Suzuki got it all wrong, or I've lost my mind | GTAMotorcycle.com

Suzuki got it all wrong, or I've lost my mind

Corsara

Corsara

Well-known member
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Take a stock 2003 Suzuki GSX-R1000, crunch in the numbers in the RaceTech spring rate calculator, and it turns out the stock suspension of the bike is set up for this rider:

Suzukiperfectrider_zpscd858608.jpg


Here's why:

Front STOCK spring rate: 0.85 kg/mm
Rear STOCK spring rate: 8.6 kg/mm

Calculator recommendations for road racing:

If rider's weight is 62 lb (28 kg), the front springs are perfect at 0.85 kg/mm, but the rear needs to go down to 6.7 kg/mm.

If rider's weight is 211 lb (96 kg), the rear spring is perfect at 8.6 kg/mm, but the front needs to go up to 1.09 kg/mm.

To sum up, according to the calculator, the stock suspension is set up for one really butt-heavy road racer. WTF?!
 
Either that or the bike is meant to be ridden with a passenger or cargo ALL THE TIME :D
 
AL3RT said:
Either that or the bike is meant to be ridden with a passenger or cargo ALL THE TIME :D
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good thought , your close. It comes out of the box as a streetbike. Not a trackbike. For you to ride to Timmies with your girl on the back and pose. soft springs and long topouts to keep front tire on the ground while u blip throttle and and show off your big ride. heavier on rear for bags or passenger. Don't ride quickly on a streetbike on the track. youll eat up tires, frame sliders, and dirt.
 
So bring the front up?

All manufacturers do this. Why? So if they're too light, or too heavy, they only need to change and re-spring either front OR back. If you're in the middle, you wouldn't have to adjust anything. For street riding, they wouldn't need to be spot-on with rider weight:spring ratios.

Or would you rather they spring motorcycles perfect for the average 170lb rider and make you re-spring both front forks and rear shock?

In your case, the rear is perfect, so change the front. In the opposite scenario, they would have to change the rear but not the front.
 
Dude just get your suspension looked at by someone who knows what they are doing. It will make a world of difference and is totally worth whatever they charge you.

Shameless plug. :-D Or buy my bike, it is completely built, suspension is done and has everything you could possibly want. Plus a literal truck load of parts. And it is a 600 so a much better bike to be learning the track with.
 
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Mr.Azim said:
In your case, the rear is perfect, so change the front.
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...and the forks are in the pro's shop as we speak :D

Ould said:
Dude just get your suspension looked at by someone who knows what they are doing. It will make a world of difference and is totally worth whatever they charge you.
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Certainly hope so 'cause that's what I'm doing ;)
 
As a heavier rider, you won't get sympathy from me.

Every bike I've owned I've had to bump up the suspension, front and rear. BUT, to me, that is BY FAR one of the best things you can do to a bike.

If you don't want to do it yourself, I suggest Z1. I've had good experiences there with my suspension needs. Friendly guys too.
 
Ould said:
Dude just get your suspension looked at by someone who knows what they are doing. It will make a world of difference and is totally worth whatever they charge you.
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Or, continue to enjoy the intellectual challenge and sense of satisfaction that comes from actually understanding it yourself from first principles. Don't you get it? He LIKES thinking about it. I understand 100% because I am the same way.

And, in time, he will be the guy at the track who can actually solve his own problems and maybe even help others, while the "just ride it" guys will still be saying "I dunno go ask Sharrard".

Learning about and fiddling with suspension is fun for some. Let him have his fun.
 
Corsara said:
Take a stock 2003 Suzuki GSX-R1000, crunch in the numbers in the RaceTech spring rate calculator, and it turns out the stock suspension of the bike is set up for this rider:

Suzukiperfectrider_zpscd858608.jpg
Click to expand...

Awesome. I'll tell my mother in law that the 2003 Gixxer 1000 is the bike for her.
 
YellowDuck said:
Or, continue to enjoy the intellectual challenge and sense of satisfaction that comes from actually understanding it yourself from first principles. Don't you get it? He LIKES thinking about it. I understand 100% because I am the same way.

And, in time, he will be the guy at the track who can actually solve his own problems and maybe even help others, while the "just ride it" guys will still be saying "I dunno go ask Sharrard".

Learning about and fiddling with suspension is fun for some. Let him have his fun.
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Ok That works too, I didn't mean to imply he had to get someone to do it for him, just that he should get it setup before he hits the track again. By all means learn to do your own suspension, but as someone who is just starting out in the sport it may be a big ask to try learning to be smoooth, learning the lines and then also trying to figure out your suspension all at the same time. I would suggest getting it all setup properly for his weight and then start tinkering.
 
Ould said:
Ok That works too, I didn't mean to imply he had to get someone to do it for him, just that he should get it setup before he hits the track again. By all means learn to do your own suspension, but as someone who is just starting out in the sport it may be a big ask to try learning to be smoooth, learning the lines and then also trying to figure out your suspension all at the same time. I would suggest getting it all setup properly for his weight and then start tinkering.
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have you meet Corsara? he seems to have the time and patient to work every detail out and find the smallest variables to the point of placement of zippy ties - adn this is not a shot but a compliment, I wish i had that dedication, but last year i went racing on a bike i just bought without even doing an oil change and checking the chain
 
My R6 stock was sprung much heavier in the rear. As said, it comes as a street bike with a passenger seat. Sprung heavier for a passenger.

Now with is sprung for me only, it rides crappy with a passenger.

This double duty bike thing is a pain.
 
ZX600 said:
have you meet Corsara? he seems to have the time and patient to work every detail out and find the smallest variables to the point of placement of zippy ties - adn this is not a shot but a compliment, I wish i had that dedication, but last year i went racing on a bike i just bought without even doing an oil change and checking the chain
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Nope, never met him, never implied that I had. If he has the time and dedication and can understand it all then that is great. Hopefully he gets it sorted out perfectly and can enjoy his track outings even more then he already seems to. :-D That's what it is all about in the end, enjoying yourself.
 
Hey guys, it's true--I'm truly enjoying thinking about it, researching, measuring, trying, failing, breaking, etc. Especially after I stopped riding on the street, with so much time in between trackdays, what else can I do than read, measure, think and re-think. I've noticed on occasion I might annoy people on here, but I'm sure it can't be that serious and I'll be forgiven. This is exaggerated by the fact I'm a new (track) rider, but my philosophy is that everyone was once new.

As far as dedication goes---I'm like that with everything I do...or I don't do it at all. My wife has told me I can be either an extreme maniac, or a lifeless barely existing creature, nothing in between...go figure. Passion or apathy. Of course, it helps that I recently pulled the trigger and changed my job of 5+ years, which freed me from the 4+ hours commute time every day. Suddenly I have much more time for the bike, the kids and family, my other hobbies.
 
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