Stock suspension adjustments?

[K3SVS]

I have been riding for about 2 1/2 months on my first bike (03 SVS). I have noticed that the suspension is a bit soft for me (6 feet tall and 230 lbs). When traveling down bumping roads, I can really feel the road. When braking hard the front really takes a nose dive (I don't do this often or on purpose but noticed it). I know about the suspension mods but wanted to try out the adjustments on the stock suspension. Can they help smooth out the ride alittle? Is it even worth messing with? Also on a bike the front suspension adjustments should match the adjustment in the rear (you don't just make an adjustment to one). Correct? The problem is IF I deside to try to make adjustments to the stock suspension, I don't know what to set them to (front/rear). Can anyone with my weight, tell me what is a good setting to try out first.

I would like to upgrade the suspension in the future but these upgrades (to me) seems like it takes a person with some motorcycle mechanical skills, which I have yet to learn.

Thanks for your help and/or comments.

I forgot to add that I am no speed king, I do ride the spead limit most of the time and I have yet to see the twisties (waiting to be more comfortable on my bike before I pay a visit).

[dillweed]

Since you are above-average weight, you need above-average amount of preload, both front and rear.

Stiffen your preload and have someone help measure your sag. If you still can't get the right sag, you will need stiffer springs and maybe a shock too.

[DOC]

I'm a little bigger than you (6'2" & 245#). I run my preload cranked all the way down front and rear. At first I would only do this when I was making a hard run through the canyons. For freeway and city riding I would usually back it off a notch or two. Lately I've just been leaving it cranked down all the time.
DOC

[K3SVS]

Originally posted by DOC
I'm a little bigger than you (6'2" & 245#). I run my preload cranked all the way down front and rear. At first I would only do this when I was making a hard run through the canyons. For freeway and city riding I would usually back it off a notch or two. Lately I've just been leaving it cranked down all the time.
DOC

I am not sure what you mean by "cranked all the way down". Do you mean the firmest settings on the front and rear? Please explain on what you did, I am very interested. Did the bike ride any smoother? Thanks

Originally posted by dillweed
Since you are above-average weight, you need above-average amount of preload, both front and rear.

Stiffen your preload and have someone help measure your sag. If you still can't get the right sag, you will need stiffer springs and maybe a shock too.

Is there directions or a link where I could find out more about how to set the sag on a SV? Thanks for your help.

[dillweed]

By "cranked all the way down" he means tightened all the way.............On the rear shock, you would turn that silver piece so that it's ramped up on the highest notch........position "7" I think........and for the forks, you screw down those knobs on top of the forks all the way down..............But like I said, check your sag..........I dunno if there's a link for instructions for checking sag, but it's pretty easy............there might be a link on SVRider.com

Of course, new springs & shock is still the best idea, but that's gonna cost you at least $300 altogether

[DOC]

Originally posted by K3SVS
I am not sure what you mean by "cranked all the way down". Do you mean the firmest settings on the front and rear? Please explain on what you did, I am very interested. Did the bike ride any smoother? Thanks




Is there directions or a link where I could find out more about how to set the sag on a SV? Thanks for your help.
Maximum preload(firmest setting) firms up the ride a bit and prevents me from bottoming-out. Just play with it, change the settings and go for a ride and keep messing with it until you get a setting you like.
www.sportrider.com
DOC

[mojo mofo]

What about changing the fork oil? This is seems like an easy and least expensive changes you can make. I don't know about the oil in the second gen bikes, but the oil in my '01 was crap and much too soft for my wee 5'7" 140# frame.

[Knaapie]

I'm somewhat lighter then you K3SVS and had about the same problem. I'm afraid I have to say you can do nothing with the stock forks that takes the problem away.

First of all more pre-load doesn't help anything!! The preload has to be set correctly once and never touched again. With better forks (GSX-r) you can experiment with the other settings, but the SV doesn't have that. :( The preload is not a setting that makes your spring stiffer, a better name for it would be ride height adjuster.

Also changing the oil will not do much. The problem lies in the stock fork springs. They are way to soft because they are made for average weight what means about 150-160 lbs... :eek:

Finally I went to Hyperpro and they mounted a set of progressive springs for me (see photo). The used 15W oil and a air chamber (=how much space is left under the top of the fork leg after filling it with oil) of 140 mm. The front fork is now much better and if you like you can play with the length of the air chamber or oil. How shorter the air chamber, how stiffer the damping of your fork.

[dillweed]

Originally posted by Knaapie


First of all more pre-load doesn't help anything!!

Since he has never adjusted his preload before, it will still help. It will make it bottom out less. Other than that, you're right, a person of his weight should definitely get stiffer springs.

[twf]

How shorter the air chamber, how stiffer the damping of your fork. [/B]

not really.
it is stiffer only at end of travel.oil level will keep you from bottoming.

[DOC]

Originally posted by Knaapie
I'm somewhat lighter then you K3SVS and had about the same problem. I'm afraid I have to say you can do nothing with the stock forks that takes the problem away.

First of all more pre-load doesn't help anything!!The preload is not a setting that makes your spring stiffer, a better name for it would be ride height adjuster.

.
Actually this is not quite correct. A true ride height adjuster does not affect the suspension travel it only sets the height of the bike. A preload adjuster affects the travel of the suspension components. For example, if a big guy (245#) like me sits on a bike that has 5 inches of travel and my weight settles the bike 2 1/2 inches this is not good. The bike will bottom ouit on the first good bump. By adding pre-load I can now sit on the bike and only compress the springs 1 1/2 inches and have the correct amount of travel. Now if a 125# guy sits on my bike it won't compress enough and will top-out on him because he doesn't have any rebound travel so he needs to take out some pre-load. This is the true meaning of setting your sag and yes you would not change it after that point except if you were carrying a passenger and then you would add in some preload for the extra weight. Now that you have your sag set you can set your ride height adjusters (if you have any).
DOC

[Knaapie]

Perhaps I didn't understood the topic starters question :confused: , but he mentioned he had a bumpy ride and the nose of the bike dives under hard breaking.

In that case more preload will not help. As already mentioned, with the preload you adjust your sag. More preload gives longer suspension travel, less preload gives shorter suspension travel until you reach the end of the fork. But it doesn't make the suspension stiffer, on which the topic starter perhaps is hoping.

My bike was set up by Hyperpro. After mounting the springs they gave the front end one click more preload and preload of my shock is now on 6 (of 7 positions).

To answer another question of K3SVS. Yes, when you start adjusting the front end you will also have the change the back. The stock preload settings of the '03 SV are 3 on the front end and 4 on the shock. (See your manual for the exact positions.) So if you give the front more preload, set the back preload to 6 or perhaps 7 or so. Good luck!

[DOC]

Originally posted by Knaapie
Perhaps I didn't understood the topic starters question :confused: , but he mentioned he had a bumpy ride and the nose of the bike dives under hard breaking.

In that case more preload will not help. As already mentioned, with the preload you adjust your sag. More preload gives longer suspension travel, less preload gives shorter suspension travel until you reach the end of the fork. But it doesn't make the suspension stiffer, on which the topic starter perhaps is hoping.
! True! And with the quality of the stock components there is nothing you can do about it other than dialing in some pre-load to compensate for the weight of the rider (230#). I didn't mean to imply that this was going to solve all his problems. Sorry about the confusion.
DOC

[twf]

More preload gives longer suspension travel, less preload gives shorter suspension travel until you reach the end of the fork. But it doesn't make the suspension stiffer, on which the topic starter perhaps is hoping.
[/B]

that would be truth if you dont count that suspension also extends when you get on throttle or following deep in road.

[yeknomlana]

I was wondering what would be the best settings for the stock suspension on an 04 me being 5'8 and 140#...currently im 2 lines down on the front and preloaded the back to 5/6 i think.

[blong]

Originally posted by DOC
True! And with the quality of the stock components there is nothing you can do about it other than dialing in some pre-load to compensate for the weight of the rider (230#). I didn't mean to imply that this was going to solve all his problems. Sorry about the confusion.
DOC

I tapped some 1/8" pipe threads into the top of my fork caps and screwed in some schraeder valves. I put about 10-15 psi in each leg and i get a stiffer, progressive spring rate.

[chrdog]

the best adjustment you can do to your stock suspension is to adjust it out of your bike and throw it down the road.

[svspete]

Originally posted by blong
I tapped some 1/8" pipe threads into the top of my fork caps and screwed in some schraeder valves. I put about 10-15 psi in each leg and i get a stiffer, progressive spring rate.

Um... What? Adding excess pressure (beyond that found in forks with oil at recommended fill-levels) destroys fork seals ??

[blong]

Originally posted by svspete
Um... What? Adding excess pressure (beyond that found in forks with oil at recommended fill-levels) destroys fork seals ??

Bummer. Sure does feel good now, though.

[mojojojo27]

does anyone know how to adjust the stock suspension adjustments and is it possible to do with home tools??? i want to adjust it so i will be able to plant my whole foot on the floor and my g/f can ride wih me... any help would be appreciated... thanks

05 sv650

-joe

[soulofadra6o]

there's not much you can do..but u can adjust the preload on the forks..u see those screw driver looking holes at the top of the forks..if u turn them..counterclockwise i think you can stiffen the front end for less nose dive