2heavy
Parking Attendant
Posts: 18
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posted April 15, 2010 11:54 AM
Suspension surprise
I feel like a complete dummy . I picked up my used 07 about a month ago and have been commuting to work enjoying it, but I did feel that the ride was a bit stiff. Well yesterday I took the suspension settings back to stock and would start to make adjustments from there. The rear shock was full stiff on compression and the front pre-load was waaay too stiff. It is much better now so I can systematically tighten up to find the sweet spot. I just assumed it wasn't too far off but boy what a surprise. Oh well, I am going to change the oil now cause I don't want to assume that is okay too.
  
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LAB3
Needs a job
Posts: 2977
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posted April 15, 2010 04:29 PM
Welcome. I have a 2007 also. Have fun setting the supension, I have had to make small
adjustments several times. There is a video on line that shows a tech from Ohlins showing
how to set sag etc, for your weight. Took two people to adjust as you need to be on bike.
Have fun and ride safe :-)
Louis
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gilberjj
Needs a job
Friend of Fast
Posts: 3196
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posted April 15, 2010 05:31 PM
haha! I've never heard of a zx14's suspension referred to as "too stiff"
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LAB3
Needs a job
Posts: 2977
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posted April 15, 2010 05:37 PM
quote:
haha! I've never heard of a zx14's suspension referred to as "too stiff"
Unless you weigh 130 pounds :-)
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dcjens
Pro
Wet side of Washington
Posts: 1059
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posted April 15, 2010 05:59 PM
Mine was completely cranked tight when I got it too. It felt like a pogo stick. Why KHI set it up for a buck-fiddy rider is beyond me. Not all of us are lunkers either  I stay out of the fridge
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Black 06
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SteveWFL
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted April 15, 2010 06:56 PM
no carbs for me too. but at 170 and 6'2" my ZX14 was soft as a sponge on its stiffest setting
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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zixxer14
Pro
Damn that was Quick
Posts: 1233
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posted April 15, 2010 07:48 PM
Compared to the Ohlins on my other bike the suspension on my 14 is harsh, ill damped & way too soft, but other than that it holds the bike up off the fenders pretty well.
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SLVR_BLT
Zone Head
Chicken Strips!
Posts: 589
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posted April 16, 2010 03:34 PM
quote:
haha! I've never heard of a zx14's suspension referred to as "too stiff"
Pfft me neither. I am in bad need of a re-spring / re-valve. It feels like a pogo stick.
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2006 Kawasaki ZX14, Muzzy Full Titanium Exhaust w/ Carbon Can, PCIII, BMC Street Filter
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eklipse636
Needs a life
ZX-14
Posts: 6046
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posted April 16, 2010 05:21 PM
quote:
quote:
haha! I've never heard of a zx14's suspension referred to as "too stiff"
Pfft me neither. I am in bad need of a re-spring / re-valve. It feels like a pogo stick.
+1. I put a stiffer spring, have it tightened all the way down, and all the adj tight. It still has 5" of travel.
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Best: 60ft 1.351 1/8 5.68 mph 123.98 1/4
8.89 mph 151.32
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Ozonkiller
Expert Class
Posts: 350
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posted April 16, 2010 10:09 PM
Race tech springs and gold valves in the forks did the trick for me.
It's a whole new bike.
Tom
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Earthbound Missile
Novice Class
08' Silver ZX14
Posts: 47
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posted April 16, 2010 10:40 PM
quote:
Race tech springs and gold valves in the forks did the trick for me.
It's a whole new bike.
Tom
what did that set you back and did you do the work yourself???
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Ozonkiller
Expert Class
Posts: 350
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posted April 16, 2010 10:53 PM
I don't really know what the cost was as I did a guy a favor and he showed up one day with all of the stuff and dropped it on my work bench with a hearty "Thanks".
I did it myself but the instructions are a bit hard to follow.
I'm 165 lbs and the stock springs were to limp. I think I ended up with 1.0 kg springs and a pretty soft shim setup as my biggest beef was the harshness in the high speed damping. It's freakin' awesome now.
Three things that I'll advise. Use Honda's 5 wt synthetic fork oil!!!!!! They have you cut 10mm off of the spacer for the fork springs. Don't do it. I ended up putting the 10mm back in. Last, I only did the compression. I didn't feel that the rebound was a problem.
The front end is supple yet very composed even when ridden aggresively. I never had very much confidence in the front end before. It's awesome now.
Good luck,
Tom
BTW Racetech.com has some links to help you determine which springs etc. to use
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Earthbound Missile
Novice Class
08' Silver ZX14
Posts: 47
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posted April 16, 2010 11:33 PM
quote:
I don't really know what the cost was as I did a guy a favor and he showed up one day with all of the stuff and dropped it on my work bench with a hearty "Thanks".
I did it myself but the instructions are a bit hard to follow.
I'm 165 lbs and the stock springs were to limp. I think I ended up with 1.0 kg springs and a pretty soft shim setup as my biggest beef was the harshness in the high speed damping. It's freakin' awesome now.
Three things that I'll advise. Use Honda's 5 wt synthetic fork oil!!!!!! They have you cut 10mm off of the spacer for the fork springs. Don't do it. I ended up putting the 10mm back in. Last, I only did the compression. I didn't feel that the rebound was a problem.
The front end is supple yet very composed even when ridden aggresively. I never had very much confidence in the front end before. It's awesome now.
Good luck,
Tom
BTW Racetech.com has some links to help you determine which springs etc. to use
I'm the same as you everthing is ok except for the fork springs came out of a ball point pen,
how about the rear shock/ spring? seems fine to me now but with a front end sorted that might highlight any problems out back, thanks for the advice
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2heavy
Parking Attendant
Posts: 18
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posted April 17, 2010 08:27 AM
Thanks for the feedback folks. I am going to use the Race Tech stuff when I save up the coin. Maybe "Stiff" isn't the right word from the OP but it didn't feel settled with the adjustments cranked all the way in is more accurate.
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Hellmutt
Needs a job
Posts: 2013
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posted April 17, 2010 10:03 AM
When I bought mine the seller had it set up very nicely even for me outweighing him by 100lbs........but he was a twisty track racer with LOTS of experience with setting up bikes to his liking. All I had to do was up the spring tension on the rear shock a little at a time and take out a little dampening until I found the best response to my weight........be patient, and don't over adjust -- it's a process of fine tuning
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British flying couch with endtables and an orange thumper
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