Suspension Adjustment

[Florida1000]

Im 6'1 240 and i notice the suspension is alittle soft when i roll on the throttle especialy in the back.. I notice it in the front as well but not as much so.. From what i understand the preset is set for a average of a 180lbs individual. My question is how much and what should i change to bring it in tune with myself /preload/dampining etc. Any thoughts or ideas in that dept would be apreciated

[Florida1000]

Also notice it going into corners hard

[jimbo77]

Wow, there's a real can of worms :( Next to oil types, you can't ask a question that will give a broader variety of answers. That's because suspension settings are dependant on a large number of factors. Before going any further, read some of the great info on these links 1) Motorcycle Suspension Setup (http://www.gostar-racing.com/information/motorcycle_suspension_set-up.htm) 2) Suzuki Suspension Setup Guide (http://home.iprimus.com.au/stevebm/suspension.htm) This one is all about setting up a Suzuki TLS, but will apply well to our machines . Or if you want to pick your own site from a bunch, check out the results of a Google search here (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=motorcycle+suspension+set+up) . Hope this gets you well on your way, but remember this first; it will take a few hundred miles for your suspension to "loosen up" or "break in". Wait for that before you do too much on adjustments, IMHO....

[Florida1000]

Thankyou.. I have to admit this is the first "NEW" bike i have owned and for that matter the first one with a fully adjustable suspension.

[jimbo77]

IMHO, again...

The most important factor in setting up your suspension is getting the static sag set correctly. This will allow the suspension to work in the proper range, and sets it up based on your weight. Get a buddy or two to hold the bike, and do the measurements, as all the guides suggest. That way, your not hanging off the bike, altering the load on the springs, trying to "see" how far it has lowered with your weight. Getting the sag alone set correctly will have a nice improvement on the handling. Once that is done, the fine tuning is done by trial and error with the compression and rebound. These are based on personal taste, riding style, road conditions, etc and can actually take some time to accomplish. Just remember, change one setting at a time, try to log before and after settings to be able to put it back if it doesn't feel right, and work on either the front or the rear at one time. If you go changing all the settings front and rear, you won't know which one made it worse or better. And here's a real hoot, I was once told if it feels like the front end is off, it's most likely the rear, and vice versa !!! HUH? I still don't think I've figured that one out... :wacko:

[Flange]

Jimbo has hit the nail square on the head - springing is all important on a conventional bike. If you don't get your springing right first up, nothing else will work properly suspension wise. I'm about 90kg in full riding gear and the stock SV springs are not quite strong enough to get ideal sag settings for me, so any riders around that weight or heavier should probably consider getting a set of springs appropriate to their weight. My front preload is set with the second ring just showing while at the rear preload is set with about an index finger's width of thread showing above the locking ring.

Once you've got the springing right for your weight, then use just enough damping to prevent the bike pogo-ing around on the rough stuff - just how much will depend on how rough the average roads are in your area. My front compression is wound off half a turn from factory standard, rebound is factory standard At the rear, dampings are both factory standard The front end still bucks just a little on some of the bumps but it's not too far off and has improved in the 2,500km that the bike has now covered.

Most bikes that I ride have heaps too much damping wound in which makes them ride like bricks and bounce off the tops of bumps, thus loosing traction. Generally it seems that people associate rock-hard suspension with good handling which is completely wrong. Likewise it seems that people associate strong springing with a hard ride which is also wrong - if your spring rates are correct, and the damping is not too strong, pretty much any bike will ride well. The idea of suspension is to keep the rubber in contact with the road, and that won't happen if the whole assembly is too hard & thus jumping off the tops of bumps.

Cheers
Flange

[Florida1000]

Thanks alot guys.. The website and the info you gave me is great.. Trying to learn as much about bikes as i can as quickly as possible. This is the first one ihave have had that i cared about. PReviously all the ones i owned were in the bahamas and just used for A to B travel. As long as they were running and safe i didnt care how they rode

[fugaziiv]

interestingli enough, it would seem that the stock settings had a 170 lb-er kinda guy in mind...

[jimbo77]

fugaziiv

Funny you should mention that. I am just about 170, and the stock preload settings were just about dead on. I had to put just a couple spins on rear preload, and only 1 less line showing on the front. The rebound on the front is 1/2 turn out, with compression at stock. Rebound in the rear is stock, with 1 3/4 turns out on compression. These were based on wearing good riding leather, and of course the roads around here in Florida. Once the suspension is worn in a bit, the settings may be off. But I think my lighter weight summer gear will counter that...

[jimbo77]

I had to put just a couple spins on rear preload,

For the record, mean showing a couple more threads on the rear preload. This required moving the adjusting nut about 1/2 to 2/3 turns for my weight of about 170 lbs.

and only 1 less line showing on the front

This meaning having 5 lines showing now, instead of 6 lines (stock setting).

[hesevil]

well i am a heavy guy, at 340lbs. i lucked out in that the dealership preset the suspension to settings that would better suit me. i dont remember what they are now ((im at work)) but they really couldnt be much better

for anyone who has any doubts about fine tuning their suspension, i would recommend taking it to your dealer for assistance. its a definite way to get it set up right the first time

[jonny5]

:pistols: Hi to all I need help! I have a sv1000n with gsxr 750 font end and need to try and set it up. The setting are all standered at mo, I have done some tack days on it and it's not to bad but just needs that little something. If someone is in the same boat or can help it would be good. OR JUST SHOOT ME :pistols: : !!!!!!!!!

[Flange]

:pistols: Hi to all I need help! I have a sv1000n with gsxr 750 font end and need to try and set it up.

What springs are in the GSX forks, and how heavy are you ?
Cheers
Flange

[jonny5]

HI FLANGE have racetec springs in but not revalved. And I only weigh 10 Stone! 66Kg The rear is standard at mo but want to fit Gsxr 1000 rear shock if i can get one, Have seen one on E-bay looks nice and cheap!
If you can help it would be great as I have trackday on wednesday :supsmiley

[sinic]

Have u done your neutral sag? etc etc

[Dogbone]

Sport Rider has some settings you might want to try.http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/146_susp_settings/
I am using their setup and the only thing I didn't like was the compression on the rear. It was a little harsh for me(my weight is 200lbs). But the rest of the setup really changed the handle for the better. But on really rough roads you will feel the stiffness through your body, but on decent roads it feels great! Also last week I tried 40 psi in the front and 42 psi in the rear and now the bike feels more positive and more like I am in control on fast corners, not so wishy washy like the tires are sliding and then grabbing. :supsmiley

[Flange]

I think Sinic's suggestion is best, simply do the sags for a starter. If the Racetech springs are for a GSX-r750, then they will probably be too weak for a lardster like the SV: Your light weight will help there though. If they are for the SV, then once the sags are correct you will only need to sort the damping to suit your weight, track conditions and preferences. I doubt if there are any "instant settings" which you can apply to the fork damping given all the variables, apart from perhaps what Suzuki specify for the stock GSX-r750.

As for the GSX shock, I have one sitting on the bench but before fitting it I am keen to see just what can be got out of the stock SV shock. Also, I don't know if the swingarm length and linkage on the SV would suit a shock designed for the GSX.

The SV rear spring is a bit light for my 90kg but for your 66 it probably isn't too far off the money. Just like the standard front valving, I think the rear shock high speed damping is too harsh so unless your track has a billiard-table finish, you will probably find yourself bouncing off the tops of the bumps and there's not much you can do about that. If this is the case you could back off the compression damping but that has much more effect on the low speed than it does the high speed damping - there is some crossover though. A bit more rebound damping may help in this scenario too, but bear in mind that if you are bouncing off the bumps, more rebound damping might cause the tyre to be off the track surface for longer and so make the bike tail happy.

Good Luck
Flange

[peterrose]

Once again i recommend the " Fast Bike " settings as a good starting point . I'm 16 stone and these worked for me.

Try to find them with a search but if you cant, PM me and I'll send them out again... :crybaby:

If I had a pound for everytime I've done this.... :doh:

Pete

[Flange]

Once again i recommend the " Fast Bike " settings as a good starting point

Pete

With respect, unless Fast Bike's settings were for an SV fitted with GSX-R750 forks, they are unlikely to bear any relevance to Johnny5's hybrid.

[jonny5]

:supsmiley Hi thanx for all your SVuggestions! Have looked at few and going to make my own setting from bits of info for GSXR's and SV's.
Here are some of many I have found:


FROM SPORTRIDER.COM
SV1000S REAR
Preload= 12mm thread showing
Compression= 1 turn from full in
Rebound= 2.25 turns from full in

GSX-R750 ('00) front end
2 lines showing 1 turn out 1 turn out

Rear
23mm from top of shock threads to top of spring 1 turn out 1 turn out


MAXTON settings
front
preload= 2 lines showing
rebound= 1 & 1/2 turns from full in
compression= 3/4 of a turn from full in

STANDARD setting front

preload= 4 lines showing
rebound= 1 & 1/4 turns from full in
compression= 1 turn from full in


:confused:
I have set my front end up as follows:
Preload= 3 lines showing
Rebound= 1 & 1/2 turns from full in
Compression= 3/4 of a turn from full in

And the rear like so (SV1000S REAR)
Preload= 12mm thread showing
Compression= 1 turn from full in
Rebound= 2.25 turns from full in


Running Avon Viper supersports at 36 36 psi (to start with) Droping pressure depending on wether if on track.
Will let you know how it goes :sweatdrop

[jonny5]

:first: :banana:
GOT IT
The setting worked realy well for me had a great day on the track and the weather was not too bad for time of year. The front end felt really good no more shaking all over the place! Probably the last track day for the year so I was really pleased, oh and i left tyre pressures at 36/36 it worked for me.
There is one down side though, I had to use standard cans at Castle Coombe because of tight noise regs there so bike looked poo!