neophyte

Well I still don't understand how to get the coupling off of the fittings. I push one way then the other with my fingers gently/firmly forward and back..it doesn't move (the gray/white collar). am I tooo mechanically stupid to own this bike? Any advice?

The workshop manual says "remove quick disconnect hoses from tank" . This to me is not straightforward because I don't understand how they "quick disconnect". I've pushed the "gray" collar with my fingers forward and back, like I would an air chuck collar, but it doesn't move with light/medium finger pressure. I don't understand these fittings. It is not straightforward to me - I'm ignorant as to how get the the hoses off so I can get the tank off............ I'm frustrated.. any help? pictures? do i need to pry with a screw driver on plastic?

I decided to dive in and make changes to my Öhlins shod 04 café sport. I zeroed out (to full hard) each setting, then to see how many actual clicks I went all the way back to "full soft". Front: Compression +3 clicks from _full soft_ ; Rebound +7 clicks from _full soft_ . I counted about 28 clicks of adjustment available. Rear: Compression +12 from _full soft_ ; Rebound +24 from _full soft_ (didn't write down how many total clicks available). Handling felt less sharp and a little "tippy" feeling....but the ride home was at least not tiring for once. Have not adjust "race sag", or ride height with preload yet.

I just put on Angel STs. I have about 400 miles on them and I like them. I had to go to a non-guzzi shop and hope everything got put back together o.k. I think so anyway. Nothing has fallen off. I dropped the size on the rear to 170/60.

Thanks Baldini, I may try that if I decide I don't want to mess with removing tank. I don't have a garage to work in and the weather looks spotty so may try this route.

Thanks, O.K. if this is the right time to ask...I don't understand how the hoses come off the tank. They are quick connect conntectors? Do I pull on the gray platic collar, away from the elbow. I'm not lazy I just don't want to ham fist and break the darn thing and have to wait 8 months for parts and be stranded. It seems pretty quick to do, although a little complicated....everything off, adjust preload, everything on, measure, repeat Maybe I would hope one turn of the preload ring equals about one millimeter of sag adjustment like the article says? I had a ride height of F1-F3 = 43mm (front) and R1-R3 = 38mm (rear). The generic Öhlins owner's manual, that I downloaded somewhere years ago, suggests front 35-50mm and rear 25-40mm. The öhlins website has a bit different numbers. I think the rear number is too high as it is and more pre-load would be a possible good thing to do. I read "pre-load on the springs is very important" but that and some generic ranges are all I have for guidance. What would Mr. Knievel do??

I have the öhlins shock which I think has the "C" and "D" rings in the same orientation. I have the special tool to turn them. I took a side panel off but the airbox looks in the way for reaching through. I didn't really see how you can get at these even with the tank off, but maybe once the tank is off you have more room?? What is the easiest way to adjust the rear spring pre-load - move the collars?

Well I'll get right to the heart of the matter. My Front Ride Height (F1-F3): 43 MM My Rear Ride Height (R1-R3): 38 MM I weigh about 190 lbs and am 5 foot 9 inches tall - stocky. I don't really have enough riding experience to diagnose if I need more this or that on my settings, but I would say I wondered about the rear. I have a hunch or feel it kind of squats down maybe more in back, and maybe I sense a little understeer or maybe not....that is just my ignorance. Freeing up grabbing brakes: I did not find a suitable tool on hand to rotate the buttons but with patient penetrant application and mallet tapping I feel I freed them up pretty good and hope brake grabbing will be abated. How to measure sag with a book bag and a little sister: I took careful measurements of the front and rear unloaded (I have a stand). I then loaded up a backpack with Guzziology, Pons full size German-English dictionary, some tomes on unreadable things in hardcover, put my riding jacket on, and then I sat on my guzzi in best riding position - although with my left hand on a wheelie bin to steady the bike, while my little sister took measurements with the tape like I instructed her to do. Her numbers were in the right direction and she couldn't be too far off the mark. But lets say +/- 2-3 mm: Anyone have thoughts on how to proceed? What say useall about my measurements? Thank you in advance,

Hi, I used to be active on the forum after I had bought a new 04 sport in 2006. Circumstances as they are I didn't ride much in the last few years and my guzzi has only 5300 miles on it. The only problem I have had so far was blown rear brake light due to short in wiring. I am also a "new" motorcycle rider. I don't have much experience really, so setting up the suspension is a little daunting. But I need to do it because I have pretty much been uncomfortable on it. Sometimes not feeling "stable" in addition to rear feeling like it is kicking me hard in the rear on frost heaves in pavement at speed. So in addition to introducing myself again, I'll be working on getting this bike as good of shape as I can because now I only have the bike as transportation. Also, I will be moving to the South Bend area and wonder if anyone has any knowledge of the Jordan Powersports dealer in Mishawaka that I think is a new dealership. I want to feel confident when riding so hope to get things settled as best a person frankly ignorant of suspension feel can do. I'm 5ft 8inch and probably weigh about 190 lbs. I think the layout is o.k for my frame/arm length/leg length. I try not to think about worries of reliability....fear of my oil filter spinning off or transmission springs breaking. Honestly I like to believe this bike can be a dependable daily ride.