I'm 6'4" and 280lbs. What can I do to help with my suspension? Do I need a new spring? If so, where can I buy one and how much should I expect to pay? Or can I just adjust? Big Newbie here, please help with any suggestions.

the answer depends a lot on how you like to ride...really aggressive or just putting down fire/gravel roads.

maybe you'll like the 'plush' feel of the stock with your weight?

I do mostly street and some trail riding. It is true that it is very plush.

Define "trail". Tails vary a LOT. I tend to take mine through the steepest, rockiest, bumpiest, muddiest, slippery trails I can find. If that is in your future, springs would be a good idea.

I have stock suspension and I often find it's limits. I'm 6'3 and about 240 and I'll bottom out the forks a lot. The suspension is really starting to limit me in the rocky sections. If I go too fast the forks will bottom out on the bigger ones and that's pretty dangerous. I'm actually pretty impressed with the rear shock. I come down on it in woop-de-doos with the full weight of everything and it really doesn't complain. If you do decide to make any changes, you should probably do both front and rear at the same time.

If you're less adventurous, you might be fine for a while.

Just my own newbie .02

being just a tad heavier than you i would say you definitely should get heavier springs, you may just cruise now but as you get more comfortable you will start to do more. The suspension can handle but with proper springs and sag set correctly the suspension works as it was designed. Springs are about $100 new for each end so you can take your time and look on ebay and search for deals and maybe get used springs for $50-60 range. May be a bit hard to have heavier springs come across. With stock spring you can cruise roads but you will be bottoming out with holes and various offroad

i'm about the same size asyou and all i did to my pig is 4 full turns of preload on the rear shock.for my style of riding i should replace the springs, but after 20000 miles i'll just sloww down a bit.

i havent bottomed out yet. Like you said, still getting comfortable. Funny how people always assume it's a small bike until I tell them its a 650, the bike is normal size, I'm the big one on it!!!

LOL just think the crap i get being 20lbs bigger than you at PigFest when i was still on my L. My buddy called my streetbike (CBR 600) Circus Bear Rider cuz i looked like one of them 500lb bears on a 10" bike LOL its all good brother!! when you get to the point of hitting stuff hard enough and the suspension is bottoming out you need to upgrade springs.

I'm 260 and have swapped springs front and back, It makes a big difference!

TRY::thumbsup:

http://eibach.com/cg...com.au/ems.html

&

http://www.racetech.com/

Denn10 said:

try 6'8" 330.:p

Dang, you make that bike look like a toy.

definitely the circus bear on the tricycle look

you should see it when i try to sit on my cousins xr100.

inyoyote needs bar risers, tall bars, and heavier springs. :jawdrop:

I look like that on my SV650 though. :smirk:

xr650rkyle said:

+1 did the Eibach & just ordered the Gold valve kits for front and back. The springs made a huge difference but still need to do the valves.

Cumbacheech

shrubitup said:

oh definately. ive been looking around. since arnold took fifteen percent, its a little tough to spend much money right now. but come june when the furloughes are SUPPOSED to end, ill be doing alot of adjustments.