Steering and Suspension Dynamics

**KiwiKat** · 12th September 2008, 19:21

I'm a light rider with a reasonably heavy bike 750f Katana. On some undulating surfaces e.g. Mt Stewart Road the bike seems to bounce up and down.

My question is should Stiffen or soften the suspension and which should I do first, front or back. Any suggestions appreciated.

**blacksheep** · 12th September 2008, 19:26

the search function is your friend

**The Stranger:Me** · 12th September 2008, 19:37

Originally Posted by blacksheep

the search function is your friend

Classic. That has him all sorted now, he can't possibly go wrong with help like that.

KiwiKat - you may as well get the best advice possible.
PM Robert Taylor on here, or grab his phone number from his profile and give him a call.

**blacksheep** · 12th September 2008, 19:40

Originally Posted by The Stranger

Classic. That has him all sorted now, he can't possibly go wrong with help like that.

well how many chapters of suspension tips do you want me to type,only to have some smart arse type in RE-POST

**cowboyz** · 12th September 2008, 21:45

You really need to hook up with someone who really knows what they are doing with suspension. The bike should be balanced with you sitting on it so probably an adjustment on both will be required. People spend lots and lots of time fine tuning suspension settings for their liking.
My suggestion would be to find a manual and reset the settings to stock - taking into account the rider settings in the manual (my bike stock is set for a 65kg rider)

Robert Taylor is a wealth of knowledge but he is a rep for ohlins and like all reps he has an agenda.

**KiwiKat** · 12th September 2008, 22:13

Thanks Cowboyz. I appreciate your straight up response without additional verbal excrement.

**cowboyz** · 12th September 2008, 22:22

Originally Posted by KiwiKat

Thanks Cowboyz. I appreciate your straight up response without additional verbal excrement.

its all good. blacksheep is a really nice guy. hes just upsetthat his bikes not green.

**Drew** · 12th September 2008, 22:29

Originally Posted by cowboyz

Robert Taylor is a wealth of knowledge but he is a rep for ohlins and like all reps he has an agenda.

I get what you're saying here CB, but if you'd had much to do with Robert, you'd know his agenda is best served by giving out his advice, and assistance without pushing people into suspension bits from him.

I know this, because he helped set up mine, and Flames old bikes that were not equipped with his product, and has only ever spoken of Ohlins when asked by us.

As for the stock settings suggestion, there is as much chance that they'll be worse than they are now, as better.

Kiwikat; start by setting the sag, (how much lower the bike is from fully extended, with you on it). The damping adjustments are kinda redundant till the bike wants to sit level of it's own accord.

There are many threads about how to do it, the only thing that wont be clear is what sag to work to, I'm a great believer that 20mm at the rear, and similar up front is good to start from for the road, and about what I have on my race bike.

Get someone that knows how to do the basics, but wont just start changin things because they know more than you and feel important because of it.

**KiwiKat** · 12th September 2008, 22:29

Post a pic. I'll paint it.

**blacksheep** · 13th September 2008, 03:38

wasn't trying to be funny,sorry if i upset you but the search function will reveal a whole can of worms re- suspension tips,looking forward to seeing you around

now to get some sleep

**blacksheep** · 13th September 2008, 03:43

Originally Posted by cowboyz

its all good. blacksheep is a really nice guy. hes just upsetthat his bikes not green.

my hero

i'm green with envy

i must spread some reputation around before giving it to cowboyz again

**Highlander** · 13th September 2008, 06:14

Originally Posted by blacksheep

... the search function will reveal a whole can of worms re- suspension tips...

Very True.
Thought I might tweak my suspension to see the effect it had, but after searching and reading on here was more confused than ever so left it how it was.

**DEATH_INC.** · 13th September 2008, 06:52

One question, well two actually, how many k's does it have on it and was it always like this? It may be time for a re-oil/rebuild.
Otherwise it's pretty damn hard to set someone's bike up over the net. Mebbe if ya talk nicely to one of the guys on here they'll meet up somewhere and help ya set it up, though I'm pretty sure the Kat has few adjustments

**KiwiKat** · 13th September 2008, 07:21

Originally Posted by DEATH_INC.

One question, well two actually, how many k's does it have on it and was it always like this? It may be time for a re-oil/rebuild.
Otherwise it's pretty damn hard to set someone's bike up over the net. Mebbe if ya talk nicely to one of the guys on here they'll meet up somewhere and help ya set it up, though I'm pretty sure the Kat has few adjustments

The Katana is only 9 mths old. Has only 1800 miles on the clock. I'm going to take the bike over the same run again today with checked and warmed up tyres.

Last time it was a bloody cold morning, but I thought it shouldn't bounce like it did.

So many road now are rippled, it seems to be a new trend in resealing.

There is some good advice on the site available from experienced riders and that is what a new (new / old ) rider often needs.

We will always take what we want from what is offered.

**GSVR** · 13th September 2008, 08:08

Originally Posted by KiwiKat

I'm a light rider with a reasonably heavy bike 750f Katana. On some undulating surfaces e.g. Mt Stewart Road the bike seems to bounce up and down.

My question is should Stiffen or soften the suspension and which should I do first, front or back. Any suggestions appreciated.

I wont get into dampening control just springing concerning roadbikes.

Basically the softer you make your suspension the more your bike will wallow and pitch.

If the front is too soft you will get excessive nose dive under braking and the bike will want to stand up more in corners (the steering rake decreases as the suspension loads). At the extremme you risk bottoming out the suspension which is not good for maintaining grip.

If the back is too soft the rear will want to swat under power and the bike will want to run wide when exiting corners hard. Under hard braking the rear will be more inclined to bunny hop.

And the way the back is effects the front and vice versa!

There are general recommendations for sag settings with and without rider. Alot of how you like you suspension will depend on what kind of riding you do. If your not looking at going hard out and do long trips then a heavy bike with soft suspension really soaks up the bumps and provides a very comfortable ride. eg. Cruisers.

The Katana is a sport bike but the suspension is nothing special and pretty much the same forks and rear shock as my SV. With the standard suspension on your bike you can't really do much anyway. May end up cheaper in the long run to get a local professional to do any work.

Thanks for reading my totally incomplete, generalized and inaccurate posting

What bike did you have before the Katana?