Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

I just bought a 2001 zx12r and he had the thing set up for him. he weighs about 120kg and my self at about 65kg so it is really flighty when i ride it any ideas to help to soften it up would be great.....

Hello and welcome, congrat's on the 12R too, color?
I have an 04-05 black 12R

I would back off the preloads to half way on the forks by unscrewing the hexnut (17mm?) all the way out (gently) count the rings and wind it back to half way doing the EXACT same to the other fork, thats the standard setting from factory which I believe was set for 65KG riders (see service/handbook), also do the same thing with the little dampening screw in the middle and on the bottom of the forks.

On the rear you will have to undo the castlated nuts and allow the spring to extend more so really you will be undoing it a bit, i can give you a spring length measurement of standard factory setting if you like?
Also on the rear shock you will need to set the dampening screws to about the middle (see service/handbook). All dependant if the previous owner hasn't changed and springs in the forks or the rear shock?

Thats the basic stuff ok. There is a far more detailed way to get it spot on and requires lifting the bike a few times so get a few beefy mates and a few brewskies.

One of the best websites for this>>> http://www.sasbk.co.za/suspension_setup_guidelines.htm

some more:

http://www.zx-12r.org/Motorcycle_info/Information%20Pages/Need%20descriptions%20for%20what%20various%20suspension%20adjustments%20do.htm

http://www.gostar-racing.com/information/motorcycle_suspension_set-up.htm

thats enough for now alot to take in.

HTH

I'm no expert on those futuristic cruse missiles but I would assume you need to back the preload off the rear shock and similarly adjust the front forks. There a plenty of dudes here who own the machine and can give you explicit instructions, if your into spanners and have a copy of the manual.

Welcome to the forum jase

EDIT: -- there, someone beat me too it.

jaseZX12-R wrote:I just bought a 2001 zx12r and he had the thing set up for him. he weighs about 120kg and my self at about 65kg so it is really flighty when i ride it any ideas to help to soften it up would be great.....

do you have an owners manual with all the std settings???

well thanks guy's that helped it rides alot nicer i have also found that it has a riser in the rear shock well i think it is called a riser i that a good thing or does it need to be taken out .... Jonno my 12r is the deap red with the tear marks going through the side... love it

jaseZX12-R wrote:well thanks guy's that helped it rides alot nicer i have also found that it has a riser in the rear shock well i think it is called a riser i that a good thing or does it need to be taken out .... Jonno my 12r is the deap red with the tear marks going through the side... love it

I have tried a spacer and ended up taking it out again, mostly used by heavier guys to help stop the underside of the fairings scraping but it does makes the bike tip in on turns a bit sharply in my opinion, if you need to know how to take it out just ask. (if the front and rear preloads are set correctly you will rarely scrape if at all)
Also the top of the forks should be level with the tripple clamp for factory standard.

I like red ones too in fact I like em all