All 650Rs 2021-2023 CB650R/CBR650R Suspension Upgrade

Hi all,

I’m looking into suspension upgrades for my 2022 CB650R. A local shop suggested YSS, but after some digging I’m not convinced. They seem fine, but if I’m spending over $3,000 NZD I’d rather invest in something higher end.

My main driver is weight. I’m 105 kg (about 110 kg in gear), so roughly 30-35 kg over the “standard” rider the stock setup is built around. The OEM suspension has been good, but as my pace increases I’m starting to think it may become a limitation, if not a safety issue. A small front slide mid-corner recently pushed me to take setup more seriously. I’ve already adjusted tyre pressures, may go for a stickier front, and I’m working on loading the front more with body position.

From what I’ve found, Nitron offer components only slightly more expensive than YSS but at a much higher quality level. Öhlins list the STX46 shock as compatible, but the NIX 30 cartridge kit is only shown for the 2019-2020 model. I tried contacting Öhlins but only received an automated “talk to a dealer” reply.

Has anyone else looked into this? Has anyone fitted a cartridge kit to the 2021-2023 CB650R with the SFF-BP forks? Keen to hear what you went with and how it performed.

Nitron:

Ohlins:

YSS:

JZA said:

My main driver is weight. I’m 105 kg (about 110 kg in gear), so roughly 30-35 kg over the “standard” rider the stock setup is built around. The OEM suspension has been good, but as my pace increases I’m starting to think it may become a limitation, if not a safety issue. A small front slide mid-corner recently pushed me to take setup more seriously. I’ve already adjusted tyre pressures, may go for a stickier front, and I’m working on loading the front more with body position.

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If your problem is weight, the rear preload setting can be enough for two up... that's more than 30Kg. It also helps to put more load on the front.
Have you tried it?

But if you want top performance, no doubt Nitron and Öhlins will serve you well. As long as you know how to set them up.

MacRoadster said:

If your problem is weight, the rear preload setting can be enough for two up... that's more than 30Kg. It also helps to put more load on the front.
Have you tried it?

But if you want top performance, no doubt Nitron and Öhlins will serve you well. As long as you know how to set them up.

Click to expand...

I appreciate your comment but I think you have missed the point: Yes the rear preload is good to adjust the rear ride height but it doesn’t fix the front ride height and it also doesn't change the spring stiffness or damping. Without adequate spring stiffness and compression damping, the bike pitches forward under braking and backward under acceleration. It's fine at slower speed and actually quite comfortable but when I try to go faster, the bike is too soft. E.g. mid corner, high speed and high lean, I roll on the throttle and the bike pitches backwards taking weight off the front wheel and causes understeer. This can't be fixed just by winding on more rear preload, it is a function of spring stiffness and compression damping. And yes I said in my first post that I am working on body positioning to weight the front wheel more.

I wont have any difficulty setting up the suspension, I have been riding full suspension mountain bikes with fully adjustable high and low speed compression and high and low speed rebound damping for many years. It's not hard when you understand what each one does.

JZA said:

I wont have any difficulty setting up the suspension, I have been riding full suspension mountain bikes with fully adjustable high and low speed compression and high and low speed rebound damping for many years. It's not hard when you understand what each one does.

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Yes, I know. I just didn't knew if you knew it 😄😉

True, preload itsn't the same as the other settings, but since it raises the rear it helps to put load on the front, and for most people it's enough. In your case... I see that you have no option but to go with one of those kits 😆
And if I'm not mistaken the Nitron is the only one with slow and fast compression adjustment 🙄