Is this your CBR1000RR-R?
The 2020-2023 CBR1000RR-R is the first of 2 generations covered here, spanning 2020–2024. Suspension hardware changed between generations, so make sure the year range above matches your bike before you copy any setting across.Next: 2024 →
01What this bike lets you adjust
Every change you can make to the CBR1000RR-R’s suspension falls into one of the circuits below. Knowing which adjusters you actually have is the first step — there’s no point chasing a high-speed compression fix on a bike that only offers preload.
Front fork
- Low-speed compression
- High-speed compression
- Rebound damping
- High-speed rebound
- Spring preload
- Fork height (ride height)
- Spring rate (swappable)
Rear shock
- Low-speed compression
- High-speed compression
- Rebound damping
- High-speed rebound
- Spring preload
- Ride height (shock length)
- Spring rate (swappable)
Where are the exact clicker limits?
This page is the map of which adjusters the CBR1000RR-R has. The factory-accurate number of clickson each one — so you always know your range and never wind past a stop — lives in the Apex Wizard app, free.
02How to approach the CBR1000RR-R
The CBR1000RR-R splits damping into separate high- and low-speed circuits, which is the most adjustment you'll find on a production bike — and the easiest to get lost in.
- Low-speed circuits control what the rider does: braking dive, throttle squat, weight transfer. Start here — this is where lap time lives.
- High-speed circuits control what the track does: kerbs, ripples, sharp bumps. Only touch these once low-speed is settled and you can name the bump that's upsetting you.
- Because the circuits interact, change one at a time and re-ride the same reference corner. Two changes at once on this bike tells you nothing.
03Where to start — the baseline
Whatever the CBR1000RR-R offers, the order of operations is always the same. Start from the OEM clicker baseline (count every adjuster from fully closed), set tyre pressures, then set sag before you touch a single damping clicker.
- Tyre pressure first.It moves the chassis more than any clicker. Start from a known cold target — see the track day tyre pressure guide.
- Then sag. On a superbike / sportbike machine, aim for roughly 30–35 mm of front rider sag and 25–30 mm at the rear, then verify against the manual. Full method in the sag guide.
- Then one clicker at a time. Change one thing, ride the same reference, log it. The full loop is in the suspension tuning guide.
Why these numbers for a superbike
Superbike geometry rewards a firmer, more track-biased baseline — less sag keeps the steering quick and the rear high enough to drive off the corner.
05Match the symptom to the adjuster
On the CBR1000RR-R, as on any bike, diagnose by the corner phase where the problem shows up — not the symptom alone. Ordered by what this bike can actually act on:
- Running Wide — A motorcycle that runs wide on entry is a different problem from one that runs wide on exit. Diagnose by corner phase and find the adjuster that fixes it.
- Braking Chatter — Front-end chatter under heavy braking, diagnosed: tire pressure, sag, compression and rebound — and how to tell setup from a tire or technique problem.
- Setting Sag — Measure and set static and rider sag on a motorcycle — the geometry baseline every other suspension change depends on. Targets, method and mistakes.
- Cold vs Hot Tear — Cold tear and hot tear look similar but mean opposite things. Read motorcycle tire wear patterns and what each says about pressure, temperature and setup.
06Honda CBR1000RR-R setup FAQ
What suspension adjustments does the Honda CBR1000RR-R have?
Up front the CBR1000RR-R offers low-speed compression, high-speed compression, rebound damping, high-speed rebound, spring preload, fork height (ride height) and spring rate (swappable). At the rear it offers low-speed compression, high-speed compression, rebound damping, high-speed rebound, spring preload, ride height (shock length) and spring rate (swappable). Tyre pressure and chassis geometry round out the picture. Apex Wizard stores the factory-accurate clicker limits for each of these so you always know how many clicks of range you actually have.
Does the Honda CBR1000RR-R have high-speed compression adjustment?
Yes. The CBR1000RR-R splits compression damping into separate high- and low-speed circuits at both ends, so you can tune sharp kerb and bump absorption separately from braking and drive pitch.
What suspension sag should I set on the Honda CBR1000RR-R?
As a starting point on a superbike / sportbike machine, aim for roughly 30–35 mm of front rider sag and 25–30 mm at the rear, then confirm against the service manual. Superbike geometry rewards a firmer, more track-biased baseline — less sag keeps the steering quick and the rear high enough to drive off the corner. Always set sag before touching any clicker — it's the geometry baseline everything else depends on.
What should I adjust first on the Honda CBR1000RR-R?
Tyre pressure, then sag, then one damping change at a time — in that order. Settle the low-speed circuits before you touch a high-speed one. Changing two things between sessions means you learn nothing from either.
Which CBR1000RR-R generation is this?
This page covers the 2020-2023 Honda CBR1000RR-R — generation 1 of 2 in the database. The other generations covered are 2024. Suspension hardware and adjuster ranges changed between them, so settings don't transfer directly.
More Honda setups
Get the Honda CBR1000RR-R factory baseline.
Apex Wizard ships the CBR1000RR-R's exact clicker limits and a guided setup logbook — log changes, compare sessions, and get symptom-based recommendations. Free.