Handling.

[Lozzo]

Right. I've done some hard evaluation miles on this SV, and I've come to the conclusion that if I try and ride it the way I'd like to I'm going to become a hedge ornament, unless I sort the handling. It doesn't tankslap...that's the only saving grace it has.

On hard acceleration the front floats about, like it's suspended from the sky on a bungee. The bars go extremely light and it starts to wander. It's not wheelying, but the front isn't attached to tarmac in any way shape or form that I like. I know the obvious answer is "don't accelerate hard", but I want to, and I want it to feel a bit more planted. Preload is set to 1 1/2 turns out from hard.

Secondly, the rear shock spring is possibly only surpassed in its softness by the spring in my knackered old Parker biro. Zebedee has nothing on this thing, it bounces like a pikey's cheques. Damping feels ok, static sag is set at 20mm measured vertical from the rear wheel spindle, but it's a little bit boingy.

Thirdly, at speed it wanders across the motorway lane you originally chose, and if there's a gust of wind it wanders across the one you didn't choose too. A gentle weave sets in which isn't helped by crawling under the tank's paintwork, that just makes it more pronounced and worrying. Sort of semi-sitting upright with bum right back on the seat and head a bit forward seems to keep it in check, but again the front doesn't feel planted at all.

Now suspension is not my thing, I'm an engines man. Where do I start?

[Blue_SV650S]

Come on, you know the SV suspension is shockingly poor ... you've been a member of the forum more than 5 mins, so also know the cures as they are posted up every other day!!! ;)

Stick a gixer shock in it (or if you have the money a race shock) and do the cartridge replacement in the front. Job done!

[Lozzo]

You reckon that's all?

This thing is tying itself in knots when I enter bends and feels like it has a suspension made from blancmange.

I was planning on doing the shock replacement anyway, and sorting something with the forks, but are they all this bad to start with? Maybe I'm expecting too much of it after having owned some fine handling bikes in the past. I'd heard they weren't perfect, but this is worse than the shagged ER-5 I borrowed from a mate in the South of France

[Blue_SV650S]

You reckon that's all?

This thing is tying itself in knots when I enter bends and feels like it has a suspension made from blancmange.

I was planning on doing the shock replacement anyway, and sorting something with the forks, but are they all this bad to start with? Maybe I'm expecting too much of it after having owned some fine handling bikes in the past. I'd heard they weren't perfect, but this is worse than the shagged ER-5 I borrowed from a mate in the South of France

Sort the forks out, you might find the shock is OK and what you think is poor rear end is just the front transpiring in the rear ;)

[Lozzo]

"If it feels like the front is shagged, it's the rear that's at fault"

I've heard that before, but maybe the 26K miles it's done has something to do with it. I realise I'm expecting far too much of it, the rear shock will be absolutely fubarred by now - I hadn't taken that into account.

Winter suspension rebuild coming up, better start saving for an Ohlins or similar and cartridge emulators.

[Stig]

You reckon that's all?

This thing is tying itself in knots when I enter bends and feels like it has a suspension made from blancmange.

I was planning on doing the shock replacement anyway, and sorting something with the forks, but are they all this bad to start with? Maybe I'm expecting too much of it after having owned some fine handling bikes in the past. I'd heard they weren't perfect, but this is worse than the shagged ER-5 I borrowed from a mate in the South of France

The suspension on the SV is quite adequate for a newbie rider. It's even quite adequate for someone that does not want to ride particularly fast. However, for someone such as yourself that has ridden some rather better quality machinery and have substantial miles under the belt. The your going to find the one major weakness of the SV. The suspension. For a budget bike you get budget bouncy bits.

I changed the fork springs and oil for the front and put a GSXR shock in the rear. The resulting change to the handling of the bike is quite remarkable. No more pogo suspension. No more high speed weave and far less dive on heavy braking.

[Lozzo]

The suspension on the SV is quite adequate for a newbie rider. It's even quite adequate for someone that does not want to ride particularly fast. However, for someone such as yourself that has ridden some rather better quality machinery and have substantial miles under the belt. The your going to find the one major weakness of the SV. The suspension. For a budget bike you get budget bouncy bits.

I changed the fork springs and oil for the front and put a GSXR shock in the rear. The resulting change to the handling of the bike is quite remarkable. No more pogo suspension. No more high speed weave and far less dive on heavy braking.

Thanks Simon, This is what I need to hear. I needed to know that mine wasn't a completely shagged out shed, and that they are all "this" bad when you really start to push on a bit.

I'll still throw some wonga at ithe suspension cos I love the engine, brakes aint that bad either, I've had worse on more expensove bikes <looks at Triumph>.

[husky03]

got my springs done today and noticed a big difference-no more spongy cornering-wish i'd done them ages ago-big difference from stock.

[Sid Squid]

Preload is set to 1 1/2 turns out from hard.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrggggggghhhhh!

[Lozzo]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrggggggghhhhh!

OK ok, it's 1 1/2 turns out from highest then. Preload doesn't change the spring rate, it just loads it up a bit. I know.

[rob13]

Without wanting to go too far OT with this thread, an interesting point by Big ape - Perfectly fine for newbies and for riders who dont want to go fast or have miles under their belt.....

I think im in the "getting faster" group at the moment (Sometimes have lapses on that as Tim in Belgium could probably vouch for) but i'm starting to feel as if I could do with that little bit more from the bike, which is something i thought I wouldnt feel for quite a while yet. Ive done about 8k on the SV now and feel as if its time for a change or I'm getting wandering eyes. Would I be better just getting something else or working with what I've got?

[jambo]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrggggggghhhhh!

Oh dear..... Hard / Soft, not the best way to go describing preload. Ian, chill mon.....

Moving on, Lozzo, not sure what's been done to the bike thus far, but at 26,000 miles if no one's bothered to change the fork oil it'll be well past it's best. If you weigh over about 10 stone it may well be worth looking at fork springs better suited to your weight.

Do this first because it's simple and cheap and probably needs doing anyway. then see how you feel about the handling. if it's still not right the shock may be the next port of call. Several other bike shocks fit, whether they're right for the bike is the subject of debate. Ohlins, Maxton etc will make you something that's spot on, but that's "proper money" so it's up to you if you want to spend that.

[Lozzo]

I weigh about 10 1/2 st and the bike is almost completely standard. I doubt the fork oil has ever been changed. As I said, I'll throw some dosh at it during winter and get the best I can afford, the bike cost me peanuts to start with so it's not like I'll lose out.

[jambo]

I weigh about 10 1/2 st and the bike is almost completely standard. I doubt the fork oil has ever been changed. As I said, I'll throw some dosh at it during winter and get the best I can afford, the bike cost me peanuts to start with so it's not like I'll lose out.

Front fork oil can be done for the price of 1L of oil. Cheap first port of call :)

[Blue_SV650S]

Without wanting to go too far OT with this thread, an interesting point by Big ape - Perfectly fine for newbies and for riders who dont want to go fast or have miles under their belt.....

I think im in the "getting faster" group at the moment (Sometimes have lapses on that as Tim in Belgium could probably vouch for) but i'm starting to feel as if I could do with that little bit more from the bike, which is something i thought I wouldnt feel for quite a while yet. Ive done about 8k on the SV now and feel as if its time for a change or I'm getting wandering eyes. Would I be better just getting something else or working with what I've got?

The SV is quite acceptable if you address the forks issue. I don't think you could upgrade bike for the few hundred it'll cost to upgrade the forks (and probably shock).

Its only when you want to start increasing power that a new bike makes sense ...

Front fork oil can be done for the price of 1L of oil. Cheap first port of call :)

This thing is eventually going to find its way to the track (according to his sig) surely there is no point just doing the oil?? .. or indeed just doing the springs?? ... to me it is worth doing right from the off and as it is a pointy, you have the luxury of fitting cartridge internals (or you still have the springs and emulators alternative - which I am happy with on my curvy trackbike (roadbike is 100% standard still and I don't care, it's OK for what I want from it!! 8))).

[Lozzo]

This thing is eventually going to find its way to the track (according to his sig) surely there is no point just doing the oil?? .. or indeed just doing the springs?? ... to me it is worth doing right from the off and as it is a pointy, you have the luxury of fitting cartridge internals (or you still have the springs and emulators alternative - which I am happy with on my curvy trackbike (roadbike is 100% standard still and I don't care, it's OK for what I want from it!! 8))).

It was bought primarily as a trackbike, but until I can afford a newish van it'll be used as my commuter. I'll rebuild the suspension in the winter and until then use the Daytona when I want to go round corners without soiling myself.

[Blue_SV650S]

It was bought primarily as a trackbike, but until I can afford a newish van it'll be used as my commuter. I'll rebuild the suspension in the winter and until then use the Daytona when I want to go round corners without soiling myself.

Indeed, as a commuter it serves well, even in stock form (hence why I have left my roadbike alone)!! :)

To be honest even 'spirited' riding is ok - but the thing does complain a bit!! :D If you want to go fast on it and want the thing to feel more 'planted' you do need to upgrade the suspension - simple! ;)

[rob13]

Whats the job of fitting cartridge internals to the pointy like? Im not afraid of giving things a go myself, providing that i've got the tools to do it, however I dont know anything about forks at this present time...

[ejohnh]

When I got my sv it had done 7k miles. I'm a returner to biking so should be classed as a newbie. Right from the off I found the steering absolute crap. Cornering at any sort of speed was sphincter wrenching.

First thing I did was to get some aluminium angle from B&Q to act as straight edges and realigned the wheels. They were about 10mm or so out of alignment with the so-called alignment marks on for the rear wheel set equal. That made quite a difference but the front still felt too soft and was still a bit like a rowing boat on bends.

A month or so ago I fitted Hagons progressives and 15w oil in the forks. The difference is amazing. Solid as a rock an the bends and very stable everywhere else. From Hagonshocks springs+oil+postage = £62.50.

[Blue_SV650S]

Whats the job of fitting cartridge internals to the pointy like? Im not afraid of giving things a go myself, providing that i've got the tools to do it, however I dont know anything about forks at this present time...

This is what a proper replacement cartridge (http://www.pdq1.com/matris_fork5.jpg) looks like ... as you can see it is EVERYTHING, so just unbolt the old internals, take everything out and drop this in, fill with oil and you are done!! 8)

Plenty of info about cartridge internals on here ... think you can get them for ~£250-300, a search on 'cartridge ' will soon tell you :)

[21QUEST]

Personally I don't think what you have described....if I've read it right, is because of the 'shockingly poor' (which I don't agree with BTW) standard suspension.

I more or less agree with Jambos post. On the AE, my bike was loaded with enough stuff for 4 people :rolleyes: and I didn't get the weaving etc you have just described.
Even on THE private runway, I was going at a pretty good pace without problems.
The only problem was actually at very slow speed but that was to be expected.

I also wouldn't go mad on increasing the oil viscosity either. What brand of fork oil is your usual? Bike definitely standard?


Ben

[johnnyrod]

The forks are definitely the weak point. The springs are too soft even for my 62kg (nekkid), and the damping sucks everything. The lack of rebound damping is the cause of the front end vagueness on the power. You can put thicker oil in it for that, but really it sounds like you're pretty serious so you should look at emulators or the cartridge kits. Really, from a standing start, you should look at GSXR forks which I believe isn't hard onthe K3 onwards pointies.

The rear shock, when working, is adequate. For performance you have to pay, I think it's worth it, but it's more serious money. There may be a few secondhand shocks (Ohlins, Penske etc.) from people who are selling their bikes and the bits separately, otherwise you'll have to stump up. Sort the front end first, it's so much worse than the back.

[gettin2dizzy]

The forks are definitely the weak point. The springs are too soft even for my 62kg (nekkid), .

that's a very specific weight. 64kg with clothes on?

[johnnyrod]

Depends if I'm wearing my lead codpiece

[Lozzo]

Personally I don't think what you have described....if I've read it right, is because of the 'shockingly poor' (which I don't agree with BTW) standard suspension.

Believe me, this bike of mine has shockingly poor suspension - 29 years of riding bikes from sh!te old RD250s right through to ZX10R race bike tells me it's shockingly poor, and nothing is going to convince me otherwise. What do you think it could be, planets not aligned right, a bit of bad Feng Shui?

My Daytona doesn't have the best suspension in the world, but it's miles better than my SV's. I know what a well suspended bike feels like, my old Gixer thou had Ohlins fork internals and a Maxton full race shock set up specifically for me - that bike handled like it was on rails, this SV handles like it's a sofabed tumbling down a cliff. If you've ever ridden bikes that handle well, then you know when you get on one that doesn't.

You're obviously not pushing your bike anywhere near fast if you think it handles well as stock.

I also wouldn't go mad on increasing the oil viscosity either. What brand of fork oil is your usual? Bike definitely standard?

Define "going mad" please, The bike is virtually 100% standard, right down to the snow-plough rear mudguard and exhaust. It doesn't even have a fender extender. It did have heated grips, a scottoiler and an alarm, but I don't think they'll affect the handling now they're not fitted. When it gets a suspension rebuild it will get whatever fork oil the makers of the internal components recommend.

[Lozzo]

Really, from a standing start, you should look at GSXR forks which I believe isn't hard onthe K3 onwards pointies.


I'm reluctant to go the GSXR forks route because I am seriously thinking of racing it in Minitwins, and Gixer forks aren't allowed. If I try racing, find I'm crap and just want to do trackdays then maybe a set of Gixer forks will find their way onto it.

[jambo]

OK,
I think what 21Quest was saying is that he does not feel that an SV in good nick should handle as badly as you describe. This may be down to 2 things:

1) Your SV being substantially worse than stock (I assure you if the fork oil's near 30,000 miles it's well past it's best)
2) You comparing it to bikes with rather tasty shocks and cartridge forks (These bouncy bits are more expensive but clearly work better).


Being realistic: There's no point expecting an SV to handle like a ZX10R which has had Maxton and Ohlins help out. It will clearly be leagues better, and the forks and shock fitted to it will be worth quite a lot of an SV!
If your particular SV has rather old pond water in the forks, then a standard SV will be a damned site better. So:

1) All standard SV's handle less well than a custom setup ZX10R
2) Your SV may be handling less well than standard

How good you want the end result to be is going to be weighed up against how much folding wonga you're prepared to throw at it. ;)

Edit:
Prices range fron £12 for new fork oil, £65 for new fork springs and oil, up to £500 for the shock and £400 for the full (non minitwins legal) cartridge fork conversion and springs for the front forks. You pays yer money etc etc etc

[Biker Biggles]

SVs as standard don't handle well,but can best be described as adequate.I reckon yours is worse than that,and probably has shagged suspension issues.The rear shock could well be past it's best at that age,and the front will certainly need new oil and a critical examination.Also,have you checked the head races and rear linkages for play and wear?

[Lozzo]

OK,
I think what 21Quest was saying is that he does not feel that an SV in good nick should handle as badly as you describe. This may be down to 2 things:

1) Your SV being substantially worse than stock (I assure you if the fork oil's near 30,000 miles it's well past it's best)
2) You comparing it to bikes with rather tasty shocks and cartridge forks (These bouncy bits are more expensive but clearly work better).


Being realistic: There's no point expecting an SV to handle like a ZX10R which has had Maxton and Ohlins help out. It will clearly be leagues better,



OK, I'll compare it to the Bandit 600 that I sold earlier this year - standard forks with the recommended by Suzuki oil at the recommended level, and a standard Bandit 650 shock with the ride height the same as a standard 1998 600 Bandit. That bike handled brilliantly considering its budget spec. Surprising when you consider the forks were 75,000 miles old and all it had replaced was the seals and oil and a new but still cheap as chips shock fitted. It was stable, it handled bumps well, it could be thrown into corners without tying itself in knots and it was comfy. Now why can't my SV be like that?

[Lozzo]

SVs as standard don't handle well,but can best be described as adequate.I reckon yours is worse than that,and probably has shagged suspension issues.The rear shock could well be past it's best at that age,and the front will certainly need new oil and a critical examination.Also,have you checked the head races and rear linkages for play and wear?

Headraces and suspension linkages were stripped and greased as no play was found and nothing needed replacing. I agree, the forks and shock are well past their best, but I'm just surprised that 25,000 easy commuting miles will do this to the handling. I bought the bike off a not very big bloke in his 60s who commuted from Bromley to Westminster daily on it, and that's all it did - it had never been outside of the M25 and it'd never seen a windy backroad until I got on it.

[kwak zzr]

my sv1000s front end is very stable at all speed and at most angles but the rear kicks and bucks when doing anything other than going in a straight line over 3 figures, this bike has only done 4000 miles? my 650s was the same on the rear only the front was poo aswell. i was under the impression the rear on the sv1000s was a much better shock than the 650s but i may have it all set up wrongly for my weight, i dont know ive never really messed with suspension.

[Sid Squid]

If your SV is truly 'shockingly bad' then there's something wrong with it. Fix that then see how you feel.
Depends on your weight of course but it's pretty much an accepted fact that SV650s have quite soft front springs, this being the case combined with the fork oil being well past it's prime at the mileage you're quoting, then I imagine you're well on the way to diagnosing what the likely problem might be.
An SV shock with that sort of mileage is definitely on borrowed time in the bike of someone who wants to ride it right.
Clearly an SV doesn't have the quality of suspension that some of the bikes you've mentioned do, that said a good one, combined with something called 'throttle control' will do a better job than most riders ever will.
The throttle has a sincerely pronounced effect over the suspension, this I'm sure you know, used right SVs aren't bad* - but the standard bits are obviously never going to equal those fitted to better specced bikes.

* I can't stress this enough - if yours really is, then something is most definately wrong. And yes, that sort of mileage no matter what the circumstances of use will have put the oil in the forks way beyond it's realistic life.

[Lozzo]

* I can't stress this enough - if yours really is, then something is most definately wrong. And yes, that sort of mileage no matter what the circumstances of use will have put the oil in the forks way beyond it's realistic life.

As everyone seems to be pointing the finger at the forks, they'll be getting a strip and rebuild with uprated springs/emulators and oil before I do anything else. When I can afford it a new quality shock is going in, unless the guy who bought my Gixer thou sells me the almost new 1000 K1 shock I gave him with the bike.

[johnnyrod]

It's a good start, you won't regret it. I presume the emulators are legal for Minitwins. Although these bikes wil never be GSXRs you can make them go round corners.

[fizzwheel]

My SV was wobbly wobbly like that, I really notice it wallowing around the rear, it was especially noticeable once I had my GSXR to compare it to.

Bike had done 36K, I fitted a 2nd hand OEM rear shock that I bought from here for £25 and then I changed the fork oil. The fork oil I took out was f*cked it stank like rotten fish and was thin and watery. It didnt look like fork oil anymore it looked like water from a stagnant pond. Urgh..

Doing just those simple things, transformed the handling, it made a huge difference. So just to echo what the others said, try new fork oil first and see if that makes a difference also if you can get a cheap OEM shock that might get you going again if money is a bit tight.

[socommk23]

ya buch of girls! mine kept up well with the other 600s in the twisties no problems!!!!!
but then again i guess i just used to it....the tls gets very flighty front end!

[Viney]

I replaced my rear shock this weekend with a lower milage item and taking 23000 miles off a shock really changes things.

Suspension as probably quoted is much like tyres, in the way the deteriorate so slowly that you dont notice over time. When you swap it for a new, or lower milage item, the difference is really noticable.

[socommk23]

though progressive fork springs helped loads!

[rob13]

IF not fitting internals to a pointy is it best to fit progressive springs or just the other type (name of which i dont know - non-progressive?) and then put heavier fork oil in as well?

[Tim in Belgium]

Rob, the other type is linear, i.e a constant spring rate, I've heard linear are better for track riding than progressive and can be a little easier to set up with regard to oil thickness/sag etc, but plenty of people have also used progressive springs and had good results.

I went for linear springs & oil myself and thoroughly enjoy them.

[SV650Racer]

Lozzo - Ohlins shock and GSXR front end...the best there is for the SV!!!. Go on you know you want to!!!!

[husky03]

these are cheap on ebay-ohlins springsItem number: 110159489959http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/globalAssets/rtCurve.gifhttp://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/s.gif
husky

[BILLY]

Lozzo - Ohlins shock and GSXR front end...the best there is for the SV!!!. Go on you know you want to!!!!
Soo true:cool:

[northwind]

Lozzo - Ohlins shock and GSXR front end...the best there is for the SV!!!. Go on you know you want to!!!!

Not minitwin legal as you well know ;)

I agree though, more or less, you can make the SV forks better than a set of standard recent GSXR forks with enough effort but it'll cost twice as much- you could buy the GSXR forks and upgrade them and it'd still cost less, probably. Plus you get the brakes too.

But then, I wouldn't want to go back from my curent setup now that I'm used to it but I doubt I'd have felt any need to upgrade from emulators and a 636 shock, other than bling.

[Lozzo]

Lozzo - Ohlins shock and GSXR front end...the best there is for the SV!!!. Go on you know you want to!!!!

Listen young lady, you start tempting me with expensive stuff like that and we're gonna fall out. I have mouths to feed, women to chase and race circuits to visit, I can't go spending that kind of dosh.

[Blue_SV650S]

Listen young lady, you start tempting me with expensive stuff like that and we're gonna fall out. I have mouths to feed, women to chase and race circuits to visit, I can't go spending that kind of dosh.

It depends how serious you want to get, as Northy said, if you fancy a bit of minitwins then GIXER forks are out anyway! But if you are not interested in racing, as Northy has also said before, if you sell your stock SV front end to re-coupe some funds, the GIXER front end will probably set you back far less than even emulators in the SV forks ;)

It is probably the most sensible solution if you are not racing it as you do get the brakes too!

A race shock is gonna 'smart' whatever though ;)

If you intend to use it as a road bike still, I am not sure what Mr insurance would have to say about a GIXER front end mind ;)

[Lozzo]

The idea of going racing is getting more and more unlikely as I look at coming financial and time constraints. The original idea was to make this a well set up SV trackbike with the option of using it on the road, and with me being the age I am with a virtually clean licence and full NCB, insurance with modifications still isn't going to break the bank - I'm only paying £213 fully comp for all 4 bikes at the moment, I can suffer another £100 or so a year for the privlege of having a well sorted trackbike on the fleet.

I think I'll have to seriously consider the GSXR 600K4 forks as an option and forget racing. as much as i'd love to have a go, I don't think I'll be able to afford to do it anywhere near competetively and if I'm not up there I'd end up spending shedloads of money to try and get there...which hand on heart I know will never happen. I am hugely competetive in what I do, and if I can't win then I am hell to live with - I was the same as a youngster when I was rifle shooting and also as a sales rep.

[Blue_SV650S]

If you retain the original SV bits you can always revert back ... or indeed flog /swap the GIXER stuff for stock stuff in the future if you have sold it ;)

So I don't see the potential (now clearly longer term and remote anyway) minitwins plans really preventing a GIXER front!! :)

Decision made :smt003

If I hadn't wanted to keep minitwin legal I'd prolly have gone GIXER front end myself as it does make most sense all round (if you flog your old bits)!! ;)

And yes, if you don't have 'the best' kit, you are making even more work for yourself if you started racing. That said, from my quick flirtation with the series, it ain't THAT tough out there even on an underdeveloped old nail like mine :D I guess I might just have picked a weak year?!! :confused: Coz I know I am not THAT good!! (but better than some will admit) :smt003

[Lozzo]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Suzuki-GSXR-600-750-K4-K5-Forks-Yokes-Calipers_W0QQitemZ190140849198QQihZ009QQcategoryZ1 0534QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggg ggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

MUST RESIST

[Blue_SV650S]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Suzuki-GSXR-600-750-K4-K5-Forks-Yokes-Calipers_W0QQitemZ190140849198QQihZ009QQcategoryZ1 0534QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggg ggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

MUST RESIST

With no clipons and broken lock-stop (so the bike has been crashed), there is no way I'd pay £400 for that ;)

[thor]

I just got jordan's old emulators and heavier springs. Also GSXR brakes and braided lines. All fitted and an 8k service for £480. Not bad huh? Not ridden it yet but I'm looking forward to it!

[Lozzo]

With no clipons and broken lock-stop (so the bike has been crashed), there is no way I'd pay £400 for that ;)

Not having any idea of the going rate, I thought it was reasonable. So what do they normally sell for then?

A dinked lockstop is repairable, and I was going to put my spare set of Gilles adjustable clip-ons on anyway

[Blue_SV650S]

I just got jordan's old emulators and heavier springs. Also GSXR brakes and braided lines. All fitted and an 8k service for £480. Not bad huh? Not ridden it yet but I'm looking forward to it!

Weazelz has the gixer calipers on his curvy and said he nearly went over the front end when he first used them!! :D So yeah, should be good :)

[Blue_SV650S]

Not having any idea of the going rate, I thought it was reasonable. So what do they normally sell for then?

A dinked lockstop is repairable, and I was going to put my spare set of Gilles adjustable clip-ons on anyway

Look at completed auctions for going rate, I'd only be guessing (I'd expect a mint set for £400 though).

Oh and to me it is more than the lockstop that is the problem, I'd question how 'straight' the forks and especially the yokes were!?! ... sounds like candidate for a pair of eBay bananas to me!! ;)

[northwind]

If you intend to use it as a road bike still, I am not sure what Mr insurance would have to say about a GIXER front end mind ;)

Mr Insurance doesn't mind too much. Provided you don't get too carried away ;) A lot of the more rubbish insurers won't touch you, no great loss IMO, you lose some of the cheap options but I wouldn't touch them anyway myself.

Are you set on what year's forks to use? If you want lockstops etc then SRAD's easy, and cheap too- there's been a couple of evolutions of the forks since then but they're still decent enough. You can get a whole front end for around the £250 mark with care, but you do have to be a bit patient, they're not that common any more... I used K3 forks (in the srad yokes), which are pretty solid- I want to upgrade past that, but only because they're a bit worn out and I don't want to spend more money just to get the same result.

[rob13]

Ive just done 4 days in Scotland and was pushing on especially around the Highlands and I've also noticed the weave when coming down off the power. The bike was excellent but I did feel that the front end was a bit flighty if the corners werent smooth. Im definitely looking to upgrade the suspension now and I'll be keeping the bike for at least another 2 years so I'm tied over what to do. Im not gonna fit the Gixxer forks because as much as I love the USD bling look, I think the insurance would take a dim view, as would my bank balance. I think im gonna do what Tims done and get linear springs and some 15w fork oil. Hopefully, that should reduce the dive in the forks and in turn improve the braking too.

[Blue_SV650S]

...I've also noticed the weave when coming down off the power.....

Weave is often associated with worn* tyres

*Tyres that have lost their profile ... they could easily still have plenty of tread

[rob13]

Weave is often associated with worn* tyres

*Tyres that have lost their profile ... they could easily still have plenty of tread


aye quite possibly - mine are now bald in the centre hence i need a new set asap

[SVeeedy Gonzales]

On hard acceleration the front floats about, like it's suspended from the sky on a bungee. The bars go extremely light and it starts to wander. It's not wheelying, but the front isn't attached to tarmac in any way shape or form that I like. I know the obvious answer is "don't accelerate hard", but I want to, and I want it to feel a bit more planted. Preload is set to 1 1/2 turns out from hard.

Get more weight over the front wheel. Are the tyres shot/pressures wrong? Chance the bike's had a bad drop or shunt? An SV650 shouldn't feel like that. If it's not been damaged then it's just a case of getting over the front wheel, be against or even part way up the tank when riding hard. Sit back on the seat and it'll feel more vague.

Secondly, the rear shock spring is possibly only surpassed in its softness by the spring in my knackered old Parker biro. Zebedee has nothing on this thing, it bounces like a pikey's cheques. Damping feels ok, static sag is set at 20mm measured vertical from the rear wheel spindle, but it's a little bit boingy.

Jack up the preload as far as it'll go, or get a new shock. It's not the best shock in the world when new.

Thirdly, at speed it wanders across the motorway lane you originally chose, and if there's a gust of wind it wanders across the one you didn't choose too. A gentle weave sets in which isn't helped by crawling under the tank's paintwork, that just makes it more pronounced and worrying. Sort of semi-sitting upright with bum right back on the seat and head a bit forward seems to keep it in check, but again the front doesn't feel planted at all.

Sitting too far back or the bike's had a bash to the forks/steering/frame/swingarm. Again, it's not an SV thing. You say "bum right back on seat" which will make the front go light and more vague. Get more weight over the front and see how different it feels.

Now suspension is not my thing, I'm an engines man. Where do I start?[/quote]

[rob13]

So if hypethetically, you had £200 to spend on sorting the handling out, what would you do? Would you just sort the front and get something decent or would you compromise and try to upgrade both front and rear components? (Or is that more expensive?!?)

[Ceri JC]

So if hypethetically, you had £200 to spend on sorting the handling out, what would you do? Would you just sort the front and get something decent or would you compromise and try to upgrade both front and rear components? (Or is that more expensive?!?)

For £200, you could do the front fork springs & oil and put (another bike's) shock on the rear end.

If you think there's any chance you might want to throw more money at the suspension in future, it might be worth spending that £200 solely on the front end (someone should be able to tell you what that'll get you, I imagine you could probably get a cartridge emulator setup for that sort of money)? That way, if you have more cash and want to improve the back end, you won't have wasted money on whatever you replace on the back end. I've done mine the other way round, back end is now sorted, but am now umming and arring between the springs and fork oil and a more expensive matris internals kit.

[Blue_SV650S]

So if hypethetically, you had £200 to spend on sorting the handling out, what would you do? Would you just sort the front and get something decent or would you compromise and try to upgrade both front and rear components? (Or is that more expensive?!?)

You basically have about 5 options ... each option 'better' than the last.

1 - Progressive springs and oil in the front (~£100) - 2nd hand 'eBay' type gixer shock in the rear (~£50) - thats about £150.

2 - Liner springs and emulators & oil in the front (£200) - gixer rear (~£50) - ~-£250

3 - Cartridge front (for pointy) is about £300 IIRC, so ~£350 with gsxr shock (~£50).

A rear RACE shock is between £400 and £600 NEW depending on make/model, perhaps £200-£400 2nd hand (if you can find one that doesn't need a rebuild ;)).

so with this info we continue ...

4 - Emulators - Race shock - ~£600-£800 (depending on shock (NEW))

5 - Cartridge - Race shock - ~£700-£900 (depending on shock (NEW)).

Finally you could put a gixer front end on it ;)

I'd say for the road option 1 is good enough. If you get a bit frisky on the road then option 2 is worth the extra. Obviously option 5 on the road would be wicked, but it is diminishing returns after option 2 in my opinion!!! ;) I did leave out option ... er 0 :D ... which is just progressive springs for ~£100 with stock rear shock - many people would be happy with that (including me ... but then I have stuck with stock front and rear coz I am tight!! :D)

Only a fool would put a race shock in not sort the front 'properly' so I have left them options out!! ;)

[northwind]

Or... Buy a used Ohlins for £200. Have it turn up and, by pure luck, not need rebuilt. And then sell your SV front end and fit a GSXR front end for less than the SV parts cost :cool: And have enough left over to pay for a service for the Ohlins.

Of course, I botched that by spending a packet on tyres, powdercoating, a new master cylinder, getting the shock totally rebuild and reworked instead of just regassed... But, that's where I started out.