replace rear shock before fork upgrades?

Originally Posted by Dan_SV

It's my wallowy rear shock that causes me the most probs, so I shall be changing that first.

I wonder what is happening with the SV's shock in general, after hearing all these complaints about it being wallowy and the such. I've ridden Bandits, old CB's, Monsters and Hornets, and those bikes shock damping just can't be compared to the SV's. It's almost overdamped!

The front is a whole different story though. After having installed the WP springs/oils and not being satisfied, I installed the emulator valves. It's as though it's another bike. It's MILES ahead. I"ll post full review once I sort out its adjustments (which to be done you need to take apart the whole front. No clicks for us then )

I must have a good one then. The rebound damping is quite impressive

It only wallowed on the track to be fair. Shock just feels choppy and ****e in general on the road.

I would argue that the shock is underdamped, and that this causes the choppyness as it cannot control the rate of which the spring comes back. This may be something to do with the fact I also have the spring set on max preload, but thats simply what works best with the current limited adjustment.

The wallowyness on the track, im guessing caused by the shock further losing its damping as its being pushed on the track, and also could be something to do with the fact their is a baking hot exhaust pipe running down the side of it.

My proposed solution: 636 Shock, and some exhaust cladding for the rear downpipe.

However, I spose I'm a bit off topic now.....oops.

Just do what you want/money will allow.

I talk crapola most of the time anyway lol!

Dan.

Originally Posted by Dan_SV

It's all fair and well changing what people say to change, but there may be more merit in changing things to improve your own bigger problmes first, before upgrading just for improvements sake.

I totally agree with that statement, except I just happened to get a great deal on this 636 shock. I wasn't planning on doing anything with the suspension this year (university is expensive), but if I had to choose I would do the fork upgrades first. For me, that is were it needs the most improvement. I weigh 210lbs with gear so I'm sure that is a factor.

If I were doing everything according to my plan the forks would have been the first to be upgraded but since I ended up with this shock earlier than I had anticipated, I'm faced with the decision to wait for the front so that I can do both together or just throw the shock on now, 'cause that's what I've got.

[johnnyrod]

There's no reason to wait, stick the new shocker on and see if it's better. If it is, what's the point in leaving it lying around when you could be enjoying it.

Agree with Dan, the SV shock is made for comfort not performance. Also agree with the Greek dude, emulators are the dog's, even if you do need a Total Recall-style bottom probe to pull them out and adjust them. As for the opinion further up on oil weight and air gap for the front, it depends entirely on the rider's weight, there is a good thread on here somewhere that gives a whole list of settings depending on your weight.

Originally Posted by johnnyrod

There's no reason to wait, stick the new shocker on and see if it's better. If it is, what's the point in leaving it lying around when you could be enjoying it.

Agree with Dan, the SV shock is made for comfort not performance. Also agree with the Greek dude, emulators are the dog's, even if you do need a Total Recall-style bottom probe to pull them out and adjust them. As for the opinion further up on oil weight and air gap for the front, it depends entirely on the rider's weight, there is a good thread on here somewhere that gives a whole list of settings depending on your weight.

This one?

[johnnyrod]

That's the one, the Fudmeister knows all. Still can't catch that damned wabbit.