Bike Geometry Question via email

Dave,

I recently purchased your two videos through onthethrottle.tv, twiddling knobs and introduction to suspension. They are by far the most informative suspension set-up videos I have ever watched. I learned more about suspension set-up in two hours (and understood it)with your videos than I have since I started riding motorcycles.

Which, brings me to a question that I had for you. I have a 02 CBR 954 that I use mainly for trackdays and I am having the forks reworked with new springs and a penske rear shock. The thing that I dont know or missed in your video is where do you start as far as bike geometry. What is a good starting point for rear ride height and how far the forks should stick through the triple clamp? Is there any rules of thumb on this or all trial and error?

Thank You

Dan

REPLY:
As to your questions re the 954:

Everything depends on the tires you choose, and you need to leave the bike in stock geometric configuration to evaluate the tires. All brands even though they have the same size embedded in the sidewalls have different circumferences. Therefore, once you find a brand that you like you can then methodically play with geometry to work on certain aspects of the bikes handling - turn in, mid corner stability, corner exit.

Once the geometry feels good, then play with hydraulics with the key being balance of the chassis on rebound so the pogo front to back is elimated (tire reading will help immensely with that).Once this process is complete, then you need to stay ontop of servicing intervals for forks and shocks. Six months max between services!