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Air suspension setting

17K views 43 replies 25 participants last post by  biggersm 
#1 ·
I have a 2008 - what do you put your air settings to for riding alone and when riding 2 up??

Is there safety involved, or is it just comfort??

I weigh 210 lbs and wife probably close to same....(better be careful...she might beat me up!!! lol)

Thanks

Medman
 
#2 ·
When you say air suspension setting I assume you mean the rear suspension adjustment that you control with a switch on your panel. That adjustment is hydraulic and adjusts the rear height. When I ride solo I adjust it so that my heel can touch the ground when I am on the bike at a standstill. When my wife is on the bike with me I do the same adjustment by increasing the adjustment. When I ride in the mountains I also raise it up some to keep from scrapping pegs.
 
#3 ·
Air assist suspension has not been available since 2000.
 
#4 ·
Adjust it to whatever feels comfortable to you. There are no real safety concerns. I run mine at 5-10 for 1up riding and 15-20 for 2up or spirited riding in the twisties, but these may not apply to you. I'm a bit of a "Big Boy" at 6'5" and well north of 300lbs. I also run a full Traxxion suspension upgrade.

As mentioned, unlike prior Goldwing models, the GL1800 is a hydraulic adjustment system that changes the pre-load on the rear spring, no air pressure involved.

There are some issues with the hydraulic reservoir being low on fluid which will change when the adjustment actually starts to change the suspension setting. Search the website for more info on determining if your bike has a problem (minor problem if it is there) and how to correct it.
 
#5 ·
Yes, sorry...I guess it is hydraulic...yup...the 2 memory buttons on the left panel...

Okay...I have it set to around 10 with just me, and 15 with the two of us, so guess like you guys say, it is whatever is comfortable...I was just wondering if it made safety issues on corners, but I take it it is not a problem....

Thanks!

Medman
 
#6 ·
I solo at 7 lbs but my wight is 185. When I ride 2up 185 + 140 I ride on 15. I also ride at 15 riding fully loaded solo. In your case, your combined weight is over max carry capaity which is 410 lbs, so max presure in the shock is recomended. Remember, the 410 lbs, includes poeple weight, luggage, and oil, gas, coolant.
 
#9 ·
It is a preload setting, not a height adjustment.
If 25 rides the best for you solo, imagine what 30 or 35 would do?
What it's really telling you, at 25 solo, is that your springs are not stiff enough and are sagging.
Safety is not a concern unless you are bottoming out. Or if the GL had good springs, you could possibly top out at too high a setting.

What this was actually designed to do, would be to keep the, "ride height" at the correct spot on the linear travel of the shock. Ideally, zero solo, and just under 25 at max weight.
But it seems that about 99% or more have no idea how to, or the desire to operate it correctly.
No biggie. Like I said, not really a safety issue unless you are using up one side or the other of your suspension travel. Hitting one end or the other IS a safety issue.
 
#10 ·
LIKE SOME HAVE INDICATED THIS IS HYDRAULIC & NOT AN AIR SEttING.
I learned that on many of the older 1800's you need to run it down to zero & then go up till you hear the motor start to labor. Mine doesn't start till #9 so anything less means no actual assist in suspension. Any of us that still have stock suspension need to keep this in mind.
 
#12 ·
LIKE SOME HAVE INDICATED THIS IS HYDRAULIC & NOT AN AIR SEttING.
I learned that on many of the older 1800's you need to run it down to zero & then go up till you hear the motor start to labor. Mine doesn't start till #9 so anything less means no actual assist in suspension. Any of us that still have stock suspension need to keep this in mind.
Do you know that you can fix that pretty easily?
Fred H. 's entertainment videos can show you how it can be done.
 
#13 ·
It is a preload setting, not a height adjustment.
If 25 rides the best for you solo, imagine what 30 or 35 would do?
What it's really telling you, at 25 solo, is that your springs are not stiff enough and are sagging.
Safety is not a concern unless you are bottoming out. Or if the GL had good springs, you could possibly top out at too high a setting.

What this was actually designed to do, would be to keep the, "ride height" at the correct spot on the linear travel of the shock. Ideally, zero solo, and just under 25 at max weight.
But it seems that about 99% or more have no idea how to, or the desire to operate it correctly.
No biggie. Like I said, not really a safety issue unless you are using up one side or the other of your suspension travel. Hitting one end or the other IS a safety issue.
Disagree! Someone far smarter than me (Tom Finch) has an in depth explanation of the rear suspension system on this sight. It blew away everything I thought was correct for preload, which was many of the things you stated. while many may be true for some suspensions, they are not true for the very unique design of the Wing rear suspension.
After reading this experts dissertation, I upped my preload to the max available, 25 (won't go to 30 or 35) and never told my wife.
On our next ride, after only a few miles, wife asked what I had changed in the suspension as it seemed to smooth out the bumps and dips better than it ever had!
There's less than 20k on the bike so, nothings wore out or sagging yet.
Also, the preload does change the height of the bike. On a 0 setting, my Pit Bull jack will not slide under the bike with it on the side stand.
On the max setting of 25 the jack slides easily all the way across the bike!
Also, there is only one rear spring on an 1800 Wing and it's the one used for the preload setting.
I believe I was confusing a preload set up w/air shocks. And I still don't understand why a max pre-load setting would feel "better" than the 0 solo and 10 2up I was using!!!????
 
#14 ·
Oh boy,
See what you do sometimes Mr. Finch?
I am not going to educate this man. But if you had any reputability, you will PM him.
Thank you.
 
#15 ·
.....And I still don't understand why a max pre-load setting would feel "better" than the 0 solo and 10 2up I was using!!!????
The reason it rides and feels better at a higher preload setting is because when you have the preload at 0, the bike is squating too much when you first sit on the bike (this indicates too much initial susppension sag) and this puts the rear shock ProLever arm in a very high progressive rate area of the linkage system. This produces an "effective" stiffer spring rate for the bike to work against when the susppension just begins to collapse (as when you sit on it). Operating the system at a higher preload number raises the rear of the bike and this makes the ProLever arm operate in the non-progressive (or less progressive) rate area of the linkage system thereby giving a softer feel initially when the suspension just begins to start moving down after a bump. As the bike squats and the susppension moves further down, as a result of the force from a bump, the progressive rate design of the ProLever "effectively" increases the springs rate to offer more resistance as the rear end continues to squat lower and lower as it is compressed to prevent shock bottoming. Therefore, in order to get a reasonably soft ride over small bumps, it's very important to have the correct amount of initial susppension sag set. And by correct, I mean not too much initial sag. Too much initial sag (as when you have it set at 0 preload) can cause the "feeling" of a "too stiff" spring.
 
#16 ·
The above post is correct.

However, the key fact is that the OEM rear spring is WAAAAY too soft and will compress so much with the average rider solo that you have to run it up to 25 to get the sag near the nominal ~30% that provides the best ride. With a heavy rider and/or a passenger even the 25 setting will have more than 30% sag.

Thus - the net is all stock GL1800s will provide the best ride at 25.

Also - "preload" adjusters and ride height adjusters are the same thing. It is "preload" when the suspension is topped out as it is on the center stand (or when airborne :>) and it is "ride height" when the tires are on the ground.
 
#17 ·
The above post is correct.
However, the key fact is that the OEM rear spring is WAAAAY too soft and will compress so much with the average rider solo that you have to run it up to 25 to get the sag near the nominal ~30% that provides the best ride. With a heavy rider and/or a passenger even the 25 setting will have more than 30% sag.

Anyone know what the OEM spring rate is? I thought it was around 800 lbs/in.
 
#20 ·
I upped mine from 11 which was where it was at when I bought it last week to 15 to do 2-up (about 500 lbs.) with my wife.
Just found this thread and I am going to try 25 today solo.
 
#21 ·
Notes from my bike log...............

8-21-10 7645 Miles Rear Shock Pre-Load Check
The rear shock preload adjuster pump mechanism was checked to make sure it’s working as it should which will allow it to produce the full range (25 index marks) of preload adjustment. It is working as designed. As designed, the pump begins to labor (by evidence of a sound change of the pump motor) and begins increasing spring preload at the #1 instrument meter/indicator setting. The seat elevation begins to raise at #6 setting with me on the bike, off of the center stand. Riding at any setting less than 20 is not enough preload. Setting 15 or less produces too much sag and a harsh ride over the section of test road. Setting 20 is adequate for solo riding but it needs to go up to 25 for two up riding. Even with the max preload of 25, the spring system is not the correct rate for me 185 lbs and passenger of 120 lbs and extra gear. This indicates the OEM spring is too soft. Traxxion will no doubt increase spring rate when I consult with them about the Full Monty conversion.
 
#22 ·
I believe the OEM spring is 900 lbs. You can get a BIG improvement just by changing the rear and front springs (which have the same problems as the rear) to stiffer ones and disabling the anti-dive. This costs ~ $250 if you do it yourself and will give you the majority of the gains from the full Monty for 10% of the $.

Traxxion used to give you 100% trade in on the springs if you later get the full fork and shock upgrades. Don't know if this is still in place?
 
#24 ·


Halarious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :lol: :lol: :lol: :thumbup: :thumbup:
I almost pissed on myself twice!!!!!! :eek:4:
I can't believe that guy did that bit with a striaght face.

And yes........the government has bought may of them with your money.
 
#25 ·
Sorry to dredge this old thread up but it's the most relevant I've found so far.
I recently bought a 2003 GL1800 and struggling with a few issues (ie learning to ride again after not riding for over 3 decades) and something I've noticed is my bike takes bumps pretty hard and sounds like the suspension is bottoming out (it only has 42K miles on it).
I was delighted to find out there is an adjustment for the suspension but according to the manual I need to get it on the center stand.
My wife and I couldn't do that together (we're both old and I have arthiritus)...my question is shouldn't I hear something happen (even if it doesn't adjust properly with it not being on center stand) when I push the up/down button?
Thanks very much,
Randy
 
#26 ·
Sorry to dredge this old thread up but it's the most relevant I've found so far.
I recently bought a 2003 GL1800 and struggling with a few issues (ie learning to ride again after not riding for over 3 decades) and something I've noticed is my bike takes bumps pretty hard and sounds like the suspension is bottoming out (it only has 42K miles on it).
I was delighted to find out there is an adjustment for the suspension but according to the manual I need to get it on the center stand.
My wife and I couldn't do that together (we're both old and I have arthiritus)...my question is shouldn't I hear something happen (even if it doesn't adjust properly with it not being on center stand) when I push the up/down button?
Thanks very much,
Randy
You can put it on the centerstand more easily by driving the rear wheel onto a piece of 3/4" plywood first.
 
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