Suspension setting tips

[DarkTint]

I found this very informative. It outlines different handling issues a rider might have and explains the solutions. Although the 599 has a rather simple suspension with very little adjustability, you still might find this interesting. I know the 04 doesn't, but does the 06 have an adjustable front suspension?

http://www.sportrider.com/tech/146_0006_susp_handle/

And the entire article:

http://www.sportrider.com/tech/146_0006_susp/

[jmd]

That's a great article. I found the same one a few months ago when i was helping a friend sort out his older Gixxer. Some really good tips and general info...a good place to start to get a grasp of motorcycle suspension dynamics.

[DarkTint]

I must confess, I'm a bit overwhelmed with the suspension on my RR. Coming from the 599 with only one adjustment in the rear to now having 3 separate adjustments in the front and rear, it's tough to decide even where to begin. I need to start tinkering though, as it is now, "firm" would be an understatement.

[jmd]

That *would* be confusing. I've had some experience with my RX7 in deciding what spring rates, damper settings, and ride height adjustments to make to get the car to handle and behave like i want (still no expert by far but i do have a decent handle on it), but when it comes to all the settings you can make on a sportbike i'm pretty lost. While some things can translate between cars and bikes, it seems like most don't as the dynamics are very different. I mean weight distribution and shift on a moving car makes perfect sense to me, but i don't really know how a lot of it works on a bike.

I have read, though, that preload and rebound damping are generally more important than compression (much the same as a car - although fully adjustable is the best, single adjustable shocks can still get you in the ballpark unless you're doing some hardcore racing). Not to say that compression isn't important, but i would think for street riding you could probably just set it between soft and firm while you start finding what you like with preload and rebound adjustments first...then go tweak the compression after you've gotten those two somewhat figured out. Just my .02. Now to go do some more reading on motorcycle suspensions... ;)

[jmd]

I found this website: www.gostar-racing.com/club/motorcycle_suspension_set-up.htm (http://www.gostar-racing.com/club/motorcycle_suspension_set-up.htm)

It seemed easier and more practical than the sportrider article, to me. Give it a quick read.

[lytew8]

Good Find!

If anyone finds an optimal setting different then the stock settings, please post em up.

I'll be looking to play with this and maybe upgrade the front forks in a month or 2 :)

[jmd]

You can also find a sister thread here (http://www.honda599.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=175) set up for just that, lytew8. As people start messing with their setting i'm hoping they will continue to post their results up there.

Cheers!

[dabinche]

yes it seems complicated but is fairly simple once you understand it

first is preload/sag figure that out for your weight and riding style/conditions, about 20% sag (of total travel) is a good starting point and move up or down from there

rebound and compression is more time consuming to adjust cause you have to adjust as you go...I like to set them to be decent for all conditions instead of best for one condition and not so great for another condition

hard cornering and you feel like it is too soft then increase compression or going over bumps and if feels too hard or didn't absorb the bump then decrease compession

if going over a bump feels okay but over rapid consecutive bumps (like a wash board) and it feel like the suspension not absorbing then it means the rebound is too slow but if you feel like the suspension is kicking back at you too fast then the rebound is too fast

It takes a lot of time to tune the suspension well..trial and error