All damping taken out of it this is what I measure. no change from having them set

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No, I did not take the damping out I have it set in the middle of the range I believe.
Yes, bone stock suspension

For now, I would just do everything as much as possible the way you been doing it. Don't throw variables in until you get your #s workable. Then you can try to fine tune if you like. I am sure if you sit still on the bike long enough, the suspension will settle all the way regardless of damping.

If it is the zip tie to rubber dust seal, that is sounds way too loose. I only got about 1/8" difference from the bike weight to me on the bike.
I'm confused by the 1/8" part above. am I measuring the wrong distance?

Sorry, I meant my front suspension settles 1/8" from where it's at with the weight of the bike only to where it's at after I sit on the the bike. My total front sag from unloaded to bike + me is 1 3/16". That's 30mm

Sag for street riding should be from 30mm to 35mm, front and 35mm to 40mm, rear.

Looks like your front sag (1"=25.5mm) is too stiff according to the above range. Mine is too but I have A LOT of parts off the bike right now.

The way you measure is fine. Actually, you can measure from any fixed point on the fork bottom to the top of the zip tie (I used the top edge of the fork bottom). Just as long as you used the same fixed point to measure with no load on the suspension as you do with full load. Then subtract the loaded # you got with the zip tie from the unloaded # you got when you lifted your front wheel to unload the suspension. Result will be the same either way you measure it. Measuring a longer distance is just more accurate.

I'd check your rear sag, too. The stock setting is basically max rear preload. I have a way to measure rear sag solo. I'll post a tutorial in How-Tos tonight...or tomorrow.

* Last updated by: Rook on 9/15/2014 @ 5:45 PM *

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I'd like to see how to do the rear solo, as my wife reads the yardstick different every time. lol

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No, I did not take the damping out I have it set in the middle of the range I believe.

If you mean the middle setting, it is probably too loose for you. A large rider will need stiff settings which are closer to all the way clockwise.

I'd set the sag right first then mess with damping.

I'm confused by the 1/8" part above. am I measuring the wrong distance?

Nope. That's fine if that works for you. ...as long as you are measuring that with the front wheel lifted off the ground and the zip tie got to where it is by you sitting on the bike, that is your front sag. You are lifting the front wheel up first to get the whole length of the suspension extended, right?

Check this out. It may clear up a lot of what I'm saying.
DIY ZX-14 Suspension Tuning Gen1

I'd like to see how to do the rear solo, as my wife reads the yardstick different every time. lol

ROFFL! Read that again!

Oh, you mean suspension! Oh, OK. See above link.

* Last updated by: Rook on 9/16/2014 @ 10:05 PM *

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I thought about this today went and messed with it,(doing it the right way as you just posted) and then read your post and saw what I have been doing wrong.

I never lifted the bikes front wheel off the ground. The sag I have is from just sitting on it. DUH.

So when I lifted it off the ground, of course it has an additional 7/8 inch of shock that is being compressed by the bikes own weight. So my total is 1 7/8 sag. just a bit soft. Geez, I feel like a dumb azz, as I set my snowmobile and I KNOW it gets lifted to remove weight.

Thanks Rook!!!!!!!

and I did re read that yardstick sentence. ROTFLMAO. yea I gotta read whole sentences from now on

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BTW, that is an absolutly awsome write up on setting suspension. Thanks SO much for taking the time to do it!!!!

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I never lifted the bikes front wheel off the ground. The sag I have is from just sitting on it.

I was wondering if maybe that was the missing piece of the puzzle.

Glad the tutorial helped.

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LOL. Now it went the other way. I have the adjusters all the way screwed in and I have 44mm of sag. My fat azz is not helping me set this bike up.

Now its on to the back end. See if that comes out better.

BTW Rook, what front fender do you have on your bike? Looks like its a lot smaller than the stock one?

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Zone 5, Adirondack Basement System yard stick? Where are you located?

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wfozx. In Lake Luzerne. about 15 miles from Lake George.

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Thought I typed this in, but I don't see it.

Set the rear today. Had to go 2 turns down on the nut. Ended up with

35mm rear sag.

and rechecked the front as Rock said, and its down to 41mm with no more adjustment available.

Have to wait for the rain to stop and see how it rides, hopefully tomorrow.

Couldn't have done it with your help Rook!

thanks so much!!!

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Geez I ride up that way quite often. I'm in Mayfield. We'll have to get out for a ride someday.

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Oh hell yea,

of course saratoga Ct loves me on North Shore. or not. They didn't seem too thrilled with 74 in a 45.

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