Adjusting suspension on the 06 SVS - SV650.org

19-02-06, 04:13 AM

Hello all,

I am new to the board here and it seems that there is a wealth of information shared here on the SV model bikes. I was hoping some of you could help me out. I purchased a 2006 SV650S and I am really enjoying the bike however I tried to adjust the static sag today and the closest I can get is 100mm in the back and 40mm in the front. I read a racing article that says you want inbetween 32-38mm in the front and 28-32mm in the back. Well I am about 230 pounds not sure how many kilos that is I think about 100 or so. Anyway I was wondering if any of you know of a solution for the rear shock. Perhaps a new spring or something to that extent. I have found springs and shims and emulators for the front forks but nothing for the rear. I figure since my rear is so dramatically off I should start there. I am looking for a good and economical alternative so maybe I should adjust the front end to have more sag for the time being but I have heard that may people use the GSXR shocks and are satisfied with the results. Would the GSXR shock be a quick swap or is there a lot of work involved? Well thanks ahead of time for your responses.

19-02-06, 10:02 AM

Are you sure you are measuring the static sag correctly? 100mm is obscenely out. Static sag is the amount the unloaded bike compresses the suspension.

You'll need a way of lifting the weight completely off the wheel (cue muscular friend)

. Lets start on the rear. Lift the wheel off the ground by grabbing the tailunit, now measure from the centre of your spindle to a point on the seat plastics directly above, a bit of sticky tape with a dot marked on it is good here. Now let the wheel down, measure to the same spot again.

Rear static sag= first measurement minus second measurement. About 5-10mm is good for the road.

Do the same on the front. The front can be lifted by using the side stand as a pivot and haul on the offside handlebar grip. Measuring from the top of the fork seal to the underside of the bottom yoke (triple tree). Again get the front static sag value the same way. About 10mm is fine.

Now sit on your bike upright with your weight fully on the pegs, put your shoulder up against a wall for balance. Your friend can measure the front and rear this time.

Now work out rider sag. Rider sag = these last two plus the static sag. You want about 25-30mm on the back and 30-35mm on the front.

As the stock SV set up is spot-on for unfeasably light riders like me, under 75kg, you'll be looking at new front springs and a shock swap before you'll get anywhere near those values. Another forum member can advise on cheap swaps from donor bikes for the rear but the front springs are fairly cheap new £60 ($100 or so). You want linear wound ones of the correct rate, not progressive.

Hope this helps.

19-02-06, 08:34 PM

Thanks for the reply. I am sorry I meant the sag of the bike is 40mm in the front and 100mm in the rear. When I set this up I did it according to this article here

http://www.feelthetrack.com/downloads/Suspension3.pdf

The sag was done with myself on the bike in all my gear. The bike handles better in the turns inspires better confidence in the turns but not so much in the straits.

I have hear that people are using the GSXR shocks and the penske shocks for the SV650S bikes but I don't know what to look for since my bike is an 06. Maybe I should adjust my front end to 90mm to compensate for the rear till I can get a chunk of change to redo the suspension. Ideally I would like to ride with a pillion so the 2 of us would be pushing about 155 kilos. Is it worth buying a new spring for the rear of just checking ebay for GSXR shocks?

19-02-06, 10:58 PM

Have you run out of pre-load adjustment to add on front and rear?

I'm not sure if the new SV shock has lock rings or a notched ring, but it sounds like you need one of the aftermarket shocks if you've maxxed it out. From what I remember (search this site to confirm me on this) the stock shock is ok for up to 75kg riders, the GSXR for up to about 80kg or so and I think there is a ZX6R option for slightly heavier. Beyond that I don't think there is a widely tried and tested cheap alternative. Your 230lbs is about 105kg, so maybe your best long term possibility is to chat to a suspension specialist like Race-Tech.

Your front end figure is not too bad, certainly perfectly rideable for now but I'll bet that rear is what is causing the strange handling. Too much sag, probably not much travel left in it, and it's altering the steering angle.

Hope you can solve this sooner rather than later to get out and enjoy the SV.

20-02-06, 01:01 AM

Yes I have run out of pre-load adjustment to the front and rear. I was looking at Penske shocks on ebay and found one for $700 and then I looked up the GSXR shocks and they are at $70 a big difference. But I am not to sure as to which route I should take. I have heard that I can get a different rated spring to put on the SVS shock but is it really worth it? Will it allow me to adjust my sag properly? What about Dampening and compression? I am going into the shop tommorrow to speak with a specialist to adjust the Triple tree. My steering is fairly stiff too. Maybe I should have just bought the SV1000S I imagine that it has a better suspension system or maybe not. Thanks again.

19-02-06, 04:13 AM	#1
Kawyamonda Guest Posts: n/a	Adjusting suspension on the 06 SVS Hello all, I am new to the board here and it seems that there is a wealth of information shared here on the SV model bikes. I was hoping some of you could help me out. I purchased a 2006 SV650S and I am really enjoying the bike however I tried to adjust the static sag today and the closest I can get is 100mm in the back and 40mm in the front. I read a racing article that says you want inbetween 32-38mm in the front and 28-32mm in the back. Well I am about 230 pounds not sure how many kilos that is I think about 100 or so. Anyway I was wondering if any of you know of a solution for the rear shock. Perhaps a new spring or something to that extent. I have found springs and shims and emulators for the front forks but nothing for the rear. I figure since my rear is so dramatically off I should start there. I am looking for a good and economical alternative so maybe I should adjust the front end to have more sag for the time being but I have heard that may people use the GSXR shocks and are satisfied with the results. Would the GSXR shock be a quick swap or is there a lot of work involved? Well thanks ahead of time for your responses.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Changing the Rear Suspension (adjusting standard shock)	Larry	SV Talk, Tuning & Tweaking	18	31-08-09 01:23 PM
Adjusting GSXR suspension, (on an SV).	chakraist	SV Talk, Tuning & Tweaking	26	09-07-09 03:00 AM
adjusting headlight	Nicky S	SV Talk, Tuning & Tweaking	6	30-04-09 02:11 PM
Adjusting Rear Suspension on SV	Stoneyginger	SV Talk, Tuning & Tweaking	5	27-04-08 06:29 PM
Adjusting rear suspension	Chris1	SV Talk, Tuning & Tweaking	8	22-03-05 12:26 PM

19-02-06, 10:02 AM	#2
haggis Guest Posts: n/a	Are you sure you are measuring the static sag correctly? 100mm is obscenely out. Static sag is the amount the unloaded bike compresses the suspension. You'll need a way of lifting the weight completely off the wheel (cue muscular friend) . Lets start on the rear. Lift the wheel off the ground by grabbing the tailunit, now measure from the centre of your spindle to a point on the seat plastics directly above, a bit of sticky tape with a dot marked on it is good here. Now let the wheel down, measure to the same spot again. Rear static sag= first measurement minus second measurement. About 5-10mm is good for the road. Do the same on the front. The front can be lifted by using the side stand as a pivot and haul on the offside handlebar grip. Measuring from the top of the fork seal to the underside of the bottom yoke (triple tree). Again get the front static sag value the same way. About 10mm is fine. Now sit on your bike upright with your weight fully on the pegs, put your shoulder up against a wall for balance. Your friend can measure the front and rear this time. Now work out rider sag. Rider sag = these last two plus the static sag. You want about 25-30mm on the back and 30-35mm on the front. As the stock SV set up is spot-on for unfeasably light riders like me, under 75kg, you'll be looking at new front springs and a shock swap before you'll get anywhere near those values. Another forum member can advise on cheap swaps from donor bikes for the rear but the front springs are fairly cheap new £60 ($100 or so). You want linear wound ones of the correct rate, not progressive. Hope this helps.

19-02-06, 08:34 PM	#3
Kawyamonda Guest Posts: n/a	Thanks for the reply. I am sorry I meant the sag of the bike is 40mm in the front and 100mm in the rear. When I set this up I did it according to this article here http://www.feelthetrack.com/downloads/Suspension3.pdf The sag was done with myself on the bike in all my gear. The bike handles better in the turns inspires better confidence in the turns but not so much in the straits. I have hear that people are using the GSXR shocks and the penske shocks for the SV650S bikes but I don't know what to look for since my bike is an 06. Maybe I should adjust my front end to 90mm to compensate for the rear till I can get a chunk of change to redo the suspension. Ideally I would like to ride with a pillion so the 2 of us would be pushing about 155 kilos. Is it worth buying a new spring for the rear of just checking ebay for GSXR shocks?

19-02-06, 10:58 PM	#4
haggis Guest Posts: n/a	Have you run out of pre-load adjustment to add on front and rear? I'm not sure if the new SV shock has lock rings or a notched ring, but it sounds like you need one of the aftermarket shocks if you've maxxed it out. From what I remember (search this site to confirm me on this) the stock shock is ok for up to 75kg riders, the GSXR for up to about 80kg or so and I think there is a ZX6R option for slightly heavier. Beyond that I don't think there is a widely tried and tested cheap alternative. Your 230lbs is about 105kg, so maybe your best long term possibility is to chat to a suspension specialist like Race-Tech. Your front end figure is not too bad, certainly perfectly rideable for now but I'll bet that rear is what is causing the strange handling. Too much sag, probably not much travel left in it, and it's altering the steering angle. Hope you can solve this sooner rather than later to get out and enjoy the SV.

20-02-06, 01:01 AM	#5
Kawyamonda Guest Posts: n/a	Yes I have run out of pre-load adjustment to the front and rear. I was looking at Penske shocks on ebay and found one for $700 and then I looked up the GSXR shocks and they are at $70 a big difference. But I am not to sure as to which route I should take. I have heard that I can get a different rated spring to put on the SVS shock but is it really worth it? Will it allow me to adjust my sag properly? What about Dampening and compression? I am going into the shop tommorrow to speak with a specialist to adjust the Triple tree. My steering is fairly stiff too. Maybe I should have just bought the SV1000S I imagine that it has a better suspension system or maybe not. Thanks again.