Suspension setup - a DIY job?

[B0ndy]

Yet to get round to setting up the suspension on my ninja, now I have some spare time over Christmas I'm thinking about doing it.

Can the average joe setup their own suspension or is it a job for someone that knows what they're doing?

I do everything on my bike excluding tyres, always keen on learning however since it only needs to be done once and it looks like it could be easily cocked up I'm considering taking it to a mechanic.

Thanks
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[drbaig]

Yeah, you can. Although you should get the factory setting in hand if you manage to fuck up.

watch some youtube videos.

Its basically setting the Preload to your weight and riding style.

Rebound so its fast enough but does not wallow.

Compression so it doesn't dive or squat on heavy braking and acceleration.

That is the gist of it.
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yzf 600r

[RhynoCZ]

DIY job? I'm going to say no, BUT you can google around and sooner or later you're gonna find a brief manual on how to set the suspension, of your particular motorcycle, to given weight of the rider. Then you just go by that manual, mostly it's just all about a propper amount of clicks and turns.

I found this kind of manual for the ZX7R, I could set the suspension correctly for a rider from about 70kg to 90kg, using that manual. Worked great, I had 87kg back then, set it all up and the result was basically the factory settings.

If you think you're gonna just poke around and fiddle with stuff, then the probability of the suspension doing what you want it to aftewards is very small.
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'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

You can do it yourself although it can be quite difficult to assess what's going on and what to adjust. However it is interesting and I've always done it. Quite a good guide here.
My local-ish bike shop will do suspension setups for about £40, I think. He's an ex-TT racer so he ought to know how. Maybe you could make a note of stock settings, then get it professionally set up, note those settings and then have a play around just for your own information/interest. I'd do it on dry roads though, not at this time of year.

[Hong Kong Phooey]

Do it. As above get standard settings first.

The CBR has adjustables, once adjusted to my weight and dialing out the previous owners 'preferences' it was like a new bike.

Stopped running wide on exits, just felt great all round in comparison.
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'81 CG125, '97 FZS600 : '99 CBR600F4, '09 KTM RC8

[Diggs]

I agree. Set it to factory settings then ride it. If it feels odd, adjust a click at a time until it suits you. Preload depends upon your weight - get this right and the rest follows...
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[Fizzer Thou]

Suggested setup spec for the 1999-2000 model G1/G2

Rear shock - Road

Static sag 11mm (6mm if 2 up)
Loaded sag 29mm (25mm if 2 up)
Compression 7 clicks out from maximum
Rebound 3 clicks out from max (2 clicks if 2 up)
Ride height 10mm up on standard
Tyre pressure 38 psi solo, 42 psi if 2 up

Front forks - Road

Static sag 23mm
Compression 5 clicks out from max
Rebound 1 click from max
Fork height 3 mm
Preload 3 rings
Tyre pressure 36 psi
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Just talk bikes.What else is there?

Always have a 'Plan B'

[Fizzer Thou]

Suggested settings for the 2000-2001 J1-J2 model

Rear shock - road - standard

Spring length set at 180 mm
Rebound 10 clicks from max
Compression 10 clicks out from max
Ride height zero

Front forks - road - standard

Preload KMUK suggest 14 mm
Rebound 7 clicks out from max
Compression 9 clicks out from max

Performance Bike settings

Rear shock

Preload one full turn back if rider is less than 14 stone
Rebound 7 clicks out from max
Compression 8 clicks out from max
Ride height +8 mm

Front forks

Preload 4 lines showing

But if the front fork oil has never been changed,the tyres are ozone cracked and the rear suspension has never been overhauled,much of the above will be wasted.Best to ensure everything is 100% before going anywhere near adjusters
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Just talk bikes.What else is there?

Always have a 'Plan B'

[G]

As above - start with preload.


Definitely take a note of stock settings first.


Before that, if you've got some cash, worth checking to see if you've got the right springs for your weight.

After that, a lot of suspension setup relates to feedback - an expert can ask the right questions, however I've found miracles fairly lacking when I've paid people.

So if you can do a good bit of reading and

[Val]

You can read a lot and try to do that after gazillion of measurements and enormous amount of test rides etc.

Or you can just use sportrider recomended setup. Job done in 5 minutes

https://www.sportrider.com/tech/suggested-sport-bike-motorcycle-suspension-settings
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Yamaha Fazer FZS 600, MT09, XSR 900

[MarJay]

Ignore some of the above, the best way to get the closest best setup for you is in this PDF:
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Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[G]

Great if you're the weight of the tester, riding on American roads!

I'd at least setup preload to your weight, which is easy o do.

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

^^^Wearing full kit.

I tried setting it up on my own and it's tricky to measure the sag whilst sat on the bike with 1 arm against a wall and the other dangling a tape measure.
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[MarJay]

[G]

Sorry, I was responding to Val - you posted the minute before me... which yes, is why there's a '[quote]' system to use!

[drbaig]

[ThatDippyTwat]

Do Maxton still do setups? Did a full setup (front and rear) when I bought a new shock for the ZZR1100 years back. Even the price quoted without the shock was very reasonable, considering it was like someone had handed me a brand new bike, that didn't dive the front at a hint of brakes, and actually went around corners.

It's one of the few things I'm wary about dicking around with, other than basic preload if I'm carrying stuff or a pillion.