The "Rider Specs + Suspension Mods = Success" Thread

[ShowBizWolf]

This could be a total flop but hear me out...

Ok we all know about all the different suspension mods that can be done to the GS. So many threads, so many questions, so much experimenting has been done, some mods raise the back, some make it ride too rough, etc.

I thought it might be cool to have a thread where you post your stats and then your mods. Meaning... your height and weight, etc. followed by what you've done to your GS to make it comfortable/stable for yourself.

A newer rider that is complaining about the "squishy" stock suspension could come here (one stop) and compare his/her stats with what others have done.

Idk like I said... it could be a dumb idea... I know I know, they should just search. Anyway, here goes...

Rider Stats:
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 147 lbs (without gear)
Inseam: 32"

What I did to make it better for myself:
.75 Sonic Springs
OEM preload adjuster caps set at 3
10w (stock) fork oil
120mm air gap
Spacers cut to 4 9/16"
1/2" aluminum fork brace

SV650 rear shock, modified as per the wiki, preload set to the lowest setting
stock dogbones

[akapellen17]

I love the idea!

Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 170 lbs

R6 Rear Shock

Low speed: 15 clicks
High speed: 2.5 turns out
Preload: setting 5 on ramp
Rebound: 17 clicks

RaceTech Front Springs

.85 kg/mm

20w Fork Oil

Billet Fork Brace

.85 seemed a touch soft for when my GS had the fairing
Now that she's nakey the .85 are great!

[Bluesmudge]

F model with hard luggage (adds another 10 lbs or so to the back end)

Height: 6' 0"

Weight: 190 lbs With gear

Katana 600 rear shock
Preload: I forget
Damping: Lowest/softest setting

Sonic Front Springs

.90 kg/mm
15 weight fork oil
Pre-load spacers cut flush with top of fork tubes.

Billet aluminum fork brace.

Front seems about perfect. Rear is a little hard when I am riding solo without any cargo but perfect when I'm loaded down or riding two-up. The fork brace really helps under hard front braking.

[Antwan95]

5`9
Around 180 with my gear and backpack.
Katana 600 rear shock set on 4 preload and 3 damper.
Forks have progressive springs with 15wt oil and an aluminum fork brace.
It's a bit of a stiff set up but it works well for be because I'm a rather aggressive rider.

[ShowBizWolf]

Cool, thanks everybody! I could see this really helping someone out... come on peeeeeps, post your info 

[dk31285]

5'7"

195 lbs without gear

Stock fork springs, haven't changed the oil there myself, so I assume still original.

Stock rear shock, preload set to 7 (max).  Borderline too stiff for me when cruising around, but feels awesome cornering in the twisties!

[chrisafitz78]

A newer rider that is complaining about the "squishy" stock suspension could come here (one stop) and compare his/her stats with what others have done.

I'm gonna bump this, because that's why I'm here.

Unfortunately there isn't anyone else who is 5' 10" 140lbs with a 32' inseam (SBW is the closest)

[floatingLomas]

Height: 5' 7"
Weight: 225 lbs

'09 R6 Rear Shock

Low speed: 19 clicks
High speed: 3 turns out
Preload: setting 6 on ramp
Rebound: 16 clicks

Set at 35 mm of rider sag

RaceTech Front Springs .85 kg/mm

15w Fork Oil

RaceTech emulators, blue spring, four turns

Preload adjusters from eBay

Set at 35 mm of rider sag

Billet Fork Brace

Sport Demons, stock size.

----

Lovely on the street.  Never had a moment of worry.

Have done four track days at the ridge, no chicken strips, scraped each peg once.  Only problem I ever had was losing the rear in the rain while creating turn 3, which is off-camber.  Just a wobble though.

[anoopb]

Height: 5'8"
Weight: 185 lbs (with gear)

Katana 600 Rear Shock.

Preload: No idea
Damping: No idea

i didn't know these settings existed until this post came out. So i need to look into that. :p

Front springs: Stock. Soon to be Sonics. .80. Oil: whatever is in there. Magic i guess? Need to change that.

Billet aluminum fork brace.

inseam: 30-31

[cWj]

I love the idea!

Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 170 lbs

R6 Rear Shock

Low speed: 15 clicks
High speed: 2.5 turns out
Preload: setting 5 on ramp
Rebound: 17 clicks

Have you ever measured your rear sag? I still need to get my R6 shock dialed right.  I'm currently on 4 on the rear but hesitant to take up further. I believe I need about 10mm more sag on the front end.

(I'm don't consider things "successful", thus I'm not posting yet  )

[akapellen17]

I can't exactly remember what my rear sag is. I knew it was within the good working range though!

[cWj]

Rider: about 180lbs with gear
          68.25 Inches barefoot
         
Use: mostly commuting, one 350+ mile trip...contemplating some cross-country

Front: Progressive Springs
          1" Preload (only 22mm sag, will likely go to 3/4" preload)
     
          10wt oil (assuming, I've never changed it)

Rear: 2009 R6 shock (silver....'cuz it's classy)
         Preload: 3 (seems to me to correspond to 4 on the stock GS shock)
         Low Speed Comp: 17
         High Speed Comp: 3 1/6 turns out
         Rebound: 17

         (softened a bit from stock... may need to firm rebound and low speed comp a bit)

I installed the shock and rode with the preload on 4 all summer. I finally set it to 3 and it feels right - the way the bike felt when I rode it last fall but without the floating over bumps. I still need to get the compression and rebound right.

[bombsquad83]

200 lbs with gear on.

Progressive front springs (came with the bike) - forks filled with 130 mm airspace with 15 wt fork oil.  Preload spacers even with the top of the tube before caps go on.
Stock rear shock - Preload set to 5.

This set up has worked decently for me.  Pretty comfortable to ride, and no problems with bottoming out or feeling too stiff.

[cWj]

perhaps applicable here....the troubleshooting sticky seemed particularly concise

http://www.r6-forum.com/forums/56-suspension-settings/

searching "Yamaha YZF-R6 (model year of your shock) owners manual" will likely turn up a Yamaha-hosted link to said manual in PDF form.

[Slack]

Sorry it's taken me so long, but better late then never 
I'll have to add, and update this but:

155lbs with gear
use: sport touring

Front: .80 springs / 20mm preload
Race Tech Gold Valves with blue springs / 4 turns of preload
15w oil @ 110mm

Rear: R6R - 2006
will need to update with settings

But, I'll need to update it all. I've started picking up the pace a bit more and am discovering some more tuning is needed.

Starting with
.80 springs / 20mm preload
Gold Valves with yellow springs / 2 turns of preload
20w oil @ 110mm
Will probably be looking for some .85's soon, but after this "change up" I'm going to just adjust 1 thing at a time.

[ShowBizWolf]

Bumpppppppp for anybody new who might want to add their information to this thread

[lucas]

200lbs with gear
use: street

Front: .80 springs / ??mm preload
15w oil @ 100mm
front end lifted so that the top of the forks are level with the top triple with the instrument cluster thingie removed.

Rear: '99 SV650
Drilled the clevis to match the stock dimension

[mwe]

Rider Stats:
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 127 lbs (without gear)
Inseam: 32"

Somehow I think some of the more important and relevant stats are missing from your list

[lucas]

Somehow I think some of the more important and relevant stats are missing from your list

Naughty boy

[Big Rich]

I don't see how any other stats come into play for the OP's suspension setup?

Just because people are on the internet, doesn't actually mean that the world is just talking bubbles on a screen. Show some respect, and have some class.