was falling down 1-2 times per ride it seemed. Now I hardly ever fall
and it's certainly not my skills, just ask Bruce.
 
Sx bikes require really stiff suspension so they dont bottom out,it is true that a factory bike may be shortened for SX as they would not be required to use all the available suspension travel they have any way and they need to turn at extreme levels..
I am sure that if you took a fully suspended enduro bike AKA Fe450e for a ride over enduro type terrain rocks/roots/mud/soil and compared it to a bike with shortened suspension over the same terrain you would want the LT one back ASAP.
 
kelsow said:
I think I'm about the same size as you Dale. For me I wouldn't care if the seat was 3" taller.
For me it's about the standing position on the bike.
I installed the factory bar risers but could use some ones slightly taller to be perfect.
Other than that I think the ergos on the Bergs are perfect.
On my DRZ I was falling down 1-2 times per ride it seemed. Now I hardly ever fall
and it's certainly not my skills, just ask Bruce.
Click to expand...

Hi Kelsow,
Thank you for the feedback.

I like a fair distance between the pegs and seat as I am old school MX and do a lot of standing as well.

I also like to square off flat corners without relying on a rut and / or berm.

For me I have found a good compromise to be nine to ten inches of wheel travel.

Regards,
Dale
 
nsman said:
Sx bikes require really stiff suspension so they dont bottom out,it is true that a factory bike may be shortened for SX as they would not be required to use all the available suspension travel they have any way and they need to turn at extreme levels..
I am sure that if you took a fully suspended enduro bike AKA Fe450e for a ride over enduro type terrain rocks/roots/mud/soil and compared it to a bike with shortened suspension over the same terrain you would want the LT one back ASAP.
Click to expand...

Hi Bruce
For the application you are indeed correct as I have done exactly that, however, I am not fond of rocks and prefer deep loamy terrain to boulders and fallen trees, hence my preference.

With regard to scaling:
The outdoor bike with it's higher anticipated speed and flat turns was shorter (suspension not wheelbase) then that of the SX replica which is all about "big air" and "railed berms".

The right tool for the job.
Dale
 
Kelsow,
I have been fortunate to have had a couple really good people help me with my riding years ago_One of them said to me "look Bruce,you can only lean the bike over this far,you can only open the throttle this wide and the race track is only as wide as it is.
Riding a motorcycle well is being able to use all you have to the best of your ability .Yes,your ride position is very important but now this is allowing you to use the throttle more effectivly and also to better position yourself on thr trail.
In short a better bike makes you able to be a better rider.
 
True dat. My bike gave me 5 years of experience after the first ride.
 
I have 3 priorities with my bikes.
1 An engine with no surprises, a nice linear predictable throttle reponse
2 Suspension that works on the trails and tracks that I ride, mostly rocky
3 Comfortable ergonimics to allow me to get the most out of my bike and body.

My gallery shows what I did to my 98 501 to get comfortable.
http://www.husaberg.org/index.php?set_a ... _album.php
High bars, high seat and lower and rearset pegs.

I'm going through the same journey with my new 650. A carb kit frm Dale for the motor, a high seat, slightly lower, 4 mm and rearset, 10 mm, pegs and higher and raised bars.

Rearset pegs for balance and high seat and low pegs for the old, worn out and reconstructed knees

I need to comfortable and balanced when standing and the suspension needs to be plush over rocks and still capable of landing from a few metres in the air.
 
Dale
Your observations are occasionally echoed by GasGas 2T enduro riders commenting on the lower cg of their steed than that of a KTM. I have noticed the same phenomonon when riding a Japanese bike back to back with my euro bikes. That being said I prefer the extra ground clearance on my Husey.
 

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