View Full Version : How to tighten rear suspension on 01 sv650?
My back suspension feels like it gives a bit too much on my naked 01 sv650. I heard its possible to tighten the rear supension on this bike. If so, would someone be able to explain to me how this is done, and even post some pictures as to where I need to make the adjustments if possible. Any help is appreciated. Thanks fellas (and any ladies, too)!
Hmm. How heavy are you mate? There is a shiny metal collar that sits at the top of the shock unit and look like it has little steps in it. There's a c-spanner in the tool kit designed to fit this and by 'walking up the steps' you increase the pre-load on the spring. This increases the resistance of the spring before movement is achieved.
If this is already wound up then I'd suggest you may want to hunt around on ebay and see if you can get hold of a ZX10/636 shock unit. These have a firmer spring in them and have adjustable damping. You do require a little cutting of the battery box to get it to fit though, have a search and there's a few 'how to' threads on this topic.
As Peter M says the 1st thing to do is see about adjusting the preload as:
1) It makes a noticable difference
2) Its free and requires very little mechanical effort.
There is a metal coller you can turn with notches on it if it's hard to turn see if a mate can take some of the weight off the back wheel by lifting the grab rail, or using an NWS or Abba stand that lifts the bike by the swingarm pivots or frame (not a paddock stand that lifts from near the back wheel). This will mean you are only working on compressing the spring itself, not lifting the whole back of the bike up a little as you turn it.
johnnyrod
24-07-06, 10:51 AM
These shocks don't seem to last long - mine gave up at about 12k miles - so check it's not lack of damping making it feel soft
Buy a new shock.
Hagon
Penske
Ohlins
Hyperpro
Etc.
northwind
24-07-06, 11:01 AM
Using preload to stiffen the ride isn't a real good idea, that's not what it's for. Still, if it's set too low for you now it'll feel stiffer when it's done- but if it's set right already, increasing it will feel stiffer but will impair the handling.Unfortunately there's no way to adjust the damping on the SV shock though.
Using preload to stiffen the ride isn't a real good idea, that's not what it's for. Still, if it's set too low for you now it'll feel stiffer when it's done- but if it's set right already, increasing it will feel stiffer but will impair the handling.
Agreed, do a search on setting suspension, or "sag" to see what people have said about setting the preload correctly for your weight.
I mainly want to do it because after I tighten the chain (just put a new one on), and go for a spin around the block, there is a LOT more sag in the chain (about 2 or 2 and 1/2" of play). so I figure im a bit too heavy for the current setting, and that tightening the suspension would keep my chain from becomming so loose. I am about 180lb.
johnnyrod
24-07-06, 01:33 PM
Set the preload to 4/7 or 5/7 on a stock shock, you're not that heavy. Sounds more like there's a problem with your chain or the way you're adjusting it though. Sitting on the bike should make the chain tighter, not slacker.
I mainly want to do it because after I tighten the chain (just put a new one on), and go for a spin around the block, there is a LOT more sag in the chain (about 2 or 2 and 1/2" of play). so I figure im a bit too heavy for the current setting, and that tightening the suspension would keep my chain from becomming so loose. I am about 180lb.
Huh!!??
I think you are getting confused. The preload will not affect chain tightness. The chain adjusters on the swingarm determine chain tightness.
Not being rude, but you sound like a complete novice. I would get someone to help you here. Show you the ropes a bit. You could end up hurting yourself quite lots!
are you telling me that as the shock kmoves up and down, that it does not put a different tension on the chain? So my way of seeing it is that when the shock is fully compressed, the chain is tighter than when the shock is fully extended.
My rationale was that if the shock is stiffer, it would mean that the chain would have a less ammount that it would need tighten and loosen as the rear wheel went up and down with the shock.
Completely wrong?
Set the preload to 4/7 or 5/7 on a stock shock, you're not that heavy. Sounds more like there's a problem with your chain or the way you're adjusting it though. Sitting on the bike should make the chain tighter, not slacker.
Thats exactally what im saying. So im thinking that if the rear suspension is tighter then the chain will not have to tighten/sloosen as much, because the rear will not move around as much as it would if it was softer.
northwind
25-07-06, 12:25 AM
You're right, to some extent. But the amount which the chain loosens and tightens is built into the standard inch or so of slack that you should have with the bike at rest. No need to restrict the shock travel to minimise it.
If I understand you, you've fitted and set a new chain, you go for a short ride, and when you come back it's slacker than it was when you set off? That's not because of shock stiffness.
Would you be able to explain it to me then?
I mean I give it a good romp evey now and then, but I wouldn't expect it to stretch as much as it does. I put on a new chain because my old one (I think it was the origional, at 19k miles, maybe the 2nd, but I don't know because I am not the origional owner) started to stretch a lot. With it on the side stand it comes about a centimeter from hitting the swingarm. Is that too much slack? For me its really hard to tell.
I have about 45 miles on my new chain, and it went from about 1 and 1/2 inches of slack (from when I first put it on) to about 2 to 2 and 1/2 inches. Whenever I tighten it back to 1 and 1/2" of slack like the bike's manual says, after a 40 mile ride its right back to 2 and 1/2" (or so, just almost back to where it was before I tightened it)... at least on my old chain.
I put on a Renthal 525 15 tooth front sprocket, and the Suzuki 525 45 tooth stock rear sprocket, and a D.I.D. 525ZVM2 chain (supposadly high end chain).
Could someone please enlighten me on this whole chain stretch thing, I just dont really understand how much I should expect it to stretch, and how often I should tighten the slack. Thanks for any help, and please correct me on any of my mis-informed-self information I may have stated.
northwind
25-07-06, 05:43 PM
My suspicion is the axle's pulling forwards to be honest. I doubt my chain stretches that much in 5000 miles.
Make sure you are moving both adjusters back the same ammount and tightening up the rear axel nut to the correct torque, if it's not tight enough it will move as northwind's pointed out.
andyauger
25-07-06, 10:34 PM
Look at the chain path. The longest path is with the center of the drive (front) sprocket, the swingarm pivot, and the center of the driven (rear) sprocket all in line. As the suspension extends the angle change in the swingarm brings the front and rear sprockets closer together shortening the chain path.
One old-fashioned way of getting the slack exactly right is to compress the rear suspension until the three parts mentioned above are in line. Then set for 5 or 6mm slack. That is the minimum slack, which is a good setting.
Remember to loosen the rear brake torque reaction arm (if so equipped). Remember that after the rear axle is torqued the distance between the center of the rear axle and the swingarm pivot should be the same on both sides or the rear tire will be out of line. Remember to leave the adjusters snugged.
Read your owner's manual about measuring links for excess wear.
northwind
25-07-06, 10:47 PM
One old-fashioned way of getting the slack exactly right is to compress the rear suspension until the three parts mentioned above are in line. Then set for 5 or 6mm slack. That is the minimum slack, which is a good setting.
:!: At the tightest spot :!:
My suspicion is the axle's pulling forwards to be honest. I doubt my chain stretches that much in 5000 miles.
I doubt that because I tighten the axel nut to the factory specs, (47 ft lbs), and check to see what notch it is at. I make sure it is exact on both sides, and that it doesn't change after riding.
My suspicion is that I may overtighten the chain, and as I ride it it gets force-stretched back to the length it needs to be from the suspension moving up and down. (is that even possible? I try not to overtighten it, and try to stick to 1 and 1/2 inches of play between the front and rear sprocket.
northwind
25-07-06, 11:02 PM
You'd feel that binding the suspension. the force needed to stretch a 525 chain fast like that would be phenomenal.
Hate to state the obvious but is the axle nut tight enough and all the slack out of the adjustors?
http://cdn.head-fi.org/9/9c/9cd17c67_holy20thread20resurrection.jpg
sorry I did not look at the date. haha
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