TDM9 suspension
#1
Posted 19 March 2006 - 06:04 pm
Where do I start? Anyone got a suspension 101 to hand?
thanks in advance,
guy
v8guy; 2003 TDM900 with added bling: Nitron shock, Racetech fork internals, 17" front wheel, K&N filter, Fuel silencers, PC3, Renthal handle bar, Oxford hot hands, Polisport handguards, Scottoiler (kinda..), Baglux, Givi monorack + pannier rails
My TDM: http://www.gtv8.org/tdm/
Current: 2003 Yamaha TDM900, 2015 BMW R1200RS
Past: Honda CLR125, Honda CB500, Triumph Sprint Sport, Honda VFR750FS, Suzuki DRZ400SM, Triumph Speed Triple 955i, 2015 Honda VFR800X
"Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube" - HST
#2
Posted 19 March 2006 - 08:01 pm
#3
Posted 19 March 2006 - 11:54 pm
It's an 03 model.
After fiddling with the adjusters a little , I ended up with the following settings:
Up front I have preload at 7/8 (std 7), damping 4/4 (std 2) and at the rear I have rebound at 7/20 (std 7), compression 11/12 (std 11) and preload at 6/9 (std 5).
I weigh about 11 stone, and have found this setup to be very stable at speed on reasonably smooth roads, but a little harsh on London's bumpy back streets.
v8guy; 2003 TDM900 with added bling: Nitron shock, Racetech fork internals, 17" front wheel, K&N filter, Fuel silencers, PC3, Renthal handle bar, Oxford hot hands, Polisport handguards, Scottoiler (kinda..), Baglux, Givi monorack + pannier rails
My TDM: http://www.gtv8.org/tdm/
Current: 2003 Yamaha TDM900, 2015 BMW R1200RS
Past: Honda CLR125, Honda CB500, Triumph Sprint Sport, Honda VFR750FS, Suzuki DRZ400SM, Triumph Speed Triple 955i, 2015 Honda VFR800X
"Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube" - HST
#4
Posted 20 March 2006 - 02:15 am
1967 Yamaha TD1C 250, 2014 Kawasaki W800, 2011 Aprilia Tuono 1000 V4, 2020 Yamaha XSR900
"At the cutting edge of technophobia"
#5
Posted 20 March 2006 - 09:40 pm
Your settings look to be on the soft side, so you should have a reasonable ride. (I think, I could be wrong) the front damping only adjusts the rebound damping, so it shouldn't affect the slow speed ride much. A lot depends on what you expect, what your used to, etc. The magazine reviews lead you to think that the TDM has soft suspension, but its only relative to the sports bike that they prefer to ride.
If you bought the bike secondhand, then don't rule out the possibility that the fork oil has been changed for something a bit thicker than normal. That does severely affect the slow speed ride over bumps, more so than changing the damping. Found that out on my secondhand 03 TDM. One folk had red oil (like power steering oil or ATX oil) and the other had "normal" fork oil. So someone had been in there before me! Replaced both with synthetic SAE10 fork oil and the slow speed ride was miles better. Maybe not like a KTM but far better than most bikes. Isn't that why we ride TDMs, so we can ride over real roads without having our teeth shaken out?
#6
Posted 21 March 2006 - 11:31 am
If you bought the bike secondhand, then don't rule out the possibility that the fork oil has been changed for something a bit thicker than normal. That does severely affect the slow speed ride over bumps, more so than changing the damping. Found that out on my secondhand 03 TDM. One folk had red oil (like power steering oil or ATX oil) and the other had "normal" fork oil. So someone had been in there before me! Replaced both with synthetic SAE10 fork oil and the slow speed ride was miles better. Maybe not like a KTM but far better than most bikes. Isn't that why we ride TDMs, so we can ride over real roads without having our teeth shaken out?
#7
Posted 21 March 2006 - 12:14 pm
Hmm, you think so? Setup as described, it's much more taut than standard.
The TDM does have soft suspension, IMHO. I've come from a 95 VFR750, and find the TDM factory settings are way soft for the way I ride. The bike was entirely unmanagable on fast, twisty roads; bouncing all over the place.
This is a good point; I did buy it second hand.
I'd like to check this, but I'm not at all confident about taking the front end of the bike apart. Lack of facilities is my main problem, and also lack of experience in such matters.
Really what I want is to try and get the best from the available adjustments, and should that not satisfy hand it over to a competent mechanic to upgrade components where it is reasonable to do so.
I found this post regarding the front end, from yourself Alan:
http://www.carpe-tdm...opic.php?t=2546
and, reading this...
http://www.geocities...etech_page.html
... I realise that I'm not gonna attempt to do this myself.
Can anyone recommend a suspension specialist in the south east?
v8guy; 2003 TDM900 with added bling: Nitron shock, Racetech fork internals, 17" front wheel, K&N filter, Fuel silencers, PC3, Renthal handle bar, Oxford hot hands, Polisport handguards, Scottoiler (kinda..), Baglux, Givi monorack + pannier rails
My TDM: http://www.gtv8.org/tdm/
Current: 2003 Yamaha TDM900, 2015 BMW R1200RS
Past: Honda CLR125, Honda CB500, Triumph Sprint Sport, Honda VFR750FS, Suzuki DRZ400SM, Triumph Speed Triple 955i, 2015 Honda VFR800X
"Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube" - HST
#8
Posted 21 March 2006 - 08:10 pm
The TDM does have soft suspension, IMHO. I've come from a 95 VFR750, and find the TDM factory settings are way soft for the way I ride. The bike was entirely unmanagable on fast, twisty roads; bouncing all over the place.
This is a good point; I did buy it second hand.
I'd like to check this, but I'm not at all confident about taking the front end of the bike apart. Lack of facilities is my main problem, and also lack of experience in such matters.
Really what I want is to try and get the best from the available adjustments, and should that not satisfy hand it over to a competent mechanic to upgrade components where it is reasonable to do so.
I found this post regarding the front end, from yourself Alan:
http://www.carpe-tdm...opic.php?t=2546
and, reading this...
http://www.geocities...etech_page.html
... I realise that I'm not gonna attempt to do this myself.
Can anyone recommend a suspension specialist in the south east?
Just read that lot Vee......................
So..................with a TRX engine/gearbox, decent suspension on the front and the excellent fournales rear air spring..............there's no need to go for a 900............
bit embarrassing now that I have one - but I've done the same to it
1967 Yamaha TD1C 250, 2014 Kawasaki W800, 2011 Aprilia Tuono 1000 V4, 2020 Yamaha XSR900
"At the cutting edge of technophobia"
#9 Guest_Emmett_*
Posted 21 March 2006 - 08:14 pm
So..................with a TRX engine/gearbox, decent suspension on the front and the excellent fournales rear air spring..............there's no need to go for a 900............
bit embarrassing now that I have one - but I've done the same to it
I'm seriously considering the TRX enjun Idea, is it really worth it alan? I have a nexxus stainless exhaust, will I need to replace that if I go for the TRX enjun?
Anyone selling a good condition Trx enjun?
#10
Posted 21 March 2006 - 08:16 pm
Anyone selling a good condition Trx enjun?
nah yer zorst will fit, dunno what all the fuss is re; a TRX enjun as i thought the only difference was the gearbox ratios ??
spyball alarm/immob, bluespot brake calipers and Stainless hoses, Fournales air adjustable shock with Remote Resevoir, forks raised 10mm thru yokes, racetech linear fork springs in 15 wt oil, Kappa wingrack/luggage, heated grips, Kedo handguards, dual heat controller to power heated jacket liner and or pants!!, Stebel 136DB horn, K&N air filter, colour matched Baglux tank cover (magnetic tank bag modified to fit cover), osram +50% headloight bulbs, headlight protector,"NitramSpecial" parking loight, tail light indicators all running on LED's & incorporate "Lite Buddies", MK7 Scottoiler fitted, taller screen, 2-2 stainless steel CCC's, Devil stainless down pipes. MKI Renntec engine crash bars & sump guard.
engine changed july 2007 on a dyno run it made 79.1BHP / Torque 59.9Had a brief flirtation with a 1999 MKIIa but it blew an exaust valve on the M5 so was sold on to be repaired.
I loike tay and hang sangwiches !
www.kenhogantreeservices.co.uk
http://s33.photobuck...77/wickla/?sc=6
http://reg.imageshack.us/v_images.php
#11
Posted 22 March 2006 - 01:53 am
..................and what a nice difference they make - eh PK?
1967 Yamaha TD1C 250, 2014 Kawasaki W800, 2011 Aprilia Tuono 1000 V4, 2020 Yamaha XSR900
"At the cutting edge of technophobia"
#12
Posted 22 March 2006 - 02:19 am
True nuff.
If you want to mark your location on the Carpe map: http://www.carpe-tdm...opic.php?t=5117
Doin valve clearances? Use dappers valve shim exchange program and the job will be carroty - Free (other than you postin me yer shims) for sporting members.
Active member of TPLQHCSRSFC and TSRMCMAS (even though a year off) and avid fan of PM not sent.
#13
Posted 23 March 2006 - 02:19 am
so you are saying it's worth all that hassle to swap enjuns over just to experience some different cog ratios GAL ffs
spyball alarm/immob, bluespot brake calipers and Stainless hoses, Fournales air adjustable shock with Remote Resevoir, forks raised 10mm thru yokes, racetech linear fork springs in 15 wt oil, Kappa wingrack/luggage, heated grips, Kedo handguards, dual heat controller to power heated jacket liner and or pants!!, Stebel 136DB horn, K&N air filter, colour matched Baglux tank cover (magnetic tank bag modified to fit cover), osram +50% headloight bulbs, headlight protector,"NitramSpecial" parking loight, tail light indicators all running on LED's & incorporate "Lite Buddies", MK7 Scottoiler fitted, taller screen, 2-2 stainless steel CCC's, Devil stainless down pipes. MKI Renntec engine crash bars & sump guard.
engine changed july 2007 on a dyno run it made 79.1BHP / Torque 59.9Had a brief flirtation with a 1999 MKIIa but it blew an exaust valve on the M5 so was sold on to be repaired.
I loike tay and hang sangwiches !
www.kenhogantreeservices.co.uk
http://s33.photobuck...77/wickla/?sc=6
http://reg.imageshack.us/v_images.php
#14
Posted 23 March 2006 - 02:48 am
Nope, I'm saying it makes a nice and noticeable difference.
If you want to mark your location on the Carpe map: http://www.carpe-tdm...opic.php?t=5117
Doin valve clearances? Use dappers valve shim exchange program and the job will be carroty - Free (other than you postin me yer shims) for sporting members.
Active member of TPLQHCSRSFC and TSRMCMAS (even though a year off) and avid fan of PM not sent.
#15
Posted 23 March 2006 - 02:50 am
spyball alarm/immob, bluespot brake calipers and Stainless hoses, Fournales air adjustable shock with Remote Resevoir, forks raised 10mm thru yokes, racetech linear fork springs in 15 wt oil, Kappa wingrack/luggage, heated grips, Kedo handguards, dual heat controller to power heated jacket liner and or pants!!, Stebel 136DB horn, K&N air filter, colour matched Baglux tank cover (magnetic tank bag modified to fit cover), osram +50% headloight bulbs, headlight protector,"NitramSpecial" parking loight, tail light indicators all running on LED's & incorporate "Lite Buddies", MK7 Scottoiler fitted, taller screen, 2-2 stainless steel CCC's, Devil stainless down pipes. MKI Renntec engine crash bars & sump guard.
engine changed july 2007 on a dyno run it made 79.1BHP / Torque 59.9Had a brief flirtation with a 1999 MKIIa but it blew an exaust valve on the M5 so was sold on to be repaired.
I loike tay and hang sangwiches !
www.kenhogantreeservices.co.uk
http://s33.photobuck...77/wickla/?sc=6
http://reg.imageshack.us/v_images.php
#16
Posted 23 March 2006 - 03:03 am
Have you got mix-a-ma-quotesis?
If you want to mark your location on the Carpe map: http://www.carpe-tdm...opic.php?t=5117
Doin valve clearances? Use dappers valve shim exchange program and the job will be carroty - Free (other than you postin me yer shims) for sporting members.
Active member of TPLQHCSRSFC and TSRMCMAS (even though a year off) and avid fan of PM not sent.
#17
Posted 23 March 2006 - 03:09 am
then again, Emmett you still have both bikes ?? i assume your thinking of putting a TRX injun into the hi-miler, be sweet if ya cud do them mods and fit the 900 barrells and pistons while yer at it. havie to admit i have never tried a TRX but then again im happy with my TDM's box..........until i try a TRX that is
Edited by wicklamulla, 23 March 2006 - 05:44 pm.
spyball alarm/immob, bluespot brake calipers and Stainless hoses, Fournales air adjustable shock with Remote Resevoir, forks raised 10mm thru yokes, racetech linear fork springs in 15 wt oil, Kappa wingrack/luggage, heated grips, Kedo handguards, dual heat controller to power heated jacket liner and or pants!!, Stebel 136DB horn, K&N air filter, colour matched Baglux tank cover (magnetic tank bag modified to fit cover), osram +50% headloight bulbs, headlight protector,"NitramSpecial" parking loight, tail light indicators all running on LED's & incorporate "Lite Buddies", MK7 Scottoiler fitted, taller screen, 2-2 stainless steel CCC's, Devil stainless down pipes. MKI Renntec engine crash bars & sump guard.
engine changed july 2007 on a dyno run it made 79.1BHP / Torque 59.9Had a brief flirtation with a 1999 MKIIa but it blew an exaust valve on the M5 so was sold on to be repaired.
I loike tay and hang sangwiches !
www.kenhogantreeservices.co.uk
http://s33.photobuck...77/wickla/?sc=6
http://reg.imageshack.us/v_images.php
#18
Posted 30 May 2006 - 03:19 pm
Where do I start? Anyone got a suspension 101 to hand?
thanks in advance,
guy
#19
Posted 30 May 2006 - 07:22 pm
It's slightly less comfortable, but at least the bike doesn't "dance" anymore after hitting a speed bump or those awfull belgian concrete plate roads with seems every 3 meters...
Only problem I have now is that the bike has a tendency to understeer, especially in a succesion of short sharp turns.
Anyone got suggestions on how to fix this? Perhaps setting rebound damping a bit lighter will help??
Yamaha XT660Z Ténéré '08 + Yamaha TRX850 '97
I'll let go of my throttle when they pry it from my cold, dead hands...
#20
Posted 30 May 2006 - 08:35 pm
It's slightly less comfortable, but at least the bike doesn't "dance" anymore after hitting a speed bump or those awfull belgian concrete plate roads with seems every 3 meters...
Only problem I have now is that the bike has a tendency to understeer, especially in a succesion of short sharp turns.
Anyone got suggestions on how to fix this? Perhaps setting rebound damping a bit lighter will help??
You could try raising the forks 10mm through the yolks DK
1967 Yamaha TD1C 250, 2014 Kawasaki W800, 2011 Aprilia Tuono 1000 V4, 2020 Yamaha XSR900
"At the cutting edge of technophobia"
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