Calling minitwin racers - suspension

Hi my bike is a curvy SVS, it is a road bike but the previous owner used it as a trackbike (but in road trim).

The previous owner got the forks modified, according to the receipts (looked at them for the first time tonight!! ) it has the following fitted:-
Race Tech FEGV-S3801 emulators.
HPX20 fork oil. I presume that is 20w?
Racetech springs (85kg rider).

I am using it primarily as a road bike and to be honest feel the front is far too hard for the road (bounces horribly over bumps where the suspension isn’t ‘tracking’ the road), I am thinking of putting 15w oil in it, perhaps even 10w. Is that ok with the emulators? What weight oil do you racers run with the above Racetech emulators? (I hear 20w is common?).

The rear shock looks to still be standard. What race shock is recommended? And does any other bike shock fit? (widening my chances of finding a 2nd hand example). Personally I am an Ohlins man, but according to the Ohlins website the curvy svs doesn’t list a shock .. strangely the naked SV does, go figure!!! The pic shows it with eyelets top and bottom, I think my bike is eyelet top, fork bottom? Naff pic, or is the naked running a different shock to the SVS?

p.s. I am asking racers as I intend to take it along to a trackday soon and want to get the ‘spension sorted prior.

What weight springs are fitted? or are they .85 Racetech, if so they'll be FRSP-S353485.
Who did the forks?
I ran .80 springs and 15w oil (Putoline HPX) for 11.5st rider, a little soft for some but suited my riding.
The weight of oil is dependant on the spring and emulator setting

The emulators can be a little harsh for road use at lower speeds they tend to be a bit 'clunky' which is more an irretance the a problem as they work very well at higher speeds.

As for rear shock, there is only one Ohlins that fits all curvy models and is a good unit, easy to setup and fairly hassle free, Hyperpro's work well and do two models £300 and £500, the cheaper is an emulsion unit with less adjustment but works well for its price, the dearer is a high and low speed race unit which can be ordered with various options like ti nitrided shaft etc (at a cost).
Penske are v good but a bit tricky to setup fully without tracktime and more expensive

Originally Posted by Robw#70

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Hi (again ).

The documentation doesn’t say the exact springs, just that they were race tech for a 85kg rider . Looking at racetech website 3485s look likely.

The forks seem too solid at slow yeah, but even at fast (talking road still here, so not fast fast !!) they are still too solid and have the front all over the shot on bumpy roads, most disconcerting and limiting. It is cold out and with 20w oil and road riding I doubt I am getting the oil that hot to thin it? So at 20w it will be like trickle!! I need to replace the seals (hooking too many mingers no doubt, my bad??! ) so a good opportunity to change the oil too. I’ll go for 15w if that is what you recommend.

The receipt for the fork work is from RPM R.A.W performance motorsport. Personally I have never heard of them, but not that that makes much difference!?!?!

What model number is the ohlins rear shock for the curvy SVS? Ohlins say 46 HRCL for the naked, but like I said it ‘looks’ wrong.

[johnnyrod]

I don't know which emulators I've got but they're the ones that go with the standard damper rods (not the Traxxion kit). You need to check the setting of them, they may be wound in too far. I weigh a mere 65kg/10 stone and have them set at 3 turns in, 20W oil, standard air gap, Progressive springs, sag set right. I don't find any problems - they are a load better than standard at any speed, I'm surprised Rob's had trouble. Check all the settings, that may be all that's wrong.

I have an Ohlins rear (curvy), ring Harris or one of the dealers. I think Steve Jordan are doing a special price on these at the moment. The standard spring is good for up to 15 stone/90kg-ish, above that you'll need to ask for the right spring for your weight.

Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S

The receipt for the fork work is from RPM R.A.W performance motorsport. Personally I have never heard of them, but not that that makes much difference!?!?!

That'll be Robw#70 who built them then

Originally Posted by johnnyrod

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Hiya, I am about 80-82kg (depending on pies consumed ) … Bearing in mind the emulators are at the bottom of the forks, you have to take the forks apart to see what the setting is right? A bit of a pain, but like I said, I need new seals, so will be in there soon anyway What static sag do you use then? Also someone said that the emulators only effect compression damping, the rebound is oil viscosity. Bearing in mind I want to soften the compression damping, surely I would need to do a setting AND oil viscosity change to avoid ‘pump down’?! What is the ratio of oil viscosity and adjustment?! i.e. presumably if 3 clicks is 20w, would going one click in (harder) mean I would need say 25w or 22.5w oil etc etc??

I was wanting to find a 2nd hand shock really, any idea what model number your shock is?

Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S

Hiya, I am about 80-82kg (depending on pies consumed ) … Bearing in mind the emulators are at the bottom of the forks, you have to take the forks apart to see what the setting is right? A bit of a pain, but like I said, I need new seals, so will be in there soon anyway What static sag do you use then? Also someone said that the emulators only effect compression damping, the rebound is oil viscosity. Bearing in mind I want to soften the compression damping, surely I would need to do a setting AND oil viscosity change to avoid ‘pump down’?! What is the ratio of oil viscosity and adjustment?! i.e. presumably if 3 clicks is 20w, would going one click in (harder) mean I would need say 25w or 22.5w oil etc etc??

I was wanting to find a 2nd hand shock really, any idea what model number your shock is?

It's true that the adjustability you get with emulators only affects compression damping. However, if you speak to the right people they'll advise you on what settings to choose including emulator settings, oil weight and air gap.

Rider sag remains the same, for which you want to aim for around a 3rd of available suspension travel used when you're sitting on the bike in your gear.

Remember, even though you cant easily make adjustments when fitted, correctly setup emulators wont simply allowed you to adjust the suspension more finely, they will improve the quality of the ride full stop

Originally Posted by Mike1234

That'll be Robw#70 who built them then

LOL

That'll be me then

They'll be Racetech springs and a bit stiff for road/track use.

You have PM

Originally Posted by johnnyrod

I weigh a mere 65kg/10 stone and have them set at 3 turns in, 20W oil, standard air gap, Progressive springs, sag set right. I don't find any problems - they are a load better than standard at any speed.

I dont like running progressive springs with adjustable valving, Ideal when damping is inefficient as the variable spring rate makes up where the damping lacks.
But with adjustable valving you cannot match the damping to the spring rate

Originally Posted by johnnyrod

I'm surprised Rob's had trouble. Trouble with what??I have an Ohlins rear (curvy), ring Harris or one of the dealers. I think Steve Jordan are doing a special price on these at the moment. The standard spring is good for up to 15 stone/90kg-ish, above that you'll need to ask for the right spring for your weight.