Ideal rear shock setting?

[Middle aged macam]

Hi team

Time to pick your brains again. Ive just fitted BT45's for the first time and am now experimenting trying to find the best set up for road riding. Got it in the fully hard position at moment but wont be testing any extreme angles of lean until the tyres are scrubbed in. Any advise gratefully received

Tom

[btbloke]

It depends on how big you are how much you weigh and your personal taste. There is no ideal or perfect setting because we are all different.
I would suggest having it in the middle and adjusting it either harder or softer as you go and experiment.
I have progressive front and standard rear so I have it quite soft at the rear because the front is quite a bit firmer then a standard setup.
I do however firm up the rear a half to three quarters of a turn if I have a lot of luggage on and or a pillion. It's not a big job to get the screwdriver out and have a fiddle as you go along. I do have if really soft if I am doing a rocky section and then firm it up if I travel home on the tarmac when out greenlaning.

[Middle aged macam]

Cheers for that. I'll start fiddling I'm 12.5 stone so probably dont need the hardest setting.

Tom

[Snaphappy]

Not sure with your adjustment but with the Dero its a doddle and can be adjusted whilst moving, Its that easy I adjust mine for every different situation.
In a safe section of straight road let go of the bars, if the suspension is too soft the bars will wobble like they are going into a tankslapper, adjust the rear suspension progressivly harder till its stable.

[Grendel]

Wish it was as easy to adjust the Hagon monoshock. You have to remove it to adjust it due to a locking screw on the adjuster ring.

Took mine off at the weekend and rolled it down to half way on the thread much firmer and makes the bike an inch higher and I’m the wrong side of 18 stone so with you being a lighter just keep playing with it until you get the feeling you want.

[Farky]

Not sure which one you have but the TA700 with BT45's runs perfectly on the lowest setting but 1/2turn. This is with 42psi...as per manufacturer.

I think there are 8 half turns on the shock so its a fair difference.

The shock is pretty pants - only rebound adjustment and it aint great at that...max for 2 up and min without load. Hard pushed to notice any real difference inbetween.

Running a high psi in the rear, with soft shock, and normal 30psi front - helps with the front end small bump issue..as in it doesnt absorb small bumps up front.
Also makes the tyre wear better at the rear - doesnt square off so much.

[piguglyshandydrinker]

Hi team

Time to pick your brains again. Ive just fitted BT45's for the first time and am now experimenting trying to find the best set up for road riding. Got it in the fully hard position at moment but wont be testing any extreme angles of lean until the tyres are scrubbed in. Any advise gratefully received

Tom

I take it you are talking about the dampening adjustment?
Personally I find it makes little difference when solo or lightly loaded but makes a big difference to the handling 2 up, particularly with luggage. I'd stick with stock settings.

There is also a spring preload adjustment, which effectively determines how much the rear of the bike drops (sags) with load on.
Measure from the rear wheel spindle up to a fixed point on the biks (eg rear rack) from fully extended suspension, the bike should have up to an inch or so of sag, sit on the bike & measure again (same points) the bike should have dropped another inch or so - or about 2" from fully extended. It should at least make a good starting point anyway.

Phil

[Middle aged macam]

What psi are you guys using in your bt45s for mostly solo no luggage riding ive been on 29 front and rear??! as per Mr Haynes am I missing something? Doh!

[Farky]

I used to run this psi until I spoke to a tyre disty techy who said the Honda psi's only count for the oem tyres and others should run at their tyre Manu recommended psi.

Tried this out on my last BT45 so 41psi rear. Excellent!

Tyre gripped better leant over but most if all it didn't square off as much on commuting miles. After 7k it was still fairly rounded and worn evenly on the sides too. No more mileage though but obviously the advantage is better or more useable performance at the end of it's life. In fact, I only replaced it cuz the front was done, rear was bald in centre but still plenty of side grip and thread.

Run the damping soft though as stated above.

What psi are you guys using in your bt45s for mostly solo no luggage riding ive been on 29 front and rear??! as per Mr Haynes am I missing something? Doh!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Middle aged macam]

Thanks for that I shall give it a go on my 2003 650 and report back
Tom