bikegirl.co.uk - Suspension

Road racing equipment

Suspension Set-Up (page down for Static Sag)

Most of these I've tried but if there's a specific set-up you require ask Molly.
Kev is a 10 stone racer.
Molly is a tad under 10 stone (but she's working on it).
Keith is 14.5 stone road tester.

	Suzuki GSX R600 K1	Kawasaki ZX-6R (J2)	Honda CBR600FS	Yamaha YZF-R6	Yamaha FAZER 600
Stock Settings:
Front Preload	Flush with 4th ring from top	14mm Showing	4 Rings Showing	Flush with 5th ring from top	5th Ring from hard
Front compression	1 1/8th turns out from hard	9 clicks from soft	1 1/4th turns from hard	6 clicks from hard
Front rebound	1 1/8th turns out from hard	7 clicks from soft	1 1/4th turns from hard	6 clicks from hard
Rear Preload	1915 spring length	180mm spring length	Position 3	4 from soft	5 from soft
Rear compression	1 1/8 turns out from hard	10 clicks from soft	1 1/4 turns from hard	9 clicks from hard
Rear rebound	1 1/4 turns out from hard	10 clicks from soft	1 1/4 turns from hard	9 clicks from hard
Tyre pressure	Front =36 Rear = 36	Front = 36 Rear = 42	Front = 36 Rear = 42	Front = 36 Rear = 36	Front = 34 Rear = 36

Kev's Settings:
Front Preload	4 1/2 rings from top	16mm Showing	1 1/2 Rings Showing	Flush with 7th ring from top	4th Ring from hard
Front compression	1 1/8th turns out from hard	9 clicks from soft	1 1/4 turns from hard	4 clicks from hard
Front rebound	7/8th turns out from hard	7 clicks from soft	1 1/4 turns from hard	1 clicks from hard
Rear Preload	1915 spring length	180mm spring length	Position 4	4 from soft	7 from soft
Rear compression	1 5/8 turns out from hard	12 clicks from soft	1 turn from hard	8 clicks from hard
Rear rebound	1 1/8 turns out from hard	12 clicks from soft	3/4 turns from hard	9 clicks from hard
Tyre pressure	Front =32 Rear = 36	Front = 32 Rear = 36	Front = 32 Rear = 36	Front = 32 Rear = 36	Front = 34 Rear = 38

Keith's settings:
Front Preload	Flush with 1st ring from top	16mm Showing	1 Ring Showing	3 1/2 rings from top	3rd Ring from hard
Front compression	1 turn out from hard	9 clicks from soft	1/2 turn from hard	1 clicks from hard
Front rebound	1 1/8th turns out from hard	7 clicks from soft	1 turn from hard	3 clicks from hard
Rear Preload	1915 spring length	177mm spring length	Position 6	6 from soft	8 from soft
Rear compression	5/8 turns out from hard	13 clicks from soft	1/2 turn from hard	8 clicks from hard
Rear rebound	7/8 turns out from hard	11 clicks from soft	3/4 turns from hard	7 clicks from hard
Tyre pressure	Front =32 Rear = 36	Front = 32 Rear = 36	Front = 32 Rear = 36	Front = 32 Rear = 36	Front = 34 Rear = 38

	Suzuki GSX R1000 K1+2	Kawasaki ZX-9R (E1/C2)	Honda FIREBLADE 2002	Yamaha YZF-R1
Stock Settings:
Front Preload	Flush with 4th ring from top	4 Lines showing	7 Turns from soft	Flush with 6th ring from top
Front compression	10 clicks from hard	10 Clicks from full in	2 turns from hard	13 clicks from hard
Front rebound	6 clicks from hard	3 Clicks from full in	2 turns from hard	13 clicks from hard
Rear Preload	21mm thread wound down	178.5mm Spring length	4 from soft	4 from soft
Rear compression	8 clicks from hard	8 Clicks from full in	2 turns from hard	15 clicks from hard
Rear rebound	7 clicks from hard	8 Clicks from full in	2 turns from hard	15 clicks from hard
Tyre pressure	Front =36 Rear = 42		Front = 36 Rear = 42	Front = 38 Rear = 38

Kev's Settings:		PB Settings
Front Preload	Flush with 2nd ring from top	Turned fully in	9 Turns from soft	Flush with 4th ring from top
Front compression	9 clicks from hard	6 Clicks from full in	1 3/4 turns from hard	12 clicks from hard
Front rebound	6 clicks from hard	Turned fully in	1 1/2 turns from hard	11 clicks from hard
Rear Preload	21mm thread wound down	178.5mm Spring length	4 from soft	5 from soft
Rear compression	5 clicks from hard	2 Clicks from full in	1 1/2 turns from hard	12 clicks from hard
Rear rebound	2 clicks from hard	3 Clicks from full in	1 1/2 turns from hard	14 clicks from hard
Tyre pressure	Front =33 Rear = 37	Increase ride height 10mm	Front = 33 Rear = 36	Front = 32 Rear = 36

Keith's settings:		ZX-9R (C1/C2)
Front Preload	Flush with 1st ring from top	2 lines showing	10 Turns from soft	2 1/2 rings from top
Front compression	8 clicks from hard	3 Clicks from full in	1 1/4 turns from hard	11 clicks from hard
Front rebound	6 clicks from hard	4 Clicks from full in	2 turns from hard	13 clicks from hard
Rear Preload	23mm thread wound down	Front static sag 30mm	5 from soft	6 from soft
Rear compression	3 clicks from hard	3 Clicks from full in	1 turn from hard	11 clicks from hard
Rear rebound	5 clicks from hard	4 Clicks from full in	1 3/4 turns from hard	16 clicks from hard
Tyre pressure	Front =33 Rear = 37	Rear static sag to 5mm	Front = 33 Rear = 36	Front = 32 Rear = 36

Molly's settings:
Front Preload	Flush with 2nd ring from top
Front compression	8 clicks from hard
Front rebound	6 clicks from hard
Rear Preload	22mm thread wound down
Rear compression	5 clicks from hard
Rear rebound	2 clicks from hard
Tyre pressure	Front =33 Rear = 37
	Forks lowered by 2.5mm

STATIC SAG

One of the most important suspension settings is static sag-the amount your bike's suspension compresses when you sit on it. This method takes into account any stiction in the components. It's best to have two friends to help-one to hold the bike while the other one measures-while you (fully dressed in your riding gear) do the compressing.

First, extend the front suspension completely. Measure from the seal wiper to the triple clamp for a conventional fork, or to the axle clamp for an inverted fork. Call this number S1. Sit on your bike in a normal riding position (or racing crouch if you're track-bound), and have one helper steady the bike. Your second helper should push down on the fork, let it extend slowly and then re-measure as before. This number is S2.

Finally, the fork should be extended by hand, settled slowly, and re-measured. This figure is S3. Halfway between S2 and S3 is where your suspension would settle if there were no friction in the system. Static sag can be calculated as follows: sag=S1-(S3+S2)/2. Repeat this process to determine the rear sag-measuring from the axle to a point directly above on the frame for each of the numbers. If you have too much or too little sag, dial in more or less (respectively) preload as needed.