Dave81

As we all know, Sunday's are not a day of rest but for hooning around on motorcycles. That is, of course, unless the gods decide that they're ****** off with your constant defiance and send the tail end of a massive storm your way to ruin your fun.


So, what are you going to do instead? Watch some crap film with a million ad breaks? Get stuck in about some decorating/diy that the missus has been nagging you to do for the last six months? Go shopping? No way. That's for Winter. Not when you've got a set of cartridge emulators and a GSXR1000 shock in the garage and an SV with no cartridge emulators or GSXR1000 shock fitted.


Enter the talented Mr Bibio.


There are not many people that are so generous with their time, knowledge and skills. Not that I've come across anyway. But what I appreciate the most of Mr Bibio is his enthusiasm to motivate those new to bikes to pick up a spanner and get to know your bike. You're putting your life in it's hands, after all. Whether it be adjusting the chain and getting the rear straight, making sure the forks are straight, the fitting of one of his own brilliant offerings such as the “Gizmo”, stainless adjuster plates or TB balancing extension hoses, down to things as simple as CHECKING YOUR OIL LEVEL!!!!! Bibio is a diamond geezer and the forum, nay, the world is lucky to have him.


Since I got my bike I've been picking up tools here and there and even got myself a second hand, yet scruffy, mechanics toolbox. I like to do as much as I can do to service and maintain my SV to a high standard. For me it's a keeper. It does everything I want it to do, or so I thought. I'd changed the fork springs to 9's with 10wt oil over the winter and, come the new season, was over the moon with the difference. Fast forward a couple of months of rider progression and I realised that it's just not enough. This bike needs.....no......DESERVES some proper control of the suspension. Something that Suzuki have skimped on in order to get you to buy a GSXR, no doubt.


I had done my research on damper rod forks, how they operate and could see the massive benefit the emulators would provide. I knew, however, that the rear, after 18k, would be horrible in comparison. More research followed and I opted for the GSXR1000 K2 shock as it was .5mm shorter and sprung the same as stock, which I've always been happy with and was reinforced by the Racetech calculator's suggestion. The unfortunate part is the 45 degree reservoir.


On that fateful day Mr Bibio rocked up at my house, opened his boot and revealed his armoury of proper tools to get the job done. This confirmed to me that I, indeed, was not ready to tackle these tasks. Like a boss he got to it, stripping the forks. Prepared damper rods installed with spacer to hold the emulator, emulators precisely set with verniers, springs in and 15wt oil (on his recommendation as a starting point). Bish, bash, bosh.


The rear shock was a nightmare scenario, but Bibio did not fluster. He meticulously disassembled the rear of the bike, measure, cut, reassemble, adjust, reassemble, reposition tilt switch, reassemble. “That's it, nothing will foul the reservoir now, but you've lost the toolkit” he exclaimed, standing beside the pile of plastic that used to be part of my bike. I really should have opted for something more suitable which didn't necessitate such a laborious task. I'm thankful I wasn't told to “get stuffed”. Next was the bounce tests to set the rebound and then measure sag.


The next day I went for a test ride. My face hurt from grinning the entire time I was on it. It's been said on here that the emulators are the finesse element of the standard fork's upgrade. I say that they are as essential as getting the correct springs. My SV has been COMPLETELY transformed by Bibio into a corner machine that has been so much fun to ride since, it really has rejuvinated my love for it. I owe you, big time, and no amount of bacon butties and coffee will repay this debt.


Mr Bibio, I salute you, Sir.