Never rode with pillion so can't really comment, but the reviews say the suspension is a bit on the soft side... i'll be changing mine at some point...probably for Ohlins.
Xsr suspension
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I'm a rather rubenesque gentlemen who portrays himself in a stately manner, so suspension calibration is typically a must on most of my motorcycles. (5'10" 240lbs)
I opted for the Ohlins rear shock (YA419) sprung for my weight and the Ohlins drop in inserts (FKS204) with springs (08425-90) matched for my weight. After calling Ohlins' tech line in NC, I was advised that I should leave the rear shock on the factory setting and adjust the forks to compression 8 clicks out and rebound 10 clicks out. (one leg handles compression and the other rebound) In everyday, non-aggressive riding, the suspension compliance is slightly more taught but dampens much better. Especially over bridge joints, potholes, and bumps. That means the suspension doesn't offer the same level of movement, but does much better with the amount of movement it has....if that makes sense.
The forks call for usage of Ohlins' fork oil which is rated in a standard that doesn't comport with SAE. A second phone call revealed that any fork oil weight between 5 and 7 weight will work fine.
Riding aggressively is where they upgrades tend to shine. The bike deals much better with mid corner track changes and seems to offer a bit more front end feed back. While I liked the OEM Phantom tires for general goofing off, I find they have very little feedback when heeled over. I don't feel like they are going to let go. I just don't push them very hard because I know it was a tire designed with a vintage look in mind and not for performance. Still they offer pretty good performance. Keep in mind I've been riding sport style motorcycle tires since 1990 or so, so I remember the golden age of sticky street tires. (We have it so good now you don't even know!) back then, some "sport" tires were pretty sketchy unless you had them heated to certain temp and would overheat and become greasy at a point that almost seemed arbitrary. never-mind half of them were still bias ply! I have since fitted some Michelin Road 5s, and while that's an extended mileage tire, it offers considerably more feedback from the front. Seriously, most of the sport touring tires now are better than the best offerings then.
Do the rear shock/forks/springs get you $1400 worth of better handling? Nope. But it made me like a bike I really like a little bit more. I'm probably no faster on it in street riding than I was with the wallowy stock stuff. I just feel a little more in control. I'm one of the faster riders in my small group of riding buddies. It gives them an excuse to point of my Ohlins sticker and suggest that's why I leave them on technical back roads when they can't keep up with their MT10s and Speed Triples.
Then we get out on the open highway and they even the score. Buncha jerks! I've only got 70hp here~
I opted for the Ohlins rear shock (YA419) sprung for my weight and the Ohlins drop in inserts (FKS204) with springs (08425-90) matched for my weight. After calling Ohlins' tech line in NC, I was advised that I should leave the rear shock on the factory setting and adjust the forks to compression 8 clicks out and rebound 10 clicks out. (one leg handles compression and the other rebound) In everyday, non-aggressive riding, the suspension compliance is slightly more taught but dampens much better. Especially over bridge joints, potholes, and bumps. That means the suspension doesn't offer the same level of movement, but does much better with the amount of movement it has....if that makes sense.
The forks call for usage of Ohlins' fork oil which is rated in a standard that doesn't comport with SAE. A second phone call revealed that any fork oil weight between 5 and 7 weight will work fine.
Riding aggressively is where they upgrades tend to shine. The bike deals much better with mid corner track changes and seems to offer a bit more front end feed back. While I liked the OEM Phantom tires for general goofing off, I find they have very little feedback when heeled over. I don't feel like they are going to let go. I just don't push them very hard because I know it was a tire designed with a vintage look in mind and not for performance. Still they offer pretty good performance. Keep in mind I've been riding sport style motorcycle tires since 1990 or so, so I remember the golden age of sticky street tires. (We have it so good now you don't even know!) back then, some "sport" tires were pretty sketchy unless you had them heated to certain temp and would overheat and become greasy at a point that almost seemed arbitrary. never-mind half of them were still bias ply! I have since fitted some Michelin Road 5s, and while that's an extended mileage tire, it offers considerably more feedback from the front. Seriously, most of the sport touring tires now are better than the best offerings then.
Do the rear shock/forks/springs get you $1400 worth of better handling? Nope. But it made me like a bike I really like a little bit more. I'm probably no faster on it in street riding than I was with the wallowy stock stuff. I just feel a little more in control. I'm one of the faster riders in my small group of riding buddies. It gives them an excuse to point of my Ohlins sticker and suggest that's why I leave them on technical back roads when they can't keep up with their MT10s and Speed Triples.
Then we get out on the open highway and they even the score. Buncha jerks! I've only got 70hp here~
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