GAS GAS EC 125 - 2003 Service Manual page 44

2. SUSPENSION TUNING
No area of machine adjustment is more critical than proper suspension
tuning. An improperly tuned suspension will keep even the best rider
from attaining the full benefit of his machine´s ability. Match the
suspension to the rider and
- If the machine is new, break-in the suspension with at least one
hour of riding before making any setting evaluations or changes.
- The three major factors which must be considered in suspension
tuning are Rider weight, rider hability, and track conditions. Additional
influences includE the rider´s style and positioning on the machine.
- If you have a problem, test by changing your riding posture or
position so that the cause of the problem can be deduced.
- It is a wise practice to adjust suspension settings to suit the rider´s
strong points. If you are fast through the corners, adjust the suspension
to allow fast cornering.
- Make setting changes in small increments; a little bit goes a long
way, and it is very easy to overadjust a setting.
- The front and rear suspension should be balanced; when one is
changed, the other might need to be changed similarly.
- When evaluating suspension performance the rider must make
every effort to ride consistently and recognize the effects of his input;
such things as changes in rider position and increasing fatigue may
lead to incorrect judgments about neceessary setting adjustments.
- When the proper settings have been determined for a particular
track, they should be written down for reference when returning to
that track.
the course conditions.
EC 2003 -
Front fork
The fork oil level in the fork tube is adjustable. A change in the fork
oil level will not affect the spring force much at the top of fork travel,
but it will have a great effect at the bottom:
- When the oil level is raised:
The air spring effect becomes more progressive, and the front fork
action feels ¨harder¨in the later stage of travel, near the bottom.
- When the oil level is lowered:
The aire spring is less progressive, and the front fork does not
become as ¨hard¨ in the later stage of travel.
- Changing the fork oil level works effectively at the end of fork travel.
If fork bottoming is experienced, raise fork fork oil level in 10 mm
increments. This will change the secondary spring rate.
Oil level adjustment
Adjust the front fork oil level (see the Oil Level Adjustment of the
Front Fork section in the Maintenance and adjustment chapter).
Weight
Fork stroke
106
-
Increase level
Standard oil
level
Decrease level
Later stage
of travel