Bike ride height

[stranger12]

Hi All,

I am trying to find the right ride height for my sv 650.
I have read articles saying that the sag (play between fully unloaded) and when sat on it should be 20-30mm and front should be 30-40.

My bikes feels like it is bottoming out or is to stiff on bumps .if I am going fast on a bump I think the front wheel may lift of the ground.


the way I have measured the height is , ask a friend to measure it when i am lifting the rear to remove the bike weight from it . then measure it with bike weight and then with my weight. same with the front.

Can someone advise if i am doing it right and suggestions re stiffness ?
could it be that my fork oils need replacing. what are the signs of fork oil needing a replacement.

thanks
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SV650 Red
R6 Red

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

You're confusing ride height and preload for a starter. The weight of the oil in your forks will only affect your damping.

What is it you actually want to change/achieve?

Aso, reading terms part of this page will help:

https://www.suspensionshop.org/tech_suspension_setup.php
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[gavcarter]

[lihp]

What adjustments are on an SV650 fork?

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[stranger12]

many thanks.

There are some contradictory views, some think it is normal and some say it could be the valve needing adjustment.


I am going to check the clearance anyways.
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SV650 Red
R6 Red

[CaNsA]

Have a looksee at the 3rd vid from bottom in this thread.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=286410

[stranger12]

many thanks , I will check this and will post back.
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SV650 Red
R6 Red

[stranger12]

OK , I have read the article and few other on the internet plus watched the videos.

few questions:
1.is spring rate how stiff or soft the spring is ?
2.if so , how do i know what mine is ?

regarding the adjustments, my rear adjustments are as follow:

fully unloaded ( lifted the backend):51.8
sag :51
loaded sag :48.1
they are all in cm.

I have read in few places saying the loaded sag- fully unloaded should be 25-35 and mine is still more than that. that is with the suspension adjusted to its stiffest point .

do I have a wrong spring for my weight ? i am 114kg
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SV650 Red
R6 Red

[lihp]

[Vincent]

[stranger12]

[stranger12]

how can i check to see if the spring has worn out ?
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SV650 Red
R6 Red

[ws4936]

[Vincent]

[lihp]

DON'T ADJUST ANYTHING ELSE

You have got the idea of sag wrong.

Sag is the difference between the 2 measurements.

So if unloaded it is 51.8 as you say, and loaded it is 51 that is a sag of 0.8cm

If you have then sat on it, and it has gone to 48.1 that is a sag of 3.7

So your sag is actually 37mm not 48.1

Please post your method of how you got these measurements.

Methodology in setting bikes up is more important than the measurements
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covent.gardens: lihp is my most favourite member ever

[Matt B]

OP - read this:

https://www.gostar-racing.com/club/motorcycle_suspension_set-up.htm

Make sure you understand exactly what you want to do and are trying to do.
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stinkwheel: He had an animated .gif of a cat performing fellatio. It's not socially acceptable. It can have real life adverse effects on other people.

[stranger12]

Thanks ,
I have read that article but will re read it .

I may need to go through it again to make a sense of it .

regarding the methods used let me clarify :

fully unloaded ( lifted the backend):51.8 cm
sag :51 cm
loaded sag :48.1 cm

the sag (bike weight - fully unloaded ) is 51.8 -51 =9mm
the loaded sag - fully unloaded = 51.8 -48.1 = 37mm as you said.

However the guide says it has to be between 25-35 mm.

I did feel that my sv was better at cornering but very wobbly .
if i did not put enough force on the handle bar to do counter steering , the bike tended to stand up .

in another work a bit hard to steer I think but was fine if I put a bit more pressure on the bar and was cornering even better.
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SV650 Red
R6 Red

[Matt B]