How to ADJUST SAG - Works on All Bikes - Adventure Motorcycle Suspension Part 3

Is your suspension sag set properly? Guest hosts Iain and Eric from Touratech-USA demonstrate the correct way to set race sag, and explain why proper sag is critical to motorcycle control and rider safety.
Iain & Eric @ touratech-usa....
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[@MOTOTREK]

Thanks to Iain and Eric for filling-in for Bret who's teaching adventure riding classes in India!

[@byrdt6528]

MOTOTREK back in India again?!?! Lucky!!!!

[@RevelatorAlf]

Great info again. Good fill in lads and amazing at how many people don't make adjustments for different rides and weights too. I talk a lot about this kind of stuff on my off road bike videos too for my channel. Cheers. Your channel always a good watch.

[@hooty6699]

You're not Bret! STRANGER DANGER!!

[@MrHeepspo]

Glad I don't have to go to India!

[@Ky-Cute-Solution-KCS]

in vietnam the dealer only do the onething is count your money and that all

[@MianCowell]

I think all dealerships should do this for the buyer when selling a new motorcycle

[@MOTOTREK]

Good suggestions, Mian. It's not a "set it and forget it" adjustment though. Your sag should be adjusted every time the load on your bike changes by more than a few KG / pounds.

[@MianCowell]

Better to set it right once than to never set it which is what usually happens.

[@Francois_Dupont]

@@MOTOTREK my bike forks feel softer than when i bought it, is this possible the springs are shot or that the fluid is kaput? neither are leaking thought, that is what i find strange.

[@tolga1cool]

A friend of mine works at a dealership and that's the first thing they do before the customer rides out of the door

[@ShooterMedic1818]

@@tolga1cool that's a good dealer

[@Twilight_Charger]

That was a very clearly communicated explanation of what SAG is, how to calculate and adjust it. With all the videos on the topic it is amazing that yours is the only one that is so well communicated. Thank You

[@MOTOTREK]

Very welcome

[@david8185]

brilliant explanation of the workings of a suspension, explained it perfectly to a moron like me whos been riding 30 years and still needs to learn. Ya gotta love youtube were all jenius' now

[@onemilemore541]

Thanks guys! I've read about doing this before and never actually done it. It's sure nice to watch a well done video like this to simplify the process in my mind. Exactly the sort of thing I was hoping to see come from this channel. Now for a video like this one on fine tuning damping adjustments please.

[@Velolion]

Thank you for describing sag and preload correctly. There are so, so many people out there who describe preload as making the suspension firmer or softer, and think that’s what it does, which is absolutely incorrect. You change to a spring with a different rate to accomplish that; setting preload is simply the means of establishing the proper sag....where the suspension sits in its stroke under nominal load. Again, thanks for the proper explanation!

[@stevecrocker6904]

Thx so much Iain (and Eric). Going out to adjust my DR650 sag now. Have ridden for 45 years and never done this on a bike yet. Great logical thinking skills translated through precise and clear speaking. I wish all KZbin "how to-ers" communicated like this

[@kenpage7305]

Great timing, I just purchased a new rear shock for my 1200S and until you posted there were no good videos about this subject. Unfortunately Touratech, it was an Ohlins, but your video was A+. .

[@RiflemanSE]

Best explanation I have seen 👍🏻 I would like to see how to set up the front as well.

[@PatrickGervais]

Great explanation, I’m comfortable trying this now even though I have no experience with adjusting suspension.

[@stevenk8189]

Man, this Eric is a real chatterbox isn´t he.

[@Dz-tt9vg]

I like it, deeper water more calm. 😊

[@laszlomolnar8121]

Thanks a lot guys. It always seemed mysterious to play with this. Your explanation is so clear so easy to understand. The last few years I had two visits for service at Ohlins experts and none of them offered anything like this. I will do it for myself now.

[@MOTOTREK]

Good luck, Laszlo!

[@stefanklaver87]

Very very usefull, this is exactly what we need. Big thanks to mototrek and touratech!

[@stevelawrie9115]

Love the way you magically removed the suspension part :)

[@MOTOTREK]

Yes!

[@frankvanvreumingen6841]

Awesome descriptive video Iain. Thanks

[@Fractal_CZ]

Great explanation. And plus - I love Eric's natural acting talent :D

[@Makermook]

Excellent tutorial. I have a new bike that's too mushy in the rear. Now I know how to set the preload.

[@MOTOTREK]

Mark, "Mushy" might mean your rebound and/or compression damping needs adjustment too.

[@Makermook]

@@MOTOTREK -- Not so much "mushy" as "it bottoms out when I ride over ruts." Yes, maybe I could go on a diet...

[@Ptpangel]

Excellent instructional video - I've always set the sag on my dirt bikes, but didn't think of it for my adventure bike even though I spend a lot of time in the dirt!! Cheers, Silent Eric and Iain!

[@HORNET6]

Why has it all of a sudden become race sag? Good explanation.

[@HiroshiNaganuma]

Great video.... You can do the same with the front fork suspension? That would be a great explanation for calculate the front SAG. THX.

[@kukku1974]

My same thought

[@irvingcuevas8877]

Thank for this video, really helped to understand what I did not even know. Now to call my buddy to help me drink some coffee.. and adjust my motorcycle rear sag

[@EnriqueGonzalez-iu3so]

The best suspension info video I ever saw, thank You!!!!!

[@69adrummer]

guy 1: hey, you wanna come with and help me film this video? guy 2: sure, what do you want me to do? guy 1: I dunno....just sit and drink coffee I guess.... guy 2: suh-weet!

[@RevelatorAlf]

ha ha that's exactly what I was thinking

[@sichere]

Puts down coffee @ 3:52

[@cobecerram]

you forget the man in the shadows, the cameraman is always there

[@NoelPee]

0:08 look at that! Nice skill to avoid the splash cause by the front wheel!

[@khakimzhanmiras]

adjusting sag is my winter project

[@HellenicBM]

This is the best explanation l have found so far on YT. There's so much misinformation. "Sag should be between 30-40mm" is not correct for all types of bikes and suspensions. Just wondering if the procedure works the same for forks as well?

[@brysondunn8414]

This is now my favourite “how to” on KZbin. Well done gents.

[@erayatalag2207]

Good explanations for rear sag adjustment. Thanks.. But my bike has two wheels. And what about for the front fork sag. Is it %30 again with fully load? If you make video describing front sag and also explain the rebound and compression for rear and front, i think we will get the whole idea and adjust our bikes well for our needs...

[@aggiejet]

ERAY ATALAĞ Isn’t that what Ian talks about at 8:10 mark?

[@BikerandBits]

With my adv bike the suspension is fully electric front & back with no manual adjustment, it adjusts automatically with the mode you choose, if only it was as easy to input your leg length & weight then have it done for you

[@ironhorsegladiator5034]

Best sag video ever, Thank you.

[@Tamaresque]

Best, most simple, and understandable explanation I've seen!

[@bandit446484]

Thanks for the great video!!! Always nice to see another demo of this process!!

[@Canada1608]

Never seen better explained, thanks so much for this great video. I now know how to do it instead of just guessing it or nor doing it at all for lack of knowledge.

[@ricardoalves1546]

Great video, simple and clear. Thanks. Keep that good job

[@declary]

Great video......riding down to Washington next July to ride with my brothers...love the scenery!

[@rioacharya]

I have a doubt. After adding preload the height of the bike should increase so the initial 580mm measurement with no sag becomes irrelevant. Shouldn't you measure the new "no sag" measurement and then subtract the new race sag to calculate the sag amount? If my understanding is wrong then wouldn't adding preload reduce the suspension travel available as you are pre compressing the spring by a certain amount which then has to be reduced from the standard suspension travel of 220mm without any preload.

[@jf7393]

Adding preload does not increase the total extension of the shock. Spring preload does not affect that measurement

[@Cafeducati]

I appreciate this,.. so will my 990!! Also, sometimes I need those crayons and paper to assist me in explanations.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

Love that 1090R. Top of my personal list for ADV bikes. Only tough decision would be 1290 vs. 1090.

[@richardrocco5155]

Lifted_Above , I had the same issue, to purchase the 1290 or the 1090. I am 6’2 211lbs. I wanted the 1290 at first. Then I decided I didn’t need all the electronics that the 1290 offered. Then came the horse power, would I be happy with the 125 hp instead of the 165hp in street mode? When I realized that my 103 Harley Davidson fat boy only has 76 HP. I knew I could count on the 1090 to do the things that I want to do with the bike. I bought the 1090 last week. And I am not disappointed at all. Now I will install the 12volt charger on it and I will probably install a center stand. Good luck with your decision.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

@@richardrocco5155 And to add to the difficulty, I've ridden both on recent demo ride (pavement only). I've had the DL1000XT recently and apart from the excellent machine it is, I wanted more power. I've ridden the 1190 model too, and the power on that machine was excellent. Not so much low/mid power on the 1090 as the 1190 had. 1290 Super Adv T was the bigger model I tested.

[@dedsxy38]

@@richardrocco5155 Did the same thing. Demo'd a 1290S, then purchased a 1090R a couple months ago. After watching countless adventure video's, I believe I will invest in folding levers and a center stand as well. Now if the snow would just go away, I could get some riding in.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

Always a treat seeing the likes of Chris Birch letting 'er rip somewhere.

[@louislouis9661]

1190 is best for your needs I'm thinking

[@ronicard]

What a great explanation. Outstanding video! Thank you for putting this online.

[@paulcoverdale8312]

Why don’t dealers do this as standard before you leave??? Obviously they wouldn’t do this until you were ready to take delivery. Great explanation an thanks for takin us all through it wether we knew or not. Cheers guys 💯💯💯💯💯🪬🪬🪬🪬🪬👍👍👍🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@kmfuentes2012]

Thank you, but I have a question. When I calculate the preload for one persona I should have fuel tank full?

[@edab8784]

What about rebound settings?

[@eliastzirakis585]

Thanks for the tips. I just adjust the sag on my new cfmoto 800mt that was way off from the beginning. Now it's another bike 😁

[@Godshole]

That is just incredibly helpful for me right now. New to me bike, arse feels 'stiff' and skippy, I bet when I check this in the morrow I am going to find it was set for himself and herself for when they went out riding and it just never came up in the conversation. I guess that's on me for 'sounding like have some idea of what the f*** I am talking aboot'..... Thank you for the plain and straight forward talk through and demo.

[@marksman303]

Thanks. This was hugely helpful in setting my rear suspension

[@anshusharma1523]

That was easily understandable and really helpful!

[@morningbetterlast]

You should try to adjust the ESA R1200GS.

[@beejoutbush3322]

Awesome fellas. Thanks from Australia 🇦🇺

[@MOTOTREK]

Our pleasure!

[@Dr.Twisty]

Question please--When you adjust preload, does that change the the distance of full extension--the distance when the rear tire is off the ground? If it does, then why didn't you re-measure it after you adjusted the preload before measuring full compression with Eric sitting on the bike? Thanks.

[@jf7393]

It doesn't change it. It will extend the same length regardless of preload.

[@hardworkingamerican8847]

Thanks for that . Being a beginner rider there is a bunch of things I need to learn . Won't get it all overnight or even in a year or 2 . Being a motorcycle owner is a little different than renting quads in Baja or riding a vintage dirtbike once every few years .

[@elendshuraglump3620]

Very good explained! Thanks

[@mattingray5651]

Very good explanation. I never know how to do it. Straight to point too, no useless history, rambling or other B.S. :)

[@wfoholeshot8614]

Is that Eric's Happy Mode?

[@marktwain..1972]

That forest makes your voice sound like a garage :p Good info! Thx!

[@Oscar-eg5bn]

5:50 🤣🤣🤣. Excellent video, i only use to check the manufacture table (Tiger 885i) now i can have another way to adjust.

[@AlexLopez-rn1ns]

Gracias por las clases muy intructivo bien impotante very nice video. 👍

[@SsiolisP]

06:14 you were 8mm off, not 12mm. 74mm minus 66mm is 8mm. (7.4cm - 6.6cm=0.8cm)... but you did do an excellent job not only explaining how to do this adjustment, but also why. Thank you.

[@MOTOTREK]

Good catch!

[@backcountry4life]

Do I open or close my front fork compression/rebound and rear shock preload/rebound when switching between riding in sandy terrain and rocky terrain? I figure I should decrease preload to lower the rear when riding in sand, but there really isn't a real guide on the WP website or my owner's manual to help me know what I should be doing with my suspension for the various terrain I ride.

[@sameenakausar1020]

Thanks a lot buddy ! Appreciate your in-depth knowledge about suspension. 👍🙂

[@michaelskinner896]

Excellent video; super easy to understand and implement.

[@PepperGeorge]

Thanks, I'm a total newb, and I understood everything as to rear suspension. Front suspension still unclear.

[@aldo5658]

So glad this came up on my recommendation

[@LOWERCASEMAN]

Great video ... good luck finding Eric's personality though!

[@EliasJQuinteros]

9:28 El compañero pensando .... debí haberlo pensado mejor, antes de aceptar estar en el video !! ...... QUE FRIIIIOO!!!!! JAJAJAJA!!! Muy buen video!!! Muchas gracias!!! Ahora que no se puede salir, se aprovecha para aprender la teoría y después a la practica YUJUUUU!!!!

[@stinkypete2722]

Excellent clip! Thanks from the UK...

[@carkdonwah1528]

Great tutorial. Time to setup my XCA.

[@MOTOTREK]

Good luck, Cark!

[@robkcra]

I am really struggling with this: my situation involves a gen 2 KLR with stock rear shock (5 clicks of adjustability) but a Top Gun heavy duty spring. So 30% of the bike’s 7.3” of travel means I should be looking for 2.2” of sag ..... I believe. Yet starting at setting #1, the softest setting, I get 3.75” of sag. If I dial in more stiffness on the shock, the sag increases, not decreases. Do you suspect that my shock is too heavy? Thank you for your very helpful tutorial.

[@MOTOTREK]

You need a softer spring, Rob kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6PHq3WOrcZqm5I

[@davidroberts7490]

Probably one of the best explanations on sag I have seen.👍 Just one question. If I fit a new rear shock with a progressive spring should I still use the bike manufacturers suspension travel figure. Thanks !

[@The.JZA.]

Awesome video, thanks very much. I have a Duke 390 and the manual says 14mm static sag and 47mm riding sag. I found a point above the rear axle that is exactly 600mm from the axle and I adjusted the shock preload collar to +3 from stock (i.e. 8/10) because I am 100kg plus riding gear. I am now getting riding sag ~47mm which is great. Looking forward to getting out and testing it. Does 8/10 sound about right for my weight or do you think I should go down a notch? I'm just worried about making the head angle too steep and causing front end wobble/instability.

[@byrdt6528]

Super great info! Thanks guys!

[@MrJohnnynapalm7]

Very good explanation - thanks for sharing 👍

[@MOTOTREK]

You're welcome, Paul

[@thethimes]

Thanks for the video! One question though. How can a solo rider set to the correct sag? Is it important to measure from the center of the axle and not from the ground?

[@daaknait]

This was really helpful, thanks!

[@MOTOTREK]

You're welcome!

[@JohnBraman413]

do you have to do this every time you ride solo, or with gear and/or a passenger? is there some middle ground setting that can be used for all riding settings? that way you don't have to keep changing it. every time.

[@MOTOTREK]

You should adjust your sag whenever the bike's load changes substantially, John.

[@highmilagerider1154]

Very informative video. I have a 2019 Yamaha Super Tenere ES. How would I set SAG on my motorcycle with electronic suspension? Do I switch between Soft, Standard and Hard while doing the measurements to adjust the SAG measurement ?

[@TheMonkini]

About the advertisement that keeps popping in my location: Does Charlie Boredman not know that quadlock is not a novelty product? It just reflects bad on him promoting a product as new, which everyone has heard abut for quite a bit of time...

[@patrickcooper9641]

Hello there, I just bought a complete set for my 1200 GSA 2014 and I love the way it responds. But I cannot find anything about the front shock setting! Do you have any suggestion/advice for it! Great review. Thank you.

[@tHaH4x0r]

I dont see how leg length would impact suspension settings. If your bike is too tall/too short for you, you should change out the saddle, not mess with suspension sag. But you are right. A lot of bikes have an arbritrary 'rider', 'rider + luggage', 'rider + pillion', 'rider + pillion + luggage' kind of system, but it would be nice if you can adjust the suspected weights of these in the system, such that it knows how to properly adjust sag with the default spring. But you would also need to be able to adjust the spring rate in the system if you change it out for something else.

[@jblue1299]

Excellent instruction information! Thank you very much!

[@paulbridge6063]

Well, I guess i just found your video, i asked about on the set iup video :-) great stuff

[@MOTOTREK]

Glad you found it, Paul.

[@sosdingle1]

Very well explained. Thanks very much. 👍

[@andymotovlogs546]

The axis of suspension travel is different and much less in magnitude for the same situation than the axis & the magnitude of sag you are using in your test. So how can you relate suspension travel to sag directly? Somehow that doesn't fit well. U getting what I am saying. If the axis of swingarm is the axis of motion then the shock is much closer to that axis than the line joining wheel axis to the marked point above. The farther you measure the movement from the swing arm axis, the greater will be the measurement for the same amount of movement of swingarm.

[@greggclifton5585]

Thank you, very helpful!

[@patriotsleepercell4060]

Very good explanation!

[@Safetyguard]

One question on this: in witch general setting of the bike's rear shock (comfort, sport, fully loaded) Do i need to do this measurements?!

[@RickyJr46]

Very well done, thanks gentlemen!

[@davereinhart9933]

Best explanation that I've seen!

[@FlorentinoLoco]

Changing the preload wouldn't it also change the number 1 measurement you took?

[@pass1985]

Constantinos Charalambous I have the same question!

[@MOTOTREK]

Luca, Constantinos, yes, of course! That's the objective. The first measurement is your current sag. If it's not about 30% of the published suspension travel, you need to adjust preload until it measures about 30%.

[@leracer]

First measurement is a base number with no weight on the wheel, suspension completely extended, from which you can calculate how much of the stroke you use when ready to ride. That first number won't change as the shock is topped out anyway. Easier to measure on a bike that has a center stand.

[@MOTOTREK]

To clarify: there are three measurement values: 1: Manufacturer's published suspension travel length. (multiply x 0.30 = LOADED / RACE SAG value objective) 2: The distance between YOUR two fixed points on YOUR bike with YOUR suspension fully extended / UNLOADED. 3: The distance between YOUR two fixed points on YOUR bike with YOUR suspension fully LOADED

[@Velolion]

If you’re referring to the first measurement taken when determining the overall sag then the answer is no. That very first measurement is the distance between the axle and the reference point with the suspension (and shock) fully extended - that’s why the rear wheel is lifted off the ground. That distance is determined by the physical dimensions of the shock (shaft and body lengths, etc), the length of the swing arm, and where you put your reference mark...preload doesn’t have any affect on it. I think @Mototrek misunderstood your question and thought you were referring to the first sag measurement.

[@nygelblondin7890]

My dampener seem to be seized. What's the best way to free them up?

[@Angry-Lynx]

hit it with heaviest hammer you can find. Then buy new. // jk ;;;

[@TechnMoto]

Good info and overall great video thanks

[@20casbah]

Hi guys very good video . Your coffee machine is amazing please tell me where and which shop did you get it please i have been looking everywhere to find one. Thank you good luck.

[@kuladeeluxe]

Eric snuck a case of beer on the back in the last shot.

[@Labgorilla]

Thanks guys. Is the 30% figure a standard that I should be aiming for? I need to check in my Suzuki v strom if the sag is correct for me.

[@AndreaCrosetti]

Great explanation thanks!

[@Jamby7]

Does it matter where your compression and rebound are set when you are setting sag? If so, where should compression and rebound be set to?

[@Ronbassettphd]

Excellent explanation

[@jackmilan74]

Nice video. Could you give similar advise for front end suspension sag setting on your BMW? Should I go for 30% travel as target? Thanks and happy new year!

[@Mac-bn]

Nice content, for asphalt road which setting should i set hard or soft?

[@HowardAdam]

Obviously the sag in this video was adjusted based on the fully loaded rider in a SITTING position; however, if the rider is more inclined to standing more while riding off-road, does this affect the 30% loaded sag target?

[@tHaH4x0r]

The weight stays the same, and probably the center of mass does not shift dramatically with respect to the motorcycle frame. Personally I suspect that it would not change much at all. Dynamically it would change a bit, but suspension sag is a static configuration anyways.

[@Italianborn]

What if on my brand new bike instead of changing the spring i just make a spacer that goes on top of that compressor ?

[@rainbow-walker]

Thanks for that, very helpful ! I just need a third pair of hands now to measure sag when I'm 2 up with the wife ! My Tiger 900 Rally Pro needed 10 more clicks to get to within 1mm of 30% 👍.