Suspension set up

[Velox]

Just wanting a bit of advice on setting up my suspension cause I've procrastinated long enough.

No idea what I'm doing really but I know there's 3 bits that you adjust for diff things. Jim2 explained it in a thread a while back so I can prob just follow that. But the prob is what actual settings I should use.

Any ideas on what the set-up should be on a cbr600rr with a 58ish kg rider? I could try diff settings and see what feels best but to be completely honest I don't think I'd notice it enough to be able to tell. I'm used to riding my lil 250 with crap suspension and stuffed tyres so I've never noticed the subtleties of an actually half decent set-up.

So any ideas (from people who know what they're talking about) about how many more clicks the front should have than the rear and how soft/hard the susp should be for my weight and that sort of thing?

Thanks..

[James Deuce]

I've got the Masterbike settings for your bike from 2004. When I get home I'll send them to you.

Setting up your suspension should be about setting it for what suits you and your riding style, and you should change and test one thing at a time so you can measure the difference, preferably through a section of road you know well. Make sure you get a little notebook, write down the baseline settings, and then notate any changes you make and the effect they have.

The Masterbike settings will suit your riding.

Do you know what the factory defaults are? Is it set at defaults right now?

[Velox]

I've got the Masterbike settings for your bike from 2004. When I get home I'll send them to you.

Setting up your suspension should be about setting it for what suits you and your riding style, and you should change and test one thing at a time so you can measure the difference, preferably through a section of road you know well. Make sure you get a little notebook, write down the baseline settings, and then notate any changes you make and the effect they have.

The Masterbike settings will suit your riding.

Do you know what the factory defaults are? Is it set at defaults right now?

Thanks Jim! No it's not on factory settings at the mo.

But the whole prob is that I don't think I'd really notice what the best set-up is even on a bit of road that I know. I don't even notice when the tires are down a few psi usually. So it would be cool to know a suggested set-up, cause it would def be best to have it set up right even if I don't consciously notice it.

[James Deuce]

I just PM'ed you some settings. I can't remem,ber what year your CBR is, but you should get some idea from the PM


You'll notice a difference, I promise.

[FROSTY:Me]

Velox--Shaun will be at TD3 --Im sure he'll be happy to help ya do a setup.
If it were me Id wind everything back as soft as it goes then wind it up from there.

[Velox]

Thanks fellas - Jim that looks real good. It's 03 btw.

That's good to know Frosty - is Shaun someone on this site?

[cowpoos]

Thanks fellas - Jim that looks real good. It's 03 btw.

That's good to know Frosty - is Shaun someone on this site?

shaun harris doll....and yer he's on KB

Tell ya what...next time your over here....I'll get my tape measure out and tape measure,spanners and shit and set ya sag up for ya [spring preload...front and rear]...and try find you a reasonable base line...

[Deano]

Tell ya what...next time your over here....I'll get my tape measure out and tape measure,spanners and shit and set ya sag up for ya [spring preload...front and rear]...and try find you a reasonable base line...

Ummmm, yeah real suave Poos.

Keep trying bro.

[cowpoos]

Ummmm, yeah real suave Poos.

Keep trying bro.

suave???? WTF.....is that some kinda tongan fruit?

[Deano]

suave???? WTF.....is that some kinda tongan fruit?

Like this ?

Turn you on ?

[cowpoos]

Like this ?

Turn you on ?

those melons look a bit suspect

[Mental Trousers]

Get the suspension sag set correctly and the other settings vaguely right and also read this - suspension tuning symptoms/causes. Go for a ride and take note of what is happening, have a look at that and see which matches the bikes behaviour then adjust to eliminate the problem (1 click then try it out). Make sure you record your settings before starting.

[Velox]

Simmer down boys.


CP - don't worry mate, it's a new type of Just Juice.
That'd be real good though. You mean 'base-line' for the preload or is that some other type of setting? Btw, I've got the spanner for the rear shock in the bike's tool kit.


MT - thanks for the link. But a lot of it sounds so similar (ie. - bike feels crap in corners) that I still wouldn't know what exactly needs adjusting. I'll look at it a bit more though and try and work it out. I'll prob be able to tell what's going on better once I'm totally used to the bike and am pushing it a bit more.



Oooh - once I get this and the tyres sorted it'll prob feel real diff (found a huge patch of white canvas coming through my front tyre today....don't tell Sugilite or crazylittleshit). Yay!!!

[cowpoos]

Btw, I've got the spanner for the rear shock in the bike's tool kit.

brillent....I hate using the big flat head screw driver and the hammer...lol

[F5 Dave]

Thing about magazine test setups is they are generally done at the track by overweight journalists & none of them are going to be anywhere near your weight unless you are reading some Italian jockey magazine.

So I’d definitely try less preload & damping than they suggested.

First things first, if things feel a bit crap the most obvious start is the tyres, esp the rear if it is squared or mismatched to the front or under pressure. My YZF felt like a barge with the worn tyres on it, new bike with new tyres.

Next is steering head bearings must be smooth (jack up front or get someone to hold on the stand without tipping it over on the floor & check the steering). Also possible the shock needs a re-oil if a bit old.

Find a nice bit of challenging road, say a section of Makara hill.

Ride up it. Adjust the compression to nill & try it again (in is hard, out anticlockwise is soft). The bike will feel unsettled so dial some back in to about where you were. Then adjust the rebound to nil & the bike will get bouncy/wallowy. Nether will be right, but it gives you an idea of what too little feels like in extreme.

If there is too much it will feel like it packs down and/or patters/skips, like it isn’t working. Due to you’re light weight I’d start soft & keep dialing more in until it feels settled without getting too Skippy the Bush Kangaroo on the bumpy bits.