Front and Rear Suspension Preload and SAG Settings on BMW S1000RR

[@Invis_Space]

This guy is a legend. Using his findings and advice I managed to dial in my bike. Bike handling better than ever! Thanks again George 🙏🏻

[@TheBikeStig]

cheers mate, enjoy the riding :-)

[@muhammadbhol9769]

Each and every info is really so loud and clear boss, every video of S1000RR 2016 helped me so much since i have S1000RR 2016. Please keep posting such videos, you deserve millions of subscribers and likes. God bless you

[@TheBikeStig]

thanks for watching, and the support, much appreciated my friend

[@bluegixxer1k]

Killer videos man!!! Thank you so much. I keep watching and learning new things.

[@TheBikeStig]

Cheers, thanks for watching

[@tienofthesouth]

My CSS instructor. He taught me how to trail brake :)

[@TheBikeStig]

a very useful concept to master :)

[@Bmwguy855]

I've been waiting on a video like this for my 2015! Thank you!

[@TheBikeStig]

you're welcome Marcus, new one about to be uploaded that is related to this too :-)

[@Fro_Low]

Great info. I just measured my sag numbers last week and now have trying the find the most comfortable settings for comp/reb as I ride on the street. I don’t feel much difference between a -3 and +3, so I wonder if I had done my sag calls correctly. I’m going to download your sheet and input my weight to see how close I am.

[@TheBikeStig]

Yeah the damping settings are very incremental. For our local range rides I've settled on Front +4, Rear Rebound +4, Rear Compression 0. By the way, you can set it up so that you can scroll through directly to damping settings without entering set up modes. I think this video shows you how to do it if you haven't already done so - kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJ3HqJyIr92Kp9U

[@Fro_Low]

@@TheBikeStig yes I have set that so I can change on the fly and have been experimenting with this changes the last two rides. I’m sure I’ll find the sweet spot soon. Thank you.

[@bloodycrashboy]

Love your work Jorge ❤

[@TheBikeStig]

cheers mate

[@stxy4926]

hm thats interesting, on my 2016 model I had static sag in the front from 25mm and on the rear 20mm (with both 0 Preload). Im little bit confused how you came in your measure to 10mm static sag in the rear, was ignition on (without no ddc will work). Another question Compression/Rebound was setup to the default 0 and which mode was the ddc sport/race/slick ?

[@TheBikeStig]

Yes mate, ignition on. If you have 0 preload (i.e. adjusters wound all the way out) then you'll have more static SAG than if you have added preload. More preload = less SAG. The real goal of SAG adjustment is simply to position the suspension in the sweet spot of travel while you are riding the bike in corners. Re damping, I am pretty sure that when you change the settings, it carries across all DDC modes ... not 100% so I guess id better check. You can set up DDC on these bikes to be adjustable without going into set up menu. I'll take a look at how the settings carry over next ride I do. Cheers

[@Invis_Space]

Awesome video! Thanks a lot for doing this mate. Can I ask, if you lost 15kg would you be going more clicks in or more clicks out? Hypothetically. Just so I can understand the logic haha

[@TheBikeStig]

good question, for the street I'd be reducing preload at both ends for sure to make sure it still compresses the right amount in corners, but the problem becomes the springs themselves which will have a rate of movement more relevant to a heavier rider. It would probably feel very stiff so I think I'd be putting softer springs in as well. Cheers

[@Invis_Space]

The Bike Stig Thanks for the reply George. The reason I ask is because I had some health problems this year. Caused me to go from 82kg down to 63kg. With gear on I am around 72. But the bike feels like a totally different bike now and almost unridable. I feel like it’s trying to throw me off it. Scottish roads are a bump bumpy... Going to to reset sag again and recalibrate the DDC. Btw thank you for that video too! Knew nothing about that until 2 days ago 🙏🏻 legend

[@TheBikeStig]

@@Invis_Space my pleasure mate, you definitely need to reset SAG as the old settings will have the suspension too high in its operating range when you're cornering. But definitely try softening the compression damping and hardening the rebound damping, it makes for better tracking of road surface on street riding. Take care

[@Invis_Space]

The Bike Stig legend!!! Took a look at the bike today. All issues resolved. Took your advice, the bike now handles better than it ever did. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 if I could like your video a thousand times I would! I have one last question. I have an S1000R not the RR I can’t find the SETUP DDC-SYS submenu for recalibration the DDC. Do you know if that’s a S1000RR specific feature? Really strange I can’t find anything about the setting online or in my manual for an S1000R.

[@zahidkhankpc380]

👍

[@alvinseptena2657]

Hi mate! How are ya?! Do you by any chance opens up to set up the sag on my bike? I live in the same area as you and i'm really keen to set the sag to the proper setup. I don't mind if you want me to pay some fee to set it up or treat you to lunch or dinner. The more i read and see the video of people setting sag on s1000rr the more i confused because i never talked with someone that really understand the bike inside out. 🙏🙏 thanks a lot!!

[@TheBikeStig]

If you live in North Queensland up near the Atherton Tablelands I am more than happy to help out mate. If not, let me know your email address and we can get details about your weight so I can at least give you a starting point based on what I know about my bike. Let me know.

[@alvinseptena2657]

@@TheBikeStig sorry for the really late reply. Just found out that you replied it. Thanks a lot for responding. I live in mareeba area. Maybe we can meet up sometime and have a coffee together aswell 💪💪

[@TheBikeStig]

@@alvinseptena2657 you bet, would love to catch up, we often ride the gillies, and are at the gillies cafe most weekends particularly on Saturdays nice and early. Say gidday if you are there is probably easiest way to catch up.

[@tigranes.]

So how many turns are you in at the front forks, and rear

[@TheBikeStig]

would you believe halfway at both front and rear, right in the middle. Trying to remember how many that is ... it's 8 turns in at front I think, and 10 turns in at rear ... haven't don't it for a while so my old memory fails me a bit 🙂

[@tigranes.]

@@TheBikeStig wow thanks mate

[@stephenlacey653]

Surely the measurements for the front are the wrong way round? More preload would decrease the rider sag like it does on the rear

[@TheBikeStig]

No mate, they are correct. You are also correct ...more preload means less rider SAG and that's what we showed in the table. The confusion could be that the difference between Rider SAG and Static SAG is less. The mathematical reason is change in rider SAG at the front is much less than the change in static SAG. Why? I'm sure there'd be a reason for it but it hurts my head thinking about it :-) ... I'd have to ask my suspension expert mate.

[@Rajeesh02]

Recently i brought a used 2018 pro model, 9000km done.. Is there any difference from this to 2018?

[@TheBikeStig]

Not sure what the "pro" model is mate, have never seen it listed here in Aus. I'd assume that is the 2018 with optional performance chip that comes with the bike when you buy it being installed so you get the full range of electronic settings for track riding. I think that might be the difference you are referring to. The preload and SAG adjustment is identical. The adjustment process changed when they brought out the new model with the digital dashboard and scroll wheel on the left handlebar.

[@Rajeesh02]

@@TheBikeStig Here in India pro model comes with electronic adjustable suspension, it looks same as your bike but i am not sure about its adjustment (operation).. And,, Yes sir.. Slick and user mode is already activated. Ok sir,, got that point.. thanks for your valuable time and sharing knowledge. 👍🏼

[@TheBikeStig]

@@Rajeesh02 cheers mate, and yep they don't refer to it as the pro model here, simply as the DDC option. Have fun

[@ivanplevneliev4612]

My rear suspension bolt seems to be turning forever without stopping in both directions on 2016 RR with DDC. At the same time the preload seems to change? Any ideas is this normal?

[@TheBikeStig]

doesn't sound normal to me mate, I'd be talking to a BMW person if it was mine. I definitely have stops when wound in and out.

[@ivanplevneliev4612]

In the same time turning it forever does not appear to compress the spring or change collar position. Further investigating and checking on several forums and with my mechanic we are guessing that it has broken internals. I will be replacing the collar or the whole damper after I find another original one on the internet. Cheers! @@TheBikeStig

[@TheBikeStig]

@@ivanplevneliev4612 sounds like the right plan mate, have never seen that problem before but I guess it can happen. Cheers

[@ivanplevneliev4612]

It was the preload adjuster nut that was broken and it was turning and turning forever without making any difference in suspension. Maybe it was rusty in it and then when I tried to move it left/right with the wrench it cracked loose and I thought I finally managed to turn it. Rubbish! Seems I broke it! Thanks to some decent people on ebay I bought a second hand replacement damper with low mileage for cheap and it works!!! Hope I saved someone few hours of head banging! And now your video makes sense to me and I can fine tune my suspension! It makes a ton of difference. Stay safe on the road.

[@bolitedando5307]

In bmw manual says front should be between 10-15mm and rear 8-12mm i dont get it 🤔

[@TheBikeStig]

yeah its a funny way of writing it, if you read into it more I believe they are talking about the difference between static SAG and rider SAG. Take a close look, it's a very different way of giving people measurements for SAG

[@bolitedando5307]

@@TheBikeStig exactly... With your measurements you are with ZERO preload closest to the correct settings and not with eight turns in🤔 I gues with all gear and full tank you are between 10-15mm... And those bikes are from factory with zero preload and it says for rider 85kg. I hope you understand what I mean..

[@TheBikeStig]

@@bolitedando5307 I understand what you're saying. I actually checked the measurements against what the book says and it's in the range with the settings I have. I know the bikes I've looked at over the last 6 or so years all have the preload wound all the way out which has not equated to the proper setting for a rider my weight (80kg). I know some folk at BMW and will check with them why it's wound out.

[@TheBikeStig]

@@bolitedando5307 I checked with an engineer from BMW and he advised that the preload is fully out from the factory, but that is not the setting for a 85kg rider. The springs will suit a rider of that weight but the dealer is supposed to set the preload / SAG when someone buys a new bike. We just received 20 new 2020 S1RRs from BMW and they were all wound fully out.

[@bolitedando5307]

@@TheBikeStig Thanks for your answer... I checked my SAG settings yesterday, I am 82kg +all gear and that's maybe close to 90kg + Full tank of fuel...different between static SAG and rider SAG is 10.5 mm with zero preload! If I ad a few turns of preload it goes to 9mm 8mm...so I left preload on zero because that's closest to the what manual says...And one thing confused me now is that 10-15 mm in manual only for riders with 85kg or guys with 100kg should have also 10-15 mm but they must add more preload🤷‍♂️And what is with other guys 70-80kg... Its very confusing.

[@tigranes.]

hey my weight is 170 lbs, about the same weight as you. I would like to set up my rr also any way you can help me ?

[@TheBikeStig]

use the same settings I'v e showed here as a starting point. I know on the 2015/2016 the preload is pretty close to the mark in the mid range of adjustments for my weight. Might be worth watching the User Mode setting video on this channel too, would be useful if you have a RR up to the 2018 model

[@tigranes.]

@@TheBikeStig mines a 2011 i only buy the 10-11 love that bike. But yea ok thanks for the detailed set-up and reply.

[@TheBikeStig]

@@tigranes. cheers mate