CKT Racetech fork overhaul/upgrade

[Shaun]

Well, duh!
This morning I finally noticed another benefit of the fork overhaul. The VFR had this weird weaving thing going on, where at ~100km/h, it didn't like going in a straight line, but sort of meandered randomly . I had wondered whether it was the suspension, but it seemed to be better when I used a tank bag rather than the Ventura pack, so I'd put it down to being some kind of combination of aerodynamics, weight distribution, and the tread pattern of the Avon Storm on the front.
So, I'm riding towards Albania on the Northern this morning, and I noticed how rock-like the bike felt (yeah, I know it's heavyish, but I was talking about stability). And that's with more rear ride height and spring preload than I had before, PLUS a steeper rake angle/less trail courtesy of the fork tubes being higher in the triples.

This is all Good Stuff.

The fact that you can now directly feal the changes after modification work has been done, really is worth it eh

[vifferman]

The fact that you can now directly feal the changes after modification work has been done, really is worth it eh

To start with, I thought, "Oh... is that it?!?", as I was expecting some "Oh wow!!" for all the money I spent. But it's made the bike handle how it should have in the first place. Probably not as well as a well-sorted GSXRxxxx, but probably as well as a VFR could, short of replacing the forks completely, putting it on a diet, and spending lotsa moolah on some trick HRC components.
There's not really anything else I could spend a couple of grand on that would have made as much difference to improving the bike as the suspension mods have.

[Pixie]

To start with, I thought, "Oh... is that it?!?", as I was expecting some "Oh wow!!" for all the money I spent. But it's made the bike handle how it should have in the first place. Probably not as well as a well-sorted GSXRxxxx, but probably as well as a VFR could, short of replacing the forks completely, putting it on a diet, and spending lotsa moolah on some trick HRC components.
There's not really anything else I could spend a couple of grand on that would have made as much difference to improving the bike as the suspension mods have.

Have you started looking for corrugated mid-corner seal to ride over yet?

[johan]

Have you started looking for corrugated mid-corner seal to ride over yet?

The golden valves will react quickly enough absorb mid-corner bumps and cracks at full lean. I do it once a lap on my race bike.

They will also support the full weight of the bike under hard breaking while still following high frequency bumps and dips of the track with out any dramas.

The harder you ride the more you appreciate the CKT Race Tech stuff!

[vifferman]

Have you started looking for corrugated mid-corner seal to ride over yet?

I did that when I fitted the Elka rear shock, and yes, I also did it when the forks were upgraded! I'm not sure if I've got the rear set up quite right yet, but it's WAY better than with the stock suspension, which was too softly sprung, and underdamped as well.
The biggest thing is being able to pick lines or change them more easily, as the bike goes where I want it to, and isn't upset by mid-corner bumps or camber changes. The route I used to commute to work on had a weird slow, right-angle corner, with a sort of a bump where the two roads met. Before the Elka was fitted, I used to avoid it, but found I could pretty much ignore it. Going the other way on that route, there's a corner with corrugations and ripples, which I can feel, but the bike doesn't step out or do anything alarming.

[Shaun]

I did that when I fitted the Elka rear shock, and yes, I also did it when the forks were upgraded! I'm not sure if I've got the rear set up quite right yet, but it's WAY better than with the stock suspension, which was too softly sprung, and underdamped as well.
The biggest thing is being able to pick lines or change them more easily, as the bike goes where I want it to, and isn't upset by mid-corner bumps or camber changes. The route I used to commute to work on had a weird slow, right-angle corner, with a sort of a bump where the two roads met. Before the Elka was fitted, I used to avoid it, but found I could pretty much ignore it. Going the other way on that route, there's a corner with corrugations and ripples, which I can feel, but the bike doesn't step out or do anything alarming.

what is the model year of your bike mate

[vifferman]

what is the model year of your bike mate

It's a 2001 VFR800 (RC46). The last year before the Vtec was introduced.

[Pixie]

The golden valves will react quickly enough absorb mid-corner bumps and cracks at full lean. I do it once a lap on my race bike.

They will also support the full weight of the bike under hard breaking while still following high frequency bumps and dips of the track with out any dramas.

The harder you ride the more you appreciate the CKT Race Tech stuff!

I have gold valves and Ohlins on my bandit.I found I started looking for bad surfaces to amaze myself how well the upgrade works.

[vifferman]

I haven't done any highway miles (apart from the short section of motorway I communt on each day), so it'll be interesting how they go on our crappily surfaced main roads.

[Robert Taylor]

I have gold valves and Ohlins on my bandit.I found I started looking for bad surfaces to amaze myself how well the upgrade works.

Indeed, thats exactly what you find yourself doing!

[pritch]

I have gold valves and Ohlins on my bandit.I found I started looking for bad surfaces to amaze myself how well the upgrade works.

Been there, done that :-)

[vifferman]

Amazingly, today was my first ride on the open road. It was kind of an 'uneven' road surface (i.e., your typical backroad NZ highway), and I didn't enjoy it at all. Controlled, but not at all supple.

[Robert Taylor]

Amazingly, today was my first ride on the open road. It was kind of an 'uneven' road surface (i.e., your typical backroad NZ highway), and I didn't enjoy it at all. Controlled, but not at all supple.

If its not as supple as you hoped for we will revalve it foc, everyone has a different expectation and that is what we always strive to accomodate.

[Shaun]

If its not as supple as you hoped for we will revalve it foc, everyone has a different expectation and that is what we always strive to accomodate.

I will be up in Auckland later in the week, and can try some externall mods if required to get it in the range a bit better if reqd by both parties here?

[vifferman]

I'll try it with less preload first, see if that helps. Before the commute this morning, I wound it off one turn and it felt a little more supple, unless I was imagining things. If it's not too wet at lunchtime, I'll do a quick loop in the country and see how it goes.
It doesn't help that I've got a random misfire I'm trying to track down, so I'm having to work out what is suspension and what is engine, but yesterday the lurchy ride was definitely suspension.
Heh... gave some tard a nice wakeup call yesterday. I was on the motorway at Spaghetti Junction, and he stuck his indicator on to change lanes, but didn't do a head check. So... there I was, right next to his door, leaning on the horn button. The Fiamms gave him a hell of a fright.