rear shock change

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

I am thinking of syringing half the oil from the forks and putting a 10w oil in to make the viscosity 12.5 w.

Any thoughts from the experts very welcome and appreciated.

(The rear shock is fantastic BTW, I found the stock ZX10R setting which were basically half way on everything, then added a bit of preload because I'm fat. I think I'm going to take that perload back off again just a touch, but most of the time I'm very happy with it. Need to be careful on the traffic light GP as with less squat at the rear, the front has a tendancy to wheelie )

If you want to sleep look up the derivation for resistance to fluid flow through a sharp edged orifice

Basically damping from (prehistoric) damper rod is force is proportional to velocity squared.
So big hit the orifices get choked off and basically lock the fork.

If you changing fork oil do it right and remove fork and use fresh oil, because you have done some mileage oil will be thinner. If you use fresh you know exactly what viscosity you have not just some guess.

You need emulator or cartridge to improve. Because you use such thick oil to control rebound compression is horrible. You got a cable tie as travel indicator?

I would be interested in fitting some GSXR cartridges if you are prepared to risk cost of some secondhand cartridges and be guinea pig.
That would give you full adjustability without problem of changing whole front.

Because you fitted a longer shock you get a greater component of the chain tension resisting squat as well as the increased CG height, comp dampgin and spring rate. Hence easier to wheelie. Fun innit

hears mine at stock with cable tie, just poped to the shop and came back to find i was bottoming the forks out

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

If you want to sleep look up the derivation for resistance to fluid flow through a sharp edged orifice

Basically damping from (prehistoric) damper rod is force is proportional to velocity squared.
So big hit the orifices get choked off and basically lock the fork.

If you changing fork oil do it right and remove fork and use fresh oil, because you have done some mileage oil will be thinner. If you use fresh you know exactly what viscosity you have not just some guess.

You need emulator or cartridge to improve. Because you use such thick oil to control rebound compression is horrible. You got a cable tie as travel indicator?

I would be interested in fitting some GSXR cartridges if you are prepared to risk cost of some secondhand cartridges and be guinea pig.
That would give you full adjustability without problem of changing whole front.

Because you fitted a longer shock you get a greater component of the chain tension resisting squat as well as the increased CG height, comp dampgin and spring rate. Hence easier to wheelie. Fun innit

Thanks for that Chris. Would second hand gixxer cartridges fit the SV? What do you think the cause of the over firm ride I have at the moment is? Spring rate, linear vs progressive for road riding, or oil viscosity?

Originally Posted by barwel1992

hears mine at stock with cable tie, just poped to the shop and came back to find i was bottoming the forks out

Ouch, nasty. I'll have to try the same at the weekend. Guess you could use that to measure static sag as well, if you put the cable tie on with the front end off the ground.

[Nobbylad]

Gixer front end, trust me, it's the only way forward.

Originally Posted by Nobbylad

Gixer front end, trust me, it's the only way forward.

But 500 quid, on a bike that's worth 2 grand? I'd rather chop in for something with better suspension. Not doing that until I've sold my house in Scotland and bought another down here though. It's going to be next summer at the earliest unless I make a really big sale at work this year and get an unexpected commission cheque.

This has a better front end than the SV



This has a better front end than the gixxer!



I know everyones going to shout Viffer and Sprint ST as soon as I post up two sport tourers, but I don't fit on the ST (not enough knee room) and don't fancy a viffer.

Whatever mods I do at this stage are just to get me through one or two summers. I intend to keep the SV for the forseeable, but probably not more than another two years. Persimmon just wrote to me offering 105% part exchange on a selection of houses north of Daventry. Going over to their sales office today to see what the story is, so you never know, it could be sooner than I think. Bottom line, don't want to spend that kind of money on a gixxer front end. Cartridge emulators are much cheaper.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

Thanks for that Chris. Would second hand gixxer cartridges fit the SV? What do you think the cause of the over firm ride I have at the moment is? Spring rate, linear vs progressive for road riding, or oil viscosity?

No they don't fit, would need machining and messing about.
I think your problem is massive high speed compression damping as bleeds choke off.

Or maybe you are hitting hydraulic bump stop. They don't feel same as harsh clack from bottoming normally.


You are wrong about GSXR front end. It is not a £500 mod, by time I'd sold my SV front end off AND been screwed on a set of discs the whole lot was less than £50!

the problem i have with the gsxr front end mod is i dont have any where to put my bike, mum n dad would flip with it been in the garage in a mess as the our garage has a gym in it as well, so i think i will do the springs and if i decide i want to keep the bike past next year then i will do the gsxr front

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

I think your problem is massive high speed compression damping as bleeds choke off.

So thinner oil would be the way forward?

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Or maybe you are hitting hydraulic bump stop. They don't feel same as harsh clack from bottoming normally.

Is a clonk rather than a clack. Always has been, but now it happens MUCH more often.

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

You are wrong about GSXR front end. It is not a £500 mod, by time I'd sold my SV front end off AND been screwed on a set of discs the whole lot was less than £50!

Hmmm, I'll have a look on ebay tonight.

[Nobbylad]

Originally Posted by barwel1992

the problem i have with the gsxr front end mod is i dont have any where to put my bike, mum n dad would flip with it been in the garage in a mess as the our garage has a gym in it as well, so i think i will do the springs and if i decide i want to keep the bike past next year then i will do the gsxr front

Put it in the kitchen instead!