Personal Bike Set Up

[placidfemme]

Well yesterday riding back from Hamilton was uncomfortable to say the least... I know I'm not very bike fit and have been out of action for a while and am slowly getting my mojo back...

However, I've never set my bike up for my own personal size etc...

I really don't know what the options are and how to do them...

Suspension
Brake/Clutch Lever

Anything else?

And how do I do it?

Thanks

[Pwalo]

Well yesterday riding back from Hamilton was uncomfortable to say the least... I know I'm not very bike fit and have been out of action for a while and am slowly getting my mojo back...

However, I've never set my bike up for my own personal size etc...

I really don't know what the options are and how to do them...

Suspension
Brake/Clutch Lever

You could try adjusting your clip on and foot peg positions. This could require risers, and rearsets (lots of dosh, unless you can find some second hand). You could adjust the positions of your gear change lever, and rear brake pedal height.

Best advice. Suck it and see for a couple of weeks. Then try adjustments one by one so you can go back if things don't work.

Have you got a copy of the works manual?

[jrandom]

Practice putting your heels behind your ears.

Amongst the many consequent benefits of that exercise is the fact that your ZXR will start feeling positively armchair-like.

[placidfemme]

Practice putting your heels behind your ears.

I can actually do that!

~~

I have a Service Manual (or some sort of manual) for the ZXR. I've browsed throught it but havn't picked up on anything that makes too much sense to me...

I'd like to adjust the suspension to accomodate my (lack of) weight and Sam's weight seeing as she is starting to ride the ZXR too... I'm about 47kg's and Sam's about 52kg's.

Any suggestions on how to do that on the ZXR?

Also any tips on how to adjust the clutch/Brake levers... Mine are adjustable in the sense that I can change it from 1 - 4 (or 5) which adjusts the distance of the lever... and I'm assuming that I can also loosen the part where the levers are attached to the handlebars... to adjust the angle...

As for the rear sets... I've looked into getting aftermarket rearsets... and they cost about $600 from F1 Engineering... however, right now I don't wish to spend that much on the bike and if I did it would be to paint the bike...

Any other idea's/suggestions/tips?

Thanks

[bugjuice]

lol.. heels behind the ears? now that'd be fun..

The levers for clutch, front and rear brake, and gear shift, are (or at least should be) adjustable. So that's not a hard fix, if those are the problems. You can adjust those just by the round dial that should be on the brake lever, and the clutch side has a silver/black disc that you can twist. But be careful how much you adjust the clutch, as that's going to affect how it works. You have some free-play, but not too much. You can also slack off the bolts that hold it on, and adjust the 'pitch' of the levers too, that could help. The rear brake and foot lever are a tad more tricky.

The suspension (if that's too harsh/soggy) may have limited adjustment on them too. But that's probably better for someone with a bit of know-how to give you a hand..

How was the seat? May be get that retrimmed to make your tushy better..?? I know mine needs it!

Swing by at the weekend if you want, and won't take long to fix up.. I can see what you and Aff-man have been up to too!

[placidfemme]

lol.. heels behind the ears? now that'd be fun..

The levers for clutch, front and rear brake, and gear shift, are (or at least should be) adjustable. So that's not a hard fix, if those are the problems.
The suspension (if that's too harsh/soggy) may have limited adjustment on them too. But that's probably better for someone with a bit of know-how to give you a hand..

How was the seat? May be get that retrimmed to make your tushy better..?? I know mine needs it!

Thanks...

I don't think the seat is a problem... My ass is skinny (doh!) and is used to sitting on hard surfaces lol... the discomfort (other than my leathers) was mostly in my arms/wrists and ankles...

[bugjuice]

changed my post a little ;)

[placidfemme]

Swing by at the weekend if you want, and won't take long to fix up.. I can see what you and Aff-man have been up to too!

I dunno if I'll be able to pop over... Saturday's weather forcast is looking really crap (thunder/lightening/rain) so may only be able to pop in on Sunday...

lol the ZXR looks rather rangi from close up... still needs a bit of work done and a service and some parts replaced... but still handles well :)

I'll PM you my new contact number just incase...

:)

[Ghost Lemur]

I can actually do that!


I've told you about making claims like that without backing them up with photographic evidence.

I demand pics.

[Squeak the Rat]

On the levers, they should be set up so that your wrist is basically straight. Assume normal riding position, open you hand flat and put on bar with fingers touching the lever, wrist should be straight. Adjust as per buggies post.

At least that's my understanding.....

[Pwalo]

Yep I'd pay to see that photo. There are quite a few magazine articles up setting up your bike.

You may have a bit of a problem with your weight. My manly 65kg doesn't bother standard shocks, and I'm pretty sure that if you and Sam are that light you'll seriously need to look at changing your rear suspension to get correct static sag (there I got it into a sentence).

Firstly get your levers etc set up so that the bike feels comfortable. As has been said you want to have your levers pretty well in line with your forearm whn you sitting on the bike. You can also adjust your levers for reach by the sound of things, so do that (I think that the lower the number the nearer the lever is to the bar).

Next sit on the bike and make sure that your gear lever and brake pedal are comfortable.You can adjust the angle of both of these.

Suspension is probably something you're going to need someone to help you out with. You basically need to set static sag at both ends of the bike, and then dial in your preload from there. I'm sure that some of the Auckland team can help you out.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Paul

[placidfemme]

Yep I'd pay to see that photo. There are quite a few magazine articles up setting up your bike.

You may have a bit of a problem with your weight. My manly 65kg doesn't bother standard shocks, and I'm pretty sure that if you and Sam are that light you'll seriously need to look at changing your rear suspension to get correct static sag (there I got it into a sentence).

Firstly get your levers etc set up so that the bike feels comfortable. As has been said you want to have your levers pretty well in line with your forearm whn you sitting on the bike. You can also adjust your levers for reach by the sound of things, so do that (I think that the lower the number the nearer the lever is to the bar).

Next sit on the bike and make sure that your gear lever and brake pedal are comfortable.You can adjust the angle of both of these.

Suspension is probably something you're going to need someone to help you out with. You basically need to set static sag at both ends of the bike, and then dial in your preload from there. I'm sure that some of the Auckland team can help you out.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Paul

Thanks... I'll be playing around with the lever adjustments tonight when I get home (shhh don't tell Sam) as for the gear and brake adjustments... I've had a look at my bike and don't see where I can do that... I just need them to be a little closer... to change gears I literally have to take my foot off the peg to get the tip under the gear pedal sometimes... So I'll check the ZXR Manual tonight and see if thats something I can do myself...

*don't tell Sam the following... will see if she notices... and if not... yay!*

I just got back from the bike shop... with a new air hose ($65 :gob: ) and new gold anodised footpegs hehehe... so I'll be sorting that out tonight too... lol I can't walk into a bike shop and walk out empty handed... its just not right to do that... :love:

[HenryDorsetCase]

some good advice from others here which I wont repeat.

what i did on the Hornet (apart from obvious "adjustment" stuff)

New Handlebar
New rear shock (Ohlins :love: set up for my weight and riding style)
New fork springs, again through Robert, and weight specific)

next step (winter) is to send the forks up to him to sort out the valving and such...



Those two last improvements (shock and fork springs) are the single biggest improvement of any money I have ever spent on any bike. no shit. Sort of expensive even with the basic shock I got (no remote reservoirs thanks).

Ive also added some fripperies as well but they're cosmetic: tail tidy and bullet indicators, stickers....

[jrandom]

I can actually do that!

You do realise, don't you, that the first time I meet you in meatspace, I'm going to insist that you prove it.

[placidfemme]

You do realise, don't you, that the first time I meet you in meatspace, I'm going to insist that you prove it.

lol I'm sure :) I'd proberly be too shy (seriously... I'm a tart on here but a wee bit shy in person...)

[placidfemme]

some good advice from others here which I wont repeat.

what i did on the Hornet (apart from obvious "adjustment" stuff)

New Handlebar
New rear shock (Ohlins :love: set up for my weight and riding style)
New fork springs, again through Robert, and weight specific)

next step (winter) is to send the forks up to him to sort out the valving and such...



Those two last improvements (shock and fork springs) are the single biggest improvement of any money I have ever spent on any bike. no shit. Sort of expensive even with the basic shock I got (no remote reservoirs thanks).

Ive also added some fripperies as well but they're cosmetic: tail tidy and bullet indicators, stickers....

Some of those are great tips... but sound costly... I'm not planning on keeping the ZXR for much longer... I'll either be selling it or giving it to Sam (hmmmm) so either way I'm not prepared to pay for high costing performace/comfort upgrades...

[jrandom]

I'm a tart on here but a wee bit shy in person...

No worries; I'll get you drunk first.

[placidfemme]

No worries; I'll get you drunk first.

lol I'm a cheap drunk... :yes:

[jrandom]

lol I'm a cheap drunk... :yes:

Sounds to me like the lady's saying 'yes'...

You're on.

[placidfemme]

Sounds to me like the lady's saying 'yes'...

You're on.

lol but you forget... I have my lady to defend my honour when I'm drunk :) cause she loves me :love:

[The_Dover]

so is she the butch?

[jrandom]

lol but you forget... I have my lady to defend my honour when I'm drunk

[shudder]

I don't want your honour, deary.

I just want to see you put your heels behind your ears.

[placidfemme]

so is she the butch?

we don't define our relationship into stero types... but I'm the boss lol (sometimes)

[placidfemme]

I don't want your honour, deary.

I just want to see you put your heels behind your ears.

For what reason.... to have something to take the piss out of... therefor my honour not my snatch

[WickedOne]

For what reason.... to have something to take the piss out of... therefor my honour not my snatch

:clap: :killingme :killingme :killingme :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rockon:

[jrandom]

For what reason.... to have something to take the piss out of... therefor my honour not my snatch

Wit! Good lord. Wit. From placidfemme.

'Taking the piss out of your snatch', eh?

Dirty wit at that.

My world-view just suffered an abrupt shift.

[NighthawkNZ]

I can actually do that!



ummmmmmmm hmmmm :love:


:eek:
:baby: