FMX Suspension settings

[pash]

Hi Guys
I was wondering if anyone had played around with the suspension on their FMX.
The rear suspension is odd with travel at 185mm, its somewhere in the middle of a road and off road shock. When I got the bike the static sag was about 40mm and rider sag about 80. The 40mm static seemed way too high (normally about 15 for road and 30 for off road) but I found that the settings gave a very hard ride at the rear with the tyre skipping as I applied power out of a corner. I dropped the rider sag to 95mm which gives a much smoother ride but the static sag is now 60mm! and I'm using up 1/2 of the travel just sitting on it.
There is nothing in the manual to state what Honda recommend for the sag setting, which is odd, and I can't find anything on the web. I spoke with a suspension company and they said that rider sag should be set at 1/3 of the travel, but that would mean going harder than it was originally. Which I feel might cause even more problems with traction. The suspension company said that it actually might improve things going harder as it might have been in a bad part of the linking geometry causing the hardness and lack of compression at the rear.
Has anyone tried playing around with settings, springs or shocks?
What do other people have as their sag?

On the front I haven't measured sag but there doesn't seem to be enough rebound damping and I wondered if anyone has changed the springs or oil to counter this.

I know suspension is often a personal or controversial topic, but any thoughts would be appreciated.
Cheers
Pash

[IgorVigor]

I dont know how similar the shock on my bike (FX650 Vigor) is to the FMX, but I have got about 40mm ~50mm of rider sag (dont know what the static sag is on mine)

My bike handles well and grips the road nicely...

What tyre pressure are you running? it might be that the tyres are a little hard and with the stiffer suspension setting that its causing loss of traction...

I run my tyres are 29psi front and rear which I think is the recommended on my bike and its brilliant (unless I drive across grass, then it slides a lot :P)

[pash]

I'm running 29 front and back as well. MTR on front Diablo on back.
What is the shock travel on the FX? I cant find specs on the web that state it, but looking at the pics it doesn't look as high as an FMX.
Cheers
pash

[IgorVigor]

Something tells me that it is around 200~210mm

Will try and find out...

[johnhell]

Hi, travel is 190mm front and 170 rear on the Vigor. It seems to me that both frames (FMX/Vigor) are nearly identical. The FMX has an inverted fork, smaller front wheel and much wider tyres, so it might behave in more radical way.
Cheers.

[pash]

Its slightly different again. Odd all these bikes... so much alike yet so far apart.
I experimented getting the static sag just right last (35 mm) that gave a rider sag of 65mm, so pretty much spot on the 1/3 travel.
Took it for a spin expecting to be launched off it, but too my surprise it was really good just as the suspension people had suggested.

Only problem now is that the seat height is too high for my little legs

Will look into ordering a lowering kit or low seat.

[IgorVigor]

Fi International (Yes horrible firm I know :P) do a lowering kit for the FMX650

power restrictors Honda FMX650 height reducers

£160

It offers a 35mm reduction....

Apart from that...I dont know any reducers....I dont need them...ever :P

I hope someone else can off you a cheaper solution to drop it...

[metamorph67]

Its slightly different again. Odd all these bikes... so much alike yet so far apart.
I experimented getting the static sag just right last (35 mm) that gave a rider sag of 65mm, so pretty much spot on the 1/3 travel.
Took it for a spin expecting to be launched off it, but too my surprise it was really good just as the suspension people had suggested.

Only problem now is that the seat height is too high for my little legs

Will look into ordering a lowering kit or low seat.

From metamorph67 - I am 41 and am not very tall so i have the same problem, i opted to buy the accsessory seat which i might add is about a third of the price of the standard saddle, it does allow you to reach the ground better which is a life saver when your on uneven ground, but alas there is still this problem of 'mounting the stalion' in the first place. Obviously Honda should of written a whole chapter on how to get on your horse with dignity and how to dismount while maintaining cool composure! When i first got mine i fell of it twice in the first few weeks, once, when the mighty piston thumped to a halt throwing me to the floor (very embarrassing!) and then again i dismounted believing that the side stand had engaged fully only to find myself bearing the full weight of the beast and just had to let go! Ayway, whats the point in having luggage tie's on the saddle if you cant then get your leg over the luggage!

I now have got the whole thing down to a fine cool art, step 1, turn your steering fully to the offside before mounting or dismounting, on mounting, place your left foot on the side stand and using it as a styrup mount the machine, (this only works well on a solid level surface)

There is somehting advantageous about riding so high, your presence to others on the road is loud and proud, you can see as far ahead as the white transit driver, its a whole lot more fun going round those bends. All the best

From Metamorph67 -

[pash]

IgorVigor; Busters and M&P do one (the same one) for 115 but it comes from Italy and will take a month (at least);

metatmorph; Yeh I have tried to get the low seat but Honda have discontinued it selling it. I'm looking for low or normal one seat of the right colour (grey&black) that I can cut down frm ebay.

[metamorph67]

That's a bummer about Honda discontinuing the seat, please give Chiswick Honda a try, they got me the lowered seat from Honda Logistics only 3 weeks ago, they were very helpful and they also got me that manual. Some of these Honda dealers just can't be bothered, anyway give them a try it cost me £65 inclusive, mines Red but they also offered me the black with grey stripes. - metamorph67