My 6th gen Suspension Upgrade

Discussion in 'Mechanics Garage' started by jasonsmith, Jan 6, 2010.

  1. jasonsmith

    jasonsmith Member

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    I had the screws in the back but when I was moving the swingarm up and down the chain cover was hitting the screws. The total travel of the arm isn't all that much in reality though so I will do some math and see if it's a concern. I can't find black clamps anywhere in the "worm" style so I will have to have theses coated with something. I don't think lockwire will have enough surface area to hold the reservoir in position without it rotating, and it's important that it doesn't move about. I wanted to keep the subframe area clean so the shock can be seen, it's so purty... don't wanna hide it, plus the line is too long. It's in the back of my mind, something will come to me... I do agree though, the clamps are fugly.
     
  2. jasonsmith

    jasonsmith Member

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  3. jasonsmith

    jasonsmith Member

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    I've done a lot of editing and added a bunch of fork install pics for those that are interested (post #2). I also updated the 3rd post with some numbers and other info.

    I hope some find this whole thing useful, was a bit of a pain but at least I have a record. :cool:
     
  4. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

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    Good Job, JS. It just goes to show that you don't need any help from anybody to perform these installs.

    All it takes is a little time and effort and anyone can do it. You also get the added benefit of knowing exactly what you have and then can make changes yourself instead of sending them to someone who thinks they know what is best for you. Now you can make changes in your own garage at any time, and you don't have to pay for shipping or paying a middle man who isn't worth the money in the first place, and is only going to take the RaceTech info and use that to determine the shim stacks anyway.

    If you decide to change to a lighter fluid the RaceTech US-1 fluid is actually rebadged Motorex 2.5 wt....and the Motorex isn't $30 a bottle either.
     
  5. jasonsmith

    jasonsmith Member

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    Thanks for the kind words my friend. It is a good feeling knowing what to do and having the control over it. Thanks for the heads up on the oil, I really thought it was 5 wt. I'll keep that in the back of my head and try and see what reducing the weight will give me. It felt great even though there's 5wt in there.
     
  6. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

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  7. jasonsmith

    jasonsmith Member

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    WOW, mine is only 2 up from there! Guess I'm not to far off in reality based on that testing.
     
  8. jasonsmith

    jasonsmith Member

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    Well folks the season up here is slowing, I've done the most miles on the bike this year than any other year. A lot of commuting with some very familiar hwy on-ramps and off-ramps as well as a couple road trips one being our 2010 Kootenay ride. After riding for a while and putting on about 1000kmh after the initial install I noticed that the front end wasn't behaving quite like I wanted and wasn't in sync with rear end. After thinking and doing some math I realized that the recommended valving numbers by RaceTech for my set up were a little low. About 2stops low (soft) to be exact. I changed out the fork oil out using a mix of 5wt and 10wt to make 7.5wt. I also added 20mm more oil to each shock to reduce the air space. This greatly improved the brake dive. The change was night and day considering I was still in the "feel everything" mode. I have now gone the whole season with this setup and I think I'm done. I don't think there's anything else I can do as the bike is behaving exactly as I want it. I'm sure a real suspension guy would enlighten me though... Why have I come to this conclusion now you ask... After the Kootenay trip my tires were toast. I put on a set of PR2's replacing the stock Dunlops and they completed the transformation. A wise man (chomper) told me to change out my tires a long time ago but I wanted to get the most out of them and I got it. My only regret with this whole ordeal was that I didn't do it sooner. But in the end I can now appreciate it even more. It was a bunch of money but it made the bike the way I wanted. Totally new ride now and IMO the way it should be for my weight.

    I can't compare the Elka shock vs an Ohlins or something else cause the stock and Elka is all I've used but I'm happy. I'm finding it a lot easier to lean the bike over now as I don't get the "world is moving" felling under me any more. The braking is much more improved, the cornering is much more precise, the leaning transition is way more smooth (tires), the stability when hitting bumps while leaned over is excellent. The difference in ride from having the side bags on and off isn't as drastic as it was before because the suspension is now supporting me better.

    I gotta say my biggest concern was that the ride was going to be more stiff. It isn't, if you go over a big sharp bump you will feel it more but when you ride day to day you feel even less than stock. My front end comes up easier in 2nd I'm guessing because the rear end isn't squatting as much.

    Bottom line, if your 200lbs or more you will be very happy modding your suspension. It's important that whatever you do you keep the suspension balanced front to rear. Don't just do your front or just your rear, it may seem like an improvement but you will be wasting 50% of your mod. The rear shock is the biggest expense, your goal there will be to increase the spring rate as well as the valving to deal with the increased spring rate.
     
  9. havcar

    havcar New Member

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    Thanks, Jason. Your timing is perfect; I've been gradually stiffining the rear rebound and preload to compensate for wear and have just begun to look at aftermarket suspensions. I will probably have something completed over the winter or spring and will definitely do some research on the Elka line before I do. Happy to hear that you're liking the new set-up. Thanks again.

    One quick question, could you have ordered your set-up differantley than you did, so as to avoid making the oil and spring changes?
     
  10. jasonsmith

    jasonsmith Member

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    Quick answer no. I didn't change my fork springs the second go around, just changed the oil weight. You get the springs that you want and the valves are adjustable. The adjustability actually is the best thing about them. RaceTech has a online calculator that you put in all your info and it suggests the valving numbers for you and you build off of that. In my case those numbers that their computer put out were a little too soft. It asks for everything, riding style, weight, tires etc but I guess it wasn't quite right. Changing the oil isn't a big deal and in reality it should be done after a new build anyway IMO to get rid of any contaminants.

    I did get a 1200lb spring for the rear but probably won't change it.

    Any other questions post em up or feel free to pm me.
     
  11. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

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    Hi M, keep up the good work!



    ........
     
  12. jasonsmith

    jasonsmith Member

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    Thanks my friend and hello to you as well. :wink:
     
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