can anyone tell me how much sag i should be running in my suspension when i'm sitting on it?
oh yeah i'm thinking of racing mx next summer(raced one race this summer and had a hoot!!) but right now i'm a trail burner.
Full Version: Suspension Sag
Thank you very much for that link!!!!!! Very informative and easy to understand for a novice tuner. That link should be pinned or stickyed for all to see!!!!!
Glad to help!
I set my shocks like they said and all i can say is wow! I could tell a big difference today when i was riding at the track
QUOTE (z4evr @ Jan 28 2007, 06:31 PM) 
I set my shocks like they said and all i can say is wow! I could tell a big difference today when i was riding at the track
Awesome!
Awesome article, one question though.... How do i know total suspension travel for my quad with OEM goods ehhe.. Thanks
Dave
Dave
how do you adjust the shocks? i want softer in the front and firmer in the rear.
QUOTE (icp4life162005 @ May 30 2007, 02:38 PM)
how do you adjust the shocks? i want softer in the front and firmer in the rear.
This is just a test message sorry.
Did anybody save a copy of that article? Its not accessible anymore.
yeah i have a copy in my toolbox i'll put up the main points tomorrow.
and holy chit did you buy lane530's quad? how much?
and holy chit did you buy lane530's quad? how much?
Ya I got it 3 days ago, for the asking price.
z400 has 8.5" of travel in front, and 9.1" in the rear
free sag
this first measurement determines how much free sag your suspension has. free sag is the amount of suspension travel that is used when the auazd is under its own weight subtracted from the overall suspension travel. don't worry, it sounds more technical and tough than it is. dettermining these measurements for the front and rear suspension require two different methods:
front suspension: have a friend lift the front end of the quad until the a-arms are fully extended but the tires are still in contact with the ground. take a measurement from the floor to a center point on the front of the quad's frame. (mark the point with a marker because you must use that as a point of reference for future measurements) this is called the "unloaded measurement"
Once this measurement has been taken, put the unit back on the ground and bounce the front suspension to let it settle in. now measure from the ground to the same point on the frame. subtract the weighted measurement (the second measurement_ from the unloaded measurement (the first measurement) to obtain your free sag value. ideally, the number you get after doing the math should be around 10% of your quad's total suspension travel (ex: 1 inch of sag for 10 inches of total suspension travel)
i'm sick of writing all of it so now i'm putting up just the main points.
rider sag:
this is more important than the free sag. it is the measure of how much of the total suspension travel is used when a fully geared rider is sitting in normal riding position. it should be somewhere around 30% of total suspension travel of your quad (ex: 3 inches of sag for 9 inches of total suspension travel)
measure from grabbar to center of the swingarm and record. for the front measure from marked point on frame to ground just like you did for the free sag.
subtract the rider sag from the unloaded suspension measuremnets that you took when you did the free sag measurement. again it should be 30%
shock adjustments
compression: its speed sensitive and controls the shock over g-outs, whoops and jumps. turning clockwise makes harder/
rebound: controls speed of the shock as the spring pushes the shock shaft back out to its original psotition after being compressed.. it helps "fight" the spring in order to have a controlled spring return. mostly used in whoops, if you are going faster you need the rebound set faster. because if its not set fast enough the shocks will be completely compressed and won't absorb anything which will make it rough. to make rebound faster turn clockwise.
free sag
this first measurement determines how much free sag your suspension has. free sag is the amount of suspension travel that is used when the auazd is under its own weight subtracted from the overall suspension travel. don't worry, it sounds more technical and tough than it is. dettermining these measurements for the front and rear suspension require two different methods:
front suspension: have a friend lift the front end of the quad until the a-arms are fully extended but the tires are still in contact with the ground. take a measurement from the floor to a center point on the front of the quad's frame. (mark the point with a marker because you must use that as a point of reference for future measurements) this is called the "unloaded measurement"
Once this measurement has been taken, put the unit back on the ground and bounce the front suspension to let it settle in. now measure from the ground to the same point on the frame. subtract the weighted measurement (the second measurement_ from the unloaded measurement (the first measurement) to obtain your free sag value. ideally, the number you get after doing the math should be around 10% of your quad's total suspension travel (ex: 1 inch of sag for 10 inches of total suspension travel)
i'm sick of writing all of it so now i'm putting up just the main points.
rider sag:
this is more important than the free sag. it is the measure of how much of the total suspension travel is used when a fully geared rider is sitting in normal riding position. it should be somewhere around 30% of total suspension travel of your quad (ex: 3 inches of sag for 9 inches of total suspension travel)
measure from grabbar to center of the swingarm and record. for the front measure from marked point on frame to ground just like you did for the free sag.
subtract the rider sag from the unloaded suspension measuremnets that you took when you did the free sag measurement. again it should be 30%
shock adjustments
compression: its speed sensitive and controls the shock over g-outs, whoops and jumps. turning clockwise makes harder/
rebound: controls speed of the shock as the spring pushes the shock shaft back out to its original psotition after being compressed.. it helps "fight" the spring in order to have a controlled spring return. mostly used in whoops, if you are going faster you need the rebound set faster. because if its not set fast enough the shocks will be completely compressed and won't absorb anything which will make it rough. to make rebound faster turn clockwise.
QUOTE (Camaro1976 @ Aug 11 2008, 08:59 PM)
z400 has 8.5" of travel in front, and 9.1" in the rear
What year Z400 is the full travel dimensions that you gave?
QUOTE (smokin.legacy @ Oct 16 2008, 07:22 PM)
What year Z400 is the full travel dimensions that you gave?
all of them 2003-2009
QUOTE (Camaro1976 @ Oct 16 2008, 09:54 PM)
all of them 2003-2009
oh ok cause the new z400 has gas shocks so i assummed it was a completely diff setup
wait were do u change the rebound at tho
QUOTE (krosz400 @ Aug 9 2009, 04:36 PM)
wait were do u change the rebound at tho
there is a brass flat-head screw at both ends of the shock. compression adjustment is at the top of the shock and rebound is at the bottom. to make sure its the right thing that you're looking at, there should be a small diagram above the screw. H<-->S or S<-->H i cant remember which one it is. hope this helps.....its also in the owners manual.
QUOTE (nvscott5 @ Aug 10 2009, 01:09 AM)
there is a brass flat-head screw at both ends of the shock. compression adjustment is at the top of the shock and rebound is at the bottom. to make sure its the right thing that you're looking at, there should be a small diagram above the screw. H<-->S or S<-->H i cant remember which one it is. hope this helps.....its also in the owners manual.
AH ok thanks man sure did help
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