Got replacement forks now bike feels weird...

[JeremyC]

Got front forks replaced.. zx6r about 3 months ago, and all this time i thought it was me, but maybe the suspension isnt tuned.

its very hard to turn the bike, it feels like it forces me upright and i always go wide into the turn... Also not easy to lean on the bike anymore.

any1 got an idea what could be wrong with my suspension setup? if its relatively easy fooling around with the forks let me no, if its highly technical then would be nice suggest in another direction for me to look into.

[g0zer]

steering head bearings binding?

[MattyA]

see if the front wheel turns freely when up in the air. (use a stand or a jack, not a wheelie)

[drifter]

I would be checking that your preload, rebound and compression damping was even on both sides for a start.

Try this link for some info.

Suspension Setup Guide - Sport Rider Magazine

[JeremyC]

lol when i heard up in the air... wanna wheelie to test my suspension?! nice change of pace but yeh turns freely?! hmm ill take a look.

and gozer could u elaborate what u meant? im not entirely sure what u asking me to check im not 100% motorcycle mechanicly minded

[JeremyC]

thanks drifter exactly what i needed... need to understand my foundations of suspension setup before i play with it.

[MattyA]

For gozers post, When you have the front off the ground, check that the bars turn freely with no tight spots, or grinding.

[g0zer]

if the steering head bearings are binding, the bike will feel wierd- if they are binding the bike will fight you for control if they are binidng even a little it will feel unsettled and vague in corners.

did you loosen the steering stem off when you had the forks out? there are threaded adjusting collars under the top triple clamp.

edit: how did you get the zx6 forks in? were they a straight drop into the existing triple clamp?

[GD Engineering (Gavin)]

I take it the forks and triples are KNOWN to be straight seeing as that was what you had replaced. Are the forks through the triple clamps at the same height?

[smeghead]

PM Marty Moose, he know Kwakas in particular (done the suspension on both my 03 & my 06). Once everything is verified true he can baseline ya suspension & show ya what does what & why.

Minimal cost for a great result.

[JeremyC]

the settings when i go the bike was that the spring preload adjuster is way in(comes out short on top) and the rebound damping force adjuster was really tight clockwise(im guessing this is really hard) and compression damper in front was about 7 clicks antiwise..

I have found my booklet and reading it states :
Rebound damping force adjuster 7th click from fully turned-in position
(Just to be sure... is this when u turn it all the way clockwise then anti clockwise 7 clicks? sorry im nub)

Assuming if i was correct i have returned most if not all to default settings on the bike which stats for 65kg... im 88kg, would be nice to know if to harden of soften damper settings to suit. i have also increased the spring preload adjuster so it comes out more, i read this decreases the motorcycle front height? i was barely able to put my full foot on the road

the rear was equal at 9,9

[smeghead]

The values in & of themselves don't mean much, Kwakas are traditionally hard in the rear & soft in the front from the factory (for us bigger westerners). Get it setup to suit you.

Marty is the man to see.

[JeremyC]

Well i just moved to sydney from perth. and theres nothing in sydney forums as good as PSB.

But guess what. Put everything to default (i think) and lowered the front end... I actually can lean in turns now. AND IT TURNS WHEN I WANT IT TO thanks for the info and help guys.. now i really can go for a ride...

Whats its worth, im definately sure that the settings still suk, i just made it slightly better...
it be nice if i had a proper street setting if any1 knows 1 for zx6r 2001 with 85 kg rider.

quick question on tyre pressure? do what it says in the book or do what the tyres say? or just figure it out with the foundation of the rear always being 3-5 psi more than the front