Griso fork question

[lucian]

Looking for advice on fork set up. My o9  has been set since I've owned it with only two rings showing above tree. It handles ok but seems pretty rear bias as is. Is anyone running their's lower, maybe four rings showing on their griso? 
TIA    Dave

[pete roper]

Best way I got my Showas to work was five or six rings up, almost maximum spring preload, 40ml less 5wt oil in each leg and got Laurie to re-valve them. Then it was pretty good.

Current set up has Matris cartridges and is a step above again. I also have a set of Ohlins and a set of Sachs off a TV4 I'm playing with. If there is one place it's really worth puting the yards in its the suspension, especially on what pass for roads in Oz!

Pete

[not-fishing]

When you rebuild your forks get the right springs for your weight.

Most of us weigh more than 160 lb Italians.

On my G11 I just got done with a rebuild with stock springs.  Now I'll have to pay to do it over again with the right springs.  I'm thinking of Olins or Wilbers for the rear.  It's pushing 50,000 miles so the rear is probably due.

Mark

[beetle]

6 rings for me!

[lucian]

Thank you gentlemen, I will drop it down and add some preload. Not sure how the seven year old seals and compression valves are going to like it though. I should probably let off some rear preload as well dampening no? Just feels like it needs a little more weight forward.

[Dilliw]

Before you mess with it get your front sag to 33mm and your rear to 32mm.  Those were posted on another site as recommendations for "bigger fellows" but should work for any weight as are within the usually recommended 25-35mm range.

I haven't dropped my tubes yet but it's on the list.  Definitely need to speed up the front end a little bit.

[lucian]

Before you mess with it get your front sag to 33mm and your rear to 32mm.  Those were posted on another site as recommendations for "bigger fellows" but should work for any weight as are within the usually recommended 25-35mm range.

I haven't dropped my tubes yet but it's on the list.  Definitely need to speed up the front end a little bit.

 Front sag no problem, any tips for rear sag, next to impossible to get a tie wrap in there. I have let off rear preload twice so far and it still rides like a hay wagon. I figure putting a little more of the suspension duty forward will allow softening the rear way up. I will try it out this weekend and post findings if we survive it.

[kirb]

Drop the forks to the last line. Set up the sag to your weight, adjust rebound and comp damping properly (not the factory harsh).

The bike will seem brand new.

[Waterbottle]

Hi Lucian, yep drop your forks to the 5th or 6th ring. Watch a few of the suspension tuning videos on your tube. The easiest fellow to understand is Dave Moss, his video clips are called 2 Clicks Out, helped me a lot . 
I set up a Griso just for track use with Matris fork kit and an ohlins shock and immediately shelled out for another set up for the Street bike. It really does make that much difference   

[redrider]

GoStar racing has a wonderful setup procedure. Night and day difference on the Sport, V11 and Benelli. About an hours worth of fiddle-ride-repeat worked for me.

[lucian]

Well wasn't as simple as I had hoped. Discovered a leaky fork seal so had to address that first. Had been keeping it going with occasional cleanings with a home made seal mate. As I had the new seals in house I decided it would be a good time to get it over with as I was dropping the forks anyhow. First had to make a couple of simple fork tools to make it happen. A piece of pipe drilled through and tapped for two 3/8 bolts did the trick for the spring compressor, and a short piece of 1 1/2" pvc pipe for the seal seating tool and I was set. The rest was very easy with the help of the pfd griso service manual.  After reinstalling the forks with 5 rings above the triple tree and 3 rings showing on the preload I tightened both rebound and compression damping adjusters 1 click each from factory setting. Jumped up and down on it a bit and it felt about right so took it for a spin searching for every train track and bump in the road I could find. A very noticeable improvement in ride smoothness over bumps. I don't know if it is the lowering of the forks, the adjustment change or the new fork oil or a combination of all three but noticeably better. It also feels more planted and turns in quicker and   easier. All in all a very worth while experiment. Thank's for all the advice, the griso keeps getting better. Included a few pics of my jury rig's and note the new dust seal is improved with a spring to tension the outer wiper.

[Dilliw]

Front sag no problem, any tips for rear sag, next to impossible to get a tie wrap in there. I have let off rear preload twice so far and it still rides like a hay wagon. I figure putting a little more of the suspension duty forward will allow softening the rear way up. I will try it out this weekend and post findings if we survive it.

For the rear sag I had to get the help of my drunk German neighbor so it cost me a little hooch.  We found a good parallel measuring point between the CARC and the body; maybe it was the from the passenger peg mount but I can't remember.  I used one of those ratchet hook wrenches and the weight was me plus an extra 10lb dumbbell for gear.  It took a good many turns from the stock setting but eventually I got the 32mm.  There was plenty of preload adjustment left so I didn't use it all but it's pretty compressed in there.  A heavier spring and a re-valve would be better but honestly for my riding style (slow!) it's o.k.

I need to drop my tubes!  The biggest complaint I have on the Griso is it seems heavy to steer. 

[lucian]

For the rear sag I had to get the help of my drunk German neighbor so it cost me a little hooch.  We found a good parallel measuring point between the CARC and the body; maybe it was the from the passenger peg mount but I can't remember.  I used one of those ratchet hook wrenches and the weight was me plus an extra 10lb dumbbell for gear.  It took a good many turns from the stock setting but eventually I got the 32mm.  There was plenty of preload adjustment left so I didn't use it all but it's pretty compressed in there.  A heavier spring and a re-valve would be better but honestly for my riding style (slow!) it's o.k.

I need to drop my tubes!  The biggest complaint I have on the Griso is it seems heavy to steer.

Thank's for this, my next mission is to address the rear ,in my case it's way stiff. The PO was quite a bit heavier than me and I definitely need to let off the preload again and tweek the damping. Funny how you can get used to just about anything until you realize how good it can be with a little effort      and help.