Suspension Setup

[R1Gurl]

I ran across this while looking for some other stuff, thought it might come in handy!

http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/146_street_bike_suspension_settings/index.html

[o2lily]

I really REALLY hate how I cant see 90% of the links bc of my works "fun blocker"
I'll check it when I get home :D

[R1Gurl]

Cool, if I didn't already have my suspension set for me, I would give it a try so that we could put some experience behind it...help determine whether it's a good tool to have or not.

Maybe someone on our board would be willing to try it out and let us know. :)

[TwelveMag]

having your suspension dialed in is the best thing you can do.

Most bike shops will do it for you. Or you can tighten it all up and sit on it and start to loosen each area with quater turns when it feels just right go for a ride and adjust accordingly...

[R1Gurl]

I agree it's helped me tremendously

[Pippi]

I agree it's helped me tremendously

Same here

[Cutty72]

They aren't too bad, provided your bike is listed.

It still makes a differance on rider size/weight, and riding style.

[richardlpalmer]

Nice link but please keep things in perspective. Those are the settings SportRider used during their ride/review. Please don't read into it that your bike should have those settings.

Each bike/rider combo will have its own set of settings. I don't want to come across preachy or anything, but suspension settings can/will make such a major difference in your riding I'd be remiss if I didn't call this to people's attention.

If you happen to get the opportunity to go to the track for a track day you'll often find suspension setting people there. Pay the $20 or $50 (or whatever they charge at your particular date) to have a baseline setting done on your bike.

Sag will be the first thing they set -- and this is the very first thing you need to do for you and your bike. They'll push up and down on your bike and make some baseline settings while you're sitting on the bike, then have you go out for a session.

After the session the feedback you give them will be critical. For instance, when you're exiting a corner, rolling on the throttle, you find yourself running wide -- that shows the rake of your bike is increasing (bike's turning into a chopper to a small degree). This usually shows your rear end (bike's, not yours) is squatting under throttle -- pre-load needs to be increased.

Anyway, not doing a clinic here. Just want you to know these settings would be horrible for me. I'm 6'2", 260# so I can't use those settings at all. In fact, I need a different spring for my R1 (an R6 spring actually works perfectly BTW).

If you're under 140# those setting will most likely be off. Kent K. is usually the sportbike tester they use and he's a tiny Asian dude. I think he weighs 140# soaking wet. Most sportbikes are set from the factory for 160# rider...

Okay, enough blathering. Go have fun and ride. :D

But a piece of advice. If there's a particular road/track you ride frequently, keep a little notebook and take notes of how your bike reacts around particular corners, dips in the road, crests, etc. and if/when you make a change go ride that stretch again.

Oh, but don't change more than one thing between taking notes. This way you'll be able to see how the change affected your handling. More on this if needed/wanted... :victory:

[richardlpalmer]

Why the heck are my posts always nested within someone else's post? I clicked on the Post Reply button at the tippy top of the page...

[PlayfulGod]

Why the heck are my posts always nested within someone else's post? I clicked on the Post Reply button at the tippy top of the page...

check your display mode. No one else's post should be nested with yours unless you quote someone.

[PlayfulGod]

I think the setting on that link are for a avg size weight, and like you said wont work for all.

[PlayfulGod]

A couple other links on setting up you suspension.

http://www.onthethrottle.com/v2/

http://www.gostar-racing.com/club/motorcycle_suspension_set-up.htm


We set mine up closer to me tonite and it made an incredible improvement in the bikes handling and my riding.:big_boss:

[Teflon]

Definately... and you'll wanna check your setup as the weather changes too. Higher temps will play havok on the oil and make slight changes in the way the bike handles. Different roads and conditions will all make it change... and it only takes like 15 minutes to do the setting up, and a couple hours of fun testing to make sure its right!