CBR600RR Suspension Settings for road use

[reanimate]

Hi.
I'm 78Kg and ride a 2004 CBR600RR.
Is it worth softening the suspension from standard for general road use?
Thx

Simon.

[Steve_T]

The most important thing is to check you're measure the sag (with and without rider) and check it is in the right range. This will tell you if you have the right springs. There are a number of guides around for how to do this if you google for them. The guides for damper settings in bike mags are just that, by all means use them as a base, but do adjust things to suit you. Also remember that the range of adjustment on a stock damper is pretty narrow, to prevent you creating a dangerous handling setup, so you may ultimately need to get a damper re-valved to the right range for you.

Steve.

[reanimate]

78Kg is a fairly normal figure I would guess so I would hope the spring rate is about right - the whole bike is unmodified.

[Steve_T]

I'd measure things to be sure, but I would expect the standard rates are right too. Setting sag is the first step in setup though, and simple to measure so I would start there. After that I'd set the settings to standard and then experiment with the settings, changing one thing at once and recording the results. Alternatively seek a suspension expert and get their advice. Mine is worth what you paid for it.

[tankslappa]

Your better off getting it set up by someone who knows what they are doing, but this may give you some help www.sportrider.com/bikes/146_street_bike_suspension_settings/

[fergus]

Steve_T said:

The most important thing is to check you're measure the sag (with and without rider) and check it is in the right range. This will tell you if you have the right springs. There are a number of guides around for how to do this if you google for them. The guides for damper settings in bike mags are just that, by all means use them as a base, but do adjust things to suit you. Also remember that the range of adjustment on a stock damper is pretty narrow, to prevent you creating a dangerous handling setup, so you may ultimately need to get a damper re-valved to the right range for you.

Steve.

At last a man who has realised that performance bollox, More Crap News, etc have only set up the bike THEY HAVE IN FRONT OF THEM, for THEIR RIDER and HIS PREFERENCES.

Stock bikes typically have poor tolerances on their dampers, so much so, that to set up two XYZs next to each other and set them to the same settings (in terms of damper settings) would probably result in two very different feeling bikes.

Unless you've ascertained whether the spring weight is correct, you can't go any further. All the damper does is control the rate of movement of the spring. It therefore follows that if the spring weight is incorrect, the damper will not be working optimally and will be compensating for the spring. For the same reason, it's also good to swap out any progressive rate spring fitted for one with a linear spring rate. Far more predictable.

[reanimate]

Thanks for that.
I've tinkered with the suspension on my track car + our race car so I understand about spring rates etc however I have very little experience of bikes.

I'm just really looking for advice as to whether bikes like the CBR are setup quite stiff in comparison to say, my Dad's CBF which seems quite soft. Stiff would be good for the track, but not so good for the road and vice-versa - but the honda owners guide says to stiffen the suspension for a smoother ride ?! Most odd.

[biker's nemesis]

reanimate said:

Hi.
I'm 78Kg and ride a 2004 CBR600RR.
Is it worth softening the suspension from standard for general road use?
Thx

Simon.

Hi Simon.

I use my track bike on the road (03 RR) and find the suspension ok, mind you I'm about 25Kg heavier than you.

You are also asking about softening the suspension,why? are you getting thrown out of the seat on bumpy road's. Is it the front that's too hard or the back?

You also mention that your dad's CBF is softer ! sorry if this sounds blunt, but they are two completely different types of machine.

Why not try backing off everything (front or back or both) 5 clicks at a time, then when you find a setting you are happy with, you can fine tune a click at a time, harder or softer.

All the best.

John.

[reanimate]

biker's nemesis said:

reanimate said:

Hi.
I'm 78Kg and ride a 2004 CBR600RR.
Is it worth softening the suspension from standard for general road use?
Thx

Simon.

Hi Simon.

I use my track bike on the road (03 RR) and find the suspension ok, mind you I'm about 25Kg heavier than you.

You are also asking about softening the suspension,why? are you getting thrown out of the seat on bumpy road's. Is it the front that's too hard or the back?

You also mention that your dad's CBF is softer ! sorry if this sounds blunt, but they are two completely different types of machine.

Why not try backing off everything (front or back or both) 5 clicks at a time, then when you find a setting you are happy with, you can fine tune a click at a time, harder or softer.

All the best.

John.

Thanks, yup I'm aware they are chalk and cheese!
I'll back it all off as you describe.