Norge 4V fork adjustments |
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Guzzis3
Falcone Joined: 28 Feb 2020 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 67 |
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Posted: 10 Mar 2020 at 02:23 |
Hi,
I've been studying the manuals but I'm confused. The norge forks have a large hex which I assume is to tighten down the caps, and a smaller hex "head" protruding in the middle of it. Therefore I assume the smaller hex, about 17mm or something, is to adjust preload ? and there is no dampening adjustment ? I'm confused because the breva and norge owners manuals I've downloaded don't actually show the adjustment they just mention it. They also don't say which way is softer, clockwise or anticlockwise. I sat on a norge on sunday and my right foot was inches from touching down, and it was a devil to get off the side stand. I sat on one years ago and it was nothing like that. The low seat does get me a bit lower but I'm thinking maybe the suspension preload was right up on the shock and forks ? I'm wondering if I back the preload right off if it will get it low enough with me on it (80 kg) so I can get a solid footing. I assume the breva 1100/1200 are pretty much the same ? I have a neighbour with a breva 1100, last of them. He got a good deal on the runouts I think. I'm hoping to trouble him for another sit on his bike and maybe swap seats, he might even let me back off the suspension...
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Guzzis3
Falcone Joined: 28 Feb 2020 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 67 |
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You know after looking for the last couple of days as soon as I put this post up I found a youtube video that says the little knobs are preload. It looks like anticlockwise is to back off preload. Sigh.
Does anyone with a breva or norge have any experience of how much winding on/backing off the preload has on static ride height when you're sitting on the bike ? |
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Brian UK
Moderator Group Joined: 13 May 2014 Location: Surrey Status: Offline Points: 17641 |
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On page 75 of the owners manual, there is a chart which includes suggested settings for the fork preload. I can't tell you what difference it makes though in terms of height. You can adjust the height of the fork legs in the yokes though.
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Brian.
Better 5 minutes late in this world than years early in the next. |
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Brian UK
Moderator Group Joined: 13 May 2014 Location: Surrey Status: Offline Points: 17641 |
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By the way, calling it a 4 valve might cause some confusion. The early models are normally referred to as 2 valve. Guzzi add to the confusion by calling some of the 4 valves per head models 4 valve, and some 8 valve.
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Brian.
Better 5 minutes late in this world than years early in the next. |
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Guzzis3
Falcone Joined: 28 Feb 2020 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 67 |
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Yes I was trying to use guzzi's terminology. I too find it confusing.
I saw that chart but as you say it has no mention of effect. I found a reference that indicated the forks have 15mm of preload adjustment, but whether that's the length of the springs or the forks was not clear. Blessed bother. It would be so easy if a strada or SP3 came up at a sensible price, problem solved. Anyway the search goes on. Thank you again for your help. I am sorry to be a bother.
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Guzzis3
Falcone Joined: 28 Feb 2020 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 67 |
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Well I'm still confused. I had a sit on my neighbours Breva 1100 and it felt like a 250 compared to the norge I sat on on Sunday. The gentleman is not small and often tours with his wife so the preload is wound up. The are about 20kg lighter on paper but it felt like so much more than that.
Anyway I'm planning to go look at a Breva 1100 in the next few days that's for sale.
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Brian UK
Moderator Group Joined: 13 May 2014 Location: Surrey Status: Offline Points: 17641 |
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They changed the rear spring on the Norge in late 2007 for a heavier one. This would raise the seat height no doubt. Mine has the lighter spring. That early spring proved to be too light for some of our gravitationally challenged fraternity. Do you know how the rear suspension was set up on the Norge you tried? It does make a considerable difference to the seat height. Also makes a difference to hauling it onto the centre stand. The only difference between the Breva and Norge is the tupperware. I don't see how that would affect the weight that much.
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Brian.
Better 5 minutes late in this world than years early in the next. |
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Guzzis3
Falcone Joined: 28 Feb 2020 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 67 |
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On paper the breva is about 20 kg lighter than the norge. The bike I sat on was a 2006 very early production bike. It could have a non standard shock.
I'm drowning in car troubles at the moment but once that's over I hope to travel to hervey bay and look at a norge there. 12k kms 07 model sold new in 2010. He is asking $5kAU, unregistered but with roadworthy. It's a GT. I assume the norge last sunday was screwed up tight but I don't know.. Wal (breva 1100) runs his preload high because he's a big bloke and pillions his wife a lot. Obviously seat height isn't a problem for him. He was fascinated by my low seat and said he'd buy it if I decided to sell. So much more comfortable than his. Have you any feeling how much winding the preload up and down on the forks and shock affects the ride height ? I'm about 81kg for reference. I wonder if anyone has measured it. I asked my friend to sit on hers. She bought it new in 07 and had the seat cut down. She is about 5'2" and can just about get both heels down in riding boots! She said she couldn't do that when it was new. Getting both heels down would be a dream. I don't care how mushy the suspension would be! :D And I'd get it on the stand, I'd figure anything out if I could have that certainty in traffic. The seat heights of my 70's bikes was what really sold me on guzzis. So much easier than Ducatis...I realised the other advantages later...
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Doc.
Senior Member Joined: 17 Sep 2015 Location: South Bucks Status: Offline Points: 639 |
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You can't (or at least you shouldn't) try to alter the ride height by using the Preload adjusters.
They are there for adjusting the 'Sag' on the Suspension. If you wind the Preload way down to get it sitting lower, the suspension isn't going to work well, and could in certain scenarios, actually be dangerous. As Brian said a few posts back, move the Forks up in the Yokes if you want to drop the height. Most Guzzis are very stable, and steepening the Steering Angle isn't likely to upset them. My Stelvio had the original Forks lifted (and now the Ducati MultiStrada Forks I fitted, same length) by 30mm, and I have a 17" Front Wheel fitted (Griso). It's still rock-steady in corners, with no tendency to drop-in or sit-up. |
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