Front Forks

[timwilky]

Originally Posted by maxton Suspension

SUZUKI SV650

FRONT

The forks are a non adjustable type of fork and also very soft, they dive alot under braking and bottom out very easily, the SV650 has one of the softest front ends we have ever pushed bescause it is so underdamped and undersprung. We revalve and respring the forks taking into account the rider's weight and what he is using the bike for. The cost of the conversion is £225 plus VAT. Seals are £20 plus VAT for the pair and Bushes if required are £20 plus VAT. We also supply a cartridge conversion, this involves replacing the original damper rod damping system with a modern cartridge system. The cartridge has pistons, shims and needle jets inside which is a modern way of metering the oil to give damping. The cartridge conversion also includes new fork tops with preload and rebound damping adjusters. This conversion makes the forks work like an GSXR600 fork yet it is spring and valved for the SV650, the riders weight and what they use the bike for. The cartridge conversion costs £340.00 plus V.A.T plus seals and bushes if required.



REAR

The rear shock is a fairley cheap unit but is O.K for what most people use the bike for. The spring on it is on the hard side and the the unit also has alot of damping inside it making it kick off bumps, this makes the front feel softer than it actually is. We have tried fitting a softer spring to the unit but it only makes the bike handle worse, as you end up riding on the damping. We supply a Maxton replacement unit which is a fully adjustable, alloy bodied, high pressure gas unit that adjusts via shim stack system, it has a spring to suit your rider weight and to suit what type of riding you do. The unit costs £405.00 but we also make a remote reservoir unit that has a second compression adjuster which costs £480.00. ALL PRICES EXCLUDE V.A.T.

They also state that they can supply just the springs for £55 plusVAT which is a lot closer to my budget

[northwind]

K1 and K2 forks are identical (other than the preload parts) but a little different from older ones- there's a couple of minor differences in the internals I noticed, but whether that's a cost or performance difference, I don't know. Also you get one less pinch bolt on the RHS- woo hoo! One less bolt to go rusty! But o'course only the K2s have the adjustors.

Personally though I reckon springs and oil will do it for most people, for not much cash- did it myself with 15W oil and Ohlins springs, which I chose entirely based on brand and not spring rate because I'm an idiot, but which worked out just right. Dead easy. I was thinking of going with the Racetech or Traxxion emulator kits but decided not to bother in the end. (what's the point if nobody can see it? )

A reasonably budget method seems to be fitting CBR forks- the RWU ones... You get full cartridge internals and you can retain the stock wheel and axle. But the tubes stick up about 5cm past the yokes apparently.

Carl / Tim,

I personally advise single rate over progressives - my choice, based on the day job!

SV's with the right rate springs for your weight, set up with a compatible weight oil for the spring rate gives good feel and performance - to the extent that many have said "it's a different bike" (for the better!).

The K2 adjusters are not 100% necessary, but do reduce set up time and you get some pretty new shiny bits to look at again, worth doing imho.

parts costs are as follows:

springs cost from £55 for hagon to approx £80 ohlins
oil costs from £6 for semi synth to £20 for ohlins synth
OE K2 suzuki pre load adjusters and shims cost just under £50 for the set

I fitted 2 sets of white power upgrades last week, these springs were virtually the full fork length, with no preload tube needed. The kit was supplied with 20W synth oil which is thicker than I would normally recommend, But, I was very impressed with the quality of feel.
Worth considering as an alternative to the ohlins springs & oil.
This set up is similar to the std K3.

drop me a PM if you need any more info.

take care
Dave

[timwilky]

Originally Posted by elmerfud

Carl / Tim,

drop me a PM if you need any more info.

take care
Dave

PM sent, Thanks

Talked with the man. Ohlins/Oil on order. Bought preload adjusters from Slingers. just need delivery and a date to be Elmured