Another Fork (handles) thread

[ManMango]

I have been reluctant to post this but have struggled to find much any information comparing the good ol emulator setup to the Matris options. I have been reading and researching suspension setups and option for over 6 months now but still struggle to understand a lot of it (more of a hands on learner), I am determined to do my forks myself but have put it off due to the fact that I use my bike every day so need to get it right first try! I can't get to work if the bike is off the road for more than a couple of days.

So what's my best option for the price here?

Option 1:
Springs
(£100)

Option 2:
Matris Fork Springs + Preload Kit (http://www.carpimoto.com/en-GB/40313_FS103KE85-Matris-Fork-Springs-Preload-Kit-for-Suzuki-SV-650-03-rider-weight-Kgs-85-100-187-220-lbs-.htm)
(£140)
Is this just a fancy looking way of dropping some new springs in or am I actually getting a little something more out of this setup? If so is it £40 worth of more?
Does it lack in comparison to an emulator setup or is it nearly there?

Option 3:
Springs + emulators
(£250)

Option 4:
Matris Fork Cartridge Kit (http://www.carpimoto.com/en-GB/28233_FS103SE-Matris-Fork-Cartridge-Kit-for-Suzuki-SV-650.htm)
(£250)
Same price as option 3 but seems much more impressive than just dropping in some springs and emulators. Does this give me what emulators gives + more or is it a lesser option? What would you go for considering the price works out the same?

Option 5:
Front end swap
(free)
Not properly considered this due to needing to have bike on the road so I would need weeks to get this right with my current skills so not an option at the moment.

[johnnyrod]

No real idea what the "flow regulator" is in the kit with preload, but if we ignore that then it looks like an easy way to set up your preload - which is a one-off job, although the alternative of chopping up bits of spacer tube isn't a great one. Emulators are good, but you are getting up to an amount of money where the front end swap is in sight, particularly as you can sell your old parts too. This makes a lot more sense than the cartridge kit as you'll also get better brakes etc. and on the pointy SV the swap is pretty easy.

The stock forks have two main problems: the springs, which are too soft and are really the big one, and the fact they're damper rod forks not cartridges, which are a generation behind in terms of technology and quality. They are however good damper rod forks, so you might also consider just how much change you really need. Emulators/cartridges will bring new subtlety to the damping and control but they won't make the forks stiffer - this is where the springs come in. They will sort out a choppy ride over crap roads.

[ManMango]

Yeah a front swap would be great and all but I really don't have the skills at the moment.

Even if it costs me more money in the long run I am happy to do my fork springs etc and maybe swap the front end next year once I have had the practice of taking everything apart and putting it back together successfully at least once. I'm more than happy to spend up to £250 for my upgrade just not sure which route is best though.

On top of that I already have caliper rebuild kit, new Hel lines and levers all ready to fit for my current SV brakes. I'm also going to sand and paint the forks black and have all the stuff ready for that too :P

In regards to option 3 and 4 what would you rate higher?

Really tempted by option 4 it seems like a lot of kit for the money. I mean for £250 it seems like i'm getting a lot more for my dosh than just some emulators and springs, is this right?

Thanks for your advice :)

[johnnyrod]

Not sure about Matris but the Racetech emulators take over control of the comp damping but leave the rebound to the damper rods. This solves the problem of the damper rods trying to do too many things at once and so not very good at all of them, but also the damping action is based partly on orifices and/or valves with springs. Cartridges used shim stacks which give better control of oil flow across a wide range of speeds i.e. they're an order of magnitude better.

You seem to have some cash burning a hole in your pocket. I guess the purchases are sunk costs but you could line up the parts and a mechanic and have the front end swapped in a day instead of going to loads of effort then doing it anyway. That said if you spend the cash on all that then, aside from brakes that are good rather than amazing, you'll get forks that will perform, and the difference by doing the front end swap will be pretty small. So, swap or not, but don't waste your time doing both. If you haven't got a new back shock then get that instead, but if you have, then buy training. It works all the time, everywhere, and on all bikes, for the rest of your life, and is worth any amount of performance goodies.

[ManMango]

:P I don't so much have the cash burning a hole but I'm 17 stone and the bike has 25000 on it and to my knowledge the forks have had nothing done to them at all so... yeah not great. I'm doing it more out of safety to be honest rather than fancy thrills.

The current front saps a lot of my confidence, it was fine when I started as I didn't know any different and my ability was the bottleneck but now my riding skills are ready to move on but the bike isn't currently up to it, not for my weight anyway!

I could go down the route of taking all the bits to a mechanic but then I wouldn't be learning anything. The cash(£250) is effectively buying me an upgrade and training me at the same time. It is very unlikely I would end up doing a front end swap down the line unless I keep the bike for many years to come. I would more likely want to 'play the field' a bit and have actually been eyeing a few inline 4s for the future.

The next learning curve is rear shock, this NEEDS to be done but I'm going for the one step at a time approach at the moment xd Learn the front inside out then start pulling the rear end apart :P I forget which shock I was looking at before I think Zx6r for instance but I will re-evaluate this when it comes to it.

So just a quick clarification in respect to option 3 - 4 option 4 would be the better performer and would give me a true cartridge fork?

I really do appreciate your advice and time and I do understand front end swap is by far the best and most cost effective upgrade but I just know it will open up a hole can of worms and my bike will be off the road for more than a weekend leaving me unable to get to work, which I just cannot risk. If I had a pre assembled front end conversion from a GSXR ready to bolt in place wheel, brakes electrics all in place then happy days but we all know this isn't the cost effective way of doing it and again I wouldn't be learning anything.

[johnnyrod]

Fair dos, I would search on here for Matris and garner some opinions. Mine has Racetech emulators and while it's no GSXR, it is a lot better than before, to the point of not bothering to consider any more changes. The emulators are adjustable but you have to take them out of the forks to do so. That said, I haven't done so in a long time so it's a moot point. The cartridges appear to be unadjustable, but for most people, specifying your weight etc. and leaving the manufacturer to do the rest gives them a setup they are happy to ride on rather than trying to figure out what to do with all the adjustments; this does indeed take some time and figuring out. So, I'd plump for the cartridges, unless you find better info on here about them.

Re. back end, not much to know there, new shock, leave the rest alone. For your weight you will need a heavier spring I'd say, but a ZX6 one will be better than stock so worth giving it a whirl as is, if it needs re-springing then you can swap back to stock while it's sent away to K-tech or whoever. I wouldn't put it off though, just get on with it, assuming you can afford it.