Personal Bike Set Up

**placidfemme** · 7th December 2006, 10:37

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** · 7th December 2006, 10:46

Originally Posted by 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

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** · 7th December 2006, 10:48

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** · 7th December 2006, 11:06

Originally Posted by Fish

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** · 7th December 2006, 11:07

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** · 7th December 2006, 11:09

Originally Posted by 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.
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** · 7th December 2006, 11:10

changed my post a little

**placidfemme** · 7th December 2006, 11:15

Originally Posted by bugjuice

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** · 7th December 2006, 12:09

Originally Posted by placidfemme

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** · 7th December 2006, 13:08

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** · 7th December 2006, 13:32

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** · 7th December 2006, 13:40

Originally Posted by 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

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

) 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...

**HenryDorsetCase** · 7th December 2006, 14:08

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

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....