2024-09-12 - Late Season 2024 Daytona 765 Suspension Changes

Going faster with a softer bike

Late August 2024 I hired my suspension technician to join me at Sonoma for the day to work on suspension setup between sessions. We looked at data, namely suspension travel and relative suspension position to brake pressure and he worked with me to build on my ability to understand changes and put words to it (I seriously struggle with this).

Sonoma is a physical track, I seldom go faster in the afternoon and I feel soreness after this track more than any other the next day, but it’s fun, it’s scenic, and it’s local.

The net changes we made included even further softening of the front by way of lighter front springs (8.0 on both sides) and lowering the oil level and putting in a softer bump stop spring in the rear shock (I didn’t even know there was one in there). We also changed out the rear link for a fresh one as the first generation UKRS link had a good amount of slop in it after 4 years of track miles and the replacement has better positioning for making ride height adjustments. Andrew Lee was present and took my bike out for a few laps and he had some ergonomic suggestions, namely raising the pegs because he found it difficult to get weight into the pegs. He and I are both about 5’10” and he’s leaner than I but I did raise the pegs a notch. In my riding I do want to get my chest lower as I go through the corners and put more weight on the inside peg to relieve pressure from my inside arm so this fits into the goals.

I have been having some issues with my rear suspension potentiometer coming off and this happened once I installed the new AiM Eclipse pot. As it turns out, it’s quite a bit longer (body length) even though the stroke is still 75mm like the old one. That took some fiddling in the garage last week but hopefully I’ll be able to test that out soon.

As a result of the suspension changes, I’m now able to get into the 120 mm range (out of 130mm of total travel) in the harder braking areas and turn-in at 100+ mm of travel (on tighter corners, of course). These changes will take me a bit of conscientious riding to build that geometry but it’s pretty exciting. In watching moto2 racing, I really want to get that ‘carving’ sensation going.

Much of the desire to make these changes were a result of me looking at my data and the riding sensation. I would often times feel the rear wheel start to lift under hard braking (and verified by seeing 0 mm of rear travel in those areas) but only being at ~100 mm of front travel. Softening the front should help my braking by letting me use more of the travel before the rear lifts and the softer rear bump stop spring should help keep the rear on the ground. Again, lifting the rear didn’t bother me and I can tell right when it’s back on the ground so I can turn in but it’s been a limiting factor.

So I’ve got some work to do to learn to ride to the bike’s abilities and it was really worthwhile for me to bring in a qualified and knowledgeable suspension technician to work with me for the day. He was equipped with all the necessary tools to make significant changes and spare parts. It wasn’t inexpensive but I’m looking to make the next step in my riding and may do this once or twice each season going forward.

This is a video from the beginning of the day at Sonoma before making changes. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to go any faster after making changes but I was consciously riding trying to get used to the new setup.

I rode at Laguna a couple of days later for two days, in this session I was deliberately trying to use the front end more. Lots of room and work to be done on my own riding but making steps. No PBs on this day but I was under 1:40 a bunch.

I have a feeling that I’ll need to firm up the front end as I develop on my own development as a rider and using the front more effectively but this will be a fun journey.