Suspension tweaks

Originally Posted by Lozzo

Stickers go on the fridge/freezer doors, stuff like Ohlins ones go on the Snap-On chests, and when the fridge doors are full you start on wardrobe doors.

Originally Posted by northwind

Or, just as importantly, they can be used to hide crash damage

Originally Posted by Lozzo

I find not crashing works best.

Originally Posted by northwind

I'm giving that a go at the moment, but you've got to try every approach I think, you never know...

Class. 3 comebacks and each one funnier that the one before.

Firstly I haven’t read many of the other replies, so apologise if this has been said already …

Ok so, I have only ever ridden curvys, and my advice to anyone who wants to make a track bike out of a curvy with minimal monies is this … Rearsets, ZX636 shock, shorter dogbones, Racetech emulators and correctly weighted springs&oil for the forks. Performance Friction pads and braided hoses in/on the front, 2nd hand Supercorsa pros. Job done!! … oh and crash bungs for when you try too hard!!

Like I said that is for a curvy, most of it I presume will translate to the pointy thought I am sure (apart from needing a GSXR shock, not a ZX). Also, there has been talk for proper replacement cartridge internals being available for the pointy now. These would make more sense than emulators and springs, there isn’t much in the price either, so probably the way to go on the front. But the Racetech setup is ample.

Just read Rob’s reply … I can’t speak for the GIXER shock, but on the curvy the ZX636 shock is mint, you would have to be really ‘trying’ to start out riding it – sounds like the GSXR shock might be lacking though?!! ... or people are just to darn picky!?!?

Originally Posted by northwind

I tend to favour a GSXR fork swap purely on grounds of price, since you can sell the SV bits to offset the GSXR bits- it's a great upgrade anyway even with stock GSXR forks, but take into account the price and it's better still.

This is handy, I just happen to have a redundant Gixer 750L with good USD forks sitting in my garage. I was about to sell the complete bike for 500 quid just to make some space in there. Tomorrow I'll be stripping the whole bike down to major component level and putting everything except the whole front end on ebay. Might even make a bit more dosh this way too. From what I can make out, all I'll need is a new set of taper roller steering head bearings to get them to fit the SV frame.

I'll have some K3 SV forks, mudguard, wheel and brakes in excellent conditon up for sale soon then as well, if the forks swop goes to plan.

I also have an old but good condition RGV250 wheel in the back of the garage, in amongst 30 years of accumulated bike clobber and parts - I hear rumour that they are the same front wheel as an SV, is this true?

[northwind]

Dunno about the really old ones tbh... Haven't even a clue how good they are etc.

It was one of the most planted and yet compliant front ends I've ever had. In my biking time I've owned 2 GSXR 750Ls, and both have had the most sublime suspension for a standard set-up.

Originally Posted by Lozzo

It was one of the most planted and yet compliant front ends I've ever had. In my biking time I've owned 2 GSXR 750Ls, and both have had the most sublime suspension for a standard set-up.

But there really old, better to sell and spend the £500 on something a few years old that works with a lighter bike.

Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S

Just read Rob’s reply … I can’t speak for the GIXER shock, but on the curvy the ZX636 shock is mint, you would have to be really ‘trying’ to start out riding it 8) – sounds like the GSXR shock might be lacking though?!! :( ... or people are just to darn picky!?!? :lol:

Well the Kwak shocks certainly dont work when fitted to a Kwak, either over sprung with too little rebound or way too much rebound and minimal compression, but maybe a spring change makes the more suitable for the sv.

As for Cartridges, Emulators and springs can be made good enough for the chassis, wheras most of the cartridge kits need modifying to run std fork caps for Minitwins which works out dearer in the long run.

Having recently (re)worked an R6 conversion, I can safely say this is the worst conversion ive ever seen, If anyone thinks of buying forks with them fitted, Then look elsewhere:hackedoff:

I'm going to put it in and see how it feels first, if it's crap I'll take it out and flog it and buy a set of SRAD forks. I won't have to buy yokes and wheel though.

Originally Posted by Robw#70

Well the Kwak shocks certainly dont work when fitted to a Kwak, either over sprung with too little rebound or way too much rebound and minimal compression, but maybe a spring change makes the more suitable for the sv.

Well, they may be a mismatch on the ZX, but they certainly export to the SV well as they are

Perhaps these limitations are lessened when set with the SV and its linkages Or I just can't tell a sh1te shock from a good one!! Either way I found it confidence inspiring to ride on over the stock SV shock

but to be fiar, that might also be partly due to the ride height change with its extra length and the shorter dog bones I put on at the same time more than just the shock!?!?

Just measured up the Gixer 750L front end, it's too long in the steering stem. I won't bother adapting it to fit, I'll search out a full SRAD 750 front end. There's one of those in my garage at the moment that I'm doing a full service on, measured that up and the whole front end will go in with little or no problems.