Suspension ??

[rogue]

Originally Posted by Trip

You would be wasting money with the SV, you need to change the shock and springs to have any kind of impact on it.

I have a rear shock off a gix...just never installed it. According to SVR, I really don't need it for my weight...the stock shock is fine, but needs to be adjusted in properly. My bike is still pretty much on stock settings now.

I do have thicker fork oil. I changed that when I replaced the fork seals.

[smileyman]

Originally Posted by Rogue

I have a rear shock off a gix...just never installed it. According to SVR, I really don't need it for my weight...the stock shock is fine, but needs to be adjusted in properly. My bike is still pretty much on stock settings now.

I do have thicker fork oil. I changed that when I replaced the fork seals.

Prolly, all you'll ever need

[Yamerhaw]

ok, i put a zip tie around my fork to see how much it was travelling and to see if i was bottoming it out, i got on the brakes hard to the point of almost locking up the front wheel, so does this look about right? i've read you want at least 10mm remaining, i have around 15 or so, so i think this part is ok?

[smileyman]

Well it looks fine if that doesn't have you in a coil bind. If that is bottomed out you need more preload.

Really what you need is to go to www.racetech.com and see what they recommend as static sag and loaded sag. You will need a friend and a tape measure. Actually the intsructions are there on the site...

http://www.racetech.com/SubMenu.asp?...howPage=street

[The Awesome]

Originally Posted by Particle Man

I generally scrub the whole back tire and have strips on the front as well and just figured as long as it rides well, handles well, etc that I wouldn't change anything but would be curious to know what you find out...

Part of that can be suspension setup, but a big contributing factor to this is that the average rider comes much closer to using the potential of the rear than the front. Using the capabilities of the front end of the bike is something few riders will ever explore, and this can leave parts of the front tire unused or barely used. Trying to read a tire can be a very complicated thing. There are a lot of variables involved, and many times people interpret what they are seeing incorrectly.

[Amber Lamps]

Originally Posted by The Awesome

Part of that can be suspension setup, but a big contributing factor to this is that the average rider comes much closer to using the potential of the rear than the front. Using the capabilities of the front end of the bike is something few riders will ever explore, and this can leave parts of the front tire unused or barely used. Trying to read a tire can be a very complicated thing. There are a lot of variables involved, and many times people interpret what they are seeing incorrectly.

You are so right there. Although,I'll add that when I raised my rear suspension and lowered my front,I now have almost equal "chicken strips" front to back,where before my rears were almost gone and had huge front strips. A lot has to do with tire profile,tire pressure,etc.

[ceo012384]

Originally Posted by The Awesome

Part of that can be suspension setup, but a big contributing factor to this is that the average rider comes much closer to using the potential of the rear than the front. Using the capabilities of the front end of the bike is something few riders will ever explore, and this can leave parts of the front tire unused or barely used. Trying to read a tire can be a very complicated thing. There are a lot of variables involved, and many times people interpret what they are seeing incorrectly.

Agreed.

In general, on a sportbike, the front tire chicken strip is often a decent indicator of how far you're pushing. The rear strip is gone long before you are close to the limits.

You'll usually only see a front chicken strip completely gone on a track bike.

It doesn't mean your bike is set up incorrectly like you mention in your initial post though...

The edge profile of the front tire is usually a lot steeper than the rear because it's narrower and needs to be pinched together to fit on the narrow front rim... therefore it requires more lean angle to remove the front strip.

After being on the track my front tires still often have about 5mm of unused tire. I'm slow, though...

[tommymac]

Rogue was your bike lowered, that will also affect the handling. I dont think you would need other suspension components. First off the bike is set up stock for someone heavier than you, and with your riding style you realy may not need the high end suspension parts. Now if the SV had that damn rotary damper then yo uneed to get rid of that pos component.

Tom

[Yamerhaw]

Originally Posted by ceo012384

Agreed.

In general, on a sportbike, the front tire chicken strip is often a decent indicator of how far you're pushing. The rear strip is gone long before you are close to the limits.

You'll usually only see a front chicken strip completely gone on a track bike.

It doesn't mean your bike is set up incorrectly like you mention in your initial post though...

The edge profile of the front tire is usually a lot steeper than the rear because it's narrower and needs to be pinched together to fit on the narrow front rim... therefore it requires more lean angle to remove the front strip.

After being on the track my front tires still often have about 5mm of unused tire. I'm slow, though...

most the guys i ride with use ALL of the front on the street, and most on race tires...but i ride the same pace ? but i'm not too concerned with it, was really just wanting to make sure i wasnt bottoming the forks out

[The Awesome]

Originally Posted by ceo012384

After being on the track my front tires still often have about 5mm of unused tire. I'm slow, though...

This reminded me of something else to add regarding reading tires. I have had setups that left no unused strips without even being near race pace, and I have had setups that I could not possible use all of the front tire no matter what I did. I had one particular front that I trail braked all the way to a front end tuck, and still had unused portions of the tire on that side. Tires can be very misleading when you take them at face value.