Griso 8vSE suspension questions

[ohiorider]

She's beautiful, shifts wonderfully, accelerates like a wildcat.  And for a bike that's just slightly shorter than a fire truck, she handles nicely.  What's not to like?  Regardless of suspension settings (done by an individual who knows how to set 'em up for the track OR street riding, the Griso hammers me unmercifully if I'm on one of our less-than-stellar secondary roads.

Here's my questions:
1.  Has anyone switched to softer fork springs?  I'm certain that many have beefed up the suspension, especially if they weigh 200#+, but I weigh in at approx. 155#.  My weight barely compresses the suspension at either end.

2.  IF one were to switch to softer fork springs, (a) is the valve pack flexible enough and adjustable enough to dial it in without replacing the pack?  And (b) do the forks have enough travel to work with a softer spring without bottoming out?

3.  Same questions for the rear suspension .... softer spring, valving, enough travel, etc, etc.

I know it won't achieve sport tourer cushiness, but I'm just trying to determine if the Griso suspension can be made more compliant without spending $1000 - 1500?

Maybe I'm trying to make something out of the bike it was never intended to be.

Bob

[Bill Hagan]

****
 I'm certain that many have beefed up the suspension, especially if they weigh 200#+, but I weigh in at approx. 155#.  My weight barely compresses the suspension at either end.

****

Maybe I'm trying to make something out of the bike it was never intended to be.

Bob

First, I rarely speak to folks who weigh less than 200#'s, as we have so little in common.  As, however, you are a fellow Grisoista, I'll make an exception. 

Second, as a segue from my first point, have you considered more meat & potatoes?   

More seriously, as mine used to beat me to pieces even at my fighting weight, cannot imagine how jarring the stock shock/spring must be at 155.  Be that as it may, if you haven't already been there, this subject has had several threads, e.g., http://www.grisoghetto.com/t359-suspension-fore-and-aft, on the Griso Ghetto website.

Best wishes from the top of Virginia,

Bill

P.S.  Not to hijack the thread, but shod mine yesterday with MPR4's.  Hoping for happy results.

[beetle]

The forks are undersprung and over damped in my opinion. By all means change the springs if you're a little'n, but getting them relvalved will be the best money to spend. Just my 2 cents.

[Vasco DG]

I'm currently saving up for the full Matris kit for the front end, already got the shock at the back. My forks were greatly improved by revalving and using less, lighter weight, oil. Most of the harshness is the fact they are grotesquely over-damped. The springs are also barely adequate, I run mine at nearly max preload which doesn't affect their rate but means they need more of an oomph to get 'em moving. I'm actually going to underestimate my weight when ordering the Matris cartridges and springs as Matris tend to go the other way and over-spring as they cater for a lot of racers. The roads in NSW are a long way from racetrack smooth!

Pete

[beetle]

The Matris cartridge kit is the business.  Transformed my front end. With the Matris on the back as well, there's no more teeth rattling or kidney slamming.

[ohiorider]

Thanks, all!  Appears I'm staring down a $1500 'bike improvement' charge to improve the Griso's suspension.  Hmmmm?

Bill, I'd be interested in hearing your results with the PR4 tires on the Griso.  I ran whatever model tires came standard for the first 6k miles, then installed a set of PR3s.  they were fine, but wore quickly in comparison to PR3.  On my 1200 Sport, the PR3 steer lightly and handle quickly.  On the Griso, they handle (rolling into turns) somewhat slower than the OEM tires that came with the bike.  Go figure!  YMMV.

[tiger_one]

If I recall the OEM springs in the forks are 1kg/mm, I changed to .9 no revalve, it was fine.  The shock I sent to RT for revalve and spring.  Much better for my 180 lbs.  This was 2012 8V that I modded. 

[guzziownr]

If I recall the OEM springs in the forks are 1kg/mm, I changed to .9 no revalve, it was fine.  The shock I sent to RT for revalve and spring.  Much better for my 180 lbs.  This was 2012 8V that I modded.

Hey Tiger good to see you posting.  The heavy spring you gave me went away with my '09 Griso to a new owner.  I now have an '07 and I stuck an '09 Stelvio shock under it's tail.  Last year I took a 3 hour ride up to Russell Massachusetts for the rally there.  On the '09 loaded with camping gear every seam on the poorly maintained roads was a jolt.  The same ride last week on the '07 was much better as the extra travel of the Stelvio shock did it's thing.  The tail rides a little higher as well and the bike seems to be well balanced between front and rear.

At 6'4" and 225 I am no featherweight but as Mr. Hagan points out look around the campfire at your next rally -- not a lot of skinny there so this post is for built-for-comfort crowd.