what do you guys think

[Arran66]

well I've had my gtr 4 months now

I'm still enjoying the bike I done over 500 miles this weekend

there's just one thing that bugs me on the bike

is it just me or is the suspension not to great

it just feels very budget and flat

don't get me wrong I love the bike but for 13.000 k

I think Kawasaki should have put better quality shocks on it

I mean even a xjr 1300 at 9 k has got ohlins which are fantastic

I just wondered what the forum feels about the subject

plus has any body changed out the shocks and for what

love to hear other peoples veiws on the subject

[Deon]

My stock suspension is just fine for me.

Deon

[Ros]

Having the suspension correctly adjusted makes a huge difference.
Mine arrived new set up for an adult male ( 70kg Japanese) and required quite a bit of adjustment before it felt good for my hundred and somthing kilos.....  The bike shop helped me sort it out.

What appeared to be critical was to be symmetrical with the front...

Ros

[mecki]

  No problem with the standard suspension here either.
Needed to soften mine a bit at the start but since then (12K miles later) I can't complain.

[Boomer]

50,500 miles and OEM suspension is still doing fine.
I did set the static sag myself at about 6,000 miles and have checked it a couple of times since.
I run 35mm rear and 32mm front.
Add in the fact that I weigh 26 Stone (360lbs, 165Kg) and I am impressed with the OEM shock.
It is starting to feel a little vague at the back end on heavy throttle coming out of corners but it may need new wheel bearings as still running the OEMs.

There are a variety of aftermarket shocks out there including Ohlins if you feel the need to throw some money away (£1200 for one shock! ),
or Wilbers at €500 standard and €700 with remote reservoir,
or the cheaper Hagons at £300 standard and £425 with remote preload adjuster.

[O.C.]

Suspension setting really is about your own personal choice, which is why the adjustment facility is built in to the machine, we are all different weights and sizes and use our bikes in differing ways, one up, two up, loaded, unloaded etc., some riders like the harder sporty feel and some the suspension set softer.

These people are one of a number of aftermarket specialists that can sell you a rear shock (emulsion) which apparently will improve the feel of your bike and give you greater adjustment/control, all for about £350.00 I think

http://www.hyperpro.com/hyperpro/en

[routemaster]

Hi

The suspension has been absolutely fine for me.
If you are not happy with it is the first thing I would do is take the bike to a suspension set up specialist who can very easily and quickly set the the suspension to suit you and your riding style. I had mine done after a couple of thound miles and the tweaks where fairly minor but it made a very nice difference.

As you live in Wiltshire the I would suggest JHS Racing in Keynsham. From their web site "We will correctly set the front and rear static sag, then make adjustments to compression and rebound damping to allow controlled and compliant movement of the units. This provides the rider with the positive ride required. Your bike's suspension will be optimally set up for you, whether for road riding or track use. Suspension set-up service just £34.99"

Kind regards

Steve

[Winston Smith]

I had a 2009 and suspension was brilliant out of the box.

The Press Fleet 2010 bike we tested with (set up to factory setting one presumes so same as mine 'out of the box') was awful and felt cheap.

The 2011 Press Fleeter was fine, felt crisp and well suspended.

I suggest getting it set up by a pro or trial and error - but remember what setting you've changed from/to!

[Arran66]

well thanks for all your opinions and replys

I think I'm going to get a proffessional set up

I have been playing about with the shocks myself

but I must be doing something wrong

but hey thanks again and I'll keep the forum posted

on the outcome of the pro set up

any susgestions on a set up before I do this

I'd be grateful I'm 6ft and 16 stone ?

any settings someonre else has got I could try ?

[nogoslow]

have a look here. http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/Products/productsresults/Suspension/2006/november/Feb23-05-set-suspension-sag/

If your not confident with the spanners then don't mess about, but it is a very simple thing to adjust sag on your bike.

[SirToU]

Hi

I love playing with suspension settings on the bike, but since I got it perfect, I only change when fully loaded.

I would start with making sure everything is set as per the manual, I'm sure the standard settings are in there.

I would maybe suggest, Boomers is a little on the soft side and hence why it feels a little vague.

I can't remember what I'm running on the GTR, its been so long, but on the Z'd for motogymkhana, the settings I'm using are the following.

Standard is rear 15mm, I dropped it to 12mm but it didn't work, I then put it back to 15mm, then dropped it back down to 10mm and it sorted the problem (was loosing the rear end on acceleration).  I havn't checked it in a year but the problem hasn't come back.  :-)

on the front, Motogymkhana settings really arn't suitable for the road - Standard is 27mm and I've been slowly getting harder and harder and am now running 20mm static sag on the front.

preload settings from what I can make out, are pretty standard across all bikes so as long as your aiming at the 25-30mm I think you should be ok.

the compression damping is personal choice.

I guess thats been completely unhelpful.


:-)

Neil