zerMATT
Pro
Posts: 1931
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posted April 27, 2006 06:01 AM
Suspension Settings?
Can someone give me a quick lesson on setting suspension? I want to firm up the ride a bit and set it more for *my* weight instead of their 150lb test riders. I've already cranked the front preload in a little from 6 lines showing to 4 showing, but from there I'm a little lost.
I know there are resources out there with recommended settings for bikes that have been out for a while... does anyone have any guesses on where to start with this one?
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'06 Passion Red ZX-14 | Black D&D Slip-ons | Speedo Healer | V1 | zumo 550 | Heli-Risers | PhantomX
  
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Nixter
Expert Class
Posts: 152
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posted April 27, 2006 06:44 AM
Here is a decent write up. I have another one somewhere that I scanned from Performance Bike years ago. If I find it I'll post it up.
http://wotid.com/tls/content/view/22/53/
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2012 ZX14R - Black
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zerMATT
Pro
Posts: 1931
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posted April 27, 2006 07:10 AM
That looks very informative, I'll read through it tonigh. Thanks!
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'06 Passion Red ZX-14 | Black D&D Slip-ons | Speedo Healer | V1 | zumo 550 | Heli-Risers | PhantomX
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fastestbusaaround
Needs a life
I eat Fish...
Posts: 7889
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posted April 27, 2006 08:35 AM
quote:
That looks very informative, I'll read through it tonigh. Thanks!
You guys were right...this bike is truly awesome! I'm impressed as hell now.
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FYYFF!!!
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redelk
Moderator
Please... speak to the hand.
Posts: 3212
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posted April 27, 2006 09:36 AM
I posted this in another thread.
In a recent issue of Sport Rider, Kent Kunitsugu wrote one of the best editorials I've read in quite some time. In his Wheelspin column, he says...
Don't simply rely on others' suspension settings (including ours)-try experimenting to find out which ones work best for you.
FINALLY! Someone admits that published suspension settings, be it a magazine or a web forum, are nothing more than a "starting point" for a "average" rider. Myself, being a similar weight to you... we ain't "average". There are a few "basics" that come into play when talking about setting one's suspension.
First, like a bike's engine, its suspension has a "break in" period too. It can take 250 to 500 miles for the OEM forks sliders, shock shaft and swingarm bearings to get "settled in". The standard suspension setting is for a rider that weighs 150 lbs while wearing all their gear (helmet, leathers, boots, gloves). Settings made prior to the suspension "breaking in" will not necessarily be the best setting after everything settles in.
If you we weighed about 150 in full gear, it might not be that big of an issue. On the other hand, every bike, be it a cruiser, dirt bike or a sportbike should have their suspension set specifically for the individual owner. If not, having adjustable forks and shock would be pointless.
Click on this link and print it out.
Sport Rider Suspension Setup Guide
Read it a couple of times to get a better understanding of how your suspension works before you start making adjustments.
Of course, setting the sag is the most important part and is the foundation of making any other adjustment (rebound, compression, etc.). In a perfect world, you would want to do this at least every time you put new tires on the bike. You and a couple of your riding buddies (it will take two other people to do it right) can do it in in less than 15 minutes and it will make a world of difference.
There is no such thing as a "Perfect Suspension Set-up" that will work on every road or surface. Because the road surfaces you ride on vary radically (versus the surfaces of a race track), setting you suspension will be a compromise of what works best for the majority of riding conditions and surfaces. Still, to not take the time to set your suspension is robbing you of a more confident handling ride and a safer ride as well.
Once you get an idea of how a bike's suspension works, you might want to go to this website and read up on a more detailed guide.
RPS Suspension Guide
Marcus McBain of Racing Performance Services does the majority of suspension work on our race bikes. What is so funny is that he explains everything he does and why, so we could do it ourselves, but we still pay him to do most of it. Still, you don't have to be a racer or have a high dollar aftermarket suspension to benefit from the information on his website.
Most folks just turn the adjusters on their suspension a click or two, if the make any adjustment at all. At the same time, they will spend hundreds, if not thousands on pipes, filters and such. It is all a waste if they don't at least set their suspension and its FREE!
The main reason in at least checking the setting after changing tires, especially if you change brand of tires,is to take full advantage of all a tire has to offer in the way of performance. If the suspension isn't right, you might as well run the cheapest tires available and just ride back and forth to the local Sonic.
The '04 10R (like mine) has been know to have a unusually stiff suspension, even for track applications or for those of us that fit in the "Big and Tall" category. When I took it to Marcus, the first thing he did was SOFTEN the compression and rebound settings. While many thinks "Stiffer is better", that is not always the case.
On our CMRA race bikes, will do it several times during the season since we change tires and the fork oil after just 6 to 8 hours of racing. Needless to say, your wouldn't need to worry about your fork oil for at least a full riding season.
One of the things I've learned over the years is that improving a bike's engine performance is nice, but if one wants to REALLY improve their bike and their "riding experience", getting the suspension set-up sorted out is the fastest, cheapest and most dramatic (short of running a counter sprocket that's TWO teeth smaller than stock) "mod" one can do to their bike.
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There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.
-Ernest Hemingway
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zerMATT
Pro
Posts: 1931
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posted April 27, 2006 10:08 AM
Thanks redelk! Helpful information as always 
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'06 Passion Red ZX-14 | Black D&D Slip-ons | Speedo Healer | V1 | zumo 550 | Heli-Risers | PhantomX
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nightmare
Pro
ACP Racing
Posts: 1797
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posted April 29, 2006 05:28 PM
you are ready to change that already?
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Tool Man
Needs a job
Posts: 4493
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posted April 29, 2006 06:03 PM
I have bumped up the preload on the front already about a turn and a half. I'm a big guy so it was a little soft. Planning to play with her tomorrow some more and see where she needs a tickle or two 
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The banks are failing..
The banks are failing...
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