Suspension setups

johnnyontherocks

johnnyontherocks

The Cosmic Avenger
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I was just thinking to myself how great it would be if we could compile some info on weight vs suspension setting stock or what ever you may have keeping your bike off the ground ie: 165LBS stock rear two rounds from full pre load factory rebound two clicks from full comp. front factory preload -1 from factory comp. factory rebound.

I think this could be really helpfull specially with info from those of you who really know what your doing.
 
Here are my setups for a Stock Suspended GenI with a 240-250lb rider. These settings work excellent for me. Spirited riding when on my familiar roads and basic cruising and commuting.

RearShockSetting.jpg



FrontSuspensionSetting.jpg
 
Crazyjoe said:
Billy, you don't have a stock spring on the rear of that bike -- do you?
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Yeah Joe, I still have what I believe to have the stock spring. I am pretty sure at least. As soon as I'm able to afford either an aftermarket shock or a heavier spring I will do so. At the moment it is sufficient for me riding solo. There would be no way to run that spring at your pace!
 
FZ1riderNY said:
Yeah Joe, I still have what I believe to have the stock spring. I am pretty sure at least. As soon as I'm able to afford either an aftermarket shock or a heavier spring I will do so. At the moment it is sufficient for me riding solo. There would be no way to run that spring at your pace!
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Well, the stock spring is 450lbs and for your weight you would need a 650lb spring. So, you are really under sprung but you don't have to worry about it going off in your hands.
:):)
 
suspension settings

Johny,o,t,rocks has got a point. Some of you guys seem to weigh a fair bit more than me ( 185 lb ) and from everything i,ve read in mags the suspension on my 08 FZ1 is quite good for the average rider. I'd just like more info on setting up the equipment i have rather than pretending i'm better than i am and spending thousands on new suspenders to shave half a second of my lap times. My previous 2 bikes were a GSX R750 and an R1 and i reckon, for some reason i'm faster on this bike than i've ever been. That's why i love it so much, i can ride the wheels of it like i've never known before. Maybe the bike just fits me well. Anyway, back to Johnyontherocks, let's get some set up info together.:cheers:
 
hey fz1riderNY, next time your over on the west coast stop over in portland and school me on those suspension settings! i just got an 02 fz1 after being off a bike for a few years and would love to buy you a beer and have you help me adjust the suspension for my old 240 lbs!
 
returnrider said:
hey fz1riderNY, next time your over on the west coast stop over in portland and school me on those suspension settings! i just got an 02 fz1 after being off a bike for a few years and would love to buy you a beer and have you help me adjust the suspension for my old 240 lbs!
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West Coast? That may be never unfortunately. I have trouble just getting over the bridge to New Jersey! I will say that I can't take credit for these suspension settings. I was fortunate enough to come across these at another site where the guy had some basic setups for certain weight ranges. So being that my setup at that time was lousy to say the least, I tried using the above setup and was amazingly pleased with the results afterwards. I know with the right rear spring I could make it even better but I just don't have the money for that at this time. However, for the type of riding I do, it has been the best setup thus far.
 
I'm between 145-150 lbs with my clothes on and the settings, as supplied by Yamaha seem to fit me just right. I'm not that much of a hot-dogger, but like to beat up the good tight twisties when there is a light traffic day. Some of the riders on this site are damned near twice my size and I can barely imagine how you guys keep the shiny side up, when your weight ratio, compared to the bike is almost 1:2. I try to see an 800 lb rider flying down the track on a 1600 lb throroughbred. Anyway, imagine a manufacturer trying to build a machine that can do it's job, such as the FZ1, carrying a pilot anywhere from say 140 or so pounds to over 300 lbs? Sounds like an impossible job. Even the stresses put on the machine vary to te extreme.
 
I had some settings sent to me from a member. Not that far from standard, tried the rear and it feels brill. The front is a bit more complicated. So I contacted two companies in the North West of England. Both quoted between £20-£50 nots to set the bike up for my weight and riding. They both said they get you to sit on the bike and measure the drop.

Not been down yet, but will post something when I do.

http://www.kais-performance.com/default.htm

http://www.dynopro-racing.co.uk/
 
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Supplied by ballmead.

Try the following settings, they are recommended by Lee from Traxxion dynamics for riders around your weight.
I weight around your weight (12 ½ stone) and I use them myself and find them to be pretty good.

Front:
Pre-load 4 bands Standard 5.5 Max 8
LeftfFork Compression: 9-10 clicks out from full hard Standard 5 clicks out Max 26 soft
Right fork Rebound: 14-15 clicks out from full hard Standard 18 clicks out Max 26 soft

Rear:
Pre-load: 3-4 Standard 3 Max 7 Hard
Rebound: 6 clicks out from full hard Standard 8 Max 12 soft
 
I just don't see the point in sharing this info. Your setup is not based on weight alone. It should be setup for your riding style as well. If most of your riding is commuting you will have a very different setup than someone really railing it and doing regular track days. Even if you ride track days, are you lvl 1 newbie, intermediate or advanced?

For $25 - $30 you can get you suspension professionally setup. Why would you just tinker with something that is so closely linked to your safety?

I like to do a little wrenching. Maybe I am timid but I just do not like messing with settings that can affect my safety. I leave that to the experts.

Ok, fine I am a weenie. I admit it.....
 
thanks fz1NY.... i surfed around today and between your drawings and some other websites i think i got it figured out. the offer for the beer still stands if you ever make it out here!
 
Sorry to upset your parade but after 24 years of racing, my suggestion is to search around the pits and find a suspension specialist and marry him.

Handling on "fast" bikes is in the realms of witches, a dark art that few riders understand but a good suspension specialist is a joy to behold and once you find one feel free to pay off his mortage for him/her.

I have mine and though costly, I am alive because of the wonders he performs on my bike and if I ever deccide to alter my sexuality, I will ask him to be my partner for life.
 
Had my bike checked over by an expert of Hyperpro. He was unable to get the bike setup for my weight with the standard setup. So if you are a little :) heavier than 'normal' get a new spring and let it setup by a pro.

Why spent money on a dymo run and not on a suspension specialist.

But thats just my opinion.

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk
 
Why spent money on a dymo run and not on a suspension specialist.
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So very true.

Many folk spend their life on bikes never knowing what a well set up suspension feels like, it offers the confidence that takes the question mark out of riding and most importantly, with training and experience, you will be able to ride your machine very close to the limits and still go home at the end of the day and not the ICU.

Go to races, prowl the pits (with a limp) until you find a good suspension specialist who feels sorry for you. :)
 
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