[JohnD]

Hey Guys, new to this site and hoping to cash in on some of your experience.
I was wondering if there is a basic formula for setting up motard suspension damping and sag etc.
I'm running an XR650 with standard suspension on 17's etc, weigh around 180lb's. In the past Ive always left my dirt and road bikes at stock settings...what do you guys reakon???? :hmmm:

 

[DirtyChris]

at 240# the stock suspention works fine for me. Then again, I'll never be fast enough to need more then what I already have.
Stiffen up the front a little maybe?

 

[bdmmotard]

what works for me is 80-100mm sag in the rear, and the front almost as stiff as the stock suspension will go. compared to street bikes the rear tends to be softer, and the front needs to be stiffened up to avoid serious brake dive.

 

[brian]

What BD said, also for $ 80.00 a set of Eibach (heavier) front springs with 15 wt fluid will help alot...... If you want to re valve etc then you are looking at around 150.00 buckies to 200.00

 

[elan]

whats this i read about "lowered" suspension? are the legs merely bottomed in the clamps, or is there somthing else internally you can do to get your stock suspension superlow?

 

[bdmmotard]

whats this i read about "lowered" suspension? are the legs merely bottomed in the clamps, or is there somthing else internally you can do to get your stock suspension superlow?

some guys go with shorter suspension, which are a result of internal mods. ie 1.5" lower in front, 1" lower in rear. the trend lately has been going back to stock ride height, but still modifying the valves/springs to be sm specific. Until you're nice and fast at the track you probably won't benefit enough from lowered suspension to justify the costs imho. i'm running stock suspension and i'm no faster on my friends lowered bikes. unless you're super short, i'd leave it stock height for a while

but yeah raising the forks in the clamps is a standard mod done to lower the front a bit, decrease the rake for quicker turn in and put a little more weight on the front.

 

[SBGSBG]

Suspension and ride attitude?

I'm also wondering what to do with my bike in the future. Right now it is on 21-17 combo. I'm concerned that if I go 17-17, the front will be WAY too low. Would a 19 be better on the front? Maybe slide the forks down a bit so the nose won't appear like it is burying itself in the ground? :hmmm: I really don't care to lower the back end.
Also, who makes a good 19-17 combo?