Suspension tuning has to follow a scientific process for getting close to an optimal state of tune. Getting the springs sorted out is the first step in setting up suspension. Damping follows this and cannot correct problems that originate in spring selection. The correct order of suspension tuning should be:
.5. Set approximate rear ride height.
1a. set Oil Height to the minimum height.
1b. Reduce rear shock nitrogen pressure to minimum spec.
2. modify the Oil Lock Piece - for race, eliminate or practically eliminate effectiveness of the oil lock piece. For street, reduce the effect of the oil lock piece if under hardest hit, more than 3mm of travel is left unused.
3. Spring Rate (& Sag) - this is done by changing springs (and preload).
4. Slow Speed Damping - this is done by changing oil viscosity and in some cases, slow speed orifice and needle size.
4.5 Straighten fork tube - these can be slightly bent. straighten the hell out of 'em.
5. High Speed Damping - this is changed by changing valves and/or shim stacks.
6a. Oil Height - this change tunes the last 1/5th of travel. Raise the oil height from the minimum if the fork is bottoming or practically bottoming.
6b. Rear shock nitrogen pressure should be raised in 25psi increments only to prevent cavitation.
7. Fine tune rear ride height for corner exit. Fine tune front fork clamp position for corner entry.
8. Re-sag bike.Also, see how to do a disassemble a stock rear shock. HERE or HERE.
Since I have no need to rewrite what someone else has already said well enough, go to these web pages to learn the big picture regarding basic suspension set up. Return here to learn the fine details on how to make the changes work even better.
Info:
One of the best ways to learn about suspension is through discussion. Several forums on the net exist for this purpose, but the best one is the IBSF: Motorcycle Suspension Forum. It has recently been created by a group of very knowlageable people.
www.sigmaperformance.com/suspensionarticle.html
Go-Star Racing - Suspension Set-up Guide: a very well written article on setting up your stock suspension.
Another suspension set-up page. HERE. It seems to be several articles put together.
A great article about getting onto the track from TrackDoD.org: Here.
You have to test and take note of your changes constantly. You can download a basic worksheet for notes HERE. Find a good road that will push you and your bike as hard as you can handle. You need to go to the extremes to find out what is happening. I choose a road that starts about 300 yards from my house: Bolinas/Fairfax Road. It goes up and over the saddle between Mount Tamalpais and Pine Mountain to the coast, just north of San Francisco. It has everything you could ask for from a road for motorcycling or cycling for that matter. 14 miles of utter insanity, almost no cars, and next to zero enforcement.
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