ElectricMotorcycleForum.com

  • November 24, 2024, 10:07:17 PM
  • Welcome, Guest
Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  

News:

Electric Motorcycle Forum is live!

Pages: [1]

Author Topic: Damping rear shock  (Read 1176 times)

s44captain

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 44
    • View Profile
Damping rear shock
« on: April 21, 2013, 05:53:48 AM »

On my ZF9S I have the rear spring rate dialed in but it is under dampened (too bouncy).
The little red knob (see photo)seems to have no effect. Anyone got some clues?
Logged
Current Bikes: 2012 Zero 6S & Buell XB12
Former Bikes: 2009 Brammo & Matchless G85CS

Richard230

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9670
    • View Profile
Re: Damping rear shock
« Reply #1 on: April 21, 2013, 07:03:48 AM »

The red knob adjusts the rebound damping. Turning it clockwise slows the rebound of the shock. There is also a blue knob on top of the shock reservoir canister, attached to the top of the shock.  If you can reach it, you can turn it clockwise (looking down from the top of the shock) and it will slow the compression damping of the shock.  Try turning the red knob clockwise until it stops and then back off one click.  On the blue knob, turn that one clockwise until it stops and back it off 4 clicks.  That should slow down the shock damping and make your bike less bouncy when going over a bump.    :)
Logged
Richard's motorcycle collection:  2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.

ZeroSinMA

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 273
    • View Profile
Re: Damping rear shock
« Reply #2 on: April 21, 2013, 08:04:07 PM »

On my ZF9S I have the rear spring rate dialed in but it is under dampened (too bouncy).
The little red knob (see photo)seems to have no effect. Anyone got some clues?

Spent the better part of a day tweaking and riding the damping and rebound adjustments front and back. My conclusion: the middle adjustment the bikes comes with works best. Else you get a less jarring but a mushy ride with uncertain handling or on the other side of the middle adjustment you get a firm ride and solid handling but your teeth rattling over small bumps. I attribute this to the lightness and short wheelbase of the bike. Delighted to be corrected. I wonder if the all that jarring and shaking contributes to some of the reliability issues that some of these bikes later develop.
Logged

Richard230

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9670
    • View Profile
Re: Damping rear shock
« Reply #3 on: April 22, 2013, 06:46:46 AM »

I concur about the jarring and shaking when going over small bumps.  But I believe that it is because Zero recommends a higher air pressure in the tires than is necessary for a decent ride. The bike is quite light and the tires have a pretty decent load capacity.  Try dropping the pressures by 5 pounds in each tire and see what you think about the ride.  I am keeping my pressures up and my shock settings as recommended by the suspension specialist that I paid to set it up.  The bike is more stable when going around a fast corner and I just live with the harsh ride over small bumps.  Lowering the tire pressures may also decrease maximum range slightly.
Logged
Richard's motorcycle collection:  2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.

nicktulloh

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 151
    • View Profile
Re: Damping rear shock
« Reply #4 on: April 23, 2013, 09:09:34 PM »

Before you mess around with any dynamic adjustments, you need to set the sag. The instructions are in the manual.
Logged

s44captain

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 44
    • View Profile
Re: Damping rear shock
« Reply #5 on: April 24, 2013, 03:33:12 AM »

Thanks Richard, the blue knob on top did the trick. I think around 3000 miles the seals lost most of that new bike "stiction" as the dampening seemed to lessen. Good now - thanks again!
Logged
Current Bikes: 2012 Zero 6S & Buell XB12
Former Bikes: 2009 Brammo & Matchless G85CS

Richard230

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9670
    • View Profile
Re: Damping rear shock
« Reply #6 on: April 24, 2013, 04:15:43 AM »

You are welcome, s44captain.  I am always happy when I have retained enough knowledge about something to help someone else out. 

I kind of know what twirling suspension knobs do, but I have discovered that the more you turn them the deeper you get into a bottomless pit of endless combinations.   ;)
Logged
Richard's motorcycle collection:  2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.

nicktulloh

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 151
    • View Profile
Re: Damping rear shock
« Reply #7 on: April 24, 2013, 06:51:33 PM »

Not to beat a dead horse, but before you venture into that pit of infinite adjustment depth - set the sag! Otherwise you're spinning dials trying to work around an existent problem. I started racing back in the days when you really just had to ride around handling issues and progressive springs were big news. Suspension had become so complex by the time I retired after 25 years that I mostly just handed the bike over to the experts. The one thing I know how to do is take two measurements with a tape.
Logged
Pages: [1]