All You Need to Know About Motorcycle Suspension

Posted on: Jun 17, 2022 | | Written by:

All You Need to Know About Motorcycle Suspension

The suspension forms one of the indispensable and integral parts of any two-wheeler. To ensure the proper functioning of the suspension system, you need to understand the geometry of the system. If you change any of the components, the maintenance of the proper geometry of the suspension system is essential for smooth driving and riding. Apart from ensuring proper maintenance of the concerned bike, you must indulge in befitting two-wheeler insurance, too. When the rear and the front ends of the bike are in perfect sync with each other, the shock absorber components interact well with each other, achieving optimum results.

1. Front suspension

● Conventional telescopic forks

The telescopic forks are the most popular kind of front suspension. It is composed of long hydraulic tubes with an internally-fitted coil spring. The upper section of these forks remains connected with the motorcycle frame while the other end remains fitted with the axle of the front wheel. The lower part adjusts itself to the imperfections of the road, effectively absorbing the vibrations and jerks. It remains filled with oil for smooth operation.

● Upside down forks

These upside-down, or inverted forks, are the conventional forks that are placed in an upside-down manner. These are mostly used in modern-day high-end bikes, decreasing the entire unsprung bike weight, and enhancing torsion stiffness, resulting in efficient handling.

2. Rear suspension

With technological advancement, bike makers have begun to adopt the concept of rear suspension. The two principal components of rear suspension are coil springs and swingarm.

● Swingarm

The special quadrilateral portion of the two-wheeler, where the shorter side remains attached to the frame of the bike while the other end remains bolted on the axle of the rear wheel, around the turning of the wheel. In several makes of bikes, the swingarm is present only on one side. However, although it eases the rear wheel removal, it enhances the unsprung weight of the suspension. So, with swingarm, generally, two varieties of suspension are used:

A) win shock absorbers:

Ideally present in off-road two-wheelers, the two shock absorbers remain present at the back of the bike. These were widely popular since the 70s and 80s, as they offered enhanced rear-wheel travel.

B) Mono shock absorbers:

Technological advancements have led to the emergence of mono shock absorbers, ensuring better performance. These mono shocks effectively reduce the torque from the designated swingarm.

Bike shock absorber design

The shock absorbers of the bike are well pressurized under heavy gas pressure. Although the fluid is inserted, the pressure and the fluid remain away from each other with the aid of a special piston. This exclusive separating remains directly fixed above the shock absorber and remains in a different reservoir.

Apart from this, there is another kind of shock absorber available in bikes, where, everything remains fitted within the principal cylinder tube. This particular tube is also known as the internal gas reservoir.

For fluid pressurization, exclusively nitrogen gas is utilized. This pressurization technique prevents fluid cavitations, which is essential for experiencing a smoother shock absorption process. The external reservoirs that remain attached are responsible for maintaining the internal temperature of the fluid, which in turn eventually enhances the service life of both the fluid and the components.

There remains special integrated temperature compensation in the bike shock absorbers. As the temperature of the fluid starts rising, the fluid flow enhances. However, this flow is monitored within the absorbers. Therefore, we can see that the effects of shock absorption do not depend on the temperature.

The current mechanism of bike shock absorbers involves individual adjustment of both compression damping and rebounding damping as well. Moreover, either a hydraulic pre-loading system or mechanical pre-loading system is also available in the latest designs of bike’s shock absorbers.

Fluid flow details within the motorcycle shock absorbers

The fluid flow of the shock absorbers is monitored to remain slow, by utilising the needle valves. However, it can also be formed using other relevant apertures too, that remain present within the piston. The steel washers, i.e., the shims, are responsible for regulating the fluid flow. When the pressure of the fluid flow rises, these shims automatically get deflected from their designated position. The damping action can be altered depending on the number, diameter, and thickness of the shims present and involved in the action.

As the motorcycle shock absorbers receive compression because of the motorcycle’s movement, through the needle valves, i.e., the combination of the compression valves and the return valves, the concerned fluid begins to flow within the piston road. During fast compression, the piston velocity remains significantly high; the needle valves prove to be insufficient. Under such circumstances, the fluid then begins to flow through the shims, which remain placed just below the piston. This fluid is then forcefully pressed into the external fluid chamber, which eventually gets displaced through the special piston rod. A different compressive valve is utilised through which the fluid gets forced into the external fluid chamber. This valve remains attached to the shims that automatically open during the high velocity of the piston.

The setting of shock absorbers in motorcycles and bikes

For the effective setting of the shock absorbers in motorcycles and bikes, you need to follow these simple steps precisely:

● Stand the concerned bike or the motorcycle firmly first

● Raise the rear end of the concerned vehicle, for keeping the suspension entirely extended

● The distance is measured, either from any point above the rear wheel axle or the lower edge of the back of the mudguard, marked by a piece of a tape

● The front axle also undergoes similar measurements, between the front wheel axle and below the upper fork crown

● The bike or the motorcycle is allowed to apply load without the rider as the measurement procedure gets repeated

● The second measurements are calculated without the rider

Steps for proper maintenance and inspection of the shock absorbers of motorcycles and bikes

For ensuring perfect maintenance and enhanced longevity of the shock absorbers of bikes and motorcycles, you need to follow certain simple steps. These steps are as follows:

● For ensuring external cleanliness, the shock absorbers can be cleaned with soft and mild detergent powder or liquid. Compressed air can also serve this purpose well.

● You must ensure a clean spot for cleaning the shock absorbers.

● While undergoing cleaning, you must also lift the bump rubber. To ensure proper maintenance, you can spray oil on these shock absorbers often.

● The internals should never be cleaned with detergent, as it might eventually lead to pre-term corrosion.

● For easy and rapid drying of the surface of the shock absorbers, you can use thinner and brake cleaner as well.

● Under normal circumstances, the gas pressure of the shock absorbers must not be altered in any manner

● However, if it at all requires alteration, certain exclusive special types of equipment must be used to do so

● You must ensure regular checking and monitoring of the concerned ball joints for a smooth play

● The piston shafts of the shock absorbers must be regularly checked for damage and leakage prevention

● Tight and secured fastening of the shock absorbers in any two-wheeler prevents extreme wear and tear of various rubber equipment that remain present within these absorbers

Conclusion

From the above discussion, the mechanism of motorcycle suspension is evident. However, irrespective of these finer mechanisms and makes, you must ensure proper two-wheeler insurance for safety and security.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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