5 Steps to Transform Your Off-road Bike's Handling
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ก.ค. 2024
- Take your riding to the next level with this comprehensive guide using just three simple tools to transform your bike's handling to suit your riding style.
In this video, Adam Riemann covers everything you need to know about how to customise your off-road motorcycle's handling. He'll take you through the key steps to perfect your bike's handlebar position, fork height, static sag, compression, and rebound. These steps shown on the Yamaha Tenere 700 apply to any off-road motorcycle, making it easy for anyone with a dirt or adventure bike to improve their bike's handling.
Whether you're an experienced rider or just starting out, by the end of this video, you'll have a solid understanding of how to adjust these key components to optimise handling and get the most out of your off-road bike!
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I know I’m late to the party but- fuck me, Ive just followed exactly what this clip suggests. I was nervous and sceptical about getting involved in what I previously have thought as an elite black art. Half an hour in my shed and I have transformed not only the setup of my 701 enduro but,more importantly, my understanding of suspension and confidence in my bike. Just a few, seemingly minor changes, and I have just screamed through a wet, muddy track that I would have plodded through before. Initially I was so nervous about undoing the bolts holding the shocks but stuck with it and found it is as easy as described. What a transformation in so many ways. I’m 60 going on 30 with years of road riding under my belt and had pretty much resigned myself to being a plodder on gravel and off road. Fuck that! This tutorial has absolutely rest the clock for me. Thank you.
YES!!!!!! me too ;-)
Thank. You.
I don't even have a motorcycle and here I am watching how to transform my (non existent) bike handling. The reason I'm saying this is because you made complete sense to someone who has never ridden a bike.
I love the "don't worry 'bout the perfect setup, just do some changes, see where it gets you. Here are some tips on what will happen if you tinker with this setting, now go and have fun." message. I'm pretty sure this will give a few people the push they need. Great work, mate🤙
Indeed, most people are way too afraid to make their bike sooo much better for free.
I would add this 1st: measure and count clicks 1st, and put that in your phone (even text it to yourself, if you don't have a note app).
You don't have to be afraid to change things if you know where you were. You can always reset back to the original numbers.
it gave me the push, thank you!
You’ve just explained something that has been a total mystery to me for 40+ years in a matter of minutes, clearly and concisely thank you, for a menace not a bad lad really!
Thank you Adam for breaking it down and simplifying bike set-up for those of us who are not professional riders or racers, but love riding. Your methods and no BS approach are easy to digest, and improving the quality of riding for us all. What you are doing is greatly appreciated. Other coaches are going to need to step it up!
Cheers! 🍻 👍
Finally somebody explains bike setup, so understandably. And telling what every change actually do. Greatly appreciated, thank you 🙏
I dropped the front by 18mm as I dropped the rear with a lowering link by the same amount. I felt the bike is fine after this. Forks are as low as they can go now. This is the BEST video I have ever watched of this thing. Every other video makes it sound like magic and nobody should touch anything themselves.
Thank you this was superb!!
Great video, super informative. I’ve spent years chasing adjustments to suspension and setup and this is the clearest and most useful practical explanation I’ve heard. Thank you!
can i ask what's your bike and weight? Im 100kg, 112kg with backpack and gear, my wr450f 14' holds me up well with alot of preload and clicker adjustments, brand new tyres are great to 😄
@@empiresrikesfat I have a bunch of bikes…3 ADVs, 3du as l sports, and some desert snd MX bikes. I’m not accustomed to the weight of the ADV bikes so not sure what a”good” setup feels like yet.
@@empiresrikesfatMX and Enduro bikes come standard with a spring rate designed around a 75 to 80 kg rider. You may think your WR is handling good for you but you really should get heavier springs and you'll notice a huge difference.
@@donavangovett4777 you do have a point, but as a mature rider the Wr came pretty well packaged for me the KYB suspension, Pro Taper handlebars, Excel wheels, twin air filter is great and I've never bottomed it out but yeah needs heavier springs
Starting to like the T7 more and more….. I’m thinking about trading in the old and mighty KTM 990 Adv
Great video Adam. Suspension is one of the hardest things to understand even for experienced riders. Thanks for breaking it down in an understandable way.
Glad it was helpful. I've hopped on people's bike's over the years and they feel terrible to ride. You can just as easily ruin your bike's handling by setting it up incorrectly ...
@@MotologyFilms it’s much appreciated good sir! I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never touched mine on a couple bikes. That’s about to change.
@@lukefish7562 don’t be afraid to try and adjust to suit what works. There’s a saying in bikes that goes like “your only as good as what you try”. Just record on a note pad or in phone where everything was before you made changes. Also look at the owners manual and see what it recommends for starting points on things and then experiment. Playing around with adjustments and dialling in things to what works gives a whole different avenue of enjoyment out of our bikes. ✊🏼🏍️💨
@@MotologyFilms Agreed! I bought a very low mileage used Kawasaki from a dealership, nearly killed myself on the ride home, handling was horrific, nothing like I was used to that model of bike handling. Previous owner had traded it in because he didn't like how it rode and handled. After a few hundred horrible miles I got out the manual and returned all of the clickers and preload back to factory settings, night and day difference, bike was now a joy to ride! The previous owner had actually made the bike dangerous chasing suspension settings without knowing what he was doing.
@@MotologyFilms can you come to Canada to tweak my new Africa Twin suspension? Lol 🙏
Absolutely the best explanation of suspension setup and it's consequences with simple methods to achieve it. I love the 1 inch static preload test suggestion for sag, what an easy way to judge sag when on a trip!
You are an absolute weapon at delivering information like this. Appreciate it!
ARiemann1- This is the most simple, best presented and easiest to follow explanation I have ever seen. I can actually understand it. I think the biggest lesson I have learned with proper suspension setup and geometry is how much safer it is. It seems obvious now, but somehow it wasnt before. For example, I thought just going slow I was fine when things got more technical. Then I would hit a terrain change, say hard to sand, and my front end would wash out and I would hit the ground. I'm 60 years old, my body just does not like that anymore and all my old injuries hurt. Then I would get more tentative and tense, and it just goes downhill and the fun starts going away. Now with proper setup, that is SO SIMPLE, I go through the exact same sections of trail and my bike just flows. The ride becomes what it should be, fun. And I crash a lot less which is very important. Thank you for your videos!
Yes sir!
Just picked up a Norden 901 Expedition last week and I need these videos more than you know!
Much appreciated Adam!🙏🏽
🏍💨
Congratulations, how are you liking it?
@@alessiotacconi7759 I appreciate that Alessio! I’ve put 600 miles on it and just had my first service. I’ve not touched the surface of it’s capabilities but am amazed at the feel of it moving up from dual sports. It’s so comfortable on the Highway and with its technology I know it’s safer for me riding around and my girlfriend when she jumps on too. I feel very blessed that they put together such a great package at such a great price and that I was able to get one. And that they let me finance it. 😆
Thanks again! Take care! 🏍️💨
@@lukefish7562 Very cool 😎
I've been hanging out to see it in the flesh, it's still not available in Australia where I live. I'm currently on a 701 and loving it, I see a stable mate in the horizon 🤣
Stay safe and enjoy!🍻👍
@@alessiotacconi7759 lucky dog! You’ve got the one bike I was going to move up to from my 450RL until my dealer told me of the new Expedition. I bet you do love it! I still think it’s the closest a person can come to best bike to do it all and I know I’ll get one down the road.
Too bad we don’t live closer so we could swap bikes! Take care down there my friend! 🏍💨
Your suspension tuning recommendations completely changed my Honda Africa Twin's handling a few months ago. I'm back again to relearn so I can tune my Tuareg now. Thanks Adam, I haven't found any other guides as good as yours for ADV.
Coming from a motocross background I have the suspension under control, but because of that background I have been messing about with a tape measure. Always believed setting the sag had to be done with mm precision. Now I feel it's a lot easier to get that right when I can tackle it a more relaxed way.
The handlebar postion is something I have never thought much about, this video taught me a lot why it behaves the way it does depending on how I adjust them.
This is easy the best channel on youtube for us adventure riders, no doubt about it.
Tried this on my tenere 700 and it was amazing, the front end went from shaking around being sketchy as anything to tracking very nicely I still need to get the rear stiffer but tweeking the bars to the perfect position and setting up my suspension made it an unreal experience offroad.
Great presentation. Relaxed, clear, upbeat. I appreciate how encouraging you are of your viewers, getting comfortable with knowing their bikes, increasing confidence, you are clearly on our side. A coach. You’re clearly a great storyteller. I appreciate how you speak with your hands. You Get into it.
haha, I'm half wog .... my mum is Italian.
Thanks Adam, I really appreciate the effort you put in to make this content👍🏼
Cheers, Andrew
Best no nonsense channel on TH-cam.
Always straight to the point and very chilled.
Appreciate the time you take to explain things to less experienced riders.
Cheers from Sydney...
for me , super tip about rebound and possiblility of stiff setting, that can cause losing front,,,,thanks
Straight to the point, super informative content given from a lifetime of experience at the highest level. Thanks Adam
Explained extremely well, and I needed it....thank you! Really appreciate this series! Ride safe!
Thanks! No one has covered this. One of the best explanations of sag and preload on TH-cam, and how to set it up simply. Really helpful video!
Kudos, Mr.Riemann1! 👨🏻🍺
Fact that you give this knowledge for free is gift for generation of motorcyclists! Hopefully this and all your videos never gonna be deleted!
P.S.
While TH-cam exists...I mean!
The most straight-forward & easy to understand explanation of this I have seen. So many riders head off to the suspension shop & spend thousands but never take the time to work thru their suspension setup as you outlined.
Thanks Yoda 🙏that was easily the clearest set up instructional vid I’ve watched & I’ve watched a shitload! The explaining of the ‘why’ of each set up point was mint…have a great Easter mate 👍🏻
Extremely comprehensible. Thanks for sharing all this information Alan!
Great video. Thanks for taking the time to go over these often overlooked or misunderstood fundamentals.
I thoroughly enjoy all your videos and find your content increasingly beneficial with each new video you put out. I’m privileged to be enjoying my 47th year of motorcycling and I’ve yet to hear such a logical and easy to follow discussion on suspension set up. All too often we get deep into the details of accurate suspension measurement and even lose track of where we are, but this setup is easy to understand and repeat when the bike is light or fully loaded. I’m off to try this on my AT immediately. Thanks for the great video and warm greetings from Arizona
Hi Adam, thanks for another great video.
Simple tips which can make a big difference in your confidence when riding and also in understanding how your bike works and responds to changes.
It's great to have a suspension video focused on ADV instead of MX.
I've found that *keeping a log book makes it much more clear what's going on* when something changed and seems off. It's also nice to be able to make it incrementally better and note the behavior.
Eg this felt better/more planted on this turn but then did this other behavior in that rut. Noting that gives us something to think about. What can we change that would keep that corner improvement without invoking the penalty over there? Perhaps change the bar position instead of fork height, perhaps it's a sag issue, which would change how much the front wants to become light and pop up.
On the rear preload spacer: I'd suggest counting your steps. If you have the bike running nicely unloaded, then it makes it much easier to return to that point. Also, a paint pen is very handy for this.
Wow that was a great video presented in such a way that the average rider can understand. I love the common sense way that you present the technical information. You have discovered a niche that nobody else is nailing. Keep at it and a lot of riders will find their way to your channel. Well done
Thanks for these tips! The transfer of knowledge is greatly appreciated!
You’re my hero, my Aussie pal. 40yrs of riding enduro and adv riding, it was condensed down in 20’. You should charge for that wisdom…
Thank you Mr. Riemann, every video of yours makes my motorcycle days better and more fun. And my life too. Thank you very much.
thanks mate, I spent a few grand upgrading my suspension/forks but I have no idea if I'm getting the best out of them - the whole compression & rebound has me bamboozled - this vid has helped me get my head around some of it - thank you.
You so smart.
So it's like setting up a bow properly for each person. Draw weight, draw length,brace height and so on.
Thanx for all the knowledge.
Rode Harleys for years.
Last time was 6 years ago.
Picked up a clean 1 owner KTM 390 adventure with the quick shifter and Knobby's. I'm in love.
And with your help I'm all dialed in and building my confidence.
Thank you.
THAT video,Adam is probably the best and most useful video on setups on the internet.Cuts through lots of stuff that only the pros need.
Excellent advise. Makes way more sense of what I’m trying to figure out. You are the first Eason in all my 45years of riding to explain why the front feels like it wants to tuck or is so twitchy. Plus the whole sag thing has just been over done by others without explaining cause and effect.
Thanks for this one. I have no problem getting stuck in with the wrenches, knowing which way to change things is the art that only experience can give. Appreciate you sharing the knowledge and giving some practical understanding of where to focus
Simple and brilliant explanation for compression and rebound. 🙂👌
Compression = hard/soft
Rebound = fast/slow
Thanks mate! 🍻
Great info right there thank you, I am always looking for different methods of suspension set up. My buddies ask me all the time how I can take my 1290 SA-R on single track rides in the deep loose sand. I simply say, Suspension set up. I have only been riding dirt for 3 years and suspension was probably the longest learning curve for me. Once I understood it, my riding got SO much more fun and better. Thank you for all the great content.
I keep geting back to this vid and doing all the adjustments on my T7.
Thank you!
Termonology
We never 'lower' our forks,
We RAISE or LOWER our head clamps over the forks.
But yes AR
you are theoretically spot on
Awesome, as always. Really thank you for sharing your expertise. It is useful every single time. I’m following your instructions and my riding experience has been improved. I’m more confident, and I enjoy it more. Thank you again.
Such a great explanation! I’ve always been hesitant to tweak my suspension components but this simplified explanation inspires confidence for sure! Thanks!
If you start by taking very good measurements, you should never have to fear messing it up.
*major note: don't mash your clickers in past the soft stop or out until they hard lock.* Just like a fuel screw, you can damage and/or lock the needle. I use 2 loose fingers on a screwdriver to increase the feel. (I feel like this should be said for any beginner suspension video).
Try 2 clicks at a time either direction and see if it improves things. For rear sag, use his rule of thumb then try 2mm at a time to finetune. Fork height is more sensitive, 1-2mm is a good increment for adjustments, with the entire happy range within +/- 3mm of that happy spot. (eg for sand, you chopper/raise the front/lower the forks in the triple, but only by 2-3mm from the normal happy spot).
Also, note that sag massively affects everything. Set your sag 1st, then everything else.
very good info Adam, many points made I had not considered and I appreciate you and your experience!
Great Vid mate. I followed your advice and its completely changed my handling for the better. Clear and simple. Thanks again.
Nailed it again 👏 👌 That video has just turned people's minds around in the right direction, I didn't know jack about suspension but I had a go on a couple day trip and WOW I have changed my bike T700 , Thanks so much Adam 🙏
That’s the first time I see a good explanation in layman language of making adjustments for proper bike dynamics. Thanks!
Thanks for the free bike upgrade. Followed your tips and changed my bike from wanting to kill me to cornering on a rail and almost eliminating dive when I roll off the throttle. Brilliant advice.
Thanks for all the handy tips. I am new to the bike scene, and I am taking on board all the info you are good enough to share with us all.
What an awesome video thank you I lowered my bike and the forks and had a shopping cart big thank you sir
I wrote this for a Facebook group a while ago. This is the methodology I used for my 890 adventure R.
My primary interest is riding trails/off-road, so I will focus on this topic only. I will spend no words on preload/sag since that seems to be obvious and well-understood.
To begin, I put the suspensions in the "standard offroad" settings. Then, I will pick a trail section filled with the most common obstacles I face. Riding the same section of the trail repeatedly at my normal speed, I will start fiddling with the settings. Below is my thinking. For each adjustment, I penned three sections: my understanding of the purpose, my intended outcome, and the methodology I plan to follow to adjust it.
Compression damping
Purpose: Controls how quickly the suspensions compress when hitting an obstacle. Increasing the damping makes the suspension feel stiffer.
Outcome: Use as much of the suspension travel as possible to provide better traction and a more plush ride without bottoming out.
Methodology: I will secure a cable tie to the fork and shock, place it against the seal, and then ride through the trail section. The position of the cable tie at the end will tell me how far the suspension ran through its stroke. I will adjust the damping to use as much of the stroke as possible, leaving myself a 10% safety buffer for unexpected, bigger obstacles.
Rebound damping
Purpose: Control how quickly the suspension extends following a compression.
Outcome: Make sure the suspension is ready to absorb multiple bumps in succession without bottoming out; push the wheel back against the ground quickly following a compression to maintain traction.
Methodology: I separate this into two tests, one with the cable tie and one with video. Given my relative lack of experience with the bike and suspensions, I don't want to rely entirely on how I think the bike "feels." I plan to repeat the two tests below against a section with larger, irregular whoops, and then against a corrugated or rocky section of the trail.
* Using the same cable tie on the suspension tubes, ensure that I can hit the consecutive bumps at speed while leaving the 10% safety buffer in the stroke.
* Using a GoPro at ground level and recording for slow motion, hit the same bumps and check the video to make sure the suspensions are not acting like pogo sticks and sending the bike in the air while rebounding.
This was a really useful video. Thanks for sharing these techniques to demystify the motorcycle set up.
This is the best explanation of suspension I have ever heard
Thanks Adam
I've looked for information explained Ike this for years and haven't been able to get the whole picture and been able to understand why ,Now I have. Thanks so much, well explained so bloody helpful. Top man.
great videos mate i have learnt a lot and its saving me money, thanks again and please keep them comming.
Thanks Adam, your informative videos are very much appreciated
simplest and most useful setup vid I've seen THANKYOU from a newbie!
Thank you Adam, this was helpful, clear, logical, concise, cheers mate
Best explanation of suspension I've seen. Awesome stuff mate.. learned heaps.
Was looking forward a lot to this video! Thought something like it would be coming.
This is great Adam! Some simple, straightforward tips I’ll be trying on my bike especially with the addition of luggage. 👍
That’s awesome Adam, thanks for sharing your experience mate 👍🏼
Amazing. Going to adjust these alien knobs for the first time, appreciate the confidence boost you offer.
The bit about bar position is certainly enlightening, ive never considered it that way, even though it makes total sense from a physics standpoint. That experience of what changes in setup will effect the bike in such a way, and explaining why it effects it is really invaluable. It takes a lot of riding and tinkering to gather that level of understanding.
Awesome Adam
So much valuable info, I've never understood how to adjust suspension, I'm gonna give that a go.
Pure gold! Thanks for sharing
Thank you from Vancouver Island. Love the way you explain things and teach. 🍻
Again with the gold, simple and well explained. Thx AR 🍻
Thanks for another amazing video, I am already practicing what you have taught in earlier videos, and this should be next on my to do list
Loved it mate, simple, laymans terms and straight to the point.
Excellent Adam, man I've lost count the number of times I've tried to explain these things to riders, I worked as a pit mechanic and I'm qualified in other mechanical fields and to me it makes sense, but to many average riders who are not mechanically inclined they waste lots of time and money going to suspension specialist's (which is not a bad thing, cos not everyone can understand or be bothered learning) but most things are so easily done at home or on the ride and it gives you that bond and understanding with the bike and a sense of achievement. And the same principles apply to all types of vehicles not just off-road or road bikes
Another huge component is that suspension directly affects breaking action and bike position also, and needs adjusting to certain types of terrain but a general setting can suit most conditions.. 👍😉🇦🇺
Hey Jet, I wish I was one of those riders around you 🙂 I would greatly appreciate a buddy who would teach me these technical things. Adam's simple direct way of explaining does give me courage to experiment on my own - but man! such learning is so much more efficient when someone shows you at the beginning.
Also, I am so glad with the brilliant way of wording this thing - the advantages of getting in touch with the machine itself.
"... and it gives you that bond and understanding with the bike and a sense of achievement." - I take this 😃
Best channel on the internet. Thanks man!
Going to try the handlebar trick, sounds functional and tempting.
Simple, understandable, clear. Best explanation yet!
Thank you Adam, you dumded it down perfectly for me, finally a setup video that I could understand. My front end is pretty well dialed in, forks basically flush and rebound and compression dialled in. But my rear end didn't lift even a mm, waaaay to much preload, my elbows weren't bent enough, I had my bar clamps all the way forward. Going out this weekend for a ride, let's see how she feels - I've packed some tools for some trail side adjustments. Thank you for your incredible videos. Take care from sunny South Africa.
Bloody good … thanks for the carefull explanation .. as a traveler and riding a mix of local farm roads to transcontinental trips over every sort and of terrain, it’s is always being a struggle communicating my frustrations with suspension
Appreciate the share mate👌
Good stuff mate, I'm starting to realise how little I know, I think I've been wingin' it for a long time. You're the thinking man's hoodlum. Loving ya vids
Excellent instruction! Love your passion for the sport! Heaps!
Thank you for your efforts, I really appreciate your clips and I'm always learning. Greetings from Germany, Markus
Thank you Adam!
Great video. I really like the basic explanation that makes it easier to understand as opposed to over complicating things.
Thank you Adam for the word of wisdome ,you have been there and done that ,very very helpfull info for me Thank you so much .
Thank you for explaining it in simple terms..
Practical and tactical...thanks Adam!
I had all these problems, and i am still working on ithem, thanks so much for understanding my T7 better :)
Awesome video! Easy to understand. Thank you!
By far the easiest to understand suspension video. I'm gonna give this a crack this weekend.
Cheers mate.
Thanks for keeping it simple for this st...d ;)
Helps me to get a good grasp of what's going on my new ride.
Great videos en very clear language.
Perfect video. When you say “ah yes, I can trust it” I can feel what you’re describing in the bike
Man this was the best, most practical straight ahead rider's method for setting these important things up I've come across yet! No pomp and measuring tapes... Feel and find out our bikes - it ain't rocket science (but requires your experience to simplify it so well so it doesn't feel like rocket science).
Such a great down to earth explanation that i feel i finally understand thanks heaps
Well, you nailed it again. I’ve been wondering how to sort all this out and along you come with this video. Couldn’t be any more timely or relevant.
Thanks again.
No problem mate, thanks for also supporting my channel as a member ... really appreciate it!
🙌 Brilliant explanation for the novice and expert. I'm sure most folks rarely get their machines dialed in properly.
Especially when luggage is factored in.
Cheers 🍻, G.
Excellent simple presentation. Good stuff.
Amazing info, thanks for sharing!
Awesome Video ! Thank you!