My Introduction (A bit Long)

[Super Dave]

Dave, from my understanding, the SV is notorius for having not enough weight up front. The ratio is something like 47/53 F/R instead of 52/48.

I hit a series of largish potholes at about 45 MPH while accelerating fairly hard. The last one hit the tire off center. This is on the street, BTW, not on the track. So, this is related I think more to the geometry problem on the bike. Thoughts?
I have a GSXR rear shock that I will be putting on. I'm also putting in Race Tech .85 springs up front.
I think in my slapper, there were a lot of factors:

Old Pilot Race Softs

No Damper

Geometry is the key.  Until you have the geometry of the bike reasonably correct, the bike will not work the way it SHOULD.  You can mess with springs and oil all day long, but geometry needs to come first, then springs then dampening.

.85 sounds like the spring I know most guys are running.  They are running the fork tubes almost flush with the top of the triple clamp.  I don't know what the rear shock length should be, off the top of my head, but an aftermarket shock should allow you to adjust the ride height, the thing that will most affect the geometry of the bike.

Can't give you any advice on the GSXR shock.  You bike is lighter and less powerful.  Don't know if this will be an improvement.

The dampener just does that.  It will mask some problems, but ultimately, those need to be delt with by altering the geometry.

Additionally, the Michelin tires traditionally have had taller fronts and shorter rears than other manufacturers.  So, that biased you weight even more rearward.  And if they were race take offs, the front was probably a 70 vs the stock 60?  Even more weight rearward.

Just when this all looks easy...

[Nate R]

Dave,

The GSXR rear shock has a lighter rate spring, but MUCH better damping than the stock shock. It also gives the additional options of adjusting the compression and rebound damping, whereas the stock shock only has a 7-click preload adjustment.  It also raises the rear ride height by about 3/4"

That makes sense about the Michelins. They indeed were a 70 up front, and 60 in back, making the geometry problem worse.

I understand more what you mean by the damper masking the problems, then. I thought you were more referring to rider problems, not bike setup problems.

I definitely am very interested in your school. I'm going to try and scrape some $$ and time together for it. I really want the help. But, I'm not sure when I'll be able to do it.
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Thanx for everyone's positive comments and advice! See you on the track!

[tshort]

Hey Nate - I was interested to learn about another CCS guy out of Milwaukee.  I'm looking at getting an SV for next year, too.  And like you, had my licence this year, but didn't race with it.  Did lots of track days, tho.

Anyway, maybe I'll see you in the spring.  

Fellow cheesehead,

[Nate R]

T Short:
Kewl! Where in Milwaukee do you live? I live on the South Side near the Airport. What do you ride now, if you're still looking for an SV?

Interested in meeting up sometime and talking about LW bikes in CCS, etc?

Nate

[BRG]

Nate,
Bad idea, stock GSXR shock on a SV650. This may sound good in theory but the GSXR shock and the SV650 linkage in every application that I have been asked to work on and set up has not even come close to working right. Just trying to save you some time, $$, and pain from crashing. E-mail me if you have any Q's or need some help with setup, brgracing1@cs.com

Brian Baker
Baker Race Gear
Midwest Axxion Center/ Traxxion Dynamics
Milwaukee, Wi.