Your Motorcycle’s Suspension System
If your motorcycle doesn’t have a well-tuned and well-designed suspension system, then you’re going to be in for some very unpleasant riding. The suspension on your motorcycle is there to keep you from feeling bumps in the road and also to help the bike handle better for easy riding.
Indian Motorcycle® of Orange County in Westminster is your southern California motorcycle dealer, serving LA and greater Orange County. Keep reading to learn more about the suspension system on your motorcycle and how it functions.
Suspension Parts
The suspension system on your motorcycle is made up of many different parts. Some motorcycles may have separate suspension systems for the front and rear wheels.
On the front wheel, a telescoping fork with a damper will absorb shocks via a metal coil. Low-viscosity oil enters the damper’s small orifice, which has a plug inside it. The plug helps to reduce vibrations so that your ride isn’t too bumpy. On the rear wheel, a coil-over system will absorb shocks to keep your ride smooth.
How Suspension Performs
Your bike’s suspension system is going to be a problem if it’s either too loose or too tight. A loose suspension system is going to cause the rider to bounce up and down and it might be harder to handle the bike. A tight suspension system is not going to be able to absorb the jolts and bumps in the road, giving the rider a very painful riding experience that can even do damage to muscles and joints.
A well-adjusted suspension system will smooth out your ride and make it so that you feel very little of the impact of the road. The suspension system also helps to keep your wheels on the road to improve both steering and traction.
Depending on your body type, you may want to make a few adjustments to the suspension system on your motorcycle to improve the comfort and handling of your ride. Larger riders can benefit from a tighter suspension system, while smaller riders can benefit from a little more looseness. You can always get a mechanic to help you tune your suspension system to your body type for best results.
Why Suspension Systems Differ
The type of suspension system your bike has will vary depending on the designated purpose of your motorcycle. For example, touring motorcycles are designed with suspension systems that will help to reduce the shocks of the road to improve your comfort, while this isn’t as much of a priority on a cruiser. Meanwhile, the suspension system on a sport motorcycle needs to be really flexible to handle the harsher riding conditions. A good motorcycle suspension system is tuned to the type of riding that the bike is designed to excel at, giving the motorcyclist the best riding experience possible.
Looking to purchase a new bike? Stop by our dealership located in Westminster, CA, to take a look at our wide stock of new and used motorcycles for sale. Indian Motorcycle® of Orange County proudly serves greater Los Angeles, Orange County and all of our SoCal customers.