Wanted: CBR900RR suspension

[baffa]

Chatted to a suspension specialist yesterday, as the front suspension on my bike is a little soft, and the rear is well worn, and it seems rebuilding the stock suspension on something as old as a 97 seems a waste of time, but sourcing Ohlins is difficult and quite dear.
Anyone have any suggestions bar trademe and Ebay for upgrading or replacing OEM?

Stock is Showa, but apparently it is almost impossible to source parts for them bar oil and seals nowadays.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Chatted to a suspension specialist yesterday, as the front suspension on my bike is a little soft, and the rear is well worn, and it seems rebuilding the stock suspension on something as old as a 97 seems a waste of time, but sourcing Ohlins is difficult and quite dear.
Anyone have any suggestions bar trademe and Ebay for upgrading or replacing OEM?

Stock is Showa, but apparently it is almost impossible to source parts for them bar oil and seals nowadays.

ebay out of the US or UK.

You will be able to source an Ohlins shock for it locally: I had one built for my 1989 VFR400. You just have to be prepared to pay. I would budget $1000 for the forks and $1800 to $2k on the shock.

Or, call Robert and tell him what you want and he will tell you what can be done.

Talk to KSS: Robert Taylor. They give the best service in the industry, and have the best products. And yes, it costs.

What year is your blade? if it is a 92 or 93, in good condition, original and with original fairing and paint, I might buy it off you.

edit: forgot the link

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/144815-Kiwi-Suspension-Solutions

[Robert Taylor]

Chatted to a suspension specialist yesterday, as the front suspension on my bike is a little soft, and the rear is well worn, and it seems rebuilding the stock suspension on something as old as a 97 seems a waste of time, but sourcing Ohlins is difficult and quite dear.
Anyone have any suggestions bar trademe and Ebay for upgrading or replacing OEM?

Stock is Showa, but apparently it is almost impossible to source parts for them bar oil and seals nowadays.

If it was me you spoke to this seriously needs clarification. Rebuild parts are freely available for both ends, as are springs and piston kits for the stock suspension to afford a substanial improvement. The amount of improvement is almost totally proportional to how much you are prepared to spend

As we are local and know the roading conditions we are a hell of a lot better placed to give you what you need and for it to work properly.

Ohlins is of course the ultimate solution for the rear end but we can effect a really big improvement to the stock rear shock by respringing ( as and if required ) and replacing the restrictive stock piston with a high flow type. AND A MAJOR ADVANTAGE we have is a sophisticated suspension dyno so we can verify where the force curves are / need to be. No blind guesswork. No other motorcycle focused suspension company in NZ has one.

Yes it does cost, that is not always music to the ears, but we refuse to prostitute ourselves to lower prices by doing substandard work.

[Marmoot]

I was a total skeptic about spending $$$ on a bike (especially one that has a reputation of "very good handling" such as a Ducati).
I always thought that modern sportbikes handle very well as they are engineered to be such, and that only serious racers need suspension upgrades.

But I bit the bullet and let Robert did my suspension: just a little revalving and spring change for the front, and an Ohlins TTX unit for the rear, albeit stretching my budget quite a bit (damn you Robert. Please prostitute yourself a bit!)

It was the best $ I've ever spent in my life, and the bike instantly felt different as if it just got much lighter and controllable.
The improvement was such that even riding it into the city for work makes waking up in the morning worthwhile.
For the faster roads (controlled situation only, please), the bike felt a lot safer. Bits of rough roads that used to cause rear wheel instability (when the bike felt like it's squirming around and the grip is reduced) is no longer a problem. And turning in to a corner is very quick and simple. For fast sweepers this is definitely an improvement, but the slow corners (like city intersections and tight backroads) are where the benefit is felt the most.

I finally get to enjoy it as it is meant to be, not as it has been compromised by the factory.

As for Ohlins, I don't know what black magic the Swedes put into it. It looks just like another shock (except for the nice gold colour), it works just like another shock, but it felt a world better. It's not cheap but it'd be worth selling one of my testicles for.

It's so good that from now on everytime I buy a new bike I'll factor the suspension upgrade cost into the price so that it's guaranteed the stock suspension can go to the bin from day 1.

I had a '99 Blade before, and I know the bike is quick and handles very well. But trust me, if you value riding a lot, and you have some extra money you want to spend on the bike, suspension is the thing you need first. Not some carbon fibre parts or exhaust.

That, and a good set of aftermarket footpegs.

[baffa]

Stuff

Yeah mate that was me. I went and saw another suspension specialist since I wanted someone to have a quick nosey, and he suggested that some parts werent readily available for the rear, which got me worried.

Im on the look out now for a second hand ohlins set up, but if I can get the stock rebuilt with a higher spring rate I'd be a happy camper.

I get the feeling ill be in touch.

[Gremlin]

Cost me $5k for replacement Ohlins suspension for my BMW.

It was cheaper than the factory option... :wacko: It's also serviceable and adjustable, unlike factory...

[DEATH_INC.]

Im on the look out now for a second hand ohlins set up, but if I can get the stock rebuilt with a higher spring rate I'd be a happy camper.

I get the feeling ill be in touch.
I can vouch for Roberts re-valving and springing stock shocks and forks, He did the Mrs 00 R6. The difference was huge, seriously made it a different bike.

[Robert Taylor]

Yeah mate that was me. I went and saw another suspension specialist since I wanted someone to have a quick nosey, and he suggested that some parts werent readily available for the rear, which got me worried.

Im on the look out now for a second hand ohlins set up, but if I can get the stock rebuilt with a higher spring rate I'd be a happy camper.

I get the feeling ill be in touch.

Im really struggling to understand why another suspension specialist would say that, and can only guess that he is not totally au fait with what you can do with these, quite readily

Revalving / dyno / piston kits and respringing of oem shocks gives a very satisfactory level of upgrade where the customer cannot justify spending more dollars for top quality aftermarket kit.

Good used Ohlins shocks SPECIFIC to CBR900RR are very thin on the ground in NZ ( and the shock does need to be specific to preclude costly re-specing ) Dont let anyone try and sell you something ''that should fit''. Its much more than about ''will it fit'' The springing has to match the leverage and load applied to it and the valving has to match the spring force applied ( on rebound ) and the motion ratio applied ( on compression) Otherwise it just wont work properly

Every shock produced by Ohlins Sweden has a code stamped into its cylinder head to identify what it is for , in the case of Honda its an HO prefix followed by a 4 number suffix. If you come across a good used shock for sale at a good price ( E-Bay etc ) find out that spec code and let me verify. We have caught out a number of private re-sellers misrepresenting what they are selling.

Hope this helps

[Robert Taylor]

Cost me $5k for replacement Ohlins suspension for my BMW.

It was cheaper than the factory option... :wacko: It's also serviceable and adjustable, unlike factory...

Of course Alan yours was the full electronically controlled suspension! Id hate to think that everyone thinks Ohlins suspension is 5k per bike!

[HenryDorsetCase]

Of course Alan yours was the full electronically controlled suspension! Id hate to think that everyone thinks Ohlins suspension is 5k per bike!

I was going to ask was it the fancy schmancy electro controlled thingy. I liked Mr Gremlins build thread on the install.

The interesting thing I was reading about last night was the BMW s1000RR HP4 which has a damper ECU and changes suspension performance 127 times a second or something.

That has to be the way of the future. According to Rupert Paul (Performance Bikes) it is the most significant step forward in suspension development since BMW invented the telescopic fork in 1935. I am quoting him there but I am not sure he is correct in saying that BMW invented the fork: they used Earles forks up till the 60's: I foresee googling in my future.

[Gremlin]

The new R1200GS (amongst others) are coming out with dynamic suspension, ie, it's adjusting itself constantly based on the data it's receiving.

Yes, definitely the way of the future. Mine has a basic feature of this, namely that if I am in comfort mode and go over x speed (not sure on the exact levels) it switches the suspension to normal, then another speed it sets itself to sport. As you slow it backs off, but only changes itself in comfort mode...

Sure Robert, not everyone has to spend $5k, but it IS the really shiny TTX gear :cool:

[baffa]

I was keeping an eye on a parts bike as it had an ohlins setup but its gone above what I want to spend.

Is there anyone based on the North Shore that I can go to? Otherwise Ill have to buy a second hand shock and send it down the line, I dont wanna be without a bike temporarily if I can help it.

[DEATH_INC.]

Is there anyone based on the North Shore that I can go to?
Probably, but why bother. Get Dr Bob to do it, and it'll be right. You can probably get an old shock e-bay for bugger all if need be. If ya don't use it every day robert turns em around in under a week if you book it with him.

[Marmoot]

I dont wanna be without a bike temporarily if I can help it.

Ride it down there, get it done, and ride it back up.

Only takes 5hrs each way. Perfect for a good summer day.

[Gremlin]

Or make a long weekend of it and take a day off work (Fri or Mon).

I did, only issue was that being the first intall, it took the entire day, so I only got home at 0100 :pinch:

[baffa]

See I have no issue doing that, but Rob wont know what needs replacing until the shock is apart, and if he has to order parts, im stuck in New Plymouth thumbing a lift home.

God this is gonna turn out like when I got the bike painted, bike will be temporarily off the road and ill have to use the dreaded public transport :cry:

[DEATH_INC.]

See I have no issue doing that, but Rob wont know what needs replacing until the shock is apart, and if he has to order parts, im stuck in New Plymouth thumbing a lift home.

God this is gonna turn out like when I got the bike painted, bike will be temporarily off the road and ill have to use the dreaded public transport :cry:
Most shocks are fairly generic, as in a lot of bits are interchangeable. Robert will know what he may need, and will more likely than not have it in stock anyhow...

[baffa]

In the end I got my old shock rebuilt, I couldnt find any second hand ones in NZ, and Ebay was asking too much to justify someone elses wrecked suspension.

Courtesy of Rob it is respecced to my weight with ohlins and racetech components, very keen to see how the bike feels once its fitted (still waiting on a stator to arrive in the country before the bike can get back on the road).

Im pretty sure Im helping fund Rob and George's retirement funds, but it is money well spent.

[Fast Eddie]

In the end I got my old shock rebuilt, I couldnt find any second hand ones in NZ, and Ebay was asking too much to justify someone elses wrecked suspension.

Courtesy of Rob it is respecced to my weight with ohlins and racetech components, very keen to see how the bike feels once its fitted (still waiting on a stator to arrive in the country before the bike can get back on the road).

Im pretty sure Im helping fund Rob and George's retirement funds, but it is money well spent.

how much was just the rear shock for the blade?

I got a quote of around 1,500 I think.. and the front forks were similar money (might as well do front and back.. n point having a sweet rear and and shitty up front)

[baffa]

Job done. New stator and rebuilt suspension is in, rear is solid as a rock (in a good way). Only problem is now the front feels really soft under braking, will get it rebuilt in time, but are there any handy tips on taking the rear down a bit? Front preload is wound up to max. Eddie, I got ohlins spring and a race tech piston in the package for less than that from kss

[Marmoot]

I told you you're gonna love it.
Even more after the front is done. Dunno what KSS did with my front but it made it softer with less brake dive at the same time. It's not logical.