I'm Now a Firm Believer in Suspension Mods

[tomatocity]

Suspension: Let me start with... the more I read or have explained to me the less I understand.

Couple years ago had the stock fork springs replaced with linear fork springs. They are either .090 or .095. Also have an Ohlins rear shock.

Have never had the suspension completely dialed in but it is close. Use a zip tie on the fork to measure travel. Currently the most travel I can get is 6" of the 7.5". What adjustment allows the fork travel more or less?

One of my favorite rides is an asphalt unimproved road in a wilderness area. It has 11 weirs where you get compression. The road is rough but can be ridden fast where seemly all of the suspension can be used. Rode it both ways this week and the forks only traveled 6 inches though I am sure suspension was max'd more than once.

Should the forks travel more than 6 inches?

 

[greg the pole]

" The shock is meant to be rebuilt every 30 miles, "

OMG!!!
I've been abusing my bike on this old worn out shock for 25,000 miles?
Chains last longer than these shocks!

I'm just having fun with ya, I'm sure that's a typo )

im far too lazy to type out the zeros... they recommend rebuilding it every 30 thou miles, I'll pull it off this winter and clean it up a bit, and re-install it.
Will not bother to send it in to get It rebuilt

 

[bukilica5]

I just installed an Ohlins 30mm cart kit for the front and an ohlins rear shock. Suspension is the best mod I have made. It makes me much faster in the hills and more comfortable riding the bike. Suspension is the best mod you could make on any bike!

 

[cosmic]

any pics??

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Someday, MAYBE, there will be a post on some thread on some forum where a fella adds a high quality rear shock and completely upgraded fork internals, by a qualified suspension guru, and will then ride off and come to the conclusion it was a waste of time and money.

That kinda is what happened to set my outlook on suspension mods. I shared a home base location at Hatfield/McCoy with professional writer who wrote this article ( http://atvconnection.com/articles/elka-shock-review-2/) related to the ATV I owned for many years. He told me one of the great things about his job was getting to keep the stuff he reviewed, including the suspension from this article on his personal KFX700.

He was HM doing another article and Kawasaki had loaned him a new KFX700 (same as article) to use for the job. At the end of a full day riding I asked him if it was rough going back to stock suspension on the ATV. He thought for a second, then told me he never noticed a thing and it didn't cross his mind. Thank you, you just saved me a lot of money.

I've tried a few mods here and there. I've tried to convince myself that I felt something, but I think I was lying to myself. I don't doubt anyone here that says it makes a big difference to them. I don't what it is about me, but I just don't have the same experience.

 

[Bushyar15]

Respectfully…

I don't necessarily think thats a good comparison…. ATV suspension mods vs S10 and suspension mods. I think you'd need to do an apples to apples comparison. I also think it depends on how you ride as well. If you don't push it, then swapping bits may not be the way to go.

I say this cause if you asked me about my Ducati's suspension and changing out the suspension parts, I'd say: "No". The stock suspension works just fine for where and how I ride. Which when I ride the Ducati, its usually Canyon Carving or shorter rides. If I were using it for day-long rides, hundreds of miles in a day, I'd tell you the suspension is too stiff and even trying to adjust it "down", isn't enough. So I might consider a suspension swap/mod.

Now the S10, as you probably read in my post in this thread has really transformed the bike's handling. On-road corners like its on rails an off-road its really smoothed-out the washboard surfaces. BUT again, thats how I ride and where I ride. I do 50% off-road so, I may be putting my suspension through the paces…

BTW, I'm not saying suspension mods are for everyone, but if you do notice some deficiencies in your suspension, its well worth it...

That kinda is what happened to set my outlook on suspension mods. I shared a home base location at Hatfield/McCoy with professional writer who wrote this article ( http://atvconnection.com/articles/elka-shock-review-2/) related to the ATV I owned for many years. He told me one of the great things about his job was getting to keep the stuff he reviewed, including the suspension from this article on his personal KFX700.

He was HM doing another article and Kawasaki had loaned him a new KFX700 (same as article) to use for the job. At the end of a full day riding I asked him if it was rough going back to stock suspension on the ATV. He thought for a second, then told me he never noticed a thing and it didn't cross his mind. Thank you, you just saved me a lot of money.

I've tried a few mods here and there. I've tried to convince myself that I felt something, but I think I was lying to myself. I don't doubt anyone here that says it makes a big difference to them. I don't what it is about me, but I just don't have the same experience.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

I also think it depends on how you ride as well. If you don't push it, then swapping bits may not be the way to go.

That might be it. I'm a pretty mellow rider. O

 

[bukilica5]

here are a few pics. The bike rides so much better. Valved more for street.

 

[bukilica5]

And....The Ohlins cartridge

 

[bukilica5]

Last one...

 

[luckylindy]

I,m planning on doing the same thing in a few weeks!

 

[bukilica5]

It's the best mod I've done to the bike!! Worth the money! Ohlins!!!

 

[Juan Valderrama]

I was also skeptical about suspension MOD.

But I did it, with Stoltec . I have both front cartridges redone and my rear shock totally replaced.

I must say I absolutely love it and I do think is the best mod one can have.

Regarding Stoltec, it is a Penske system, with new linear springs, new valves and shims in the front, and a new triple click Penske show in the rear.

The only drawback about my system is that, in the rear, it does not have a preload know, so I have to adjust the preload with a lever that is included, but then I have to be sure the shock is clean. Another issue to consider is that my bike is Japanese and all its bolts are metric. Penske shocks come imperial (in inches) so is a pain in the ass, as one has to have then some imperial tools.

So, for an adventure bike, is better to have the preload knob and a shock with metric bolts, if your bike comes with metric.

 

[Bushyar15]

Good points to remember regarding the Penske!

I was also skeptical about suspension MOD.

But I did it, with Stoltec . I have both front cartridges redone and my rear shock totally replaced.

I must say I absolutely love it and I do think is the best mod one can have.

Regarding Stoltec, it is a Penske system, with new linear springs, new valves and shims in the front, and a new triple click Penske show in the rear.

The only drawback about my system is that, in the rear, it does not have a preload know, so I have to adjust the preload with a lever that is included, but then I have to be sure the shock is clean. Another issue to consider is that my bike is Japanese and all its bolts are metric. Penske shocks come imperial (in inches) so is a pain in the ass, as one has to have then some imperial tools.

So, for an adventure bike, is better to have the preload knob and a shock with metric bolts, if your bike comes with metric.

 

[Mark R.]

Yesterday I took my ST for its first ride off road since Rick at Cogent Dynamics rebuilt my Cogent shock and upgraded it with a remote reservoir, as well as re-valving my front end. What an incredible difference, especially up front. I hated the harsh front forks before, but they are excellent right now. Stock (2012) suspension is like a pogo stick compared to really dialed-in custom suspension. Wish it had been my first modification.

 

[creggur]

Yesterday I took my ST for its first ride off road since Rick at Cogent Dynamics rebuilt my Cogent shock and upgraded it with a remote reservoir, as well as re-valving my front end. What an incredible difference, especially up front. I hated the harsh front forks before, but they are excellent right now. Stock (2012) suspension is like a pogo stick compared to really dialed-in custom suspension. Wish it had been my first modification.

This was me after-the-fact. Had never done suspension upgrades to any of my bikes over the years, but man what a difference it makes. Wish I hadn't waited as long as I did. Of course it was like getting a brand new bike two-and-a-half years into ownership, so that was cool...

 

[XtreemLee]

I had a 2000 BMW R1100RT that i replaced stock suspension with tuned Ohlins for about 2k is spendies. Now that I have spent a year on my 14 ES, I am quite impressed with Kayaba and don't see any need to replace it...

 

[HoebSTer]

Konflict Suspensions here in Washington state has done over a dozen Teneres and helped with rides in this state. Worth it to support those who give and support us here. I have full work done on my Tenere. It has been awesome for my 290# frame.

Jeff

 

[KENAROO]

I find the naysayers funny but also believe some riders don't need a suspension upgrade as they just don't ride the motorcycle to it's limits
20K miles on mine and I knew from the second long weekend ride this bike needed better suspension. or at least sprung to my weight. Problem was I just spent 14k on a bike and 2500 adv gear. I really didn't have a budget for suspension.. coming from enduro bikes and racing.. I found it very hard to ride within the limits of the bike and it's stock suspension. but for 20K miles I was hell bent not to get sucked in.

after my 3 week 6500 mile trek up to Canada and back this fall.. I knew it was time.. my bike was thrashed from bottoming out on the dirt roads and rocks. I'd stiffen up for the rough only to have the front end suck riding the wash boards.. then I'd soften up and g-out so bad I broke my sub pump case. the rear shock of the bike really wasn't too bad.. but lack of serviceability and no compression damping just doesn't cut it for long term ownership of this bike.

best of all... I have a leaky for seal so its time for an upgrade. LOL ::015::
Orderd the wilbers race shock with high and load speed damping, hydro spring adjuster and front springs.. going to play with the stock valves and shim stack to see if I can get a little better valving with the heavier springs.. I might just go with high viscosity of oil if the valving is close . If needed I'll go with racetech valves and play with the shims to get it dialed in..

 

[DonB]

Kenaroo,
Who/how is your suspension spec'ed? Did you get it from Ted Porter? How much you weigh and what type of riding?
How much? PM if you need to.
Thanks!