As most of us sit by the fire on these mid-winter days when the sun (If it's not covered with clouds) rises late and hides behind the horizon early with our bikes tucked safely into a warm garage and that luscious cup of java in hand, like a lost lover we ponder over those wonderful days of summers gone by. Like you, I regularly wipe the dust from my favorite two wheel steed as if she was a graceful lover built for speed as well as endurance. Yes indeed, we do love our two wheel companions with loyalty of a family member!
Since most of us have time on our hands that we would prefer to spend on hot asphalt, I thought I would share a tip I learned some time ago. To most of us the term "Suspension" is a Greek word meaing "Confusion"! I will admit, suspension tuning is an area that can be very intimidating.
The forks that come on your busa or gixxer are really quite remarkable. They work quite well for most riders with a wide range of adjustments quite capable of accomodating a rider from 140 - 200 pounds. Over 200 pounds and heavier springs are recommended for the agressive pilot. Without using up excessive space with words, this is my point. Our goal is to make the forks use the entire stroke without bottoming out. Since we sometimes find ourselves in a position that 1.0 springs are a bit soft and 1.05 springs are to firm, you can install a 1.0 spring in one fork and a 1.05 spring in the opposite fork ending up with the equivilance of 1.025. The point being, it's not mandatory to have the same weight spring in both forks.
This same theory works just as well and more often used with compression and rebound adjustments. The most noticeable difference in your OEM compression/rebound valves and aftermarket valving is the fine tuning ability. Many times you'll find your OEM valves seem to make a big step from one click to the next. An example is when you find 10 clicks of compression is not enough but 11 clicks is a bit to much, you can fine tune by adjusting one fork to 10 and the opposite fork to 11 clicks. Works on compression and rebound as well.
The best advise I can share with those of you who find suspension intimidating is don't be afraid to play with those suspension adjustments. Just be sure to check all the adjustment settings and write them down before you start so you can always go back to where you started if you get confused. A great way to begin your suspension adventure is to pick up a copy of Andrew Trevitt's book "Sportbike Suspension Tuning"! Andrew did a wonderful job of explaining how suspension works as well as how to go about adjustments. Lots of photos and illustrations to get his point across.
Winter is a great time to dig into the art of suspension tuning. The better you understand suspension the better rider you will become! As your skills develope you will constantly find the need for upgrading the suspension settings. It's a stair step event, one step up in skill followed by one step up in suspension tune. A rule of thumb for track junkies is three second steps. Trip three seconds off your lap time and it's time to change the suspension settings!
Spring will be here soon enough so make good use of this down time by giving yourself a suspension tune up as well as the bike! The more you know and understand about your bike the more fun it becomes.
Merry Christmas,
SteveO
Since most of us have time on our hands that we would prefer to spend on hot asphalt, I thought I would share a tip I learned some time ago. To most of us the term "Suspension" is a Greek word meaing "Confusion"! I will admit, suspension tuning is an area that can be very intimidating.
The forks that come on your busa or gixxer are really quite remarkable. They work quite well for most riders with a wide range of adjustments quite capable of accomodating a rider from 140 - 200 pounds. Over 200 pounds and heavier springs are recommended for the agressive pilot. Without using up excessive space with words, this is my point. Our goal is to make the forks use the entire stroke without bottoming out. Since we sometimes find ourselves in a position that 1.0 springs are a bit soft and 1.05 springs are to firm, you can install a 1.0 spring in one fork and a 1.05 spring in the opposite fork ending up with the equivilance of 1.025. The point being, it's not mandatory to have the same weight spring in both forks.
This same theory works just as well and more often used with compression and rebound adjustments. The most noticeable difference in your OEM compression/rebound valves and aftermarket valving is the fine tuning ability. Many times you'll find your OEM valves seem to make a big step from one click to the next. An example is when you find 10 clicks of compression is not enough but 11 clicks is a bit to much, you can fine tune by adjusting one fork to 10 and the opposite fork to 11 clicks. Works on compression and rebound as well.
The best advise I can share with those of you who find suspension intimidating is don't be afraid to play with those suspension adjustments. Just be sure to check all the adjustment settings and write them down before you start so you can always go back to where you started if you get confused. A great way to begin your suspension adventure is to pick up a copy of Andrew Trevitt's book "Sportbike Suspension Tuning"! Andrew did a wonderful job of explaining how suspension works as well as how to go about adjustments. Lots of photos and illustrations to get his point across.
Winter is a great time to dig into the art of suspension tuning. The better you understand suspension the better rider you will become! As your skills develope you will constantly find the need for upgrading the suspension settings. It's a stair step event, one step up in skill followed by one step up in suspension tune. A rule of thumb for track junkies is three second steps. Trip three seconds off your lap time and it's time to change the suspension settings!
Spring will be here soon enough so make good use of this down time by giving yourself a suspension tune up as well as the bike! The more you know and understand about your bike the more fun it becomes.
Merry Christmas,
SteveO
Last edited:
No need to adjust it 
