2022 Triumph Rocket3 Gt

[Kurt88]

@Nashvegas has gone aftermarket on rear shock.....and he's happy with choice...

Well I must be missing something here 'cos When I bought my '22 GT last year with 2000 miles, it had never been altered from stock settings. It was terrible, and nearly shook my fillings out. It was the most uncomfortable ride I'd ever had the misfortune to take.

I wound the rear shock right out, and adjusted the front both sides to soft - and started there. I went out for a ride like that with 'er indoors on the back, hit a pot-hole I couldn't avoid, apologised to Mrs W about that and she replied, "What Pot-Hole?" I've left the rear as is ever since, stiffened up both front a just a bit, and we're good to go. Even getting it on , it handles so much better, and is so much more comfortable - with tyre pressures at 38/42

Appreciate that ! So when you say wound out rear is that preload ? As meaning all out ? Could you let me know your remaining settings matie Comp / rebound front and rear please, I'll give it a try, quotes for replacement rear shock are up there so trying to avoid Cheers Kurt.

 

[atomsplitter]

The suspension from the factory isn't set for your weight. You'll have to adjust the preload up until you sitting on the bike compresses the rear spring maybe 25mm or (more or less). That's your "static sag" setting. I reduced my compression damping all the way and only a couple turns in on rebound. That put it in the sweet spot for my lard butt. Fiddle your adjusters and see how the ride quality changes. You'll eventually hit the right combo.

 

[Kurt88]

The suspension from the factory isn't set for your weight. You'll have to adjust the preload up until you sitting on the bike compresses the rear spring maybe 25mm or (more or less). That's your "static sag" setting. I reduced my compression damping all the way and only a couple turns in on rebound. That put it in the sweet spot for my lard butt. Fiddle your adjusters and see how the ride quality changes. You'll eventually hit the right combo.

Cheers Matie yeah I hear ya I've played around quite a bit I'll have another look at that I'm 110kg probably kitted up preload all out then 14 turns in seems to be were it stops smashing through the spring, or the sweetest spot I've found so far but I'll check that static setting again Compression clicks are a joke like 3 turns all out from in so not a lot of adjustment available.

 

[Kurt88]

Cheers Matie yeah I hear ya I've played around quite a bit I'll have another look at that I'm 110kg probably kitted up preload all out then 14 turns in seems to be were it stops smashing through the spring, or the sweetest spot I've found so far but I'll check that static setting again Compression clicks are a joke like 3 turns all out from in so not a lot of adjustment available.

Just measured that Static sag yep sitting on 25mm without full gear so probably 22mm kitted up I'll wind the pre load in another 2 clicks to tighten her up a bit more how many turns from all in to out is your rear compression? 2 turns out ? 3 is max (I'm assuming all in is harder/firmer) rebound? from all in (out is fast here so I'm 1 out from all in, so she doesn't pogo back on me)

 

[Ward]

At 5’9” 185 lbs and probably 200 lbs with my riding gear on it took me a few years to find the right setting on my 2020 GT. The front settings I locked in early. The rear settings gave me fits. Most members have the rear pre load set high up. It’s like riding a skateboard over large gravel to me. I have my rear pre load set at 1 click out for all riding with loaded Panniers and at zero (factory setting) without panniers. It’s smooth and comfortable for me. The tires are rear 40 and front 38.5. It does float a little ( very little but noticeable) going hard on the twisties but I don’t care about that. I like comfort. Go figure.

Absoltely, for road use that's exactly right - and it is very comfortable when set up so.

If you know your having a more "spirited" ride (solo) one day, dial a bit more in ,......

I recently went with a friend of mine to collect his new Storm GT. He'd ridden mine previously and loved it, but when he got home he hated his Storm. The suspension was rock hard and extremely uncomfortable (he was regretting buying it !). I slacked it all off for him, I went home and he went for another ride out. His wife rang me two hour later - he hadn't got home yet - but when he did he called me and was massively impressed. Just goes to show - I'm not the only one !

 

[Einar]

I'm not heavy (77 kilos/170 lbs.), but I've taken the suspension from full hard to full soft and a variety of combinations in between and it's always jarring. Even when I aired the tires down. But I've had the same experience with all cruiser and touring bike layouts. There's only so much you can do with such limited travel.

These days I just keep mine set to the "comfort" settings listed in the book. I ride solo, rarely with any luggage, and that's the closest to comfortable I've gotten it.

My Tiger 1200 has nearly 8" of travel, so the ride is perfect on that bike.

 

[Jagster]

I'm not heavy (77 kilos/170 lbs.), but I've taken the suspension from full hard to full soft and a variety of combinations in between and it's always jarring. Even when I aired the tires down. But I've had the same experience with all cruiser and touring bike layouts. There's only so much you can do with such limited travel.

These days I just keep mine set to the "comfort" settings listed in the book. I ride solo, rarely with any luggage, and that's the closest to comfortable I've gotten it.

My Tiger 1200 has nearly 8" of travel, so the ride is perfect on that bike.

My experience with the rear suspension is the same as yours.
You must have similar road surfaces.

I have managed to bottom out the rear suspension really hard, one time, and it hit my body hard. A combination of a dip in the road and a sharp bump.... both of which were not visually apparent, so it caught me out, big time.
My suspension was dialled in at the same setting as Col & Zig recommended in their video, as my body weight is similar to what they had mentioned.
It cracked my Perspex licence plate, which isn't fixed to the swing arm, but the rear subframe, so it should have been protected better from the shock load.

I can't imagine what the experience would have felt like, if i'd had the rear end at the softest setting.

I will, however, continue to play around with the settings in the hope of finding a sweet spot that works best for me, as I don't think i've found it yet.
That said, some road conditions can never be resolved, and with such a short travel, it's the weak spot on an otherwise incredible bike.... IMHO.

 

[Mighty Mouse]

Everyone is different. By that I mean body types weight, height and length. I’m certain someone that weighs the same as me but is 6’2” or 5’6” will have different suspension settings. That said just because it’s great for me it may not be for another rider. I have had my GT for 5 years and it took a long while to get a setting for the “all around riding experience.” I’m not one to set the suspension every time I tour, hit the backroads or cruise. I leave it the way it is for all around comfort. If I’m a little slower on the curves it isn’t a big deal. The days of ripping it up are at a minimum now and not as important as in the past. I just like riding and feeling comfortable. With the settings I have finally found I’m happy with it. Cheers.

 

[Idaho Red Rocket 3]

Everyone is different. By that I mean body types weight, height and length. I’m certain someone that weighs the same as me but is 6’2” or 5’6” will have different suspension settings. That said just because it’s great for me it may not be for another rider. I have had my GT for 5 years and it took a long while to get a setting for the “all around riding experience.” I’m not one to set the suspension every time I tour, hit the backroads or cruise. I leave it the way it is for all around comfort. If I’m a little slower on the curves it isn’t a big deal. The days of ripping it up are at a minimum now and not as important as in the past. I just like riding and feeling comfortable. With the settings I have finally found I’m happy with it. Cheers.

Well said @Mighty Mouse. I have to agree. I actually never change my suspension settings from the factory settings. I know I'm giving up a better ride, but I'm happy with the factory settings. I don't want to risk screwing it up. That's me.

 

[Kurt88]

Absoltely, for road use that's exactly right - and it is very comfortable when set up so.

If you know your having a more "spirited" ride (solo) one day, dial a bit more in ,......

I recently went with a friend of mine to collect his new Storm GT. He'd ridden mine previously and loved it, but when he got home he hated his Storm. The suspension was rock hard and extremely uncomfortable (he was regretting buying it !). I slacked it all off for him, I went home and he went for another ride out. His wife rang me two hour later - he hadn't got home yet - but when he did he called me and was massively impressed. Just goes to show - I'm not the only one !

Appreciate Guys now when

Absoltely, for road use that's exactly right - and it is very comfortable when set up so.

If you know your having a more "spirited" ride (solo) one day, dial a bit more in ,......

I recently went with a friend of mine to collect his new Storm GT. He'd ridden mine previously and loved it, but when he got home he hated his Storm. The suspension was rock hard and extremely uncomfortable (he was regretting buying it !). I slacked it all off for him, I went home and he went for another ride out. His wife rang me two hour later - he hadn't got home yet - but when he did he called me and was massively impressed. Just goes to show - I'm not the only one !

Appreciate that ! now regarding Pre Load when you say 1 click out, I don't have an end /stop when clicking in (Clockwise) I got to 28 clicks from all out going in and it just wont stop, certainly gets harder to turn but no stop, I think I heard there are 18 clicks (from all out to all in) if that's the case then you would be set at 17 in (from all out) am I assuming correct? I'm currently 14 in from all out so might need a tad more I'm thinking.
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