revtothelimit - motorbike forum

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.

Eat less pies.

Wear an extra pair of skiddies.

HTH

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

Wear an extra pair of skiddies.

HTH

Fewer darling, fewer

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.

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.

Check the tyre pressures first

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?

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

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

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.

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

Two words...

Dave Moss...

https://davemosstuning.com/free-vidoes/ ... 0-dial-in/

Really knows his stuff... Another ex-pat northerner like yourself too...

Yorick wrote: Fri Jun 12, 2026 7:20 pm

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.

The bike still feels slow and heavy so paying the proper suspension man today.
He's got all the gear and measures everything. Not just twirling a screwdriver.

Getting tired after 5 laps as it's slow and ponderous.

Didn't pay the F.E. lad as he made it worse

Hopefully this lad can improve stuff

Well. Just spent 75€ at the suspension dude.
Transformed it. So much lighter feel and balance.
Only did 1 session but my arms didn't hurt after.
Previously 6 laps and I'd to pull in.
It's so much lighter to handle.

But biggest thing was braking. So much more stable. Like a new bike

At end of straight I now see it was braking early to avoid the effort.

Can probably go another 50m tmrw so hope to crack the 180

He spent 40 minutes buggering about. Sorry to be a bit technical

Had it up on ramps to set static and rider sag.
Also he knew the Showa forks well, and obviously knew how to set them up for silly track braking.
It's a transformation.

He told me not to go silly at first, but get used to the new handling and agility.


Woo hoo !!!!@