DRZ 400SM Suspension setting for my fat @$$

[shinobi13]

I have rapidly come to find out that setting the suspension correctly on the DRZ is WAY more difficult than on my sportbikes. I can't seem to find the right balance for my weight. I am still using the stock suspension and will upgrade when time/cash allows.

I am approximately 225 lbs and ride knee down most of the time (again, due to my sportbike trackday/racing roots).

Can anyone please tell me what settings you're using based upon similar weight and riding style so I can use your settings as a baseline for my tweaks? HELP!!!!!

My sincerest thanks!!!!!

Lee

[prerunner32]

this mite help, setting the sag. lots of good random info on the sight too.http://www.4strokes.com/tech/racesag.asp

[Bomb Hills]

Stock the bike is set up soft (like 15 clicks), I just dialed it in all the way, and back out around 10 clicks and it was much better in my opinion. I'm 180 pnds.

[drmotardmike]

I'm interested in the same sort of set-up so I can out run all of you. my forks dive way too much under hard breaking. So what does addind and backing off do? Is that adjusting compression or rebound damping?
Race-tech .com has a cool spring calculator.I'm 5'6",186 springs for my weight are 45% stiffer than stock.$113.00. cool eh?

[Vilku]

you can't set preload on drzsm, TEN(bottom) setting is rebound damping, COMP(top) is compression damping

on the rear the clicker is compression, rebound is set by air pressure i think (valve on bottom).. still have no clue about stock pressure etc :/

[drmotardmike]

all righty I have a starting point.Thanks man.

[daffy67]

You CAN do preload on the rear, just knock the collar nut down until your happy with the sag, then ride and adjust till happy.
I know I need a heavier rear spring, I weigh 190lbs and I have the pre-load collar wound almost all the way down the thread.

[muxherdlr]

I just took my bike to www.fastbikeindustries.com and had my suspension rebuilt to my size. Im 6'3" and 225lbs also...The DRZ equipment is good, just needs more valving and spring. Dave, is adding valving and springs from RaceTech and hes going to set the sag and help me with adjustments. I cant wait! The bike is actually finished but Im out of town for the hollidays and cant pick it up....Dave at Fast Bike Industries it the suspension guru....He has 16 yrs in the biz and has set up suspension for Suzuki Canada, Honda Canada, Honda USA, & Ohlins where he built the suspension for Moto Cyz (sp?).

Ill have a ride report as soon as I get the bike back...

[saki302]

You can buy new springs for it- I think RM250 springs can bee adapted for the front- I put them in, I just can't remember what bike they were for- they were longer than OEM. I added spacers for added preload too (250lbs), and am running a slightly heavier fork oil. The heavier fork oil works about the same as re-valving it without the cost- I did everything myself in my garage.
The rear shock valving is fine, even with heavier springs.

-Dave

[prerunner32]

mike next time you make it to the track we can mess with it abit.I set my front forks 3 clicks out i believe and the rear the small clicker(slow comp) is out 4 clicks. I may need to turn in the big clicker(blue one) for the fast comp. shock tuning its a bitch and takes time and patients but its well worth it. Im learning on the bike ones now abit diff than truck shocks but same ideas. On the offroad trucks we race the shocks have been off and valved at least 10 times. everytime its better the truck gets faster and then we need abit more

[twinsrule]

I am 215 and I had mine resprung and vavled. I have a similar riding style as well. Night and day difference between that and playing around with the stock suspension

[shinobi13]

It's rapidly looking like I am going to need to do some aftermarket suspension work... My CBR trackbike was worked on by RaceTech and they did a phenomenal job. That's way easier than going on a diet... ;-)