How to Adjust the Suspension on a GSX-R

by Bryan Clark

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The GSX-R is a sport bike made by Suzuki. The GSX series of motorcycles is highly sought after within the street bike and racing communities. The suspension of these bikes is easily tuned by the backyard mechanic or weekend bike enthusiast. When adjusting the suspension, remember to account for road conditions, the type of riding you are doing, your weight, and the weight of anything that you are carrying. Stiffer adjustments (less bounce) is the general rule of thumb when riding aggressively or racing, and softer adjustments are desired for casual riding.

Step 1

Adjust your front ride height by unhooking your triple clamps and sliding the fork tube up or down, depending on which way you want to adjust it. This setting will depend on your height. The triple clamp is the bracket that holds the handlebars in place and is located directly over the fork of the bike.

Step 2

Adjust your rear ride height by rotating the two large hex nuts right below the rear shock. This will also depend on your height.

Step 3

Adjust the front preload by adjusting the large nut on the top of the fork tube. You will need to adjust this if your suspension is bottoming (compressing fully on bumps) out or if your fork is topping out (bouncing).

Step 4

Adjust the rear preload by rotating the collar top on the top of the spring. You will notice the notches on the collar top that you can use as increments. You will need a collar top adjustment tool to adjust it. Set the sag to 30mm for street use and 25mm for track use.

Step 5

Adjust the front rebounder by adjusting the small screw that is on the nut for adjusting preload. Set the rebound so that when you push down on your bike, it does not rebound higher than its normal resting height.

Step 6

Adjust the rear rebounder, which is located at the bottom of the rear shock. Set the rebound so that when you push down on your bike, it does not rebound higher than its normal resting height.

Step 7

Adjust the rear compression damping by rotating the screw that is at the top of the rear shock. Rotate the screw counterclockwise and count how many clicks you hear. Then, rotate it back in for half of that amount of clicks. If you hear eight clicks, rotate it back in for four clicks.

Step 8

Adjust the front compression damping by adjusting the screw at the bottom of the fork. Rotate the screw counterclockwise and count how many clicks you hear. Then, rotate it back in for half of that amount of clicks. If you hear eight clicks, rotate it back in for four clicks.

Step 9

Ride your bike and adjust each of the components as you see fit. This isn't an exact science, and it'll require some testing and tuning after your rides to find the perfect adjustments.

References

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