suspension K-Tech Suspension upgrade feedback

[Stew]

So, here is my early feedback on the upgrade that I just had done on the bike.
I had the front forks completely serviced, new seals, K-Tech SSK Pistons, KYB springs and new oil.
Rear, completely replaced with K-Tech Razor-R , with remote adjustment...
The bike was set up so that the sag etc. was just right for me.

 

The instant I sat on the bike the difference was noticeable. It felt , well, tighter is the best word I can use to describe it. The bike didn't sit down on me or anything, it just settled ever so slightly.
My first ride on it, was a 160 or so mile trip home, sadly all on Motorway (3 lane freeway) , and in really nasty weather. But as I was riding along I realised how nothing was upsetting the bike, no seams or white lines  noticeable as I crossed them, and I am talking about in pouring rain, at 70-90mph. It was like riding in the dry, the bike was so planted feeling. It was a properly uneventful and enjoyable ride home, despite the rain and fog, and at times really strong crosswinds. Got home, stinky hands from soggy gloves. Not much to say really, it was just a nice cruise home.

Today however, I got my first opportunity to try it out properly. Dry and sunny, on roads that I know reasonably well, with all sorts of road condition, from smooth, to freshly laid, to badly repaired all the way to just plain badly potholed. Super twisty roads. I recorded it all on my gopro and watched it back to sort of take it in even more when I was off of the bike. If anyone is interested I'll edit the footage and put some highlights up on youtube at some point. If not, I enjoyed it

The first thing that struck me was how effortlessly the bike would change direction, side to side with no drama, no big input from me. It actually felt like I had put different profile tyres on, it was a huge difference, and to be quite blunt, it made me a little nervous, not in a bad way, more like I was on a bike I hadn't ridden before.
So I rode along the lochside, and went through a couple of bends that I was always wary of before the upgrade, and the bike breezed through as though the big bumps and ripples weren't there. Tested out hammering on the front brake on a a few different surfaces, and the grip level seemed massive, and the forks didn't dive and bounce, the damping was super smooth, very very confidence inspiring.
Then I took it along some really twisty bits, just taking my time and trying to get the feel for it all. Again, zero drama, the bike just felt planted and like I had masses more grip than before.
I then rode round some bends that had caused me real issues , due to how bad the road surface was, I used to slow right down for them, but no matter how slow, the bike seemed to get kicked around, causing me a loss of confidence that I would even stay on my side of the road at times. Seriously unpleasant bits of road for me.
With the upgrade, I could feel the bumps, but they had no effect on the level of grip or control at all. I was seriously blown away by how huge the improvement was.
I had hoped for some improvement, but this was far beyond my expectations. It literally feels like a new bike. Before the upgrade it felt like the front and rear of the bike were really almost working against one another, and I always felt like I was working hard to get it to switch from one direction to another when leaned over , and there was a constant fear of the bumps and potholes and such actually causing me to end up on the wrong side of the road, to the point where there were a few roads I wouldn't ride along because there was no pleasure in it at all.

Now, all I need to do is get used to how much more planted and smooth the bike feels.
I'm going for another 'test' ride along the same road tomorrow, but without the gopro, so I don't need to worry about the speedometer showing, and I cannot wait!

I will update this after I've been along the dreaded 'other side of the loch' road tomorrow

Stew

Cannot recommend a suspension upgrade enough, and I've only started to get used to it.

Thanks for reading this novella, if you made it to the end you have far too much time on your hands

 

[knyte]

Wow, that's great news.  Really glad to hear you're enjoying it so much.

[Stew]

1 minute ago, knyte said:

Wow, that's great news.  Really glad to hear you're enjoying it so much.

Cheers my friend. And I'm only a flight away. You'd have the time of your life riding around the roads here. All you need is a passport, a plane ticket and insurance to ride my bike , and you'd be more than welcome to use my bike to tour the area. It is stunning. Super twisty roads, and very little traffic.
 

[knyte]

That would be amazing...we have to get past this pandemic, first though

Afterwards...you just might hear a knock on the door.

[Stew]

Go for it. I only have a wee humble home, but an awesome bike!

[knyte]

Well we are both members of the Commonwealth...maybe that'd net less questions hahaha

[betoney]

1 hour ago, Stew said:

The first thing that struck me was how effortlessly the bike would change direction, side to side with no drama, no big input from me. It actually felt like I had put different profile tyres on, it was a huge difference, and to be quite blunt, it made me a little nervous, not in a bad way, more like I was on a bike I hadn't ridden before.

That's a great description - "effortless".  I notice the same thing especially in downhill curves, I live near several mountain passes and riding fast downhill curves is my favorite, no drama, no fear and a lot of the times, less use of the brakes!  The front doesn't collapse under its own weight and holds firmly in the stroke with no wallowing, I find that I am more relaxed because I have much more front end traction, I can have a looser grip on the bike and just let it flow through the curves, like I'm just along for the ride! 😎

You will discover a whole new method to riding when you are confident in your suspension/tires.

[Stew]

Just now, betoney said:

That's a great description - "effortless".  I notice the same thing especially in downhill curves, I live near several mountain passes and riding fast downhill curves is my favorite, no drama, no fear and a lot of the times, less use of the brakes!  The front doesn't collapse under its own weight and holds firmly in the stroke with no wallowing, I find that I am more relaxed because I have much more front end traction, I can have a looser grip on the bike and just let it flow through the curves, like I'm just along for the ride! 😎

You will discover a whole new method to riding when you are confident in your suspension/tires.

Indeed. Plus I thought my tyres (tires) were garbage, in fact it was the suspension.  As you say, much less drama, much less happening that you need to deal with, or that distracts your mind. The amount of grip on the front is insane now. It'll take me a week or so probably to get used to this ridiculously smooth bike, since I had adjusted myself so much to dropping gears , slowing to a crawl, chucking it in and hanging on while it pogo'd around, then hammering back out of the turn, just in time to do the same on the next bend. No flow, and tiring.
I cannot wait to try the 'bad' side of the loch tomorrow.

[betoney]

15 minutes ago, Stew said:

It'll take me a week or so probably to get used to this ridiculously smooth bike, since I had adjusted myself so much to dropping gears , slowing to a crawl, chucking it in and hanging on while it pogo'd around, then hammering back out of the turn, just in time to do the same on the next bend. No flow, and tiring.

I agree with you, get out and ride if for several hours at a time.  Forget what you used to know (easier said than done) you will soon find that you have gradually adapted to the 'new bike'... even after 3 years on this bike, I still find myself laughing in my helmet at times as I rip through a beautiful section of twisty pavement. 😎

[tktplz]

Very nice and descriptive of the feel and can we say effects of upgrading suspension. Great write up Stew, Thanks!

[2and3cylinders]

Do put a zip tie on the Right Fork and check how your preload is under hard braking.  you should end up with about an inch below the zip tie, even less if you want. It's not just how it goes but how it stops and decelerates with trail braking.  As I said in my late post in the thread "what did you do with your GT today", it's how much dive you want. The more dive you have in a turn tightens your line and makes it go through even easier but you want it in the bottom 2/3 of the stroke on average.

[Stew]

I appreciate your suggestion, but I'll pass , thanks.

I've been riding for 40 years now, I am no expert by any means, but I know how I like a bike to behave/react, and I have had some great bikes in my time, but never have I had a bike set up so perfectly for me.  I've worked as a motorcycle despatch rider in London, I've done IaM training, I've raced enduro, I've ridden motogymkhana, I've toured all over the place, UK and Europe, I've taken groups of riders on touring weekends etc.
I'm still learning, and always will be.
All that said, what it boils down to for me is.....

The bike feels amazing, and was set up to suit my requirements, my riding style , and the sorts of roads that I want to get the most out of the bike on. It was done by a suspension specialist, who can be found every weekend at race meetings in the UK, setting up race bikes. I spent time with him, in his workshop, discussing the issues I had, and what I wanted from a bike.
Have a wee look at his site...

TW Suspension Tech, North West's Motorcycle Suspension Specialists

---

We are specialists in complete motorcycle suspension set up, servicing...

The Booster Plug and suspension upgrade have transformed the bike from a great engine and decent bike to a superb bike with a superb engine.

[2and3cylinders]

Great I'm very happy you're pleased with what you have, don't get me wrong. I've just found that no one setting, particularly set by someone else, meets all road conditions and speeds, tires Etc.  With all the variables that go into suspension and brakes and engine response means one setting doesn't meet every need. But again if you're happy with it based on the type of riding you do, however one dimensional, great.   I've been riding a very long time and through those years, decades, I've personally done a lot of work on all aspects motorcycle mechanics. And I'm very lucky to have my own well-equipped shop to do it in.

Running a zip tie is just a Tell-Tale of what you're Forks are doing and if you feel you don't need to know that's wonderful. I find myself doing different types of riding from sport to touring and I found I need to adjust my suspension accordingly. Same thing goes with the modifications I've made to the brakes and the engine.

You probably are a better Rider than I am most likely, even though I raced but on bikes that are light years behind even our FJ09s.  I have daydreamed showing up at Race track back in the day with for example, and FJ09 a plain brown wrapper.

I also in my youth, I too was a motorcycle Courier but not in London, in San Francisco! LOL. A very challenging City to ride or drive in and to learn your way around. Nowhere near as huge as London which just boggles my mind. I can't imagine being a courier in London particularly with the weather though San Francisco was no bed of roses in that regard.

 

 

[Stew]

5 minutes ago, 2and3cylinders said:

Great I'm very happy you're pleased with what you have, don't get me wrong. I've just found that no one setting, particularly set by someone else, meets all road conditions and speeds, tires Etc.  With all the variables that go into suspension and brakes and engine response means one setting doesn't meet every need. But again if you're happy with it based on the type of riding you do, however one dimensional, great.   I've been riding a very long time and through those years, decades, I've personally done a lot of work on all aspects motorcycle mechanics. And I'm very lucky to have my own well-equipped shop to do it in.

Running a zip tie is just a Tell-Tale of what you're Forks are doing and if you feel you don't need to know that's wonderful. I find myself doing different types of riding from sport to touring and I found I need to adjust my suspension accordingly. Same thing goes with the modifications I've made to the brakes and the engine.

You probably are a better Rider than I am most likely, even though I raced but on bikes that are light years behind even our FJ09s.  I have daydreamed showing up at Race track back in the day with for example, and FJ09 a plain brown wrapper.

I also in my youth, I too was a motorcycle Courier but not in London, in San Francisco! LOL. A very challenging City to ride or drive in and to learn your way around. Nowhere near as huge as London which just boggles my mind. I can't imagine being a courier in London particularly with the weather though San Francisco was no bed of roses in that regard.

 

 

Riding in London in the rain all day, with the insane traffic was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Sitting eating a bar of chocolate on the kerb in the pouring rain, thinking, I'm getting paid to ride my bike, was just the best feeling ever. Getting home at night exhausted but super adrenalined up, face absolutely black with road muck. Crashing, but the bike still rideable, got to get the package to the client, don't bleed on it when you deliver it. Delivering body parts from directly outside the operating theatre to the autopsey unit 3 miles away as quickly as possible.
Happy days. I'd do it again in a heartbeat, but the internet killed it stone dead.

I spent a lifetime in i.t. , always chasing technology, always something better, always something more efficient. It broke my brain (long story) , so I deliberately avoid going down that route with everything wherever possible nowadays.
The bike handles and performs better than I can, that's all I need, and while I get exactly what you are saying, nah, it's not for me , not now. It works, the biggest limiting factor to the bike now is purely my brain and my skill level, which I work on as often as I can. (Although sometimes you just have to go and thrash it about and hope no cops are hiding round the next bend

 

[BBB]

Great news on your suspension upgrade @stew and a perfect description of the removal of drama that happens when the front and back wheels just work well.

I’d support @2and3cylinders suggestion of a zip tie. It takes seconds to put on and is pretty cool to see how much your forks dive on strong braking, even if just for peace of mind. I went through a phase of thinking I had reached suspension perfection, just after my upgrades were installed, simply because the contrast is so remarkable. I’m now in the phase of gentle tweaks as I’m used to the bike again and am just exploring if it can be even better. Ah, the curse of restless minds (or boys with toys😁).