Front suspension - how soft is it meant to be?

[FJTillDeath]

Okay, so I have an '85 1100 - one of the models known for not having the best front suspension. Now a racing buddy of mine who rides late model R1s recently told me my front end feels far too sloshy and weak and demonstrated to me by pushing the bars down then the front spring up then bogging down again. Its never occured to me as I have thought this to be "normal".

Is it normal? What could I do to make it less sloshy? I have read threads to do with fork oil and dampering but I dont want to assume things and then skrew everything up. I already set my back suspension a little stiffer, but havent tried with the dampener yet

[FJ111200]

It's all about personal prefference if you ask me.
I do all my riding with a pillion, but not loaded with gear, and have it set on the 2nd or medium setting, front and rear.
Try it on the various settings and see which you prefer.
The hardest settings seem too bouncy for me and the softest see's the suspension bottoming out.  So i've got a happy medium.
You're R1 riding friend probably likes to ride hard and fast and will probably need the harder settings.

[FJTillDeath]

This is why I need a manual! Second setting :-?

I cant see anywhere on my forks where t adjust settings. I took a look at the very top og the forks and there was a cap that says "programm suspension", after lifting that it doesnt look like anything set. I would like to say I hope I have stock forks. I am not sure if they are original as they were rebuilt/exchanged, but they are definitely FJ forks

[FJ111200]

Under that cap that says programme suspension there is a slotted bolt that can be turned with a large flat head screwdriver when it's pressed down upon.
There are only 3 settings, the hardest being when the bolt is turned fully clockwise, and softest is anti-clockwise. The settings are in slots and when you turn the bolt you can feel it riding over a cam-like cut-out in the cap.
I'll post you up a picture of one in a bit.

[FJTillDeath]

Thanks, sounds a lot easier, mine are probably set very low, but its nice to know I dont HAVE to rebuild the forks and put new oil in YET

[FJ111200]

The top shot shows the bolt and slot and the bottom shot the position on the adjuster.
Hope it helps. 

[FJTillDeath]

Yours looks a lot cleaner than mine.. I circled the part I think I am supposed to insert skrewdriver and turn. Am I right?

[FJ111200]

No no, insert the flat head screwdriver into the middle, there's a large slot. Clean the oil away and you'll see it better.

[FJTillDeath]

Oh yes I see from your picture. Now that I have the go ahead to clear out that oil I will> I was just concerned that I may have a problem with oil being their in the first place... Thanks for the help

I can see how it will click in place and wont have to worry about getting both sides very equal:)

[FJ111200]

Yeah, i think you have a problem with the oil being there, as it looks like the oil is getting past the o ring in the fork cap.

[FJTillDeath]

SHIT! not ANOTHER problem to sort out. God I give up:(

[Arnie]

Jesse,

Deal with all your other problems first.  Then you can start on this one. :-)

The 3 position adjustment varies the preload on the spring in your fork.  You want to have both forks with the same preload.  This will make your forks (a bit) harder or softer.

Then you have the damper setting to adjust  AND you can change your fork oil as well as the level of the fork oit to further change the damping and progression of the spring rate.

The more you learn, the more you realize you have to learn.

Cheers,
Arnie

[FJ111200]

   That's it mate, 25 year plus bikes don't look after themselves. I've also got a couple of XS1100's which are 33 years old now, and they were a pain, but once you get on top of everything it'll be a lot easier.  

[SlowOldGuy]

All of this is explained in the Owners Manual, which might be available for download on the Yamaha factory site.  If it is,  download it and READ IT!.  If not, then it's available for on-line read somewhere. Again, READ IT then start asking questions about what you don't understand.

Next, get a Service Manual which tells you how to work on something.  When you encounter a problem, read the appropriate section, THEN start asking questions about what you don't understand.

You need to put a little effort in learing how to fish, otherwise you won't learn squat.

DavidR.

[FJTillDeath]

@ David, I searched the internet sites for a big period of the day yesterday but as it seems my work server blocks all these sites and downloads. I had some luck in a guy saying he would convert everything into pdf for me and send it on a cd in the post but I must wait for him unfortunately, can't kick a gift horse in the mouse. Now I'm on my phone so my posts may be a little crappy. I opened up the cap of the forks to adjust as fj1200 had said, however when I use a skrewdriver and push the rod all the way down it won't allow me to turn it clockwise or anti clockwise. With it halfway in I can turn it millions of times in either dierection without change, same if the skrewdriver is just sitting in the slot. I know I need to get both manuals and I have tried believe me.