Fork revalve

[diggyduo]

Hi All

Does anyone in the Auckland area do fork revalve/rebuilds rather than just straight seal replacement? It would be on a set of (road) showa's FWIW.

Cheers

[DEATH_INC.]

http://www.suspensiontech.com
Try this guy

[Robert Taylor]

Hi All

Does anyone in the Auckland area do fork revalve/rebuilds rather than just straight seal replacement? It would be on a set of (road) showa's FWIW.

Cheers

What make and model of bike is it for and what issues are you having? What is your main application/ type of riding for this bike and what is your height and weight in your everyday clothes? On receipt of that info I should be able to suggest the priorities that will sort out those forks.

[diggyduo]

1000 DS duke. Track day riding/sporty road riding. Not much commuting.
One of the seals has just developed a seep, so though it's be a good time for an overhaul. They have 40+k on them.
The forks work okay, though seem pretty soft to me. In saying that, surface changes tend to upset the front end quite a lot if found mid corner (much more so than on other bikes I have ridden of late).
I'm 80kg/6 ft

What make and model of bike is it for and what issues are you having? What is your main application/ type of riding for this bike and what is your height and weight in your everyday clothes? On receipt of that info I should be able to suggest the priorities that will sort out those forks.

[Drew]

1000 DS duke. Track day riding/sporty road riding. Not much commuting.
One of the seals has just developed a seep, so though it's be a good time for an overhaul. They have 40+k on them.
The forks work okay, though seem pretty soft to me. In saying that, surface changes tend to upset the front end quite a lot if found mid corner (much more so than on other bikes I have ridden of late).
I'm 80kg/6 ft

After 40,000k's, you're gonna think the forks are from a different bike just replacing the friggin fluid. If you haven't had it done regular like, which should be part of EVERY service at the very least.

[cs363]

1000 DS duke. Track day riding/sporty road riding. Not much commuting.
One of the seals has just developed a seep, so though it's be a good time for an overhaul. They have 40+k on them.
The forks work okay, though seem pretty soft to me. In saying that, surface changes tend to upset the front end quite a lot if found mid corner (much more so than on other bikes I have ridden of late).
I'm 80kg/6 ft

Send them to Robert - he did mine recently (same bike), night & day difference. You'll probably need to replace the stock (crappy) progressive wound springs for some decent straight rate ones matched to your riding style & weight.
It'd be a smart move to talk to him about the rear shock too, even though it's an Ohlins unit, again it has a progressive spring and is not set up for our conditions but he'll give you the full details.

[diggyduo]

Cool, thanks.

I know there was an article written about 1000SS suspension in one of the bike mags, but I'm not sure what the gist of it was as I haven't managed to track it down. Probably that the back is oversprung....

Do you use yours for track days, or just road riding? I'd be interested to know how much it has affected tyre life. I only get 3-4.5k at the mo, and thats running them around 36/40 PSI.

Send them to Robert - he did mine recently (same bike), night & day difference. You'll probably need to replace the stock (crappy) progressive wound springs for some decent straight rate ones matched to your riding style & weight.
It'd be a smart move to talk to him about the rear shock too, even though it's an Ohlins unit, again it has a progressive spring and is not set up for our conditions but he'll give you the full details.

[cs363]

Cool, thanks.

I know there was an article written about 1000SS suspension in one of the bike mags, but I'm not sure what the gist of it was as I haven't managed to track it down. Probably that the back is oversprung....

Do you use yours for track days, or just road riding? I'd be interested to know how much it has affected tyre life. I only get 3-4.5k at the mo, and thats running them around 36/40 PSI.

Yeah that article was in BRM, Robert did it after doing my shock, if you PM me your email I'll send you a copy as I have a PDF of it at work. It's pretty generalised but does give you an idea of the shortcomings of the standard set up (Yes, mainly oversprung and the fact that it's a progressive spring.)
I use my bike for road riding, a mix of sport/touring and aggressive back country road riding. I've had the rear Michelin Pilot Power 2CT on for over 4500km's and there's still some life in it yet (I'm picking a couple of thousand k's). I run a bit lower pressures than you 34/36, though I'm only 75Kg/5'7".

[diggyduo]

After 40,000k's, you're gonna think the forks are from a different bike just replacing the friggin fluid. If you haven't had it done regular like, which should be part of EVERY service at the very least.

Yeah, it would be pretty ugly looking oil if it were the original.

I change it with the belts which is every 20k. Maybe thats still not often enough?

[Drew]

Yeah, it would be pretty ugly looking oil if it were the original.

I change it with the belts which is every 20k. Maybe thats still not often enough?

If it's not close to the same colour coming out as going in, it's not working properly. 20,000k's is a lot of riding, and everytime it goes up and down moisture is absorbed.

Talk to the experts, and see what sort of longevity you can get, but to my understanding it is very similar to brake fluid, the higher quality the damping effect, the less agent it contains for keeping the water out so it needs replaced more.

[Robert Taylor]

1000 DS duke. Track day riding/sporty road riding. Not much commuting.
One of the seals has just developed a seep, so though it's be a good time for an overhaul. They have 40+k on them.
The forks work okay, though seem pretty soft to me. In saying that, surface changes tend to upset the front end quite a lot if found mid corner (much more so than on other bikes I have ridden of late).
I'm 80kg/6 ft

Background reserarch info for many Italian models is not so good and info from other markets is not always accurate. Are the forks Showa or Marzocchi? And its an Ohlins single shock rear? If so can you access the numbers on the spring?
Perhaps you can send me some images to robert@crownkiwi.co.nz Once we 100% accurately know what its fitted with I can tell you exactly what it needs. If for example the forks are Showa then they are likely to have big port compression pistons that can simply be revalved rather than replacing them, that saves a bundle of money on its own account.

[diggyduo]

Background reserarch info for many Italian models is not so good and info from other markets is not always accurate. Are the forks Showa or Marzocchi? And its an Ohlins single shock rear? If so can you access the numbers on the spring?
Perhaps you can send me some images to robert@crownkiwi.co.nz Once we 100% accurately know what its fitted with I can tell you exactly what it needs. If for example the forks are Showa then they are likely to have big port compression pistons that can simply be revalved rather than replacing them, that saves a bundle of money on its own account.

Hi Robert.

Yes, the forks are 43mm Showa units.
The rear shock is an Ohlins, it has 01106-02 printed on the spring, and the number 516 stamped underneath the bottom spring stay (above the rebound damping adjuster). The shock is has a piggyback remote reservoir unit

I'll take some photos this arvo and send them through if you still need them.

[Robert Taylor]

Hi Robert.

Yes, the forks are 43mm Showa units.
The rear shock is an Ohlins, it has 01106-02 printed on the spring, and the number 516 stamped underneath the bottom spring stay (above the rebound damping adjuster). The shock is has a piggyback remote reservoir unit

I'll take some photos this arvo and send them through if you still need them.

Cheers, that actually gives me enough info and I got a message from CS363 to say that your bike is exactly like his.
We have some great mods for the front at lower cost than buying aftyermarket new piston kits with the same end result.
Also a revalve and respring of the rear, we are a little protective of that one as it took some working out.
Will send you a pm tonight detailing it all