08 ZX10R Suspension / Track Set up Follow Up...

[Maccarocks]

Hi all,

Well after several track days at Phillip Island and Broadford, and some excellent advice from Blurr, Wattie and the other boys, (as well as Shannon Johnson), I seem to have come up with a good setting for the front, feeling really good, have also been tweaking the rear, but have not done anything about re-valving etc.. I looked into purchasing an Ohlins TTX shock, but I am also saving for a holiday in March, and the missus probably wouldnt appreciate having spent all my holiday money on a rear shock..?? I mean how do you explain that.. seriously.. without getting your nuts cut out..???

You might have read an earlier thread about the front feeling a bit too firm, well I now have the 7 rings showing (same as blurr) although I only weigh 76kg's, and I am definitely pushing harder (advice from Wattie..!!).. rebound and compression both on 10 clicks out, as per Stewy Winton.. and seriously it feels pretty good.. if I get any faster and start pushing the front a bit more, I will just wind down another ring... You can only wind the spring compression out about 8.5 rings, but Stewy said it is better to have some pressure on the top of the spring, so my maximun I could back it off was 7 rings...

The rear is as Stewy set the sag, with my weight.. I am getting good tyre wear (could be throttle control) but for now the rear will stay as it is... Some info for other 08 ZX10 riders though, when I was talking to Shannon about not being able to get the cable tie anywhere near the bottom of the fork stroke, he tells me that it is mechanically impossible to get it to the bottom as the fork tube is longer than the bottom leg, so bottom out is at 20mm from the fork seal..!!! So if your cable tie is at 30mm from the dust cap / fork seal.. you are 10mm off bottoming out.. The suspension techs from the Kawasaki ASBK team worked this out.. for your info..

Also I have dropped the forks through the triple clamps exactly 5mm (again as per Shannon's advice and set up) he said no more required for the 08.. but the rear ride height could go up (if I had an Ohlins adjustable height shock) or move to a higher profile tyre.. I am about to try a 190 / 60 Dunlop.. so I will let you know as this will add an extra 4.75mm rear height to the rear...

Macca...

[danzx10r]

nice write up mate. i have got mine set at 6 rings current getting use to it.... feels alot better, dips in easier....
dont think ill go to 7 until i put it on the track.... dont want to get to much bounce hitting bumps through cornor.

[Nosferatu]

Good info mate, thanks. I've got mine set to 8 rings out, can't remember what my rebound and comp are. Thanks for the heads up on the forks thing, I gave up trying to get it to that magic 10mm mark, now I know why. I haven't played around with the rear yet so I will be interested to see how you go raising the height.

[Maccarocks]

Hi Nosferatu,

Well if you are 8 rings out, you are almost at the limit.. as I mentioned above 8.5 rings is about it !! If you set your rebound and compression dAmping to 10 clicks out from the hardest setting (all the way in) then you will have the basic Kawasaki 'Track' settings.. It feels pretty good for me, still firm, but very useable.. and one more thing I also found helpful is I am now also running my front tyre HOT off the warmers at 30 - 32 psi MAX... Now I know this will vary with different conditions, as when I came in to the pits last Sunday at Broadford, and it was a very hot day, felt like nearly 40 degrees, the rear and front where both up 3 - 4psi. SO now in summer, I am leaving the front 30 HOT. The rear I have dropped to 28 HOT.. it seems to be working well, with good tyre wear and grip.. (Dunlop GP Racer Slicks)

FOrks dropped through now 5mm.. and the rear is stock height with the 10mm spacer still there, no change. I am about to try a 190 / 60 rear tyre, which will lift the rear almost another 5mm so I will see how that feels and report back..!!

Macca