Write off the crash in the three...everybody crashes there at least once.
I don't screw with suspension on a vintage bike unless it behaving so badly that the problem is obvious. Good spots in my opinion to determine the limits of your suspension at NHIS are 1: Turn three, if under hard braking the front compresses too much and you lose feel, it feels wooden, very very harsh over the bumps...or you crash there a lot then it may be time to put in some stiffer springs or a spacer.
2: In six...if the back squats very low at the apex, shit drags badly, or you feel it moving around...might want to crank up the preload a bit.
And check the static sag, I'm not a fanatic about this but I like to have about 3/4" of sag sitting on the bike. The suspension doesn't just have to follow bumps up...it's got the follow dips down.
Typically I think gearing is more important for a novice (I don't know if you are or not), it's doubtful a novice will be riding the suspension even on a vintage bike past it's limits unless it's really screwed up to begin with.
JohnnyB
I don't screw with suspension on a vintage bike unless it behaving so badly that the problem is obvious. Good spots in my opinion to determine the limits of your suspension at NHIS are 1: Turn three, if under hard braking the front compresses too much and you lose feel, it feels wooden, very very harsh over the bumps...or you crash there a lot then it may be time to put in some stiffer springs or a spacer.
2: In six...if the back squats very low at the apex, shit drags badly, or you feel it moving around...might want to crank up the preload a bit.
And check the static sag, I'm not a fanatic about this but I like to have about 3/4" of sag sitting on the bike. The suspension doesn't just have to follow bumps up...it's got the follow dips down.
Typically I think gearing is more important for a novice (I don't know if you are or not), it's doubtful a novice will be riding the suspension even on a vintage bike past it's limits unless it's really screwed up to begin with.
JohnnyB
