Selecting Correct Suspension Springs

Here is a short article on selecting the correct spring rate for your weight, style of riding.

Some believe that you can take a improper rate spring and crank up the preload to arrive at the proper race sag for any given weight rider/bike combination. While it is true they can arrive at the sag number they are seeking the free sag will not be correct. There is only one correct rate spring that will give you the sag you desire as well as the free sag. Let's take a example here, You have a 750 in lb spring that you have set to 35mm racer sag but the free sag is non-existent, What that should tell you is the spring is too soft, Now vice versa is if you had 35mm sag but 20mm of free sag then the spring is too stiff.

Getting the correct springs should be the first step in setting up your suspension whether it be for track use or street riding. You cannot use damping adjustments to effectively make up for incorrect spring rates in your suspension.

Here is a guide for sag settings and a few links to sites that offer spring recommendations.

FRONT:
Rider Sag - 30~35mm (33% Fork Travel)
Free Sag- 15~20mm

REAR:
Rider Sag - 20~30mm Race / 30~35mm Street
Free Sag - 5~10mm

Here are a few sites where you can get spring recommendations.

Racetech Street Spring Search

Sonic Spring Rate Calculator