Be a GOOD idea to specify which "Generation" your V is, and whether or not you've set your "sag".

 

Another good idea for anyone setting damping - make sure your fork oil is fresh. Changing it out is not something specified in regular service intervals so it's something many owners don't do, but it's important. If you're over 10k miles with your current fork oil, get it changed - you'll be amazed how much more composed and controlled your ride is. And then you may find that whatever damping settings you had, they need to be adjusted.

 

YES - it was dirty, and you need several VERY specialized tools to take apart the forks. I 'made' mine for the two Gen 1s but haven't done the '15s MYSELF (Kawi did it under warranty when the fork-seals blew out).

I DID use ATF as fork oil EVERY time, however. (An old enduro riders 'trick'.)

 

I gave it to a shop, don't know. The mechanic mentioned it was tricky, though it was his first contact with 2015 Versys' Separate Function Forks...

 

Ok, I'll weigh in here (pardon the pun). All suspension settings are a compromise for me: in cold weather gear, I'm maybe 195 lb, in summer gear 185 lb. Except maybe I've added the tank bag and cameras etc or my dry bag with a weekend supply of necessaries. So I compromise because I don't feel like changing settings for every occasion.

My riding is mostly rural, secondary roads mostly with occasional forays into the big cities.

Currently, my settings for the front are preload @ 6 turns out (all numbers are from fully compressed). Damping is set 2 turns out. I just went back to this setting because the front end was feeling "wooden" in sharp turns and wanted to run wide at the "harder" setting that I tried. The difference is night and day. The difference that a well set up suspension makes is truly confidence inspiring, it changes the bike.

Rear currently set to #2 position (2nd softest), damping @ 4 clicks out. I am still working on the rear setting, after changing the front.

For every action, there is a reaction. Change the front suspension and the rear reacts too, often requiring adjustment if the fork setting was adjusted by a more than a few clicks.

Rider body position counts for a lot too. I learned a lot riding my loaded Concours that moving my weight forward and loading the fork to compensate for the rear end weight dramatically changed the handling. That technique also works well for me on the V. In tight stuff, I like to shift my weight forward to load the front end a bit.

My point is that, for me, suspension settings are a moving target that can change with season and circumstance. So I compromise because although I check tire pressure, oil, lights etc regularly, I live with the current suspension settings.

Until I start feckin' around again... sigh.

Gen1, 2007 V

 

I set mine by the book. I have a 09 650. I am 140#. with all my gear about 150# total. I set my forks at 7 turns out 1 3/4 turns out on the dampener. The rear preload is on 5 from softest and 5 clicks out on the dampener. Air is set at 34psi front and 36psi rear. Rides nice! Wheelies in first pretty easy.

 

I've been playing around with my suspension settings over the last week or so. I found I've been able to make a significant improvement over the default settings, at least for my own tastes and 195lb rider weight, by firming up the front a little. It really changes the bikes personality. Still making adjustments which I'll put on this thread when I get to my final settings. While the setting of preload via sag formula is probably a good place to start I think you just really have to play around with the settings, in particular preload first, then rebound, until you get to what feels best for the riding you do. I've also found through my experimentation I have to leave it at a setting for a while to get a full appreciation of a setting. For example I initially liked a softer settings for the comfort and bump absorption, but when you start riding faster and in corners they make the bike feel less stable and planted. I've found the more you adjust, a little at a time, the more you learn what different adjustments feel like, which helps in the fine tuning process. So far it has been more of a adjust and evaluate and repeat again and again process more than an adjust once and forget about it kind of thing.

 

Give me something to adjust and I'll play with it weather it needs it or not--2016 bike and I'm 200lbs- rear tried a few extras clicks like I do on all my bikes Versys did not like it to harsh back to stock- front ended up with half turn more preload and one full turn of rebound-I found anymore preload on the front and it feels chopper-ist wheel kind of flops around

 

So ... Reading this thread it sounds like Kawasaki may have over suspended this bike for the "average" 170# rider? Good news for those 220# types

 

Great thread. I have not touched mine really, but since im going on a longer trip with bags this summer i need to adjust it.

Since i bought it second hand i don't know the default positions, what are they? And how many "steps" can u take on back adjuster?

 

Suspension settings on my 2015 Versys 650 ABS

These are the settings for my 2015 Versys 650 with loaded luggage (topcase and sidecases) + me with all the gear (208 lbs).

Front fork sag - 42 mm
Front spring preload – 5 turns out
Damping - 1 turn out from full clockwise position + 5 wt Bel-Ray fork oil

Rear R1 shock sag - 10.5 mm
Rear R1 shock with Shortened 2002-2009 Roadstar Warrior shock spring
Spring preload set at the lowest position
Rebound damping: 12 clicks counterclockwise with flat blade screwdriver (standard)
Fast compression damping: 3 turns counterclockwise with 12mm wrench (standard)
Slow compression damping: 12 clicks counterclockwise with small hex wrench (standard)

========================================================
Notes:
The Roadstar OEM spring is 725 lbs/in (12.95 kg/mm). The Stock Versys rear shock spring is said to be 940 lbs/in (16.7865). IMHO that’s WAY too harsh for a 200 lb rider. The 725 lbs/in Roadstar spring on the R1 shock is just right for me.

For my type of riding (mainly easy touring) I find the front suspension too harsh. It still tends to bounce over sharp bumps instead of absorbing them.

When I’m riding with a passenger, with both the topcase and the side cases loaded, my Versys then seems to absorb the bumps better. The heavier loaded weight then gives me the impression that the ride is much smoother than when I’m riding solo.

IMHO the fork spring on my Gen3 Versys 650 has been set up at Kawasaki for a much heavier rider than I (208 lbs with all the gear). It is too stiff.

Later on, when I feel up to it, I’ll deal with that harsh front spring issue.

 

Final settings after experimenting although I will probably never stop experimenting completely. For my weight I've found firming up the preload both front and back offered a big improvement, especially the front though. Firming up the front instantly made the bike feel more planted leaned over in corners. These settings are probably too firm though if you ride dirt roads, particularly at slower speeds.

Bike: Versys 650 MK2, should also apply to MK1 as suspension is the same, on MK3 forks and shock are from different manufacturer
Rider: 195 lb fully geared up
Front: 6 turns out (one firmer than default), 1.5 turns out for rebound
Rear: Second firmest preload, (third firmest setting is default) 3 turns out on rebound

Default setting is for 150lb rider according to manual.

 

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