My Suspension upgrade choice. Any feedback?

[Stew]

So I've decided to get the bike exactly the way I want it. I'm not that fussed about tweaking and fiddling with the suspension once I get it working the way I like.

Here is what I'm strongly considering, and I'd welcome any feedback.

Fully strip and service forks and Install K-Tech-20 SSK Piston Kit with springs to suit your weight

Replace the stock shock with a K-Tech Razor R Performance shock fully adjustable in preload, compression and rebound

 

All done for me by a suspension specialist shop, so will all be setup just the way I want it.

[betoney]

K-Tech is highly regarded, excellent choice. 👍

There have been a few people reporting the need to use one step lighter springs with the K-Tech drop-in cartridges (not sure if the piston kit is the same), so consult your specialist to get it perfect for your needs.  

[duhg]

I have the K-tech setup and I've been very happy with the improved handling on rough roads.  Yes the front was stiff at first, I guess I've grown accustomed or the damping has eased up a bit and may be ready for a fork oil change.  The shock manual says to service every 10k miles - that's one year for me, a ridiculously short amount of miles for a sport-touring bike, IMO.

The only inconvenience is that the Razor R shock's remote reservoir is mounted where a chain oiler would mount., so no oiler for me.

 

[texscottyd]

Hi @Stew - That sounds like a great setup, and I’m sure you will be pleased with the results.   I don’t have personal experience with K-Tech, but they seem highly regarded  and we’ve heard great things about their suspension components here on the forum.  

I went the Ohlins shock & RaceTech fork route, which is a similar setup to what you describe.  It’s a VAST improvement over stock, and I’ve been very pleased with the results over 15k miles of use. It really did transform the bike.  That said, I’m still tempted to go back and upgrade to the fully adjustable fork cartridges (Ohlins NIX30 most likely) to get that final 10% on the forks...   If I had known how much I would bond with this bike, I probably would have spent the incremental money up front for the fully adjustable cartridges instead of the RaceTech gold valve setup.   

[Stew]

Cheers @texscottyd  , I did think long and hard about going with the K-Tech Fully adjustable 20IDS catridge system, but I had budget constraints and really I think I'll be getting such a leap in suspension and handling that it would have been over the top for me.

Partly also, I am not sure about the Dunlop Sportsmax tyres on the bike, I can't feel much from them, but that may be purely down to the stock suspension. They haven't given any cause for concern, but I ride with my toes and backside, and if anything I like my bikes set up as soft as possible, most would call it wallowy, but that's what I like. I have a suspicion that the sidewalls are really super firm.

Ordered the parts yesterday, so I'll get a call from the suspension place when they arrive, then ride down, sit around all day excitedly, then ride home, hopefully grinning even more under my helmet

(and of course I'll take photo's of all the shiny bits for everyone)

 

[StealthAu]

On 7/10/2020 at 3:36 AM, Stew said:

So I've decided to get the bike exactly the way I want it. I'm not that fussed about tweaking and fiddling with the suspension once I get it working the way I like.

 

 

As you ride i, fork oil breaks down. Oil gets thinner, both rebound and compression damping effects reduce. 

This results in suspension behaving differently over time. With external adjusters, you can increase damping over time to compensate for this. Or, you can change fork fluid more frequently. 

I have one bike with no external hydraulic adjustment. I find myself replacing the fork oil every 5,000km to maintain the performance I want. 

Bikes with external adjusters, I'll let go up to 20,000km (max) between fork services, making adjustments periodically between services. 

 

[piotrek]

2 minutes ago, StealthAu said:

As you ride i, fork oil breaks down. Oil gets thinner, both rebound and compression damping effects reduce.

I find that temperature has an effect as well. I tend to open the valves a click during shoulder seasons. I will change the oil after each riding season, say 10-15K kms. Over the course of the season there will be a variance of maybe 2 clicks overall due to these factors.

[StealthAu]

3 hours ago, piotrek said:

I find that temperature has an effect as well. I tend to open the valves a click during shoulder seasons. I will change the oil after each riding season, say 10-15K kms. Over the course of the season there will be a variance of maybe 2 clicks overall due to these factors.

Yes, this too. I don't really think much of this point as the temperature variance is minimal winter to summer here. 

[Stew]

Temperature is definitely not an issue here. Appreciate the feedback though folks.

[Wingnut]

Curious about opinions concerning warranties on high end (as opposed to stock) shocks.

A little searching surprised me. Ohlins have a minimum two-year warranty on their motorcycle shocks, K-Tech, one year, cannot find a warranty statement for Penske.

Are the higher cost Ohlins (S46HR1C1S)worth the longer warranty?

 

Edited October 25, 2020 by Wingnut

[betoney]

5 minutes ago, Wingnut said:

Curious about opinions concerning warranties on high end (as opposed to stock) shocks.

A little searching surprised me. Ohlins have a minimum two-year warranty on their motorcycle shocks, K-Tech, one year, and Penske expressly states no warranty, "Penske Racing Shocks makes no Warranties whatsoever, express or implied, oral or written, to the purchaser."

Are the higher cost Ohlins (S46HR1C1S)worth the longer warranty?

 

You can't buy an off-the-shelf Penske, (they aren't mass produced for retail outlets) they are only available custom built to spec.  I ordered mine through Traxxion Dynamics, they send my specific valving specs to Penske who then build it and dyno it.

I have had mine going on 4 years and it has worked BRILLIANTLY, with zero issues, I'm sure something "could" happen but I have never heard of anyone having warranty issues. 

I take it in every 2 years to be cleaned and serviced, new seals and wear parts, oil and nitrogen.

[Wingnut]

Thank you!! You're awesome to comment so quickly.

I've edited the post (thought I did anyway) to reflect my discovery that the "C YA" driveway warranty statement applied to Penske's racing shock line. I'll assume there's a year "til-death-do-us-part" promise for them ... same as everyone else though I can't find the ink from Penske to prove it.

Went the Ohlins route, partly because of the longer warranty, partly because the Penske install pics/vids I saw mentioned cutting the side plastics to fit around the reservoir ... and a flippin' HOSE clamp to mount the reservoir? 

Many of those posts are more than four years old so that may not  be the case anymore, still ... it was the info I had.

You're better than most to stay on top of your maintenance like that, I get loose stuff handed to me in a greasy baggie with a note that says "don't work, can U fix? (smiley face, smiley face).

There's a Celtic proportion of my gut that's sayin' "The Ohlins ain't gonna be as easy to service as the Penske's" but hell, I'm buckin' my age demographic even riding a motorcycle, a three shot Grande Mocha can't touch a knee drag corner on the way CVS to make the bladder shrink.

Forks are next ...  soon as I mentally pay off this upgrade with a few "yeehaaaaws, she be on a rail now!!" rides.

Thanks again.