The guy I purchased the bike from was 6'3 210+/-, I'm 5'10 175. The bike seems slightly excessivly rough/not enough dampening/shock. The other bikes I've had I either had a shop set it up or I had a manual to help me step by step. Any suggestions/links? I'm looking to soften it up for a lighter rider for street use.

 

Try this:

Front preload: 11 turns back from maximum
Front rebound: 2 turns back from maximum
Front compression: 3 turns back from maximum

Rear preload: position 6 from minimum
Rear rebound: 2 turns back from maximum
Rear compression: 1 turn back from maximum

 

Thanks for the response. Unfortunately, I don't have a manual and my previous bike only had 1/2 these many adjustments. I'm not even sure 'where' to adjust it. 'Maximum' is tightened all the way 'down'[clockwise] right? It's been a couple years. I do all my own maint. so I'm sure I can figure it out with slight guidance.

 

Nvm, I dl'd the manual so I'll figure it out, thanks again. Now I need to figure out how to make this kickstand work better.

 

You should be find with the manual at hand - it's all pretty straight forward. Max means full hard setting, but is all explained in the book.

The settings I provided are not too different from the standard dettings described in the manual, but I find them better for road use.

Wot's the problem with the side stand?

 

It may be because this is my first true SS, but it seems like a light wind will knock it over. Parking in the same places I parked my yzf600r/bandit 1200, the kick stand won't even go down in some cases, as it hits the concrete before fully extended. I have to park my bikes outside and I fear a decent storm is going to literally knock it over. I read a couple guys saying their bikes fell over the first week they got it due to this, so I've been very careful.

 

Sounds a bit weird to me - not something I've experienced. Make sure you are not parking on a slight downhill gradient as this can cause the bike to roll forward and off the sidestand. Also, look out for adverse camber. It might pay to leave the bike in 1st gear for extra stability.

 

has the bike been lowered???

 

It was lowered at one time by the PO, but is supposedly not lowered now, I mean he had the links in his garage when I bought the bike. One thing is the rear tire is an odd style, must be the stunter's special or something. It's wide and FLAT. If driven through some gravel for instance, the bandit has a 2" wide 'contact patch', the 954 has like a 4" one due to the rear. I plan on getting a more handling based on as soon as I wear it out. Maybe I'll take some pics of the stand later just to make sure it's normal.

 

this all sounds a little bizarre to me!