Suspension Help.

Tips, tricks, questions and answers to tech questions
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Yorick
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Suspension Help.

Post by Yorick »

When I was racing and instructing I always had free suspension set up so never really learned much.
I sort of know the theory, but not the practice.
The suspension on the GSXR has always been perfect, but recently I can feel every bump on the rear suspension.

So should I make it a bit softer? Harder?

Adjust compression or rebound?

It still handles amazingly well so don't want to bugger it up as I'm at Portimao next week

Ta. :)
crust
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Re: Suspension Help.

Post by crust »

Eat less pies.

Wear an extra pair of skiddies.

HTH
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Re: Suspension Help.

Post by Yorick »

crust wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2026 12:21 pm Eat less pies.

Wear an extra pair of skiddies.

HTH
Fewer darling, fewer 😉
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Re: Suspension Help.

Post by Skub »

Set the sag on the bike for your weight. Then you can toosh about with damping. Loads of videos on the Tube from the likes of Dave Moss and others. Having a mate to hand is useful,or you can buy a Motool Slacker and do it on your own.
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A_morti
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Re: Suspension Help.

Post by A_morti »

Is it the same as it ever was but you've become more sensitive to bumps, or has it deteriorated over time?

If it's deteriorated over time, then considering the bike's age, track use, and hot ambient temperatures, the damping oil could have gone bad or the pressurising gas may have escaped. If that's the case you could try to mask it by turning any damping screw in just a little, but it won't play well when you ride it extra hard so it might just be time to get it serviced or replaced.

Could also be that the linkages need a service. If the bearings seize, they prevent the shock from absorbing small impacts.

Is this just the universe telling you it's time for a brand new bike? Might be the longest you ever kept a gsxr.
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Re: Suspension Help.

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

Check the tyre pressures first
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Re: Suspension Help.

Post by A_morti »

Yorick wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2026 10:55 am When I was racing and instructing I always had free suspension set up so never really learned much.
I sort of know the theory, but not the practice.
The suspension on the GSXR has always been perfect, but recently I can feel every bump on the rear suspension.

So should I make it a bit softer? Harder?

Adjust compression or rebound?

It still handles amazingly well so don't want to bugger it up as I'm at Portimao next week

Ta. :)
Did it play nicely?
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Yorick
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Re: Suspension Help.

Post by Yorick »

A_morti wrote: Fri Jun 12, 2026 7:00 pm
Yorick wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2026 10:55 am When I was racing and instructing I always had free suspension set up so never really learned much.
I sort of know the theory, but not the practice.
The suspension on the GSXR has always been perfect, but recently I can feel every bump on the rear suspension.

So should I make it a bit softer? Harder?

Adjust compression or rebound?

It still handles amazingly well so don't want to bugger it up as I'm at Portimao next week

Ta. :)
Did it play nicely?
Aha. Gotcha.

Yes, it's fine on track. Just road bumps upset it a bit.

The suspension guy had a fiddle both ends but it didn't change much on track today.

But might help on road. I'll report back when I'm home
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Re: Suspension Help.

Post by Noggin »

Ask the suspension guy at track about the road stuff. If yr seeing him to get stuff checked for track, worth an ask for when you get home.
Might not be anything you can do, and if you’ve lost weight in yr butt, maybe you’ve just lost some natural padding (wanted to use a suspension word but have zero idea if it’s damping or rebound 😇😇)

The guy is there for track but pretty sure he’ll be able to help for road too 👍🏻👍🏻
Life is for living. Buy the shoes. Eat the cake. Ride the bikes. Just, ride the bikes!! :bblonde:
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Re: Suspension Help.

Post by Yorick »

Noggin wrote: Sat Jun 13, 2026 8:47 am Ask the suspension guy at track about the road stuff. If yr seeing him to get stuff checked for track, worth an ask for when you get home.
Might not be anything you can do, and if you’ve lost weight in yr butt, maybe you’ve just lost some natural padding (wanted to use a suspension word but have zero idea if it’s damping or rebound 😇😇)

The guy is there for track but pretty sure he’ll be able to help for road too 👍🏻👍🏻
Every time I've had a bike set up for track, it's been perfect on road.
Not too much difference.
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Re: Suspension Help.

Post by Noggin »

Yorick wrote: Sat Jun 13, 2026 9:17 am
Noggin wrote: Sat Jun 13, 2026 8:47 am Ask the suspension guy at track about the road stuff. If yr seeing him to get stuff checked for track, worth an ask for when you get home.
Might not be anything you can do, and if you’ve lost weight in yr butt, maybe you’ve just lost some natural padding (wanted to use a suspension word but have zero idea if it’s damping or rebound 😇😇)

The guy is there for track but pretty sure he’ll be able to help for road too 👍🏻👍🏻
Every time I've had a bike set up for track, it's been perfect on road.
Not too much difference.
I found that, but I am, was, a lot slower than you, so didn't want to assume :lol: :lol: :lol:
Life is for living. Buy the shoes. Eat the cake. Ride the bikes. Just, ride the bikes!! :bblonde:
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