7-6
CHASSIS
CHANGE OF THE HEAT RANGE 
OF SPARK PLUGS
Judging from the discoloration of 
spark plugs, if they are found improp-
er, it can be corrected by the following 
two methods; changing carburetor 
settings and changing the heat range 
of spark plug.
• In principle, it is advisable to first 
use spark plugs of standard heat 
range, and judging from the discol-
oration of spark plugs, adjust carbu-
retor settings.
• If the calibration No. of the main jet 
must be changed by ±30, it is advis-
able to change the heat range of 
spark plugs and newly select the 
proper main jet.
• When checking the discoloration of 
spark plugs, be sure to stop the en-
gine immediately after a run and 
check.
• Avoid racing.
• When changing the heat range of 
spark plugs, never attempt to 
change it more than ±1 rank.
• When using a spark plug other than 
standard, check its heat range 
against the standard and check that 
it is a resistance type.
• Note that even if the discoloration 
seems proper, it may slightly vary 
with the spark plug maker and oil in 
use.
CHASSIS
SELECTION OF THE SECONDARY 
REDUCTION RATIO (SPROCKET)
ondary gear reduction ratio>
• It is generally said that the second-
ary gear ratio should be reduced for 
a longer straight portion of a speed 
course and should be increased for 
a course with many corners. Actual-
ly, however, as the speed depends 
on the ground condition of the day 
of the race, be sure to run through 
the circuit to set the machine suit-
able for the entire course.
• In actuality, it is very difficult to 
achieve settings suitable for the en-
tire course and some settings may 
be sacrificed. Thus, the settings 
should be matched to the portion of 
the course that has the greatest ef-
fect on the race result. In such a 
case, run through the entire course 
while making notes of lap times to 
find the best balance; then, deter-
mine the secondary reduction ratio.
• If a course has a long straight por-
tion where a machine can run at 
maximum speed, the machine is 
generally set such that it can devel-
op its maximum revolutions toward 
the end of the straight line, with care 
taken to avoid the engine over-rev-
ving.
Riding technique varies from rider to 
rider and the performance of a ma-
chine also vary from machine to ma-
chine. Therefore, do not imitate other 
rider's settings from the beginning but 
choose your own setting according to 
the level of your riding technique.
DRIVE AND REAR WHEEL 
SPROCKETS SETTING PARTSTIRE PRESSURE
Tire pressure should be adjust to suit 
the road surface condition of the cir-
cuit.
• Under a rainy, muddy, sandy, or 
slippery condition, the tire pressure 
should be lower for a larger area of 
contact with the road surface.
• Under a stony or hard road condi-
tion, the tire pressure should be 
higher to prevent a flat tire.
FRONT FORK SETTING
The front fork setting should be made 
depending on the rider's feeling of an 
actual run and the circuit conditions.
The front fork setting includes the fol-
lowing three factors:
1. Setting of air spring characteris-
tics
• Change the fork oil amount.
2. Setting of spring preload
• Change the spring.
3. Setting of damping force
• Change the compression damp-
ing.
• Change the rebound damping.
The spring acts on the load and 
the damping force acts on the 
cushion travel speed.
CHANGE IN AMOUNT AND 
CHARACTERISTICS OF FORK OIL
Damping characteristic near the final 
stroke can be changed by changing 
the fork oil amount. Standard spark 
plugBR9EVX/NGK 
(resistance 
type)
Secondary reduction ratio = 
Number of rear wheel sprocket 
teeth/Number of drive sprocket 
teeth
Standard second-
ary reduction ratio48/13 (3.692)
Part name Size Part number
Drive 
sprocket 
"1"
(STD) 13T 9383B-13218
Rear wheel 
sprocket 
"2"
47T 1C3-25447-00
(STD) 48T 1C3-25448-00
49T 1C3-25449-00
50T 1C3-25450-00
51T 1C3-25451-00
52T 1C3-25452-00
Standard tire pressure:
100 kPa (1.0 kgf/cm2, 
15 psi)
Extent of adjustment:
60–80 kPa (0.6–0.8 kgf/
cm
2, 9.0–12 psi)
Extent of adjustment:
100–120 kPa (1.0–1.2 
kgf/cm
2, 15–18 psi) 
         
        
        7-7
CHASSIS
Adjust the oil amount in 5 cm3 (0.2 
Imp oz, 0.2 US oz) increments or 
decrements. Too small oil amount 
causes the front fork to produce a 
noise at full rebound or the rider to 
feel some pressure on his hands 
or body. Alternatively, too large oil 
amount will cause the air spring 
characteristics to have a tendency 
to be stiffer with the consequent 
deteriorated performance and 
characteristics. Therefore, adjust 
the front fork within the specified 
range.
A. Air spring characteristics in 
relation to oil amount change
B. Load
C. Stroke
1. Max. oil amount
2. Standard oil amount
3. Min. oil amount
SETTING OF SPRING AFTER 
REPLACEMENT
As the front fork setting can be easily 
affected by rear suspension, take 
care so that the machine front and 
rear are balanced (in position, etc.) 
when setting the front fork.
1. Use of soft spring
• Change the rebound damping.
Turn out one or two clicks.
• Change the compression damp-
ing.
Turn in one or two clicks.
Generally a soft spring gives a soft 
riding feeling. Rebound damping 
tends to become stronger and the 
front fork may sink deeply over a se-
ries of gaps.
2. Use of stiff spring
• Change the rebound damping.
Turn in one or two clicks.
• Change the compression damp-
ing.
Turn out one or two clicks.
Generally a stiff spring gives a stiff 
riding feeling. Rebound damping 
tends to become weaker, resulting in 
lack of a sense of contact with the 
road surface or in a vibrating handle-
bar.
FRONT FORK SETTING PARTS
• Front fork spring "1"
The I.D. mark (slits) "a" is proved on 
the end of the spring.
REAR SUSPENSION SETTING
The rear suspension setting should 
be made depending on the rider's 
feeling of an actual run and the circuit 
conditions.
The rear suspension setting includes 
the following two factors:
1. Setting of spring preload
• Change the set length of the 
spring.
• Change the spring.
2. Setting of damping force
• Change the rebound damping.
• Change the compression damp-
ing.
CHOOSING SET LENGTH
1. Place a stand or block under the 
engine to put the rear wheel 
above the floor, and measure the 
length "a" between the rear wheel 
axle center and the rear fender 
holding bolt.
2. Remove the stand or block from 
the engine and with a rider astride 
the seat, measure the sunken 
length "b" between the rear wheel 
axle center and the rear fender 
holding bolt.
3. Loosen the locknut "1" and make 
adjustment by turning the spring 
adjuster "2" to achieve the stan-
dard figure from the subtraction of 
the length "b" from the length "a".
• If the machine is new and after it is 
broken in, the same set length of 
the spring may change because of 
the initial fatigue, etc. of the spring. 
Therefore, be sure to make reeval-
uation.
• If the standard figure cannot be 
achieved by adjusting the spring 
adjuster and changing the spring  Standard oil amount:
333 cm
3 (11.72 Imp oz, 
11.26 US oz)
*335 cm
3 (11.79 Imp oz, 
11.33 US oz)
Extent of adjustment:
300–375 cm
3 (10.6–13.2 
Imp oz, 10.1–12.7 US 
oz)
* For EUROPE
TY
PESPRIN
G 
RATESPRING 
PART NUM-
BER (-23141-)I.D. 
MA
RK 
(slit
s)
SO
FT0.398 1C3-A1 |
0.408 1C3-B1 ||
ST
D0.418 1C3-P0 —
STI
FF0.428 1C3-D1 ||||
0.438 1C3-E1 |||||
0.449 1C3-F1 |-|
0.459 1C3-G1 |-||
0.469 1C3-H1 |-|||
0.479 1C3-J1 |-||||
Standard figure:
90–100 mm (3.5–3.9 in)