Curvy suspension improvements?

[loonytoon]

My curvy sv suspension is feeling very tired an soft dam ****e handling 62k so its a bit worn out i think.
im looking for cheap ways to tart up the suspension without having to do to many mods just straight swaps.
1 is there an shocks that would just bolt in with having to move the battery or cut the battery securing brace.
2 is there springs from a different bike that would drop into standard curvy front fork outer's.
i dont have a lot of money at the moment so just trying to tweek it up a bit.
Cheers
Ben

[yorkie_chris]

1 is there an shocks that would just bolt in with having to move the battery or cut the battery securing brace.
2 is there springs from a different bike that would drop into standard curvy front fork outer's.

Stock one or nitron/penske road shock.

Not that I know of.

[johnnyrod]

If you're stony just get a secondhand OE shock and change the fork oil. There are various GSXR etc. that will fit but it's not so easy (different spring rates etc.) and many require chopping battery box etc. Do a search on her for ZX6 shock this has about the same spring rate as stock (that's a good thing).

Take a look in the bits for sale section for springs, think a new set are around the £100 mark, but the biek is quite rideable if soggy on the OE ones.

[loonytoon]

Did the fork oil aprox 20k ago an it improved for a while, but now the front end is really soft an dives like hell under deceleration an braking.
shock sorted.

[johnnyrod]

Then it's due for another change! I use 15 or 20W, think it's 15, instead of 10W. Soem might have leaked out, check the chrome for oily tide marks, and around the bottom of the legs for oil leaks as well. Also have you fitted the new shock? If the rebound damping is kaput then it'll worsen fork dive. Once you've fixed these then it's either buy springs or just ride it I'm afraid.

[loonytoon]

i went for 15w last time as it was horrible so stiffened it up a lil, nope no leaks or marks regularly checked, no not fitted shock yet managed to get a oem one with 8k on it rather than 60k lol, im guessing fork rebound is a full fork leg strip job?
what would i be looking for when its stripped ?

[johnnyrod]

Sorry i meant if the back shock rebound has gone then the fork dive seems worse as the back end rises too fast. You can also reduce the fork air gap, this will really only stiffen things up when the forks are well compressed, so not much help really, you'll still get lots of initial dive. If you have fork top preload adjusters then crank these in a bit. Anyway the old fork oil will be total crap by now. There isn't any other adjustment you can do on the forks, short of taking the damper rods out (yes full strip) and welding up some comp damping holes. I've heard of some people leaving these alone but welding up the little rebound hole, let the damper rod ring blow-by sort out the damping, you could try that as it's also cheap to do. Again would help stability but not brake dive. Use more back brake! Some people sell progressive fork springs on here, linear are really best for solo riding but progressives are better than stock by a mile, so worth a look in the ads for people upgrading, will be cheaper than new and springs don't wear out.

[-Ralph-]

10w, 15w, 20w all means jack

Choose an oil based upon it's kinematic viscosity, measured in centistokes.

[yorkie_chris]

Making rebound really stiff with soft springs is not answer.

Shame because it is easy and cheap which is why everyone tries it....

[speedyandypandy]

Stock one or nitron/penske road shock.
Ohlins?

[yorkie_chris]

The curvy ohlins is pretty poor considering the price, and they don't make a simple emulsion shock for cheaper tastes.

[loonytoon]

well got another curvy shock with a lot less miles on it, the front end feels really soft an floppy like the springs have just tired out an gone past there life span.

[johnnyrod]

Um, Ohlins etc. are rather pricey for this guy. Springs don't wear out.