Fork adjustment

Gixerhowie · Aug 26, 2008

My 2000 Mille has the forks set showing 2 rings above the top yoke (excluding the cap) on the fork stanchion. The front end feels vague into corners like i'm riding a chopper. The manual suggests 4 rings showing so i think the front is set a little too high anyway. What have you all got? Any suggestions before i drop the yokes?

Flick1 · Aug 26, 2008

Bit more than just dropping yolks dude... tyres, pre load, rear height... etc.

Mine are on the sixth ring tho.

stinky · Aug 26, 2008

Mine are on fifth ring

Has your bike always been vague or is this a new problem?

Sprocker · Aug 26, 2008

Gixerhowie said:
My 2000 Mille has the forks set showing 2 rings above the top yoke (excluding the cap) on the fork stanchion. The front end feels vague into corners like i'm riding a chopper. The manual suggests 4 rings showing so i think the front is set a little too high anyway. What have you all got? Any suggestions before i drop the yokes?

Funny you should post this, mines a 2000 and feels the same, and tonight i've just dropped mine to 4 rings (from 2). going to reset rest to std settings tomorrow then take it out for a ride and see what it's like...

cheesy1 · Aug 26, 2008

if your having suspension issues

find a base point to work from

either how you have it or reset all to standard

dropping from 2-4 will be a massive change

Gixerhowie · Aug 27, 2008

Not to confuse everyone but i've previously adjusted everything to standard and the damping, rebound and compression are fine. it just feels that the bars are too far away from the road. I'll go to 4 and see how it goes.

Sprocker · Aug 27, 2008

Checked my settings and all were on std settings. Dropped to four rings and had a run out today and it seemed to tip into corners much easier, maybe psycological, but it did seem much better...I liked it :biggrin

Also found out i need a new chain...that i didnt like :angry

pointer rsv · Aug 27, 2008

mine on four rings down but set to standard settings and it handle's fine a ride out over north whales proved it on starday:thumbup

pointer rsv · Aug 27, 2008

think i'll go 180 back tyre next time from reading on here should make life on turning easyir let you know?

Gixerhowie · Sep 13, 2008

Just been out on the mille and four rings down is a lot better. More confidence in the front. Recommended.

amb67 · Sep 13, 2008

I agree, mine was showing two rings when I bought it. Dropped it through two more rings (four in total) and it handled so much better.

Still playing around with my compression and rebound settings at the moment, I'll get there eventually.

Need some bloody new tyres now, had some knob turn right in front of me this afternoon, have flat spotted my rear tyre.

Still, I suppose at least I have the satisfaction that my tyres won't cost as much as his wing mirror. Scratched my bar end too but a bit of black paint should sort that out.

(No it wasn't me that damaged his mirror, as he turned right he hit a parked car and took out his own mirror) Made me chuckle.:biggrin

Gixerhowie · Sep 13, 2008

Count your blessings it didn't end up a lot worse!! Mine is set up as per the race settings found in the manual. Handles great with my 14 stone. I find the standard items are fine as long as they're not showing signs of wear. Maxton are worth a call if you need a cheap rebuild of the standard forks/shock. Cost around £300-400 together, which gives you piece of mind and a lot cheaper than after market items.

Bagel · Sep 13, 2008

Mate of mine round the corner (who is a decent club racer and knows what he's doing with suspension etc) has his Mille set to 4 rings. Mine's set to 3, which I think is the standard (as per Haynes anyway). We went out the other day and he suggested swopping bikes to see if I liked his set up. Back to back, I would have to say his felt so much more planted and confident in the bends (although he has an Ohlins damper fitted too!). I did prefer the 4 ring set up though, really feels like you can tuck it into corners.

02Aprilia · Sep 13, 2008

I don't think this constitutes a thread highjack. :thumbup What is involved in changing this setting? I'm a novice when it comes to suspension set-up. A tech at the Aprilia dealer rode my 02 and said my head bearings were loose anyway. This seems like it could be part of the same project this week. Where do I get the massive Allen key that holds the top triple on? I want to pull off the Vortex clip-ons that don't allow full lock to lock turning. It's currently a whore to manuever in parking lots, >90 degrees corners, etc. Thanks gentleman :dunno

amb67 · Sep 14, 2008

02Aprilia, you need special tools to set up your headstock bearings, namely a special socket and torque wrench.

Don't just knock the nut round with a hammer and chisel, please!!!

As for dropping the forks through, no special tools needed just some way of supporting the bike so that all the weight is off the front end for a while.

For full detailed instructions read the manual here Click Me

It's a pretty easy job to do but you must make sure you follow the instructions carefully and observe all the correct torque settings.

PS. AF1 do all your special tool needs.

johnr · Sep 15, 2008

Hi 02

you can make the special tool for the head bearings fairly easily

johnr

amb67 · Sep 15, 2008

You have my undivided attention Johnr.

How do I make that socket then, always looking at ways to save myself letting other people work on my pride and joy.

johnr · Sep 15, 2008

Hi Amb

I will take a photograph of the tool I made up. It isn`t pretty but it works well and cost 50p to make.
johnr

amb67 · Sep 15, 2008

johnr said:
Hi Amb

I will take a photograph of the tool I made up. It isn`t pretty but it works well and cost 50p to make.
johnr

Cool, cheers mate.

Who cares what it looks like as long as it does the job.

Not me for sure!!!!

johnr · Sep 16, 2008

I have posted photos at johns albums-socket but I don`t know where this file is located ?

Use the top ring nut as a jig but I can explain more later

Johnr

Fork adjustment

Help Support Aprilia Forum:

Gixerhowie

Flick1

stinky

Sprocker

cheesy1

Gixerhowie

Sprocker

pointer rsv

Guest

pointer rsv

Guest

Gixerhowie

amb67

Guest

Gixerhowie

Bagel

02Aprilia

amb67

Guest

johnr

amb67

Guest

johnr

amb67

Guest

johnr

Similar threads

New Posts