RX4 Suspension Tuning

Bob Kelly · 05-25-2022, 08:39 AM

I went for another ride today, about 45min worth is all and I topped off the gas tank ( this time with premium) and we'll see if the bike runs any better ( I doubt it but it's worth a try LOL)
I do NOT like the high seat height that the short stroke is forcing me to use
I lowered the pre-load as much as i dare any more and I'll be bottoming out the shock on big bumps... and the seat height is still 32" ! even with my boots on I am only touching the ground with the balls of my feet.... not by any means flat footed. I did have a very frustrating time of it though, after a pleasant ride I came to a stop sign and promptly fell over ! it's simply too darn tall !
a few things caused the fall over hitting the front brake while I was still moving causing the weight to shift to the right and my right foot still on the back brake
and I wasn't fast enough getting my foot down to stop it's descent to the ground
... aggravating, frustrating and embarrassing all at the same time and gas gushing out all over the place ! ....
I lifted that heavy beast back up but it was all I could do and I had to stand there holding the bike for a few minutes to catch my breath !
finally I put the kick stand down and then walked around and got on the other side.... a full tank of gas makes this bike very top heavy
and the gas cap will shut and lock WITHOUT being down all the way !
( lesson learned, the cap must be flush with the rest of it , not up 1/16")
so put on the gas cap lock it and all that and THEN PRESS DOWN TILL YOU HEAR A CLICK !!!! and the cap will stay at the flush position !
....
but as far as a top heavy too tall bike goes I am not very happy right now

it has got to be lower for me to Ride that heavy beast ! so I am gathering up the material I need to make a lowering link . I plan to replace the cast aluminum forward dog bone/ modified horseshoe link that connects to the frame behind the engine and it connects to the link that the shock does
making it longer will lower the bikes rear alot.... I am thinking of making it 1.5" longer than the stock one ...I don't know if that is too much or too little but I guess I will find out !
....
I am very glad the RX4 has those nice crash bars on the front as it has save me 2 times now from busted plastic ! ...
...
I did get the RX4 up to 80 mph on the freeway or so the Dash said so I leveled off at 75 I thought ! LOL but it was down hill...
temp was up to the last bar as usual ( stupid temp gauge !) but it did ride much better that previous rides.... even on the rough roads it wasn't near as bad as it had been....
I have 151 miles on the clock now and I'm probably not going to ride it again till I make it lower, I am through trying to ride a bike that is too tall for me.... too tall and too heavy is a bad combination !
it's no fun to have to worry about every stop !
....

later !
Bob.......

05-25-2022, 08:39 AM	#31
Bob Kelly Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Weed, California. Posts: 271	I went for another ride today, about 45min worth is all and I topped off the gas tank ( this time with premium) and we'll see if the bike runs any better ( I doubt it but it's worth a try LOL) I do NOT like the high seat height that the short stroke is forcing me to use I lowered the pre-load as much as i dare any more and I'll be bottoming out the shock on big bumps... and the seat height is still 32" ! even with my boots on I am only touching the ground with the balls of my feet.... not by any means flat footed. I did have a very frustrating time of it though, after a pleasant ride I came to a stop sign and promptly fell over ! it's simply too darn tall ! a few things caused the fall over hitting the front brake while I was still moving causing the weight to shift to the right and my right foot still on the back brake and I wasn't fast enough getting my foot down to stop it's descent to the ground ... aggravating, frustrating and embarrassing all at the same time and gas gushing out all over the place ! .... I lifted that heavy beast back up but it was all I could do and I had to stand there holding the bike for a few minutes to catch my breath ! finally I put the kick stand down and then walked around and got on the other side.... a full tank of gas makes this bike very top heavy and the gas cap will shut and lock WITHOUT being down all the way ! ( lesson learned, the cap must be flush with the rest of it , not up 1/16") so put on the gas cap lock it and all that and THEN PRESS DOWN TILL YOU HEAR A CLICK !!!! and the cap will stay at the flush position ! .... but as far as a top heavy too tall bike goes I am not very happy right now it has got to be lower for me to Ride that heavy beast ! so I am gathering up the material I need to make a lowering link . I plan to replace the cast aluminum forward dog bone/ modified horseshoe link that connects to the frame behind the engine and it connects to the link that the shock does making it longer will lower the bikes rear alot.... I am thinking of making it 1.5" longer than the stock one ...I don't know if that is too much or too little but I guess I will find out ! .... I am very glad the RX4 has those nice crash bars on the front as it has save me 2 times now from busted plastic ! ... ... I did get the RX4 up to 80 mph on the freeway or so the Dash said so I leveled off at 75 I thought ! LOL but it was down hill... temp was up to the last bar as usual ( stupid temp gauge !) but it did ride much better that previous rides.... even on the rough roads it wasn't near as bad as it had been.... I have 151 miles on the clock now and I'm probably not going to ride it again till I make it lower, I am through trying to ride a bike that is too tall for me.... too tall and too heavy is a bad combination ! it's no fun to have to worry about every stop ! .... later ! Bob....... __________________ It's too late when you've gone too far !
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