Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Got the MFP12 back today from Laurie Smith (SuspensionSmith) - our local suspension tuning guru....

Laurie has done a number on the suspension on the 12 - and after a short blast up a favourite (but really short) stretch of twisties only 5 minutes from the 4th dimension......well, what a difference !!

Basically, the stock springs, front and rear, on the 12, were too 'light' in the springrate - so they have all been upgraded - 1.0kg springs in the front (up from 0.9kg) and 11.6kg in the rear (up from 10.5). Forks were re-valved, new oil and seals, and all pre-load and damping specs have been set-up to suit the new spring rates.......Laurie also added a spacer to the top of the rear shock, so its sitting a bit higher in the ride-height than it used to.... (immediately noticeable when putting the sidestand down...).

The verdict ??

The bike immediately felt more 'compliant' when just sitting on it, in the workshop. Even though the front tyre is fully shagged.....the difference in 'feel' is really good.....at low speeds, the increased stiffness of the springs at both ends can be felt, and its a big improvement over the previous stock set-up, where the springs were too soft, and the damping (esp. rebound damping) was too hard...

On the twisty bits.....well it was heaps better. Much more controlled over bumps at high speed. Felt very 'tight' yet compliant and responsive at the same time. It also tips into corners a lot better now .....gotta be a good thing for chasing those pesky 10's.....

The big test will come in the next couple of months - Oran Park track day in mid-August, and then the run up to Gingers Creek......

A huge thanks to Laurie for setting up the old girl for me....it feels like a new bike again.....

good stuff, i have been told by alot of guys that its better to spend you money on suspension work then chasing HP, which is good cause on the 400 i dont have alot of HP .
You have both
haha cheers

good info for us 12R jockeys Gos...

yeah mate, Im too a big fan of suspension work, racetech did mine when she was just a baby.

for comparison I have 6mm spacers in back and have dropped the yokes 5mm, try it

thanks Hoffy - the spacer that Laurie fitted is only 3mm, but it has lifted the arse end about 10mm+ - it seems pretty good.

I haven't asked him about sliding the forks up through the clamps yet, although may do that for the track day at OP in August ?

I'm off for a good fang this afternoon to see how she goes on my normal scratching loop.......can't wait...

Nice work, that will put a in ya day

Man I gotta go see Laurie soon, the Crim's suspenders could definitely do with a bit of a freshen up and I really want to check out that hybrid

I cannot recommend him highly enough.....

and the hybrid is coming along pretty nicely as well.......

Laurie is the bomb in canberra All bikes come back so much better!