Suspension Balance; Balance Test; Balancing Tips - Suzuki RM250 Owner's Service Manual

MACHINE TUNING 4-14
SYMPTON SECTION ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE
• Jump
1 . Adjust the compression damping to a hard-
• Large bump
er
(H)
setting. (See note below.)
Bottoms
2. Adjust the sag to a smaller measurement
(closer to 95 mm).
3. Repla ce the spring w ith an optional stiffer
one.
• Medium to large
1. Adjust the rebound damping to a harder (H)
bumps
setting. (See note below .)
Kicks up
• Small to medium
2. Adjust the sag to a larger measurement
bumps
(closer to 105 mm).
• Decelerating or
3. Replace th e spring wi th an optional softer
braking
one.
0
Jump 1. Adjust the compression damping to a softer
0
Large bump (S) setting. (See note below .)
Hits bu m ps too
• Se ries of medium
2. Adjust the sag to a la rger measu rement
harshly
bumps
(closer to 105 mm).
3. Replace the spring with an optional softer
one .
Feels harsh and t ends
• Series of medium
1. Adjust the rebound damping to a soher (S )
bumps
setting. (See note below .)
to sink
• Series of small bumps
Feels too soft and
• Series of medium
1 . Adjust the rebound damping to a harder (H)
unstable
bumps
setting.
• Series of small bumps
• Accele rating
1. Adjust the compression and rebound damp-
• Series of small
ing to a softer setting, each at a t ime alter-
bumps
natively until the optimum settings are
Provides poor traction
obtained .
2. Replace the sp ring with an optional soher
one.
NOTE: When adjusting the damping setting, attempt turning the adjuster 1 to 2 click stops at
a
time for each adjustment.
SUSPENSION BALANCE
Balancing th e front to rear suspension properly is the most c riti cal adjustment for sus pension perfor-
mance. If the front forks are adjusted hard er than su spension, such as changing to heavier front
frok oil , stiffer comp ression and rebound setting , air pressure build up in the forks and so on, the
front forks will co ll apse less on bumps. This tran sfers more of the motorcyce and rider weight to
possibly bottom , w here as it felt f ine before the front fork adjustment was mad e.
Balance Test
Stand next to the motorcycle on level ground. Place one f oot on the foot rest closest to you. Sharply
push down . The front and rear suspensions shou ld both collapse equa lly.
Balancing Tips
• Check for air pressure build-up in front forks . Heat and altitude wi ll increase air pressure in the
front forks.
• A lways stay with in sag measurement limits, 95 - 105 mm (3.7- 4 .1 in), when u sing spring pre -
set to st iffen or soften rea r suspension. If this is not possible, th e next stiffer or softer accessory
sp ring is needed.
• The rear shock compression damping can be used to fine tune suspension balance and is easy
to access.