What number is your adjustable shock set to?

[Hellgate]

175 lbs naked, 185ish ride weight, (thanks Charlie) "4" solo, "5" two up. I had the same problem as MadMan, mine would bottom out on dips at highway speeds. Once I made the change I am very happy with the stock shock. I'd like to go to the standard Ohlins shock not the fancy ones, but I'm not sure if it would be worth it for street riding however.

 

[HavBlue]

When you folks have posted your shock setting and relative body weight are you referencing your naked weight or your ride weight? I have mine set at 4 and my ride weight is generally between 184 and 187 pounds. This is a geared to go weight reference.

 

[Jake]

If you ride in your birthday suit then post your naked weight. If you wear clothing while riding then post your weight with clothing

 

[HavBlue]

If you ride in your birthday suit then post your naked weight. If you wear clothing while riding then post your weight with clothing

Jake, we know you folks in Florida love riding naked due to the blistering heat and all but the rest of the free world usually has a 3lb plastic thingy on their head and some other stuff called ride gear; at least they told me that's what it's called. So, that out of the shower weight becomes meaningless to those who want to dial in a shock relative to others experiences with that same shock and possibly the correct "ride weight." Now, I would dearly love to hear more of this Florida ride style so how much does a birthday suit weigh in at....... he,he, grin!

 

[DefyInertia]

I dont' know exactly how much my gear weighs so I posted my body weight...when I measure sag I put my gear on but again, this does not require me to step on a scale.

 

[HavBlue]

I dont' know exactly how much my gear weighs so I posted my body weight...when I measure sag I put my gear on but again, this does not require me to step on a scale.

So how do you figure your tire pressure if you don't know what the GVW is? Do you not set your pressures based on GVW?

 

[Hellgate]

So how do you figure your tire pressure if you don't know what the GVW is? Do you not set your pressures based on GVW?

Air pressure, cold vs. hot, 2 psi difference. :thumbup:

 

[OneTrack]

Always one to walk on the wild side once in a while, I moved my rear shock setting from "3" to "4" this morning and went for a ride. I was quite amazed at the difference in handling. There is one freeway offramp that always unsettled the suspension on my FZ6....with the shock set a 4, it was like it was on rails. I'll be darned.
Maybe next year I'll try "5".

 

[FZ1inNH]

When you folks have posted your shock setting and relative body weight are you referencing your naked weight or your ride weight? I have mine set at 4 and my ride weight is generally between 184 and 187 pounds. This is a geared to go weight reference.

The scale is upstairs in the bedroom. I've never been up there with my gear on.

I am about 230 clothed and no idea what the gear weighs...

 

[HavBlue]

Air pressure, cold vs. hot, 2 psi difference. :thumbup:

Ah Grasshopper, it depends on where you are, what you are using for air/gas, the actual road surface temperature and Baro will also have an effect. +2 may be one season while the other may be more or less and at the top of Guadalupe Peak it would be different again......... Not that you can drive to Guadalupe Peak.:rockon:

 

[HavBlue]

Just playing with you Pete...

Folks, just a thought here. The standard setting for most bikes is set up for a rider of 180-185 pounds ride weight. To many riders this is often mushy or saggy and to others like most women it may seem stiff. In either case playing with the settings will get that jounce and rebound to a point you will feel more or less comfortable. Don't misunderstand me, some folks like that Cadillac ride but I would rather have that tire planted well on that road surface and mushy doesn't cut it for me.

 

[dankatz]

Set at 3 since I got my bike last night. I'm about 150lbs dry weight, and imagine with gear another 15lbs or so. I usually also ride with a back pack to work. I ride in Boston mostly where the city roads are horrible. I contemplate between leaving at factory setting or even lowering to 2. I can't flat foot, but can easily reach the ground (5'8", 30"inseam). I'm wondering what people who lowered it too 2's impressions are? How much does it lower the seat height? Does it make your bike much softer? For now, I'll leave it at 3 and see.
Dani

 

[HavBlue]

Set at 3 since I got my bike last night. I'm about 150lbs dry weight, and imagine with gear another 15lbs or so. I usually also ride with a back pack to work. I ride in Boston mostly where the city roads are horrible. I contemplate between leaving at factory setting or even lowering to 2. I can't flat foot, but can easily reach the ground (5'8", 30"inseam). I'm wondering what people who lowered it too 2's impressions are? How much does it lower the seat height? Does it make your bike much softer? For now, I'll leave it at 3 and see.
Dani

In general terms and for the most convenient of reasons look at it this way. The stock ride height and spring pre-load is set for an approximate weight value of 180-185 pounds. If the actual ride weight is less, the jounce and rebound associated with the default setting (3) may appear stiff due to the fact the optimum weight has not been attained. If your ready to ride weight, including that of the back pack and other accessories, is at or near the default mark it is the engineer's opinion the jounce and rebound should be optimum. However, in the opinion of many riders this is too soft allowing for wide swings in the suspensions ability to express feedback in terms of compression and rebound, which in my opinion is not good as it reduces control.

The mono-shock fitted to the rear of the FZ6 has one purpose in life and this is to keep that rear tire planted firmly on the ground thus offering the rider a specific feedback in an effort to optimize their respective ability to control the machine. If it is set up too stiff the feedback will be harsh and the bike will want to launch the rider right out of the saddle. If it is set up too weak the suspension with offer much less in terms of feedback along with a substantial amount of unnecessary compression and rebound, which leads to less control. Each rider has their own flavor in terms of what they consider ride and control. To be frank, I think most bikes are set up loose and I attribute this to a lack of experience because a tight suspension offers much more feedback relative to any specific inputs. In other words, the bike's reaction to input is far to quick for their respective skill level and additionally it doesn't ride as nice as with tight set ups you will feel every bump in the road so to speak. They are however quite easy to control.

Ultimately, each rider will have to play with appropriate tire pressure settings as well as spring rate settings to get what they want from the specific machine. I will however say that when it is dialed in properly the stock package of the FZ6 is quite capable of maintaining quick positive feedback to a widely diverse range of road conditions. So, play with the shock settings, tire pressures and try a few combinations out as only you can determine what is best for your own needs and this "will" make a difference that you may or may not like.

Hope this helps,

Charlie

 

[DefyInertia]

Hav, no I do not set my pressue according to GVW, not directly anyway.

I realized I needed a new rear shock after looking at my rear tire time and time again and noticing all the shredding and tearing that the shock was causing. Some of my rear tires looked like they had fish scales after just one track day.

 

[Hellgate]

Hav, no I do not set my pressue according to GVW, not directly anyway.

I realized I needed a new rear shock after looking at my rear tire time and time again and noticing all the shredding and tearing that the shock was causing. Some of my rear tires looked like they had fish scales after just one track day.

DI the scales may be okay. Depends on the compound of tire you have on. I've seen very soft slicks do the same thing. Please let us know the differences after your next rack day.

 

[HavBlue]

DI the scales may be okay. Depends on the compound of tire you have on. I've seen very soft slicks do the same thing. Please let us know the differences after your next rack day.

I agree Pete. It would be nice to see some pictures of the tars DI as it may be quite normal. Also, if you can give us some feedback on the track temperature of the day when the pictures were taken. I had a similar issue last year when the ambient temp was close to 100F and I had been running between 95mph and 105mph for more than 100 miles. The tars looked like crap at that time but they cleaned up nicely for the next ride. Dang tars looked like they were comin apart.....

 

[DefyInertia]

Pilot powers...all different conditions and a few different tracks. I've attempted to take pictures in the past (Ped requsted them because he had the same issues) but they didn't come out that well (the macro function on my digi isn't that great). I can post them anyway at some point (at work right now...need to get back to it!).

I'm not really sure how to define "normal" here but when I showed them to various different fast guys they all shook their head and pointed to my shock. Although I've beat up on tires on the street, I've never had serious tearing on the outer parts of the tire anywhere but at the track after a long day of draggin knee.

*shrug*

EDIT: tars = tires = tyres ?

 

[Hellgate]

You're probably fine. My track tars were Hi Sports, pre pilot days. On a hot day they had a ripple if you will, on the cornering part of the tyre. I've seen photos of today's tires and they almost bleed rubber. I was really amazed!

I don't think the new shock will solve this but it should help you hook up better as you drive out of the corner. On my RZ I used a Fox shock with the stock spring. It really helped a lot. In rougher corners I was on pins and needles as the stock shock hopped over the imperfections, with the Fox it didn't hop at all and I could get on it sooner.

I think you'll find the same benefit with your R6 fork, less chatter in the rough corners.

 

[DefyInertia]

Shock Rebound Tear --

Feel The Track! Tire unusual markings and wear patterns

If you look closely at the tire pictures (3rd from left) you'll notice it looks scaled (among other things)...this is what I'm talking about.

 

[mglowe]

With me, about 210 lbs ride weight, I use '4', when I ride two up I use '5'.

I too do found that the factory setting of '3' would bottom out. When I went to '5' the seat was too high for my leg length though I didn't notice much difference in handling [solo] with a setting of '4' and '5'. Riding two up the '5' setting was best for my riding style.