The Suspension Episode With Steve Biganski

Key Takeaways

Suspension Philosophy and Setup

• Feel Over Numbers Steve emphasizes the importance of physical feedback ("the shove") over relying solely on numbers. He believes if a tuner cannot push on a bike and physically feel that it needs adjustment, they should not be touching the suspension.

• The "Passenger Peg" Rule Many modern sportbikes equipped with passenger pegs are factory-sprung for a rider plus a passenger. This means they often have too much preload or stiff springs for a solo track rider.

• Baseline Sag Settings A solid starting point for suspension setup is typically 28–30mm of static sag in the rear and approximately 35mm in the front.

• Handling Fixes Raising the front of the bike (pushing the forks down) can sometimes eliminate front-end chatter by slightly reducing the weight on the front.

• Addressing "Cold Tear" Counterintuitively, Steve suggests that cold tear on tires can often be solved by switching to a harder compound tire. This allows the carcass to generate the necessary heat that a soft tire might not build up effectively.

Maintenance Intervals

• Street vs. Track

  • Aggressive Street (Canyons): Suspension service is recommended around 25,000 miles.

  • Track Day Riders: Service is recommended roughly every 5,000 miles (or every three years) due to seal degradation.

• Oil Degradation Riders often do not notice suspension degradation because it happens progressively. However, worn oil loses viscosity, making the damping feel "free" or loose over time.

Racing History and The TZ Experience

• The "Terrifying" TZ750 Steve describes the TZ750 as a visceral machine that would wheelie in fourth gear under power, creating a sensation where you could "feel the blood rush to the back of your head."

• Rookie Heartbreak In his rookie Pro-Novice race at Daytona in 1976, Steve qualified on the front row next to Eddie Lawson. However, a 35-cent shifter spring broke on the final lap while he was running near the front.

• Two-Stroke Power Steve reminds listeners that two-strokes are potent because every downward stroke of the piston is a power stroke, effectively doubling the firing impulses compared to a four-stroke.

The Kenny Roberts 500cc Restoration

• The Barn Find Steve discovered Kenny Roberts’ 1979 World Championship 500cc bike rotting in a barn. It had dry-rotted tires, and the magnesium water pump had crumbled to dust.

• The Restoration Process It took three years to restore the machine using factory parts shipped from England, including vapor-blasted cases and new cylinders.

• The Test Ride Upon riding the restored bike in Las Vegas, Kenny Roberts adjusted the suspension by feel in the pits. He was eventually sliding the rear and leaving black marks, telling Steve it was "the coolest f****** thing I've done in a long time."

Current Challenges

• Medical Battle Steve is currently fighting progressive vision loss due to cataracts and astigmatism, which has made him legally blind and unable to ride or drive at night.

• Community Support After his insurance provider denied his lens replacement surgery as "elective," the racing community launched a fundraising campaign on Angel Link to cover the costs.

Would you like me to extract specific technical data (like the sag settings) into a quick-reference table for you?