Page 145 of 432

CHASSIS
4-2
• Under a stony or a hard road condition, the
tire pressure should be higher to prevent a flat
tire.
EAS2GBB140FRONT FORK SETTING
The front fork setting should be made depend-
ing on the rider’s feeling of an actual run and
the circuit conditions.
The front fork setting includes the following
three factors:
1. Setting of air spring characteristics
• Change the fork oil amount.
2. Setting of spring preload
• Change the spring.
3. Setting of damping force
• Change the compression damping force.
• Change the rebound damping force.
The spring acts on the load and the damping
force acts on the cushion travel speed.
EAS2GBB141CHANGE IN AMOUNT AND CHARACTERIS-
TICS OF FORK OIL
Damping characteristic near the final stroke
can be changed by changing the fork oil
amount.
EWA
WARNING
Adjust the oil amount in 5 cm3 (0.2 US oz,
0.2 Imp.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 characteris-
tics. Therefore, adjust the front fork within
the specified range.
EAS2GBB142SETTING OF SPRING AFTER REPLACE-
MENT
As the front fork setting can be easily affected
by the rear suspension, take care so that the
front and the rear are balanced (in position etc.)
when setting the front fork.
1. Use of soft spring
• Change the rebound damping force.
Turn out one or two clicks.
• Change the compression damping force.
Turn in one or two clicks.
TIP
Generally a soft spring gives a soft riding feel-
ing. Rebound damping tends to become stron-
ger and the front fork may sink deeply over a
series of gaps.
2. Use of stiff spring
• Change the rebound damping force.
Turn in one or two clicks.
• Change the compression damping force.
Turn out one or two clicks. Extent of adjustment
100–120 kPa (1.00–1.20 kgf/cm
2,
15–18 psi)
Standard oil amount
340 cm
3 (11.50 US oz, 11.99
lmp.oz)
Extent of adjustment
300–365 cm
3 (10.14–12.34 US
oz, 10.58–12.87 Imp.oz)
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
Page 146 of 432

CHASSIS
4-3
TIP
Generally a stiff spring gives a stiff riding feel-
ing. Rebound damping tends to become weak-
er, resulting in lack of a sense of contact with
the road surface or in a vibrating handlebar.
EAS2GBB143FRONT FORK SETTING PARTS
• Front fork spring “1”
TIP
The I.D. mark (slits) “a” is proved on the end of
the spring.
EAS2GBB144REAR SUSPENSION SETTING
The rear shock absorber setting should be
made depending on the rider’s feeling of an ac-
tual run and the circuit conditions.
The rear suspension setting includes the fol-
lowing 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 force.
• Change the compression damping force.
EAS2GBB145CHOOSING SET LENGTH
1. Place a stand or a block under the engine to
put the rear wheel above the floor, and mea-
sure 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 hold-
ing bolt.
3. Loosen the locknut “1” and make adjustment
by turning the adjuster “2” to achieve the
standard figure from the subtraction of the
length “b” from the length “a”. TypeSpring
rate N/
mmPart numberI.D.
Mark
(slits)
SOFT4.1 2GB-23141-A0 |||
4.2 2GB-23141-B0 ||||
4.3 2GB-23141-C0 |||||
STD 4.42GB-23141-30 —
2GB-23141-D0 |-|
STIFF4.5 2GB-23141-E0 |-||
4.6 33D-23141-30 |-|||
a
1
Standard figure
90–100 mm (3.5–3.9 in)
Page 147 of 432

CHASSIS
4-4
TIP
• 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 reevalua-
tion.
• If the standard figure cannot be achieved by
adjusting the adjuster and changing the set
length, replace the spring with an optional one
and make readjustment.
EAS2GBB146SETTING OF SPRING AFTER REPLACE-
MENT
After replacement, be sure to adjust the spring
to the set length [sunken length 90–100 mm
(3.5–3.9 in)] and set it.
1. Use of soft spring
• Adjust to decrease rebound damping force
to compensate for less spring load. Run with
the rebound damping force adjuster one or
two clicks turned out, and readjust it to suit
your preference.
2. Use of stiff spring
• Adjust to increase rebound damping force to
compensate for greater spring load. Run
with the rebound damping force adjuster
one or two clicks turned in, and readjust it to
suit your preference.
TIP
Adjusting the rebound damping force will be fol-
lowed more or less by a change in the com-
pression damping force. For correction, adjust
to decrease compression damping force.
EWA
WARNING
When using a rear shock absorber other
than currently installed, use the one whose
overall length “a” does not exceed the stan-
dard as it may result in faulty performance.
Never use one whose overall length is
greater than standard.
EAS2GBB147REAR SHOCK ABSORBER SETTING
PARTS
• Rear shock spring “1”
TIP
• The I.D. mark “a” is marked at the end of the
spring.
• Spring specification varies according to the
color of I.D. marks.
Length “a” of standard shock
462.5 mm (18.21 in)
TypeSpring
rate N/
mmPart numberI.D.
Mark
SOFT482GB-22212-10
(Blue)Black
502GB-22212-00
(Blue)Green
521SL-22212-40
(Blue)Yellow
STD 541SL-22212-60
(Blue)Pink
STIFF561SL-22212-20
(Blue)White
581SL-22212-00
(Blue)Silver
601SL-22212-80
(Blue)Brown
Page 148 of 432
CHASSIS
4-5
• Spring preload adjusting positions
TIP
For the spring preload adjustment, refer to “AD-
JUSTING THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBER
ASSEMBLY” on page 3-34.Spring preload adjusting positions
Minimum
Position in which the spring is
turned in 1.5 mm (0.06 in) from
its free length.
Standard
Position in which the spring is
turned in 10 mm (0.39 in) from its
free length.
Maximum
Position in which the spring is
turned in 18 mm (0.71 in) from its
free length.
Page 149 of 432

CHASSIS
4-6
EAS2GBB148SUSPENSION SETTING (FRONT FORK)
TIP
• If any of the following symptoms is experienced with the standard position as the base, make reset-
ting by reference to the adjustment procedure given in the same chart.
• Before any change, set the rear shock absorber sunken length to the standard figure 90–100 mm
(3.5–3.9 in).
SymptomSection
Check Adjust
JumpLarge
gapMedi-
um
gapSmall
gap
Stiff over entire
rangeCompression
damping forceTurn adjuster counterclock-
wise (about 2 clicks) to de-
crease damping.
Oil amount Decrease oil amount by about
5–10 cm
3 (0.2–0.3 US oz, 0.2–
0.4 Imp.oz).
Spring Replace with soft spring.
Unsmooth
movement over
entire rangeOuter tube
Inner tubeCheck for any bends, dents,
other noticeable scars, etc. If
any, replace affected parts.
Slide metal Replace with a new one for ex-
tended use.
Piston metal Replace with a new one for ex-
tended use.
Lower bracket
tightening
torqueRetighten to specified torque.
Poor initial
movementRebound
damping forceTurn adjuster counterclock-
wise (about 2 clicks) to de-
crease damping.
Oil seals Apply grease in oil seal wall.
Soft over entire
range, bottom-
ing outCompression
damping forceTurn adjuster clockwise (about
2 clicks) to increase damping.
Oil amount Increase oil amount by about
5–10 cm
3 (0.2–0.3 US oz, 0.2–
0.4 Imp.oz).
Spring Replace with stiff spring.
Stiff toward
stroke endOil amountDecrease oil amount by about
5 cm
3 (0.2 US oz, 0.2 Imp.oz).
Soft toward
stroke end, bot-
toming outOil amountIncrease oil amount by about 5
cm
3 (0.2 US oz, 0.2 Imp.oz).
Stiff initial
movementCompression
damping forceTurn adjuster counterclock-
wise (about 2 clicks) to de-
crease damping.
Page 150 of 432

CHASSIS
4-7
EAS2GBB149SUSPENSION SETTING (REAR SHOCK ABSORBER)
TIP
• If any of the following symptoms is experienced with the standard position as the base, make reset-
ting by reference to the adjustment procedure given in the same chart.
• Adjust the rebound damping in 2-click increments or decrements.
• Adjust the low compression damping in 1-click increments or decrements.
• Adjust the high compression damping in 1/6 turn increments or decrements. Low front, tend-
ing to lower
front postureCompression
damping forceTurn adjuster clockwise (about
2 clicks) to increase damping.
Rebound
damping forceTurn adjuster counterclock-
wise (about 2 clicks) to de-
crease damping.
Balance with
rear endSet sunken length for 95–100
mm (3.7–3.9 in) when one
passenger is astride seat (low-
er rear posture).
Oil amount Increase oil amount by about 5
cm
3 (0.2 US oz, 0.2 Imp.oz).
“Obtrusive”
front, tending to
upper front pos-
tureCompression
damping forceTurn adjuster counterclock-
wise (about 2 clicks) to de-
crease damping.
Balance with
rear endSet sunken length for 90–95
mm (3.5–3.7 in) when one
passenger is astride seat (up-
per rear posture).
Spring Replace with soft spring.
Oil amount Decrease oil amount by about
5–10 cm
3 (0.2–0.3 US oz, 0.2–
0.4 Imp.oz).
SymptomSection
Check Adjust
JumpLarge
gapMedi-
um
gapSmall
gap
Stiff, tending to
sinkRebound
damping forceTurn adjuster counterclock-
wise (about 2 clicks) to de-
crease damping.
Spring set
lengthSet sunken length for 90–100
mm (3.5–3.9 in) when one
passenger is astride seat.
Spongy and un-
stableRebound
damping forceTurn adjuster clockwise (about
2 clicks) to increase damping.
Low compres-
sion dampingTurn adjuster clockwise (about
1 click) to increase damping.
Spring Replace with stiff spring. SymptomSection
Check Adjust
JumpLarge
gapMedi-
um
gapSmall
gap
Page 151 of 432

CHASSIS
4-8
Heavy and
draggingRebound
damping forceTurn adjuster counterclock-
wise (about 2 clicks) to de-
crease damping.
Spring Replace with soft spring.
Poor road grip-
pingRebound
damping forceTurn adjuster counterclock-
wise (about 2 clicks) to de-
crease damping.
Low compres-
sion dampingTurn adjuster clockwise (about
1 click) to increase damping.
High compres-
sion dampingTurn adjuster clockwise (about
1/6 turn) to increase damping.
Spring set
lengthSet sunken length for 90–100
mm (3.5–3.9 in) when one
passenger is astride seat.
Spring Replace with soft spring.
Bottoming outHigh compres-
sion dampingTurn adjuster clockwise (about
1/6 turn) to increase damping.
Spring set
lengthSet sunken length for 90–100
mm (3.5–3.9 in) when one
passenger is astride seat.
Spring Replace with stiff spring.
BouncingRebound
damping forceTurn adjuster clockwise (about
2 clicks) to increase damping.
Spring Replace with soft spring.
Stiff travelHigh compres-
sion dampingTurn adjuster counterclock-
wise (about 1/6 turn) to de-
crease damping.
Spring set
lengthSet sunken length for 90–100
mm (3.5–3.9 in) when one
passenger is astride seat.
Spring Replace with soft spring. SymptomSection
Check Adjust
JumpLarge
gapMedi-
um
gapSmall
gap
Page 152 of 432