Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Posted: **Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:01 pm**

Gday guys,
I was hoping someone here could help me with some measurements.
I recently purchased a 04 zx12r shock to put in my zx7r track bike.
My questions are
1. what is the factory set spring preload/spring length(dont know if its been adjusted)?
2. what is the minimum spring preload/length that can be used?
3. what is the spring rate, kg/mm for the 04 zx12r and the 96p1 zx7r?
thanking you in advance

Maxi

Posted: **Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:16 pm**

Not sure of the settings for the zx12r, but heres the info on the std shocks from race tech.

ZX7R
Kayaba - 44mm
Stock spring rate = 9.8kg/mm
Suited to 82 kg rider

ZX12R
Kayaba - 40mm
Stock spring rate = 11.0kg/mm
Suited to 109 kg rider

Posted: **Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:32 pm**

Thanks madkaw,
Just to confirm, the suited weight I assume is with the standard linkage, therefore if I still use the zx7r linkage how will this affect the rider weight?
thanks :shock:

Posted: **Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:46 pm**

Not sure of how this would work out in real life but based on the spring rates and the Race Tech recommended rider weight for each you could do the following calc.
ZX7r spring weight = 9.8kg/mm and suits 82 kg rider, gives a ratio of 8.36 to 1.
sooo if you put a 11kg/mm (zx12r) spring in, it may suit a 92kg rider.
This is very simplistic based on spring rate and zx7r linkage (the zx12 linkage seems to make this kg figure higher) but doesn't take into account damping oil weights and the like..
The zx12r also weighs a little more (although not that much) so that could be taken into account also....

Hope that helps... a little..

Posted: **Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:51 pm**

Cheers mate,
thats exactly the calc I did, weather all not this is true I dont know?
I hope it is then im in the ballpark.
thanks

Posted: **Tue Apr 17, 2007 5:12 pm**

MadKaw wrote:Not sure of the settings for the zx12r, but heres the info on the std shocks from race tech.

ZX7R
Kayaba - 44mm
Stock spring rate = 9.8kg/mm
Suited to 82 kg rider

ZX12R
Kayaba - 40mm
Stock spring rate = 11.0kg/mm
Suited to 109 kg rider

Dave

I will check when I get home
but from memory I am pretty sure the ZX12r is set for a
..69 kg rider not 109 :shock:

cheers

Smitty

Posted: **Tue Apr 17, 2007 6:32 pm**

..ooops out by 1kg

the ZX12 manuals sez
standard setup or front and rear is for a 68kg (150lb) rider

hth

cheers

Smitty

Posted: **Tue Apr 17, 2007 6:50 pm**

is that for *your* model ? the 2000 model ? When I got my '05, I am sure they said the rear shock would cope with my fat arse (>110kg), if it was only set for a 68kg jockey, the barge would wallow like a barge........it can't be that low....

Posted: **Tue Apr 17, 2007 7:00 pm**

Thats the numbers Kawi put on em, the figures I quoted were real numbers as rated by Race Tech..
With Hoffy's the front was way too soft but the back wasn't too bad, even for him... :wink:

Posted: **Tue Apr 17, 2007 7:21 pm**

well if its good enough for *The Hoff*, it'll be fine for the Lean Mean Humpin' Machine .... :shock:

Posted: **Tue Apr 17, 2007 7:48 pm**

Gosling1 wrote:is that for *your* model ? the 2000 model ? When I got my '05, I am sure they said the rear shock would cope with my fat arse (>110kg), if it was only set for a 68kg jockey, the barge would wallow like a barge........it can't be that low....

...naah Gos

I have Kwaka manuals for both the A model and B model
and they are the same...68kg is the factory standard

guess them Kwaka test riders need to eat more whale :shock:

very politically incorrect that...apologies