First off, thanks to those who have helpful feedback. I've been reading and re-reading posts regarding sag, shocks, springs, etc. I have a new shock enroute (Progressive 465 - I couldn't pony up for the Cogent) and I have already installed Progressive front springs about a thousand miles ago.
More info:
Overall, what I am trying to get out of my bike is just a better feel. I've heard / read of so many speaking of a wobble / not planted / vague feeling, etc. And I can't rightly say that I am feeling the same. Best explanation from me would be that the front wheel has an overtly or exaggerated gyroscopic effect. It doesn't respond in a manner I'm used to. It enters a corner how it wants. In some instances, I've run wide in my lane - not the line I chose. So, at highway speed - going from a straight line into a sweeping corner doesn't always feel...fun. No wobble or anything, just not a 100% in control feeling. It's not inspiring. And it's been this "feel" since day one of ownership. Tires are in good shape - Conti Escape's running 30-32 psi front. Now, this is the first big bike I've owned with a 21" front tire. My first ADV style too. My motorcycle quiver is a Honda Blackbird, Yamaha FJ1100 and my Kawi '75 F11. I've put many more miles on other bikes but what I've experienced before is a bike exiting a corner weird (old Goldwing) - not entering. But..maybe it's me.
Oh, I've checked the steering as well - it's good. Lots of good posts here on how to check. Plucking eyelashes is the hardest part when checking.
I've read that many people that report these types of issues have panniers. I do as well. They haven't been loaded up heavily as I have been doing day rides - not excursions, but they are certainly there and do have weight as they are the Tusk Aluminum. How the bike is loaded from there is pretty naked. I'm nowhere in the range of the overlanders I've seen outfitted. I'm a 6' 205 lb. rider and pillion is 150ish, but it's seldom that I have pillion.
The question:
Front sag. I've read about it - use front brakes when taking the measurement, etc., but I haven't seen/read a proper "how to set it". I'm assuming the spacers are how you adjust - as that is the only variable on how things go together that I can come up with. If there is a good read on this that you've seen, to keep from it getting explained all over again, I'd happily follow a link to learn. What I've done to the bike is take the forks off and purge old fluid, filled the right amount of fluid (don't have that amount in memory but it was double checked) and put in the new Progressive springs from RMATV. I followed the Tim2Wheels videos on both the fluid and spring install. Okay, that was all more of a request than an actual question.
Rear sag seems pretty straight forward. Lots of answers out there regarding this. Currently, I am WAY too sprung on the rear. I followed some bad advice and put on a Top Gun 9.3 Spring when I did fronts - too much spring for solo use. Hence the new shock coming. When Pillion is on, I can flat foot and the bike rides pretty nice. My issue still exists.
So, I'm thinkin' my bikes "chi" is all out of whack and is very likely the cause of the "feeling" going into some corners. If I can pin down the front sag and know that I'm doing it right, I'll go from there. If there is anything else to check - I'm all ears. Or again, maybe it's just me.
This coming week I'll be riding the 3 Sisters route in Texas - so, plentiful on serious twisty roads. I'll have lots of miles with and without pillion. I'll have the ability to pull panniers off and ride as well. New spring will be installed by then so I hope to get the rear sag sorted. It'll be a good time to test.
Thanks again for the input.
More info:
Overall, what I am trying to get out of my bike is just a better feel. I've heard / read of so many speaking of a wobble / not planted / vague feeling, etc. And I can't rightly say that I am feeling the same. Best explanation from me would be that the front wheel has an overtly or exaggerated gyroscopic effect. It doesn't respond in a manner I'm used to. It enters a corner how it wants. In some instances, I've run wide in my lane - not the line I chose. So, at highway speed - going from a straight line into a sweeping corner doesn't always feel...fun. No wobble or anything, just not a 100% in control feeling. It's not inspiring. And it's been this "feel" since day one of ownership. Tires are in good shape - Conti Escape's running 30-32 psi front. Now, this is the first big bike I've owned with a 21" front tire. My first ADV style too. My motorcycle quiver is a Honda Blackbird, Yamaha FJ1100 and my Kawi '75 F11. I've put many more miles on other bikes but what I've experienced before is a bike exiting a corner weird (old Goldwing) - not entering. But..maybe it's me.
Oh, I've checked the steering as well - it's good. Lots of good posts here on how to check. Plucking eyelashes is the hardest part when checking.
I've read that many people that report these types of issues have panniers. I do as well. They haven't been loaded up heavily as I have been doing day rides - not excursions, but they are certainly there and do have weight as they are the Tusk Aluminum. How the bike is loaded from there is pretty naked. I'm nowhere in the range of the overlanders I've seen outfitted. I'm a 6' 205 lb. rider and pillion is 150ish, but it's seldom that I have pillion.
The question:
Front sag. I've read about it - use front brakes when taking the measurement, etc., but I haven't seen/read a proper "how to set it". I'm assuming the spacers are how you adjust - as that is the only variable on how things go together that I can come up with. If there is a good read on this that you've seen, to keep from it getting explained all over again, I'd happily follow a link to learn. What I've done to the bike is take the forks off and purge old fluid, filled the right amount of fluid (don't have that amount in memory but it was double checked) and put in the new Progressive springs from RMATV. I followed the Tim2Wheels videos on both the fluid and spring install. Okay, that was all more of a request than an actual question.
Rear sag seems pretty straight forward. Lots of answers out there regarding this. Currently, I am WAY too sprung on the rear. I followed some bad advice and put on a Top Gun 9.3 Spring when I did fronts - too much spring for solo use. Hence the new shock coming. When Pillion is on, I can flat foot and the bike rides pretty nice. My issue still exists.
So, I'm thinkin' my bikes "chi" is all out of whack and is very likely the cause of the "feeling" going into some corners. If I can pin down the front sag and know that I'm doing it right, I'll go from there. If there is anything else to check - I'm all ears. Or again, maybe it's just me.
This coming week I'll be riding the 3 Sisters route in Texas - so, plentiful on serious twisty roads. I'll have lots of miles with and without pillion. I'll have the ability to pull panniers off and ride as well. New spring will be installed by then so I hope to get the rear sag sorted. It'll be a good time to test.
Thanks again for the input.