Recommended suspension settings for a big guy?

[greg328]

Hi guys, new RC51 rider here. Just picked up a 2002 SP2 model. Really cool bike!

Can somebody recommend proper spring preload and shock settings for all-around street use? And maybe include track settings if I also go that route?

I'm 6'3", 230lbs with gear..

I think the bike is currently set up too stiff, feels like it wants to buck me off over bumps! Pretty scary feeling. My main bike is a 2008 Ducati 1098, feels much more stable over all roads, had it set up for me when I bought it new.

Thanks again,
Greg

[Area 51]

Gold Wing if you're smart.
Harley if you're stupid.

(comment from one of many smart asses)

[RVTMAVERICK]

What's the RC51 set-up with... or is it ALL OEM? Forks have or have not been rework?

IF Everything is OEM 100% stock.. Your forks,.. You can screw the preload down all the way right now because the OEM spring is not Strong enough for your weight... I mean it will work but it is NOT Oppimunm <sp>

Bucking you out of the bike is tell me, Your compression IS too slow and your Rebound is too Fast! One or the other but sounds like it could be both..

Your Shock... First thing.. set preload... and then, I would start both compression fast and rebound in the mid. of the range and adj. from there to suite your riding..?

Same with the forks too by the way.. Going for quick reacting legs to smooth out your ride... Also. take\make notes of adjustments and where they're set.

[greg328]

Pretty sure the forks are stock. I think they are sufficient for my weight--because--I have them screwed down ALOT (there was more to go) and they feel really stiff. Looking at the fork leg, they never fully-compress. How many turns from fully-open is recommended? I could never find a stopping point.

What's a good rear spring preload setting for a guy my size? I'm willing to experiment, but some experienced person here may save me some trial and error..

Thanks,
Greg

[Heist]

Here's how I had my Stock suspension set-up by an Pro-Am AMA guy in Maryland. This was the settings he gave me for Street use.

I'm not a big guy, 5'10 - 195lbs in full racing leathers, boots, helmet, gloves but you can experiment from here and work it forward or back.

Obviously the sag settings will be worthless for you, but it gives you a good baseline to work against.

Front Forks.
Sag - 42mm
Compression - 5 turns out to hard from full soft / 8 for the twisties
Rebound - 5 turns out to hard from full soft

Rear Shock:
Sag - 33mm
Compression - 3 clicks out to hard from full soft / 6 for the twisties
Rebound - 1.5 clicks out to hard from full soft

Tires: 30 PSI Front / 28 PSI Rear

[greg328]

Heist, I really appreciate the info, I'll give it a go, bearing in mind my bit of extra mass!

Regards,
Greg

[Heist]

Let me know how it works out for you, and what setting you ended up at.

[Heist]

Did you try the settings yet? How'd they work out for you?
Where did you end up at?

[VTWINtoxicated]

Greg, are you still working on your suspension? If so, let me give you the advice I got from most of the sites I visited and asked this question.

I purchased mine new in '02 and now have 44,000 miles on it. New suspension, wheels (made a big difference on turn in), quick shifter, race throttle, Sato high mounts, HP Cycle (Lake City) tuned, what a damn fun bike.

The RC suspension is, at best, capable for a rider 150 to 160 lbs. any more then that and it just can't hang. The rear shock is short, by design, and soft for TWO up riding. Remember, this bike was produced in 2000 and updated in 2002. Back then, Honda would put soft shocks and banana seats on the bikes being raced at the tracks, but the track bikes have all the good stuff, of course.

When you replace the rear shock - do your research on this, you'll find that every person to ever take an RC to the track got rid of the stock stuff because it sucks so bad for going fast - you'll get a replacement longer than stock to get the weight more on the front for quicker turn in.

For the front, you can't set it up for your weight, your too heavy. I'm 210 and couldn't do it. I had the forks redone for my weight and aggressive track riding and it was such a difference, I finally understood just how the AMA guys can go so fast. With the stock stuff, I would wonder how anyone can go so fast in a corner on a race track, after, I couldn't believe how much faster I could go not even trying.

The RC is an awesome bike and still competitive if you know how to ride it, but at the high speed tracks it gets swallowed up by the 1000's.

If your going to street ride and do an occasional track day, you'll be fine on the stock stuff, but if you decide to pick up the pace at the track, you'll need new suspension.

Good luck.

[Heist]

Originally Posted by VTWINtoxicated

The RC suspension is, at best, capable for a rider 150 to 160 lbs. any more then that and it just can't hang. The rear shock is short, by design, and soft for TWO up riding. Remember, this bike was produced in 2000 and updated in 2002. Back then, Honda would put soft shocks and banana seats on the bikes being raced at the tracks, but the track bikes have all the good stuff, of course.

WTF?!
The hell was Honda thinking about when they designed this? Little people, girls, and pre-pubescent boys would be riding this?

I'm not a terribly big guy. 175/180lbs - 190/195lbs fully geared up.

Honda set-up a suspension with a 140lbs GROWN MAN in mind.
I mean I know Japanese people tend to be smaller and lighter, but that's just bad planning man. Terribly bad and stupid.

[VTWINtoxicated]

Originally Posted by Heist

WTF?!
The hell was Honda thinking about when they designed this? Little people, girls, and pre-pubescent boys would be riding this?

I'm not a terribly big guy. 175/180lbs - 190/195lbs fully geared up.

Honda set-up a suspension with a 140lbs GROWN MAN in mind.
I mean I know Japanese people tend to be smaller and lighter, but that's just bad planning man. Terribly bad and stupid.

Pedrosa weighs 104 lbs. I think Colin Edwards weighs something like 155 and is considered a big rider. I'm not saying that's the max weight, but much heavier and the suspension just can't do the job if the bike is pushed. Sounds crazy, but the suspension on the stock RC is NOT race suspension.

[Heist]

Originally Posted by VTWINtoxicated

Pedrosa weighs 104 lbs. I think Colin Edwards weighs something like 155 and is considered a big rider. I'm not saying that's the max weight, but much heavier and the suspension just can't do the job if the bike is pushed. Sounds crazy, but the suspension on the stock RC is NOT race suspension.

No, I can perfectly understand a suspension weight set-up like this for a track only machine. Yeah, pro racers are like cyclist. Waif thin.

But for a dealer offered, street legal bike - manufacturers should damn well know to at least produce a suspension that's capable of managing a 180lb rider.

[VTWINtoxicated]

Originally Posted by Heist

No, I can perfectly understand a suspension weight set-up like this for a track only machine. Yeah, pro racers are like cyclist. Waif thin.

But for a dealer offered, street legal bike - manufacturers should damn well know to at least produce a suspension that's capable of managing a 180lb rider.

As an owner of an RC, you know for yourself that the suspension can handle your weight. I'm 210 and it handled mine just fine - until I started trying to get my lap times under 1:30, it then became apparent that the suspension was too weak.

If your riding the bike on the streets, it's fine. Sport rider had all the numbers for the RC in an article a few years back and I used those for the street, no problems, made the bike feel better. But, until I replaced everything, I had no idea how incapable the stock suspension is for the track.

I'm agreeing with you hear, the suspension is fine on the street for any size rider. If you go to the track and depend on the stock suspension and push too hard, you will have problems - I've seen it happen.

Simply put, I would not tell someone how to set up the suspension on the RC without also mentioning it's limitations.

[Heist]

Originally Posted by VTWINtoxicated

As an owner of an RC, you know for yourself that the suspension can handle your weight. I'm 210 and it handled mine just fine - until I started trying to get my lap times under 1:30, it then became apparent that the suspension was too weak.

If your riding the bike on the streets, it's fine. Sport rider had all the numbers for the RC in an article a few years back and I used those for the street, no problems, made the bike feel better. But, until I replaced everything, I had no idea how incapable the stock suspension is for the track.

I'm agreeing with you hear, the suspension is fine on the street for any size rider. If you go to the track and depend on the stock suspension and push too hard, you will have problems - I've seen it happen.

Simply put, I would not tell someone how to set up the suspension on the RC without also mentioning it's limitations.

To be honest, no - the stock RC suspension has always been underwhelming on the street. Yes, it can "handle" my weight - but it can't "manage" my weight. Hard, stiff, even at its softest settings and w/o a good range of adjustment. Stiff does NOT equal fast.

Don't get me wrong, it's not a piece of utter shit like say the TL1000R's stock crap but still a bit disappointing compared to what you get in most of the other 1000's.

As I mentioned, I had an ex-AMA pro-am guy set it up for me just to find something optimally passable street and track setting.

It was his first time working on an RC an he said he was surprised to find the lack of suspension compliancy.

Then he proceeded to try to sell me some Elka stuff for $1,000

[VTWINtoxicated]

Originally Posted by Heist

To be honest, no - the stock RC suspension has always been underwhelming on the street. Yes, it can "handle" my weight - but it can't "manage" my weight. Hard, stiff, even at its softest settings and w/o a good range of adjustment. Stiff does NOT equal fast.

Don't get me wrong, it's not a piece of utter shit like say the TL1000R's stock crap but still a bit disappointing compared to what you get in most of the other 1000's.

As I mentioned, I had an ex-AMA pro-am guy set it up for me just to find something optimally passable street and track setting.

It was his first time working on an RC an he said he was surprised to find the lack of suspension compliancy.

Then he proceeded to try to sell me some Elka stuff for $1,000

My experience exactly. The RC is so much more fun with the correct suspension under it. Although it gets stiffer, the bike turns in so easy at speed. It's not like the current 1K's, but it doesn't handle like a heavy bike anymore. At 438 wet, mine gets around Jennings pretty good for what it is.