Rubbermount_EVO Rubbermount Suspension Survey and Theory

[Moved On / My Own Choice]

OK guys - I'd do a poll, but I think there would be just too damn many confusing variables.

I recently installed the Whittlebeast Hybrids on Jenn's low and I'm very pleased. We went with thin spacers to preserve the ride height especially at lower preload and to make it appropriate for Jenn's low 120-130 lbs or so weight - while still allowing me to crank the preload for my 220 lbs weight.

But when I asked her to check it out last night - she pretty much couldn't tell me much of a difference (both on the middle and low preload settings). She kinda reluctantly said that when she sought up bumps and some railroad tracks that yeah, ok, maybe it was "a little better" and maybe in the curves it was "a little better" but when I pressed if it was softer or not, she didn't think so.

I told her it made a HUGE difference for me, and that I pretty much wasn't hitting the bump stops anymore - and that's when she said that she "VERy rarely hit the bump stops" which got me thinking.

EITHER JENN IS COMPLETELY FREAKIN' CLUELESS when it comes to how her bike's suspension works/feels and what a smooth bike would feel like as oppossed to a rough one (suspension wise).

OR

SHE'S NEVER COMPLAINED CAUSE THE STOCK SPORTY SUSPENSION ACTUALLY WORKS FOR SMALLER PEOPLE.

So considering all of her answers, I'm leaning towards the second explanation.

That's my theory.

So here's the survey - for all you rubbermount owners who are willing would you answer the following questions.

1. Year/Model?
2. Your Weight?
3. Your shocks stock or aftermarket (and if aftermarket which)?
3. Preload setting you normally use?
4. Does the suspension bottom/top out?
5. Is the ride - soft, just right, hard or ?
6. Can you compare the suspension/ride quality to any other bikes?

ALSO - of you had it stock for a while, but then changed it you could include both answers in order - just deliniate it with a "\" between the answers

Example


1. Year/Model? - 2007 1200L
2. Your Weight? - 220 lbs
3. Your shocks stock or aftermarket (and if aftermarket which)? - Stock / Whittlebeast Hybrigs with 1/4" spacer
3. Preload setting you normally use? - Middle of Three / Middle of Three
4. Does the suspension bottom/top out? - Pretty frequently / Almost never
5. Is the ride - soft, just right, hard or ? - Firm and uncomfortable I got use to tensing before any sort of bump / on the soft side, but comfortable
6. Can you compare the suspension/ride quality to any other bikes? - Stock the bike was very uncomfortable over irregular surfaces both from a tracking standpoint to a distracting/painful jolt standpoint - it was great on smoother roads, but any bump/irregularity meant a discomforting jolt / comfort now approaches that of my Guzzi California - sorta like a firm FXD. Still not really as smooth as a modern BMW or Guzzi for me. Better than avearge though.



I'm basically curious if a number of other people who are low weight (like Jenn) find the stock suspension decent/adequate/not harsh etc - while a number of big guys (like me) find it harsh/jolting/uncomfortable etc.

[druber13]

1. Year/Model? 2005/ 1200R
2. Your Weight? 190 lbs
3. Your shocks stock or aftermarket (and if aftermarket which)? Stock
3. Preload setting you normally use? middle of three
4. Does the suspension bottom/top out? bottom out
5. Is the ride - soft, just right, hard or ? A little firm, bottoms out real easy on me. Corners alright I can hit em hard! Would like something better soon.
6. Can you compare the suspension/ride quality to any other bikes? The way it rides and handles is completing different to any other bike I have rode.

[Biker Farm Boy]

Kevin, you know my story already but I'll post it for others, my one year old 1200C now has 5,400 miles on it. The original ride was ridgid no matter how the preload was adjusted, any bump you could see was felt as thump bump. When leaning over the bike to unplug the Battery tender the suspension did not budge. So I brainstormed and read endlessly here and came up with my own solution. I instaled 13.5 Progressive 440 standards, I weigh 185, they were a hair too long and let the bottom shock bolt touch the top muffler, just barely, so I added LAChoppers lowering blocks. Now when I reach over to unplug the BT the suspension gives a little and moves right back upward when I remove my weight. I also installed Progressives in the forks using the spacers at their full lenght with 7W BelRay fork oil. The ride is taut but compliant, no more squat on hard acceleration. Preload was half way between the end point of the suspension travel of 3.04 inches, AW suggested I preload it more like an inch from topping out. This is with me on the bike. So far I've not bottomed or topped it out but I'm not exactly a hard charger. If I've missed anything let me know, Thanks Dave

[Hot Rod Sporty]

1. Year/Model? '05 1200 Custom
2. Your Weight? About 165
3. Your shocks stock or aftermarket (and if aftermarket which)? stock/lick's 10.5"/Progressive 440 11"
3. Preload setting you normally use? stock (couldn't adjust)/ stock (couldn't adjust)/ between 3 and 3.5, depending on road conditions
4. Does the suspension bottom/top out? always/ rarely/ almost never,,,only on big bumps
5. Is the ride - soft, just right, hard or ? soft and would spring my ass a foot off the seat on big bumps/ hard as a rock covered in a towel / just right
6. Can you compare the suspension/ride quality to any other bikes Rode a Roadking for a weekend and it was like a cadillac till I hit some railroad tracks going about 60, then I got sprung about 2 feet off the freakin' seat.

[Moved On / My Own Choice]

Thanks for the results so far guys.

HRS - stock you said you couldn't adjust - meaning you didn't have a spanner? So what setting WHERE they on - sounds like lowest or one of the lower settings yes?

[milmat1]

1. Year/Model?............06-XLC
2. Your Weight?...........220#
3. Your shocks stock or aftermarket Stock Rr, Progressive Front(15wt)
3. Preload setting you normally use?......2nd from max.
4. Does the suspension bottom/top out? ...Rarely
5. Is the ride - soft, just right, hard or ?....Maybe slightly hard !
6. Can you compare the suspension/ride quality to any other bikes?
As good as many better than some. ?


Kev, Your likely right about ths stock setup working for lighter weights, Even when set down the new springs they need some amount of weight to preload them. How much sag does she get when she sets on it ??

Hope This Helps !

[Moved On / My Own Choice]

Originally Posted by milmat1

1. Year/Model?............06-XLC
2. Your Weight?...........220#
3. Your shocks stock or aftermarket Stock Rr, Progressive Front(15wt)
3. Preload setting you normally use?......2nd from max.
4. Does the suspension bottom/top out? ...Rarely
5. Is the ride - soft, just right, hard or ?....Maybe slightly hard !
6. Can you compare the suspension/ride quality to any other bikes?
As good as many better than some. ?

You MIGHT be blowin g my theory - cause at your size I would have suspected you'd bottom out more (of course, maybe the roads there don't suck as much as they do in PA ).

Originally Posted by milmat1

Kev, Your likely right about ths stock setup working for lighter weights, Even when set down the new springs they need some amount of weight to preload them. How much sag does she get when she sets on it ??

Hope This Helps !

Gracias - I haven't checked sag - her first chance to ride since I swapped the shocks Sunday was last night - and we were running late for a training .

She rode it about 10 miles to the dojo - backroads - on the middle setting, then I adjusted it down to the bottom (softest) setting for the ride back.

She commented that the bike felt "lower" so I suspect there was more sag - and though the headlight still seemed in adjustment, it was borderline - as I could tell more on that setting when she did hit a bump as it would sag a little more and I'd get a little bit of light in the side mirrors.

That said, she seems to like it and it DEFINITELY works better for me. I'm not worried about changing it for me at this point. I'm more just floating a theory on why the Sporty suspensions are tuned where they are.

That said I suspect we'll use the current shocks and preloads settings as follows

Jenn solo - no luggage - bottom of 3
Jenn loaded with bags - middle of 3
Me - top of 3 - maybe middle of 3 if not loaded for the weekend and not going out for any particularly aggressive riding.

Kev

[linkin5]

1) 2007 1200R
2) 210lbs.
3) stock
4) mid to firm
5) bottoms out on the rough stuff little difference in the settings.
6) limited travel, dated feel, ok for a cruiser.
7) My exp. comes from the dual sport and sportbike world. I would compare the suspension to my old 1972 honda 350 scrambler.

[Folkie]

1. Year/Model: 2005 883C.
2. Your Weight: 225 lbs.
3. Your shocks: 11" Progressive 440s.
4. Preload setting you normally use: 4 turns down (out of 6 2/3), so about the same as 4th of 5.
5. Does the suspension bottom/top out: bottoms out on big bumps.
6. Is the ride - soft, just right, hard or ?: just right (when not bottoming out, obviously).
7. Can you compare the suspension/ride quality to any other bikes: not really.

[bearsfan]

1. Year/Model? 2005 XL883C
2. Your Weight? 205 or so with gear
3. Your shocks stock or aftermarket (and if aftermarket which)? stock
3. Preload setting you normally use? 4
4. Does the suspension bottom/top out? Only when I hit a pothole/rr tracks/road construction ledge at speed solo or a little more frequently with passenger
5. Is the ride - soft, just right, hard or ? I'd call it a little harsh, but really no basis to compare to
6. Can you compare the suspension/ride quality to any other bikes? Nope