Setting Sag, absolutely the best thing you can do!

Well,
Yesterday, I got my head into shape and decided to set the sag settings on my FE550e '05.

It took about 4 Hours tops from reading all the relevant looking forum posts here on UHE, and going over the manual, and some testing.

I am BLOWN AWAY at the difference that such a small adjustment can make!

I measured free sag =660mm, then dropped the bike down onto the ground and bounced it up and down a bit and came up with a sprung weight sag of 610mm (15mm less than desired basic set up in the 05 users manual.

next I went to work on the preload tensioner nut, winding it in (clockwise) 3/4 of a full turn, this brought the sag up to 35mm per the specification=625mm sag.

I did the race sag test, and despite my weight being more than the basic set up weight, the race sag was within the 105mm reccomendation, with that, I went for a test ride on a short trail with rocks and sand.

All I can say is that I am astonished at the difference that such a small adjustment can make!! I went for a ride today, and I estimated that the better suspension accounted for at least 10 - 15 kph faster than my normal speed, and got rid of the slight head shake 'shimmy' that I used to get on corrugated track and sand, it was that good!

anyone who is a bit disenchanted with their Bergs handling should read up and do this simple adjustmen.

smoothly,
Azza

After reading what you guys have said, I reckon I might try to windon another 1/4 turn of preload, that should put it at the upper end of the scale.

somewhere about 32 - 33mm sag, I mindfully set it conservatively, because I didnt know what to expect, but I like the result!!

Thanks to everyone who put tech advice on UHE, sometimes its hard to grasp the first time while reading it, but sit down in the shed with the bike and read it, and follow along with your bike, and it all comes to hand very easily.

Azza.

Yep,

after my inital sag setting foray, my first ride was a real surprise! it was like a new bike, it felt as if the wheels were on the ground for the first time, the way it was previously felt as if the tyres had been skipping an' bouncing everywhere.

Taff,
Ever since I got the 550, I've used the spare block next door to do tight figure 8's for practice on balance and clutch / brake / throttle control, I know from my ride on Sunday that the whole lot is way better, even though It did go pear shaped when I washed out on a sweeping gravel corner at about 60kph.

I definately intend on refining this adjustment some more.

Azza