So I searched and found some good info but I would really like to try and set my suspension up for ME. The guy who owned it before was small and it has the adjustable lowering links on the back. I'm a very knowledgeable mechanic and usually really good with technical procedures but for some reason the suspension on these bikes loses me at preload lol. I want to be as close to stock height and set for two up I'm 220 and my wife is 130. I do ride alone but it is mostly commuting by my self. Can any one give me a dummy proof walk thru to check that I'm at stock height and some easy to follow instructions on setting the preload, dampening and rebound front and back? Maybe there's a totally sweet YouTube video some one has a link to.

Thanks in advance
Dan

You'll need to take a measurement of the rear suspension fully extended and compare it to a stock bike first to make sure those adjustable links are at the correct length. Any weight on the rear will give you a somewhat compressed reading which will be corrupted by the preload setting. Once you have that set, you can set the static sag, which is the difference between the suspension fully extended and compressed by the weight of the bike and the rider on the wheels. Mine is set at 30mm front and 40mm rear more or less. Once you get this, you can fine tune the preload at either end to suit your riding style and the types of roads you frequent. A smoother road and more relaxed control input will tolerate softer preload. Sportier inputs and rougher roads require more preload. Once you have the preload set to liking you can begin to toy with the damping. Start out with the settings in the middle of their ranges and tweak from there. Compression damping acts as sort of an auxilliary spring, resisting the shortening of the suspension over bumps. If it feels harsh when you hit a bump, and you've already got the preload set to keep the bike level without too much pitching, back it off a little. Rebound damping controls the extension of the springs. If it pogos or pitches, dial it up a bit. If the suspension packs down and seems to get stiffer over a series of bumps, dial it back, it's inhibiting the springs rather than controlling them.

So you see, there is no magic bullet for suspension setup. Everything depends upon preferences and needs and the balance between the two. You want comfort so it doeswn't wear you out and you want control so you can keep it headed in the right direction and keep the tires in good contact with the pavement. Oh, yeah, tires. They also act as part of the suspension, so make sure your pressures are within the recommended range. Good luck!

So I don't have a stock bike to compare with I do however have the stock dog bones, could I just set the adjustable to the same length and in theory be at stock height?

I'm putting the stock links back on so as long as I like the way it handles I'll be selling the adjustable ones.

I'm putting the stock links back on so as long as I like the way it handles I'll be selling the adjustable ones.

... but I would really like to try and set my suspension up for ME.

ME: Honey, hand me that box with all our gear we take a ride in. I want you to take a measuring tape and...
SHE:... And I was reading right next to you that night so you and the box get on the bike. I already wrote the static number with no one on it so I have my 2 reference points.

ME: Wow honey, I'm glad we got that out of the way, what does it say?
SHE: It says you better add my weight with this setting that you'll try with the gear and that's near enough.

ME: Right, sweets. I'll make a mark here, takeameguess I add your weight when we go riding, I'll add a half round from my base point.
SHE: Why don't you use this magic marker and have it close to reading it somewhere down there so you don't bring the notebook with us.

ME: Good point. I know my righteatightea from my lefteeloosee and mark it right here and note it on the swing when we bottom.
SHE: Right, Dan yell is I'll be yelling down your neck we bottom out and my bottom goes a plopping off the seat.

ME: Well, we should try a ride and see. I have a box and ME as a base setting so I'm going to feel a coil windup and my swing arm is... Hand me that magic marker...
SHE: You mean comp and rebound numbers for your base, write.

ME: Ha-ha, honey, you had me at magic.
SHE: Magic Wand? Are you back on that porn site again?

ME: No honey, this jackass is talking about suspensionshit on the net and no on listens to that idiot.
SHE: Lets get back to MY assfactor, or ME is not about to touch me, MY ass hurts bring down the comp number.

ME: Hon, why am I going on the net to read all this if you are here by my side screwing me a number.
SHE: Because, MY ass sits back there, butt you ride the bike more so screw turns and spring winds is so much on your end, we better work those numbers out if need be.

ME: You know what honey, lets set the 2 numbers up now in my street clothes, no box. What's my squat number now?
SHE: Right, Dan, maybe with all these numbers here on the swing, if my 100 plus weight needs a half round, you'll have all those settings to go back to or you'll fly off the seat it's so hard and not a sag-sag.

But more a sag-witHER. We see it, ME?

So I don't have a stock bike to compare with I do however have the stock dog bones, could I just set the adjustable to the same length and in theory be at stock height?

If this is for street riding your front affects rear lift/drop. Just that little bit is X. The X being the fork is going to pitch and the patch is going to move fore or aft. Y is the swingarm in or out. So if you could move more than chain guides and that range, the swingarm pivot is next and look how those can be adjusted in or out and that is the Y and you steer with those two inputs to get Z ride for ME.

Hub thanks for the good laugh and the write up, it's helpful put into a perspective like that. My wife loves riding with me but honestly her only complaint about the ZX14 is she cant see over my head. I feel like the adjustable lowering links (the ones that are threaded) are cheap and have to many connecting pieces that could cause to much instability, plus the guy that installed them totally put one of the spacers on the wrong side of the link. I am putting the stock links back on for one, because I am a big guy and see performance decreases in lowering the back and two, my wife will sit up higher and possibly be able to see over my head. Judging by some of the things i have to fix on this thing since purchasing it I am conviced that no professional mechanic ever put tools to it and the previous owner had no business doing the things he did to it. With that in mind I am convinced that the suspension settings are still what they where from the dealer he bought it from. Sag in the back is at 40mm (with as much weight as i could get on it and still be able to measure). If I could afford to put a zx10 in the garage with my 14 she would sit plenty high on that and i would be lowering the 14 even more to force the purchase of a second bike, but i cant afford it at the moment. Gonna see how she responds to stock height as soon as my wife gets back with our second vehicle because my ninja is suspended from the rafters in the garage and I need a shorter bolt for the bottom of the stock links since they are bent and dont use the spacers that come with the adjustable ones.

I ended up finding a low mile stock shock with a Race Tech heavy spring on it and had it all set up at a local suspension service. Handles much better than with the stock spring. Less crouching in the back. I think the spring is about $100 from Race Tech.

it's helpful put into a perspective like that.

You need to get the front and rear sprung for your weight before you can dial in the suspension. I had RaceTech in SoCal do mine. Once that is sorted you can fine tune the various setting for how or where you are riding. There is also a 2 part vid that does a good job explaining what to adjust and why.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AzTkpqasr0

Thanks for all the replies and information guys it was very helpful making a decision. I decided to put the stock dog bones back on to get it to stock height, AND I LOVE IT!!! I will never lower a bike again (I bought this one lowered). I am going to take it for a good ride tomorrow, just had time to take it around the neighborhood and the difference was noticeable at 30 miles an hour. I don't know if I will tackle the other adjustments at all as long as it feels solid. Lowering links are for sale in the for sale section :)