K3 suspension - SV650.org

Lewis82 · 22-03-25, 08:47 PM

Recently had some work done on my bike. At ~35k miles and having owned it 2years I had the fork oil and seals changed. Asked the mechanic if he noticed anything non-standard about the springs. He mentioned some scoring on the tube which he sanded down and isn't concerned about and a previous owner (1of 5 or 6) added some shims. Any ideas as to why they'd be added? What would be the next step to upgrade for street use? It has a nitro r1 rear shock but nothing up front so will look at changing those.....later down the line.
Tia

admin · 23-03-25, 09:50 AM

I guess the shims were added to increase preload on the springs. A common upgrade is to swap the front-end to a GSXR setup, better brakes too.

Lewis82 · 23-03-25, 10:40 AM

Do you increase pre load by screwing the adjustment screws on the forks down? As they're very far out on mine

garynortheast · 23-03-25, 01:17 PM

Which model of SV is it?

**Edit** I'm a dunderhead - it's in the post title. Doh!

GeorgeRYoung · 23-03-25, 01:17 PM

https://web.ncf.ca/ag136/SV650Gen2/Y...Emulators.html

glang · 23-03-25, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lewis82

Do you increase pre load by screwing the adjustment screws on the forks down? As they're very far out on mine

Increasing preload is only used if the weight on the bike (people and luggage) is upsetting the height of the bike. Unfortunately it does nothing to spring strength or any other suspension parameter

Even then a lot of people find the springs too weak for the weight carried so fitting the correct ones is a prime consideration...

Bibio · 25-03-25, 01:40 PM

Setting preload without rider determines if the bike needs springs suiting rider weight. Can't remember off hand what the measurements are but it goes like...

Set your preload without rider.
CHECK preload with rider on bike.

If the measurements fall out of spec with rider on bike then you need to get new springs. If the bike is used for street dont use settings for racing.

glang · 25-03-25, 02:18 PM

Yes basically with bike fully loaded your suspension should sit about a third of the way down its travel. A lot more than this and stronger springs are required...

22-03-25, 08:47 PM	#1
Lewis82 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2022 Posts: 4	K3 suspension Recently had some work done on my bike. At ~35k miles and having owned it 2years I had the fork oil and seals changed. Asked the mechanic if he noticed anything non-standard about the springs. He mentioned some scoring on the tube which he sanded down and isn't concerned about and a previous owner (1of 5 or 6) added some shims. Any ideas as to why they'd be added? What would be the next step to upgrade for street use? It has a nitro r1 rear shock but nothing up front so will look at changing those.....later down the line. Tia

23-03-25, 09:50 AM	#2
admin John T Mega Poster Join Date: May 2003 Location: Shrewsbury, Shrops, UK Posts: 2,517	Re: K3 suspension I guess the shims were added to increase preload on the springs. A common upgrade is to swap the front-end to a GSXR setup, better brakes too. __________________ Admin for this forum and the main site. John@sv650.org

23-03-25, 10:40 AM	#3
Lewis82 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2022 Posts: 4	Re: K3 suspension Do you increase pre load by screwing the adjustment screws on the forks down? As they're very far out on mine

23-03-25, 01:17 PM	#4
garynortheast Member Mega Poster Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Mid Wales Posts: 2,653	Re: K3 suspension Which model of SV is it? Edit I'm a dunderhead - it's in the post title. Doh! __________________ https://teulu.bandcamp.com/releases Blue Curvy S with nearly 110,000 miles and still going strong. Last edited by garynortheast; 23-03-25 at 03:00 PM.

23-03-25, 01:17 PM	#5
GeorgeRYoung Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Posts: 52	Re: K3 suspension https://web.ncf.ca/ag136/SV650Gen2/Y...Emulators.html __________________ 65 CB160 (67-69), 69 350GTR (69-72), 72 R5, 73 RD350 (73-84), 82 XZ550 Vision (84-03), 01 Concours C10 (03-19), 89 EX250 (11-14), 00 SV650S (14-16), 03 SV650S (19-)

25-03-25, 01:40 PM	#7
Bibio Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: here as devil's advocate Posts: 11,558	Re: K3 suspension Setting preload without rider determines if the bike needs springs suiting rider weight. Can't remember off hand what the measurements are but it goes like... Set your preload without rider. CHECK preload with rider on bike. If the measurements fall out of spec with rider on bike then you need to get new springs. If the bike is used for street dont use settings for racing.

25-03-25, 02:18 PM	#8
glang Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 580	Re: K3 suspension Yes basically with bike fully loaded your suspension should sit about a third of the way down its travel. A lot more than this and stronger springs are required...

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