How To Adjust Suspension To 'stock' Settings?

Hi Guys-

I have acquired 2004 VFR800 and am going to use it ONLY for street and pleasure riding, nothing crazy and aggressive.

Was wondering how can I make sure that bike has ‘Stock/Factory’ suspension settings? I know, suspension is a very personal thing and varies from person to person.

Not sure if it matters, but with gear and everything, I am ~145-150lbs. What should be an optimum/best setting for normal street use?

Any help with pictures/links would be greatly appreciated.

P.S: please feel free to provide as much information as possible, this would be my first time looking into and doing suspension settings.

Thanks so much for helping out.

About the only thing you can do is set the sag and the rebound adjustment on the rear shock, other than that, not much to adjust with the turn of adjusters. Basically setting the sag is best done with two people, one to help measure and steady the bike while you're on it (with full gear BTW). Unless you want to experiment with fluid levels and viscosity, start with setting the sag first. Most street sag values are 30-35mm. f/r.

See if this video is of any help.

[video: http://youtube.com/embed/t4m4ahZLRMY?html5=1&fs=1]

Thanks, I saw another video today and it talked about 30-35 rear, 35-40 front is good. So as you mentioned, I could do 35 for both.

Is there a way if anyone can please share a pict how to adjust front forks and rear shock for reference? Or some directions for setting the sag on 6th Gen VFR800, that would be greatly appreciated.

If you download the vfr owners manual, it will tell you the stock settings. Id count the turns on your present set up, from where your at, to full clockwise, before you make changes.

Thanks spud786, yes I do have an owners manual. Can I please maybe share pictures from my current set up and then maybe you guys can advise?

Of if anyone of you can please just share pictures of the area, for adjusting front froks and rear shock?

Thanks spud786, yes I do have an owners manual. Can I please maybe share pictures from my current set up and then maybe you guys can advise?

Of if anyone of you can please just share pictures of the area, for adjusting front froks and rear shock?

I'll see if I can snap some shots for you, although I'm West Coast time so don't expect them until late in you afternoon.

Thanks Duc2V4, appreciate your help. No worries at all, please take your time.

Here you go Faran. Took me longer to get to this than I thought.

If possible get a wheel chock like this one to help support the bike if no one is available to help you. And use straps to make sure the bike doesn't fall over. This was just a quick photo op test.

[image: DSCN0265_zps1168f215.jpg]


The stock front suspension only has preload adjustment, the top of the fork tube has a slotted end where you can use a screw driver to adjust the preload. There are markings (horizontal lines) on the side of the tube which allow you to match both sides.

[image: DSCN0260_zps640d600b.jpg]


Use a large slotted screwdriver to adjust the preload. Turning clockwise will increase the preload and give you less sag, counter clockwise will decrease preload increasing sag.

[image: DSCN0261_zpsddd88eaa.jpg]


The rear shock has two adjustments, preload and rebound damping adjustment. The slotted adjuster you see in this image is the rebound damping adjuster.

[image: DSCN0263_zps26ced421.jpg]

To adjust rebound damping, place a screw driver into the slot and turn to the appropriate direction, clockwise for hard and counter clockwise for soft. There are no set points so be cognizant of how many turns of the screw that you make. 1 1/4 turns out from full hard I believe is the stock setting. There should be a punch mark on the shock and the screw that will align at this point.

Soft = For a light load and smooth road conditions; Hard = For a firmer ride and rough road conditions,

[image: DSCN0264_zpsc3a15132.jpg]


This is the stock 6 Gen (non ABS model) shock. Since I have the ABS model shock I cannot show the shock on the bike. The crown looking ring is the preload adjustment ring. The notched ramp above that are the "preset" adjustments. This shock has stepped adjustments so adjustment is limited to these predetermined notched settings. The tool to the left of the shock mounting eyelet is the adjuster and the tool on the right is an extension handle. This extension handle is also used for the chain adjuster. Both of these items should be in the stock tool kit.

[image: DSCN0266_zpsb94ba09f.jpg]


It's placed on the adjuster ring like so...

[image: IMG_1721_zpsb6cb0359.jpg]
 

Just to add my 2 cents, do not over tighten the rebound screw as these can snap off. Full in should just bottom out lightly, then wind back out the required number of turns.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks a million Duc2V4.

That's how my bike is sitting at the moment. I don't see any threads except one, I guess? One more thing, cut to put screw driver isn't same for clutch and brake sides. Should they be aligned with each other too?

Attached Images

• [image: photo 1.JPG]
• [image: photo 2.JPG]
• [image: photo 4.JPG]
• [image: photo 5.JPG]
• [image: photo 3.JPG]

as long as you turn them both the same number of rotations, it will not matter if one slot "points" in a different direction. But for "optical" reasons you can turn either to face the same as the other.

The slot damages easily by the screwdriver blade so either find one that has a perfect fit, or wrap a small bit of rubber/plastic (cut a strip from an old debit card) to prevent the slot ending up looking like mine...

Thanks Dutchy. Looking at the rear shock pict, is at stock setting?