HOW-TO SUSPENSION WORKSHOP The preload of the spring adjusts the bal- ance of the motorcycle. The rebound damping can be adjusted on all shock absorbers from Touratech Suspension. The compression in the high and low speed range can be adjusted on shock absorbers with a piggyback reservoir. ADJUSTING THE SPRING PRELOAD AND DAMPING 4 Asphalt: with pillion passenger and luggage To keep the motorcycle in the right balance despite the greater weight, the preload of the shock absorber spring must be increased until the ratio between positive and nega- tive spring travel is reached again. The damping should be set a little firmer to prevent any annoying bouncing of the motorcycle. 4Spring preload: increase slightly at the front, more at the rear Compression damping: slightly firmer at the front, firmer at the rear Rebound damping: slightly firmer at the front, firmer at the rear (be careful not to tight- en too much, so that the shock absorber can still rebound quickly enough) 4 Off-road solo with luggage: The additional load has a particular effect on the rear end, so increase the preload there. To stop the rear swinging, the damping must also be set firmer. However, if you dampen the rebound damping too much, the shock absorber cannot rebound during a quick succession of impacts. As a result, the positive spring travel decreases more and more. 4Soft ground: Spring preload: increase slightly at the front, more at the rear Compression damping: slightly firmer at the front, firmer at the rear Rebound damping: slightly firmer at the front, firmer at the rear (be careful not to tighten too much, so that the shock absorber can still rebound quickly enough) 4 Hard ground: Spring preload: slightly increased at the front, more at the rear Compression damping: slightly softer at the front and rear Rebound damping: slightly softer at the front and rear ADJUSTING THE HEIGHT OF THE MOTORCYCLE 4 Determining the total spring travel Raise the motorcycle on the centre stand or assembly stand - the suspen- sion elements are fully extended. Measure the distance between a defined point on the motorcycle and the axle on both wheels. A common mistake is to choose the point on the vehicle vertically above the rear axle. Since the axle describes a circular arc movement when the swing arm is compressed, the ideal reference point is slightly in front of the vertical through the rear axle. 4Static sag Stand the motorcycle on both wheels. Again, measure the distance between the defined point and the axle. The motorcycle should compress the spring by about 10 percent of the total spring travel. 4 Dynamic sag Stand the motorcycle, fully fuelled and with a typical load (e.g. with rider, pillion passenger in rid- ing clothes, and luggage), on both wheels. Again, measure the distance between the defined point and the axle. The motorcycle should compress the spring by about 30 percent of the total spring travel. If this value deviates too much from the 30 percent despite pretensioning/relaxing the spring, a harder or softer spring must be fitted. 4 On the BMW boxers with telelever, it is hardly ever necessary to change the preload, as different loading condi- tions have little effect on the front suspension component. 29