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ZX7R - suspension settings

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RhynoCZ
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PostPosted: 14:28 - 12 Sep 2013    Post subject: ZX7R - suspension settings Reply with quote
Hello, does anyone have some sort of chart/manual for suspension settings for '96 ZX7R? I found in the workshop manual, that factory settings are:

F - Rebound - 7th click
F - Compression - 12th click (ZX750N) / 6th click (ZX750P)
F - Preload - 4th mark (ZX750N) / 6.5th mark (ZX750P)

R - Rebound - 8th click (ZX750N) / number 2 (ZX750P)
R - Compression - 17th click (ZX750N) / 15th click (ZX750P)
R - Preload - according to its length, min. 13mm

That is for a rider, that weighs 68kg (150lb).

My first question, or just an assurances, do I have N or P model? Thinking
My second question, I weight 85kg at the moment, how do I set it right?

Thank you

EDIT: I want medium or medium hard setting. Thumbs Up
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor
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MarJay
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Joined: 15 Sep 2003
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PostPosted: 14:46 - 12 Sep 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
The only way that you'll get the ideal set up is to tailor it to yourself. Someone elses settings will not necessarily work for you.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/download.php?id=89152

Here is a zip file that contains a PDF. This PDF will tell you how to get a very good baseline setting for your suspension.
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.
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RhynoCZ
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PostPosted: 14:56 - 12 Sep 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks, I'm gonna look into that. Right now, the settings are wrong, it's very hard. The front forks don't even compress that much, it goes barely over the half of its range.

EDIT: As far as I know, it should ''use'' normally at least 60-70% of the tube, right or would that be too soft?
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor
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MarJay
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Joined: 15 Sep 2003
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PostPosted: 15:13 - 12 Sep 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
RhynoCZ wrote:
Thanks, I'm gonna look into that. Right now, the settings are wrong, it's very hard. The front forks don't even compress that much, it goes barely over the half of its range.

EDIT: As far as I know, it should ''use'' normally at least 60-70% of the tube, right or would that be too soft?


Read the document. The suspension should naturally sit 1/3rd of the way from completely topped out, and when riding you should be able to use as much suspension travel as possible without bottoming out. This includes exceptional circumstances such as hitting a pothole really, so I'd say you want to be using 80% of the travel of the suspension on a day to day basis.

There is no such thing as too 'hard' or too 'soft'. Read the document and you'll understand.

It does sound like you have too much compression damping though.
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.
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RhynoCZ
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PostPosted: 15:15 - 12 Sep 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
Alright, I got through the article. I'm gonna try something tomorrow, thank you Thumbs Up
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor
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MarJay
But it's British!



Joined: 15 Sep 2003
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PostPosted: 11:12 - 13 Sep 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
RhynoCZ wrote:
Alright, I got through the article. I'm gonna try something tomorrow, thank you Thumbs Up


Good luck, I hope you sort it.

I can say from first hand experience that you can turn what feels like an uncompliant pig into something that suits your riding with the methods in that document.

The very best suspension setup I've ever had was on my Buell which came with a table where you look up your weight with kit and it tells you what settings to use. I've never had so much confidence on a bike as I've had with those Buells. The Street Triple comes a very close second. I think it needs a slightly lower spring rate in the front end, but otherwise it's pretty close to my needs.

I have the difficulty of being quite short and fairly light in weight. Most bikes (particularly European bikes) are set up for heavier people (approximately 13-14 stone (80-90kg)). Japanese bikes tend to be set up for people who weigh closer to 12 stone (~75kg)

I, on the other hand, weigh approximately 10 stone 10lbs which is around 68kg. This means most bikes are outside of the ideal setup range for me.
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.
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P.
Red Rocket



Joined: 14 Feb 2008
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PostPosted: 11:49 - 13 Sep 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
Set up the R1 with that guide before I went to Spain with my luggage loaded. It handled superb, full luggage taking massive corners at decent speeds, felt like a bike that had nothing but me on it.

Superb stuff in that PDF
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evoboy
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Joined: 20 Aug 2009
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PostPosted: 12:54 - 13 Sep 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
The zx7r front forks DO NOT have a preload setting.

The 'preload' adjuster on the forks adjusts the ride height, which will be why it only uses half its available travel.

I'm 17st at 6'4 and i had mine set at about 6 or so lines out on the adjuster.

https://homepage.ntlworld.com/webzxr/zxr750r/Features/myzx7r.html
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Suzuki GT250 x7------- Fazer 600------CB250RS------Aprilia Rally 70----- Bandit 600

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MarJay
But it's British!



Joined: 15 Sep 2003
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PostPosted: 13:06 - 13 Sep 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
evoboy wrote:
The zx7r front forks DO NOT have a preload setting.

The 'preload' adjuster on the forks adjusts the ride height, which will be why it only uses half its available travel.

I'm 17st at 6'4 and i had mine set at about 6 or so lines out on the adjuster.

https://homepage.ntlworld.com/webzxr/zxr750r/Features/myzx7r.html


Really? How does that work then?

All USD forks work in the same way. The adjuster at the top pushes the spring down which increases the ride height unless the suspension is fully extended where it compresses the spring. This means that you can argue that all fork preload adjusters adjust ride height, the same as rear suspension preload.

However, the ZX7R also has a ride height adjuster which doesn't affect the spring but changes the geometry of the bike in isolation from the spring.
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.
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evoboy
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PostPosted: 14:11 - 13 Sep 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
MarJay wrote:
evoboy wrote:
The zx7r front forks DO NOT have a preload setting.

The 'preload' adjuster on the forks adjusts the ride height, which will be why it only uses half its available travel.

I'm 17st at 6'4 and i had mine set at about 6 or so lines out on the adjuster.

https://homepage.ntlworld.com/webzxr/zxr750r/Features/myzx7r.html


Really? How does that work then?

All USD forks work in the same way. The adjuster at the top pushes the spring down which increases the ride height unless the suspension is fully extended where it compresses the spring. This means that you can argue that all fork preload adjusters adjust ride height, the same as rear suspension preload.

However, the ZX7R also has a ride height adjuster which doesn't affect the spring but changes the geometry of the bike in isolation from the spring.


The adjuster moves the fork 'travel' down/up the stanchion. Moving the adjuster would not change the sag in the forks. I ended up converting (which is well documented online) mine so that the adjuster did work to adjust preload on the spring.
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APT Motorcycles
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bacon
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Joined: 09 Jan 2009
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PostPosted: 14:18 - 13 Sep 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hey, the 7r is strange, what evoboy has said is true. Its well documented on redmonkey.com/7r

I have mine wound all the way out so the front is nice and low. But like said above you can modify them to adjust preload correctly.
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MarJay
But it's British!



Joined: 15 Sep 2003
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PostPosted: 14:56 - 13 Sep 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
evoboy wrote:
The adjuster moves the fork 'travel' down/up the stanchion. Moving the adjuster would not change the sag in the forks. I ended up converting (which is well documented online) mine so that the adjuster did work to adjust preload on the spring.


Well, that's a new one on me! You learn something new every day.
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.
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RhynoCZ
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PostPosted: 16:15 - 13 Sep 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
This thread is getting interesting. I couldn't do a thing today, the weather was bad, gonna try my luck tomorrow.

I wish I had the good old GPz Showa suspension, just blow in some air and you're good to go. Thumbs Up Smile
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor
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1198
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Joined: 24 Jan 2013
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PostPosted: 15:25 - 14 Sep 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
The best £35 I spent on my bike recently was to a suspension expert who spent 1 hour or so tweaking. (Please don't think I'm trying to be a clever twat, my knowledge of the subject is low and I'm sure my riding skills aren't good enough to accurately set it up and detect any minute differences!)
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RhynoCZ
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PostPosted: 18:22 - 14 Sep 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote
So lads, today me and my mate set it all into factory settings, added some clicks to the rear suspension AND IT IS JUST PERFECT Razz

The bike feels so light and smooth, goes like charm.

The previous owner was, well, stupid. Left fork was set all wrong, the right one was set all wrong, differently. The only thing that was set right was the rear shock.

I'm so glad that it was set wrong, I was worried that it was damaged. Smile
Wobbling at high speeds is gone, corners are a pleasure and it all feels confident and sure about every move on the road. I'd say Christmass came a bit early this year. Very Happy

Next thing I'm gonna do, I'm gonna look into that setup.pdf to mate it even better. Thank you alot lads, this forum is the best Thumbs Up
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor
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