Upgrading Stock Suspension.... THE PLAN.

im 14 with ohlins sitting waiting to be installed ...must get oil and new seals !!!

[northwind]

Originally Posted by ejohnh

Seems to me that most of the 'upgrades' bikers do are more or less cosmetic. What I found made a world of real difference to my curvey was fitting Hagon progressives and 15w oil - and then good quality tyres. Turned a ornery p' awful mule into a smooth arabian. Borrow a headstock lift to support the front and it so so easy.. BTW I am 13 stone.

Yup. In fact, springs and oil isn't an upgrade at all, it's an adjustment- the SV's suspension is very basic but the real problem isn't that, it's just that it's specced for very light people. So you have basic suspension working badly. Replacing the springs and oil can at least make it work better for you- if you weigh over, say, 11 stone it's a huge benefit. I've got very good suspension on mine now but I could have been perfectly happy with just the Ohlins springs and oil tbh.

If you actually want to upgrade, then there's a world of options and you can get big benefits without breaking the bank. Personally I'm very much of the opinion that it's a false economy not to spend some time and effort here if you're out of the working weight range of the forks- a ?4000 bike working badly isn't better value than a ?4150 bike working well. And another ?150 on top gets you emulators or a Matris kit or similiar for a very solid performing front end. The SV's only let down by its suspension, and most obviously by its forks.

(or of course, there's the more drastic options like a GSXR swap, which I only mention here on economy grounds- do it cheap, and right, and it can actually cost less than you get selling the parts. But get unlucky and it can be a money pit. My original fork replacement would have almost broken even if I'd not deliberately gone over budget on luxuries. But if you're a big'un, or even a very small'un, you might still have to pay to modify the forks- GSXR swaps don't work for everyone out of the box.)

[yorkie_chris]

You can get the forks out easily without a headstock lift, abba stand or any other posh stuff.

A ratchet strap over a rafter, or a jack under the engine with the bike on the sidestand works fine.

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

You can get the forks out easily without a headstock lift, abba stand or any other posh stuff.

A ratchet strap over a rafter, or a jack under the engine with the bike on the sidestand works fine.

+ 1

Thanks alot for the input ive got a much clearer idea of what im going to do.... Get another set of forks put the springs etc oil preload adjusters on them while doing them up to make them look decent then just straight swap them with the ones atm and then do them up and sell them and maybe make a slight profit if sell on ebay... Probably a complicated way but id feel much more confident as i can still use the bike and it wont be oout of action while doing the new set up..

Ash

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by ME

Can I interest you in a front end?

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=107557

If you're not feeling too mechanically minded I could easily fit springs and oil then post them.

[northwind]

Originally Posted by sv_rider1990

Thanks alot for the input ive got a much clearer idea of what im going to do.... Get another set of forks put the springs etc oil preload adjusters on them while doing them up to make them look decent then just straight swap them with the ones atm and then do them up and sell them and maybe make a slight profit if sell on ebay... Probably a complicated way but id feel much more confident as i can still use the bike and it wont be oout of action while doing the new set up..

Yeah, it's not a bad plan- I did something similiar, I got a set of crashed forks to practice on first, then took the fork sliders off those and got them powdercoated. I ended up selling some of the leftover parts too so while it did cost me a little it worked out well, and made things very easy. I like learning on stuff that's already knackered, what's the worst that can happen? Don't answer that.

Originally Posted by drag

That explains where the preload adjusters come from on so many curvey's

51351-10D80




thats the part number for the caps that have pre load adjusters... now to find a set

Originally Posted by drag

i'll take 12 !!!

they just look so purdy... i'll see what the other guys say about replacment caps first off



edit .... just realised Alloy Front Brake Reservoir Cap (61mm o/d ) RESR10 Ref: 4370 is not pre load adapters

You also need solid washers for the adjusters to bear on as the washers in earlier Sv's have no centre.

Don't think those adjusters fit the Sv.

I've got the adjusters retro fitted. Not really worth it actually. About 50quid from a Suzuki dealer.

that where i'd say them before alright, on you're sv pete..i shall price from suzuki here locally ... should be interesting

Ash,

If you're going to stay with SV forks, then I'd really reccommend getting the valving changed (a set of emulators). Changing the oil and spring does make a huge difference, but the standard valving in agricultural at best.