Suspension Adjustment, leave it to the pros or diy?
Discussion
Hi, looking for a bit of advice. I got myself a Gsxr 750 a few weeks back after 18 months on a Hornet as a first bike. Absolutely loving it up to now but the more I ride it, it feels like it’s really softly damped, especially the rear.
I know the original owner was a lady and I’m wondering if it’s been set up for someone much lighter than my 13 stone. Looking at the owners manual it seems simple enough to return to factory settings but I’m reluctant to start messing about with stuff too much. I’m handy on the spanner’s with cars but reluctant to do too much with the bike as it’s all more safety critical!
So question is would it make sense to try to reset the factory settings myself or get a pro to have a look at it? I’m a novice bike wise, not looking for massive performance gains or anything like that just not sure it should feel softer sprung than the Hornet. Any advice appreciated
I know the original owner was a lady and I’m wondering if it’s been set up for someone much lighter than my 13 stone. Looking at the owners manual it seems simple enough to return to factory settings but I’m reluctant to start messing about with stuff too much. I’m handy on the spanner’s with cars but reluctant to do too much with the bike as it’s all more safety critical!
So question is would it make sense to try to reset the factory settings myself or get a pro to have a look at it? I’m a novice bike wise, not looking for massive performance gains or anything like that just not sure it should feel softer sprung than the Hornet. Any advice appreciated
If you have the manual and a C spanner then its real easy, and usually the kind of thing detailed in the manual for owners to do. I would start by returning it to factory and see how it feels. If the previous owner was lighter than average it could be the preload and damping is wound off to suit.
There are lots of guides online to help setup your suspension. Its a good think to learn about so you can do it yourself ongoing
Or you can pay an hours labour at your local specialist and they will do it for you.....
There are lots of guides online to help setup your suspension. Its a good think to learn about so you can do it yourself ongoing
Or you can pay an hours labour at your local specialist and they will do it for you.....
Cheers all will try setting it back to factory then. Looking at the manual it all seems like wind to minimum and then X turns to std settings. Just worried about messing it up completely but I guess if it doesn’t feel right that’s the time to take it to a somebody who knows what they’re doing!
This is worth a read and shows you what you need to do. Admittedly all I've done so far is read it and set the bike to standard with fresh fork oil...
Suspension Tuning: How to Set Up Your Bike for Handling, Stability, and Control on the Street and Track https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1893618455/ref=cm_sw_r...
Suspension Tuning: How to Set Up Your Bike for Handling, Stability, and Control on the Street and Track https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1893618455/ref=cm_sw_r...
Rsdop said:
Cheers all will try setting it back to factory then. Looking at the manual it all seems like wind to minimum and then X turns to std settings. Just worried about messing it up completely but I guess if it doesn’t feel right that’s the time to take it to a somebody who knows what they’re doing!
The manual will tell you precisely how to get it standard again, so you can try again - it's dead simple.My tip would be to only change one thing at a time, have a ride round the block and then continue. Also, often a perceived problem with the front can be a setting at the rear and visa versa.
Failing all that, K Tech do a ride-in, ride-out service. Went to an open day there and it's interesting to hear how and why some bikes (intentionally) leave the factory with the wrong springs and suchlike to ever be set up perfectly.
Back when I had a bike with decent suspension I had a specialist in the area get me a baseline based on his significant experience. Then I read a book, understood what he had done, and made incremental changes. The book I used was "sportsbike suspension tuning", although the principles would apply to any road bike;
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Suspension-Tuning-Handlin...
Even if you're happy to pay someone, a lot if it is preference and he can't tell you what you want. Also the amount of bulls
t floating around the internet on forums (and even some mechanics) is frankly baffling, I'd really recommend at least knowing what you want from your suspension, and what is possible.
That said, let's be honest, this is high level stuff, and beyond basic adjustment, for most of us it simply is an irrelevance... But it is fun to pretend.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Suspension-Tuning-Handlin...
Even if you're happy to pay someone, a lot if it is preference and he can't tell you what you want. Also the amount of bulls
t floating around the internet on forums (and even some mechanics) is frankly baffling, I'd really recommend at least knowing what you want from your suspension, and what is possible.That said, let's be honest, this is high level stuff, and beyond basic adjustment, for most of us it simply is an irrelevance... But it is fun to pretend.
I can't attach it to this forum but I have a PDF of a bike magazine article from years ago that explains how to set up preload, compression and rebound damping for the road. It's a system that works, and was initally written by Nick Jeffries who is the uncle of TT legend Dave Jeffries. It definitely works, and the key is getting the static sag right first.
Here it is, it's in a zip file because it is slightly too large for the attachment system on the other forum but obviously I leave it to you as to whether you trust a randomer on the internet to post a safe zip file on a public forum... (it is safe but obviously that's my word!).
https://www.bikechatforums.com/download.php?id=988...
I used this to set up my VFR800 recently after I fitted a Nitron shock, and that bike now corners better than it has a right to.
Here it is, it's in a zip file because it is slightly too large for the attachment system on the other forum but obviously I leave it to you as to whether you trust a randomer on the internet to post a safe zip file on a public forum... (it is safe but obviously that's my word!).
https://www.bikechatforums.com/download.php?id=988...
I used this to set up my VFR800 recently after I fitted a Nitron shock, and that bike now corners better than it has a right to.
As a few have already said above, I would go back to stock settings and buy that book linked above.
It is superb and ultimately only you can set the bike up to you, others can get close but it's not the same, save a whole load of money and get the knowledge and satisfaction for a lot less which can transfer to other bikes.
My Ohlins shod Tuono was setup for a very short rider and taken totally out of it's range with the rear ride height dropped significantly. This led to it rearing out of corners and lurching everywhere, it was horrible and dangerous to ride and it marked my return to biking after 16 years! At first I couldn't belive what a crap rider I was, happily once I set the suspension to factory base it transformed the bike and I realised it wasn't me. Had I not had such a badly set up bike, I probably would not have bought that book which has made a very big difference to all my bikes. There must be so many poorly setup bikes out there for their riders.
I have a settings sheet now for each bike with adjustable suspension which I have setup in the same way for me. Starting with preload then working on to compression and then rebound making one change at a time. I have a 25 mile ride to work. I'll make a change, ride it 25 miles, make notes on arrival to decide my next change. If the last change improved things, I'll go one more click and do the same again. If it's too much I'll have found the sweet spot.
This article is also very good, I think there are a couple of mistakes in it from memory (- edit in the sag setting part at the bottom of page 3 web version correct but discrepancy with download version) but it's good background reading nonetheless especially if combined with the book above.
http://www.gostar-racing.com/club/motorcycle_suspe...
also for Sag see here;
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/new-rider/choosing-...
and here;
https://www.procircuit.com/content/Setting%20the%2...
Good luck
It is superb and ultimately only you can set the bike up to you, others can get close but it's not the same, save a whole load of money and get the knowledge and satisfaction for a lot less which can transfer to other bikes.
My Ohlins shod Tuono was setup for a very short rider and taken totally out of it's range with the rear ride height dropped significantly. This led to it rearing out of corners and lurching everywhere, it was horrible and dangerous to ride and it marked my return to biking after 16 years! At first I couldn't belive what a crap rider I was, happily once I set the suspension to factory base it transformed the bike and I realised it wasn't me. Had I not had such a badly set up bike, I probably would not have bought that book which has made a very big difference to all my bikes. There must be so many poorly setup bikes out there for their riders.
I have a settings sheet now for each bike with adjustable suspension which I have setup in the same way for me. Starting with preload then working on to compression and then rebound making one change at a time. I have a 25 mile ride to work. I'll make a change, ride it 25 miles, make notes on arrival to decide my next change. If the last change improved things, I'll go one more click and do the same again. If it's too much I'll have found the sweet spot.
This article is also very good, I think there are a couple of mistakes in it from memory (- edit in the sag setting part at the bottom of page 3 web version correct but discrepancy with download version) but it's good background reading nonetheless especially if combined with the book above.
http://www.gostar-racing.com/club/motorcycle_suspe...
also for Sag see here;
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/new-rider/choosing-...
and here;
https://www.procircuit.com/content/Setting%20the%2...
Good luck
Edited by NITO on Monday 3rd June 12:15
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