2006 Intrepid suzuka chassis setup?

todd rund

Been trying to get my Intrepid Suzuka dialed in since purchasing. Running a Rotax max. The chassis felt REALLY TIGHT in the front end! I've since removed both front & rear torsion bars, & seemed to help. The kart appears to be setup neutral, as far as any caster / camber. (FLAT)
I'm a tall heavy guy, about 215 #'s.
The chassis still seems to push quite a bit.

Also, the kart has front brakes, which I'm not sure how much I like??
Never driven with front brakes, & it is taking a LOT to get used to!!
Getting a LOT of front lock up, under hard braking, even though I've got the bias turned down to about 75-25.
Not sure if front brakes are even necessary / recommended with a Rotax engine?
I assume this chassis' back brake is adequate to run by itself with a Rotax?

Any tips would be appreciated! Confused

Todd

Chris M Johnson · Joined: 14 Oct 2005 Posts: 568

Sounds like you are sitting too far back. Dd you scale the kart? What %s? Contact Champion to get the correct weight specs.

Kris Zimmerman · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 1:26 pm Post subject:

Todd,

Check your PM.

Kyle Donahue · Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 8:37 am Post subject:

do you have a link for that? I've got a suzuka and no idea how to set it up. any help would be greatly appreciated
thanks
kyle

Paul Williamson · Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 9:32 am Post subject:

I'm confused on something... You said the front end was really tight, and still pushes quite a bit...

In my mind, a push would be caused from too little castor, too narrow a front track, too wide a rear track, and/or a combination of these... It will show up at turn in...

Also, in my mind, a tight front end is too much front grip, after turn in, thus getting too much bite in the front...

I think you might be mixing up terms and symptoms...

OK, my disclaimer is that I am not a chassis guru, but this is my take...

You may not have a tight front end at all, and might be confusing the terms...
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Chris Livengood · Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 9:38 am Post subject:

Good call Paul.

Todd, don't mix up steering wheel sensations like heavy steering with the characteristics of how the front of the kart actually turns.
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Kris Zimmerman · Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:40 am Post subject:

Guys,

Look at the date on the original post. Todd and I e-mailed almost daily and then he dropped off. Not sure he ever tested the set-up I gave him.

Paul Williamson · Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 12:25 pm Post subject:

Yea, that's a year old... I guess he got it all figured out!

Well, at least it got me to think about it, as I am on a quest to be a Chassis Guru... OK, how about a Student of Chassis Tuning...
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Chris Livengood · Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 9:04 am Post subject:

Just because the OP is MIA that doesn't mean that this thread isn't helpful to other readers.
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richard watson · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2009 7:18 am Post subject:

+1, Chris

I had the same problem with my Suzuka, but have it working fairly well now.

I would be interested to see The Zimmerman File Smile

Heres my setup:

mod moto
MG yellows
3 spaces showing on front hubs
front bar in
front ride height in middle
neutral pills
rear width max, 95 mm hubs, SKM med axle
rear ride height at lower setting
rear bar out
Tillet T-11 seat full forward, with flat bottom portion level and ~ 1/8" below frame rails
Brake bias is set in the middle of the adjuster.

I should note that I am by no means a guru, I have only been karting for three years, and have only driven 125 shifters. I am also 6'2" ~ 185 lbs.

My local sprint track is small and high grip. Tire pressures range from 20 to 22 lbs! (I questioned this and have tried "normal" pressures, but this is what works).

At road races, I put the rear bar in, move the rear track in an inch or so, and use much lower tire pressure.

The neutral pills don't seem to have much castor - steering effort is light. I may start playing around with the adjustable pills to see what they do.

Richard

Kris Zimmerman · Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 10:40 am Post subject:

Richard,

Not enough info is provided, there is a lot more to the over-all set-up I use and it is an all or nothing deal. If you do not commit 100% to the set-up and decide to only pick the parts out you want, it won't work. PM me your e-mail, I'll share. Most of it came from one of the Intrepid factory tuner's. What didn't come from him was learned through testing and race experience.

I would not use your set-up on a grippy track, it doesn't allow the kart to roll mid-corner to exit. Something fundamental is wrong with your baseline if you have the front bar in. I would guess that you have added caster or camber at someone's recommendation. The Suzuka kart does not roll if your are trying to force the back-end around by stiffening the front. In the Suzuka, running the front bar without the rear makes the rear snap around instead of simply lifting the inside rear and rolling. You can get away with it more driving a shifter because most shifter drivers brake in a straight line, turn the wheel and stomp the gas pedal. If you used this set-up with a Rotax you would chase the rear-end mid corner to exit because you have forced the rear to break free. It is a very unhappy feeling because the corner entry feels really tight and then you get a sudden snap as the kart steps out mid-corner, all you can do from there is chase it. This is why the kart feals loose (not grippy) to you now with a moto. Getting the kart to roll better through the corner will also improve your forward bite. Since you run a bit more HP than my stocker you may need to do some adjustments but the MG's are so grippy I'm betting it will be more of a driving adjustment.

The Suzuka does not respond the same as other chassis. Simply look at where the front axle is, the front geometry and king-pin inclination compaired to other chassis.

Kris Zimmerman · Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 8:31 am Post subject:

Chris,

Good thinking keeping this thread alive. I had five guys contact me for my baseline, two of them have been keeping in contact and have had positive results so far.

This kart doesn't respond to some of the popular tuning methods. If anyone else out there is struggling with an Intrepid Suzuka on sprint tracks PM me and I will do my best to help you out. It really doesn't take much to straighten out the tuning. So far the guys I have had contact with have been given poor advice on F/R width, camber adjustments and running bars in really odd configurations.

Kris

Steven Rigby · Joined: 18 Nov 2009 Posts: 1

this thread still going? lol. just bought a suzuka intrepid 04 and looking for some set up links or tips please, the link at the top didnt work!!

cheers

steve

Jim McMahon · Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 6:23 am Post subject:

This "might" help. It's intrepid's '09 manual. It might give you a starting point depending on the hardware on your kart.

http://www.intrepid.it/pdf/Setup_Intrepid_2009.pdf
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Kris Zimmerman · Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 12:50 pm Post subject:

Steven,

Check your PM.