suspension set up help please

[fazerboy1969]

Right....treat me like a complete twonk when it comes to suspension set ups please.right at moment ive a gen 1 thou completley standard spring wise and around 12000 on the clock.im around 18 stone and do alot of spirited riding even loaded up.http:// I know there are two adjustments on top of either fork and on the rear spring....so what do I do now to get the best out of the standard set up thx

[dekker555]

Fazerboy, have a look at this site, it will certainly put you in the right ballpark.
http://www.gostar-racing.com/information/motorcycle_suspension_set-up.htm
Good luck with it. Derek.

[nickodemon]

Set compression damping one click back from max (turn screw at top of shock clockwise till it stops then go back one click) adjust the rebound damping by turning the knurled knob at bottom of shock (looking at it from sidestand side of bike) turn the adjuster fully towards the back tyre, then 3 clicks back. The spring is really poor on the fazer, so i would adjust the spring with a c spanner to max or one setting off max. Guarantee it will make a big improvement. If you can afford it get a maxton spring and put the settings to standard and adjust to suit. Hope this helps

[Falcon 269]

I'm around 18 stone and do alot of spirited riding even loaded up ...

Set shock preload to max, compression damping to max and rebound 3 clicks out, as Nickodemon said.  That's the shock as good as you'll get it.

Forks - 2 rings preload showing, maybe one even.  Compression adjusters 6 - 8 clicks out.  Rebound 3 clicks out.

These are the best you'll get with stock springs. 

What you should really set is your eyes and wallet on springs that are suited to your weight and riding style. 

[fazerboy1969]

Cheers...seen a maxton shock on ebay..tempted but theres also an ohlins item for 300 too.but I would have to do forks too

[Falcon 269]

Budget option - and entirely satisfactory solution - is to get the original shock resprung and overhauled (new gas and oil) which should cost around £160.

Linear forks springs rated to your weight plus fresh oil (try 5w for better compliance) should be less than £100.

[devilsyam]

budjet option 2 get a r6 shock lighter, better built, better spring, all as std

[fazerboy1969]

Bike out of garage..one c spanner and a screwdriver..here goes

[PieEater]

Couple of other suggestions;
1) Drop the forks through the yokes by ~10mm, this helps speed up the steering. Balance the front of the bike on a car jack loosen the clamp bolts and lower the jack so the bike loweres down in a controlled fashion then tighten the bolts back up - 15 minute job (max) and you'll notice the difference.
2) Fit an ebay jack-up kit, the revised geometry firms up the rear shock as well as putting more weight on the front which again speeds up the steering, costs about £15 and takes about 30 mins to fit (max), again you'll notice an immediate improvement.
This gets the bike to optimal handling with the existing suspension, you'll enjoy riding it more and it'll give you some time to consider your next steps. The R6 shock mod is probably what I'd consider on a budget.

[sadlonelygit]

as a gentleman of more 'mature' proportions myself, i had to change the springs to get mine to handle a bit.
1kg/mm linear springs on the front £88, 1 litre of 5w oil £9, 525lb spring from faulkners..................£25.
firm solo ride or compliant 2 up.
surprised no one has said the standard set up is shit unless you're a racing snake.

[fazerboy1969]

 :bI iz a racing hippo dont wanna change the actual seating position as im happy as it is plus the bike is an import,and after looking at a few fazers on the foc tent at the tailend bmf ive noticed my bars are different to standard.they actually pull me slightly over the front,which im happy with. Any how had a look and a bit of a play.just really to see mechanically what I need to do.im a bit more clued up..r6 spring????hmmm any year I should look at??

[ghostbiker]

there was only 1 thou on the foc u tent at tail end ..... mine 

I have renthal 758's fitted and i belive from memory the 2 mk2 600's had thier std bars on.

The R6 mod is from what i have seen (but not tested) a good buget option. Devilsyam dose a fitting kit for it and offten can supply the R6 shock as well for a very good price seeing as most of the shock's he gets hold off are run in milage only.
Best to have a chat to him about it. there is a thread running http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,151.0.html about it but better info about the mod itself can be found archived on the old site.

[fazerboy1969]

Yeah ive seen his thread and I seem to have missed out on all 30 lol. So ive sent him a pm..but thanks again.yeah I saw just the one thou...niceB-)  I should have popped in and said hello but u were all pissed and playing hide n seek,n the seeker was asleep and your tent was empty for 4hrs while u all hid.

[devilsyam]

perhaps you forgot but i got no pm and i still have two here good to go

there is info on my site also www.devilsyam.com

[fazerboy1969]

Oh....thort u had...ermm ok ill send you another

[bash62]

racetec progressive fork springs rear nitron shock and a set up at royston  edwards performance at magor south wales .turned a great bike in to a awesome bike
cheers
bash

[ghostbiker]

what sort of price was the set up bash? i was thinking of getting mine reset up for me as i lent the bike to a mate a while ago and he changed the settings now i cant seem to get it feeling right lol. that and im lighter again than i was when i brought the front ktec and rear nitron.

actualy im happy with the front the rear i cant seem to get dialed in again.

[pitternator]

personally I dont think anyone can set up ur suspension except yourself. Thats cos we R all individuals with diffrent wants and needs. What u need is a " ballpark" setting , then incrementally adjust from there to get what you prefer. Always remembering that winter / summer  ; and road / track are diffrent settings !
I would be careful with paying dosh out for " set - ups"...cos they may not be ideal. Many are  based on  racing or fast road, and so may not be the best setting for an allrounder like the fazer ...also a lot depends on the state of ur suspension in the first place.Just tweaking may not work on older bikes with tired suspension.
My ballpark setting " is to revert to the settings given me for my K tech suspension, and several times I have come back to this and then had a play. Hence use falcons settings on a stock bike  as a ball park , and see if adjustments make any diffrence.
I also feel the shite standard of our roads means firm settings become uncomfy rather quickly , and I tend to err on the side of suppleness. TBH even at a track day a few clicks dont make that much diffrence, but they can make all the diffrence on a bumpy road !