Setting up suspension and tyre pressures.

[davidkent]

Hi all.


Been out fixing the bike finally today, and after realising I also have a hole in the water pump and a part id ordered was wrong, I'm working on the bike next week again also once these are ordered / replaced.


While i'm out there, before I go for an MOT and get into Spring / Summer weather, I'd like to adjust everything up to suit.


Its a 2003 Foxeye FZS600.
I'm about 5' 10" and very light, at around 8 to 8 and a half stone.


Basically, I'm looking for an idiots guide on where to set my rear shock and the front preload - Or a guide or something?


I've ran a search but can't find much specific to my size.


I was also contemplating a jack up, i've read this'll also help with handling, as as the dog bones are around £20 for a 25mm jack up, it could be worth it.


Any advice?
Thanks
David

[Punkstig]

You can't set up your suspension properly on others settings.
Get a mate round and a tape measure.
Get them to Measure from the swingarm to a specific point on the bike above (like the luggage hook)
Now sit on the bike with all your gear on and get them to make the same measurement, the difference between the two should be between 30mm and 40mm, if not adjust the rear shock preloaded.
With the forks tie a cable tie round one of the stanchions, not too tight but tight enough for it to stay in place when slid up the stanchion, take the bike for a decent ride, have a look at the cable tie, it should be about an inch away from bottoming out, adjust fork preload as necessary

[red98]

i think i have an old "bike"magazine somewhere with a feature on setting up a fazer`s suspension....i`ll see if i can find it out 

[davidkent]

Awesome, thanks punkstig, and red that'd be awesome if you could!

Cheers

[noggythenog]

There was a recent yatter about tyre pressures.




I run the universal 36 front and 42 rear but im a fat foccer.




Others said they found the rear too skittish at that so were reducing the pressure so again there's no exact formula...i actually might try 40 on my rear next.






The jack up is great....the bike just falls over in the corners though so ask yourself is that what you want...if you do more commuting then probably not, twisty stuff then yes...looks nicer too.

[davidkent]

Wow very informative, thank you
I'm relatively new to riding but don't use it as a commuter it's just a hobby - may consider the jack up 25mm then, not mental but prettier looking and helping with the corners, maybe helping me get back into things a bit.

It's been stood for 3 months so true pressures are a must, perhaps I'll try the 40 rear too

Thanks