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Thread: Suspension set-up numbers?

Created on: 03/31/14 12:17 AM

Replies: 20

paul37


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Joined: 09/14/10

Posts: 99

Suspension set-up numbers?
03/31/14 12:17 AM

Hi all,

I need some help with a good base set-up for a 2013 before starting to fine tune for my needs.

Looking for the preload(how much travel must be left etc.), compression damping and rebound numbers.

I weigh 125kg (275 pounds). Bike is running Yoshi R77 slip-ons, so there is some weight loss at the rear of the bike.

I'm not going to upgrade the suspension in the near future, so all this will be for stock components.



1985 Honda CB750F; 1983 1100 Katana; 2000 Hayabusa; 2006 ZX10R; 2007 ZX14 black
2011 ZX14 Candy green/Black; 2013 ZX14R Red

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Rook


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RE: Suspension set-up numbers?
03/31/14 5:15 AM

There is a little variation on this depending on who you ask but, The sag adjustment recommended for street riding is 35-40mm front and 30-35 mm rear.

Here is where I have mine set at for my 08:
Front Sag 40.48mm
Rear Sag 29.46 mm

I wouldn't want to have more sag on the front. I will be trying that a bit tighter this season.



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johnnyo


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Location: Pittsburgh, PA

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Posts: 186

RE: Suspension set-up numbers?
03/31/14 6:57 AM

This is a helpful article.....suspension setup

And as a footnote, at your weight(not hating, cause I'm 260..)you will really need diff spring rates front and rear for proper setup...but, you are like me and prefer to use stock components.


* Last updated by: johnnyo on 3/31/2014 @ 7:02 AM *



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paul37


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RE: Suspension set-up numbers?
03/31/14 8:01 AM

Thanks for the replies.



1985 Honda CB750F; 1983 1100 Katana; 2000 Hayabusa; 2006 ZX10R; 2007 ZX14 black
2011 ZX14 Candy green/Black; 2013 ZX14R Red

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ZX14MAN64


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RE: Suspension set-up numbers?
06/29/14 1:31 PM

I am going to adjust my suspension to see if it improves the handling. I think the stock settings are a bit too soft for me, being a bit over 200 before jacket and helmet are added.

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Cblast


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Location: Pac Nor

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RE: Suspension set-up numbers?
06/29/14 3:45 PM

@Paul37
At your weight I would try 4 lines of preload front showing and two full turns tighter than stock on the rear shock.
Then front rebound - 6 clicks out from full stiff
Front compression - 8 clicks out from full stiff

Rear rebound - 1/2 turn tighter than stock
Rear compression - 1/4 turn tighter than stock.

That would probably give ya a good place to start me-thinks.


* Last updated by: Cblast on 6/29/2014 @ 3:46 PM *



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ZX14MAN64


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RE: Suspension set-up numbers?
06/29/14 5:40 PM

I found the stock forks to be too soft by quite a bit, but the shock about right as it is

This anyone else's findings too?

I see these guys also seem to have found the forks needing major stiffening

http://www.zxforums.com/forums/zx-14-forum/26022-set-your-sag.html


* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 6/29/2014 @ 6:08 PM *

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fatsix


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Location: South Jersey

Joined: 02/10/11

Posts: 568

RE: Suspension set-up numbers?
06/29/14 6:19 PM

Zx14man. Use Cblasts settings to start. That's what I ran when I was in the light heavy weight class.

The front I followed the video for 3.5" of travel left in the for with me on it. Might have to tweak it a touch more.

3 turns out for compression and 2.5 for rebound in the rear. Rear spring you gotta set the static sag and rider sag.

Also, ride height makes a difference. I went back to stock in the front and + .5 in the rear. Not including the 55 series tire. Needless to say I almost hit the near side curb on the fist two right hand turns. Muuuuch better turning now.


* Last updated by: fatsix on 6/29/2014 @ 6:24 PM *




2012 ZX14R CSB


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paul37


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Posts: 99

RE: Suspension set-up numbers?
06/30/14 12:18 AM

Thank you CBlast, will give it a go.



1985 Honda CB750F; 1983 1100 Katana; 2000 Hayabusa; 2006 ZX10R; 2007 ZX14 black
2011 ZX14 Candy green/Black; 2013 ZX14R Red

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ZX14MAN64


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Posts: 1237

RE: Suspension set-up numbers?
06/30/14 8:21 AM

Approx 30-35mm of sag (fully extended off the ground minus with rider and gear) front and back is what so many sources say is a basic setting.

But to get that I had to take my fork preloads to almost all the way down as the guys in the forum link I posted were doing to get enough pre load.
I have since backed each fork preload out about 3 full turns so I am not maxed-out and now have I think 2 lines showing

The shock was within that range as it was from the factory so I'll not fool with its preload

I'll now start tweeking the rebound and compression "to taste" over the next few rides

I am new to suspension adjusting, obviously. Lol


* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 6/30/2014 @ 10:04 AM *

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fatsix


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Location: South Jersey

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Posts: 568

RE: Suspension set-up numbers?
06/30/14 8:47 AM

zx14man, do you have a 2012+?




2012 ZX14R CSB


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ZX14MAN64


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RE: Suspension set-up numbers?
06/30/14 10:01 AM

Yes

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fatsix


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Location: South Jersey

Joined: 02/10/11

Posts: 568

RE: Suspension set-up numbers?
06/30/14 10:34 AM

Yes

Something is either wrong, or you measured wrong, 2 lines showing is quite a bit of preload.

Did you lift the bike, measure the full extension, then drop the bike and measure the difference under its own girth? Bounce the suspension around a bit to get it to settle.
Then get on the bike and measure how much more the suspension compresses?


Quick picture guide for suspension setting

More in depth measurement to see if you need stiffer springs




2012 ZX14R CSB


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ZX14MAN64


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Joined: 08/17/12

Posts: 1237

RE: Suspension set-up numbers?
06/30/14 11:55 AM

Thanks. I should re check my readings. Hard to do correctly when your fiancé i doing the measuring and can't wait to get back in the house!

I'll recheck front and back and post my new findings.

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fatsix


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Location: South Jersey

Joined: 02/10/11

Posts: 568

RE: Suspension set-up numbers?
06/30/14 12:45 PM

Thanks. I should re check my readings. Hard to do correctly when your fiancé i doing the measuring and can't wait to get back in the house!

Put her on the bike, put a 50lb bag of dogfood on her lap so she cant go anywhere, and grocery bags full of cans on the handlebars to bring the combined weight up to yours, and you measure. She got a sister, or girlfriend? put her on the bike too. Where are you located, maybe someone can help you out?




2012 ZX14R CSB


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musclemerc


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Location: MS

Joined: 10/13/13

Posts: 85

RE: Suspension set-up numbers?
06/30/14 3:26 PM

You guys are great! I just learned something new and will set my suspension up very soon using the instructions posted

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ZX14MAN64


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Joined: 08/17/12

Posts: 1237

RE: Suspension set-up numbers?
06/30/14 3:44 PM

Thanks. I have riding friends who'd be willing to help later this week, but this evening I am gonna let the little woman have a chance to redeem herself first !!

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ZX14MAN64


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Posts: 1237

RE: Suspension set-up numbers?
06/30/14 6:56 PM

I was meticulous and did each a few times

And I still had to take the forks to near seated position to get it to 35mm, so something is not being read right.

I also had to somewhat tighten the shock just a bit as it was only a little too soft w/stock settings.

I am at 27mm on the rear

I'll look more into the harsh fork preload and wait on a friend later this week to help me try it again.

the rebound and compression are still at stock until I can figure out what is inaccurate with the fork preload


* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 6/30/2014 @ 9:22 PM *

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ZX14MAN64


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Posts: 1237

RE: Suspension set-up numbers?
07/01/14 7:48 AM

Anyone else with a 2012 plus bike and you weigh around 200ish have to take the fork preload to the bottom in order to get in the mid 30mm sag range?

http://www.zx14ninjaforum.com/messages.cfm?threadid=812BC4DE-D56B-84E2-11A3C1CAA0DD1701

According to this thread link, Others on this site apparently had the same findings


* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 7/1/2014 @ 8:41 AM *

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Hub


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Posts: 13802

RE: Suspension set-up numbers?
07/01/14 9:40 AM

My fat ass drops the rear, the forks kick out, I have forward patch, correct?
I jack the back up, the front patch is closer to the frame.
First, I need a horizontal bike once I sit my fast ass down, as if there are 2> 130lb. people on the seat = Sag.

I'm alone with bike. Me and that zip-tie(s) are working the numbers out.
I'm going zip a tiny tie on the rear shock.
I'm going to have the side stand down, use my shoulder under the right winker or whatever leverage used to extend the rear shock> up slides the zip. I take my A to B measurements at that full rear extension. For full front fork lift, a side stand push as well, meaning, lift up on the right handlebar for the fork's full extension. I have the right side fork extended and up the zip goes for that number.

The get off goes something like this:

Fuck this fork seal dragshit. Why? Ever see a fork leg drop once the cap is off? You can't react fast enough. Well, that's out of the way.
Fuck this fork sleeve frictionshit. Why? There is an oil film in that and friction in my world speeds in mph like quick numbers she's there in the milliseconds, you can wait: but not turtle.
Fuck with the balance getting on and getting off is that numbershit instead.

My forks both have zips and are ready for one number. I should come up even as one fork. I sit on that bike with feet off the ground and then get off. So if you want to mess with numbers, being all alone in the garage meaning, I'll practice many get-off's so you find that average zip position = Sag #.

Front Springs:

What if I took all the spring load out of the winds, my setting is zero turns. I am going to ass-plop and that zip lands real high up on that tube this time. I better start a logbook no shit. I'll find out sag this way; write it down. I'll follow the owner's manual initial setting; write it down as per sag number. Here are my 2 numbers. Where am I in this dark hole of the art of 'suspension tuning?'

Do we see how we can find some static and then find some stattttttic? My numbers should be in the same ballpark vs. my fat-ass-plop on the seat and get off. This is in a standing still motion as if the bike is rolling on a treadmill and you are sitting there in one spot. That has the bike sitting straight up horizontal. That's how I see it before we hit the first bump.

"I want a sag number first," said the shock specialist. Another shock expert says, 'Fuck sag, crank it up.' Who do you listen to? I was shocked to hear both black arts going at it and no pun intended. Static. It's back to seat plop first if I were to choose.

Rear Shock:

What if I leave the spring as is, make my ziplop, read my number and sag that out from there. No matter how I look at it, I need that squat balance in the static at both ends so horizontal is the final endgame. In theory, my springs should be my baseline so I can move harder or softer in settings from there. See how that logbook grows between front and rear movements?

Compression:

All that means is how hard did you hit that bump? How much pogo sticking do you want to take out until that for every action, that spring is still settling out in the pogo of it. I want my ass to fell nothing up my spin so I am setting things in the plush. I hit a bump, compression is wound up, I bounce off the seat, the compression needle hardly moved the rod. So if you plop your head on a pillow, that's what compression feels like, either pillow soft, or a brick is that setting.

Rebound:

You want a fast rebound so the wheel is back on the ground faster, we start to ride faster. That's it for that puppy. Too far out of click range and there is your half a pogo untamed. Make sense? Static is a piece of cake is how much you ate vs. static. Comp and rebound become the black art of fine tuning to your liking.



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ZX14MAN64


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Joined: 08/17/12

Posts: 1237

RE: Suspension set-up numbers?
07/03/14 2:23 PM

Thanks hub. Appreciated

Having the same issue with my BMW. So, Only thing I can figure is that I must be leaning forward and putting too much pressure on the bars when sitting on the bike for the weight sag setting

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