Revalving, misconceptions and food for thought

**Robert Taylor** · 30th August 2011, 20:54

I get asked this several times a week and this week has been no exception. Can you revalve my suspension? The answers can be;

Yes we can based on previous experience with that model as it has suitable pistons that will flow enough oil over abrupt bumps
No we cannot based on previous experience with that model as it has pistons with tiny ports that cannot be modified to a suitable size to flow enough oil over abrupt bumps. Even if you removed the whole goddam compression stacks!
We really dont know until we pull apart and assess the stock pistons as we have not seen that model variation before....

Even doing research on the internet is less than foolproof. If you go to a number of the overseas search sites they will regardless want to sell you their pistons irrespective if the stock ones are totally suitable or not. They do not divulge details of the stock pistons.

Our approach at CKT is pragmatic and mindful that real incomes in NZ are not so flash and that we currently live in a very broken world. If we pull the cartridges apart and determine that 1/2 or all of the pistons are perfectly okay to give a very decent result then we wont spend your hard earned money needlessly on pistons that are going to loosen your wallet further. ALSO if the pistons clearly will not flow enough oil over abrupt bumps ( thereby failing to give decent compliance and over-stressing your tyres ) we will inform you of the very real need to replace them, at the best possible cost for you the customer but also not to send us broke so we are there for future backup.

BPF forks are a case in point, the port flow area is so minimal that no amount of revalving will yield a decent improvement, on road or track. If anyone tells you otherwise then they are fooling themselves, frankly

2 positive announcements that we have:

Race Tech pricing has by negotiation been reviewed downwards so that we as a Kiwi company can compete with the offshore companies who happily sell into our market due to current exchange rate distortions, but are not here with feet on the ground to provide any backup
Our new sophisticated shock and fork dyno is on its way from the States and will be especially valuable for verifying the success of revalve changes, it will also like an engine dyno be a BS detector! More on that to follow.

**ajturbo** · 30th August 2011, 22:12

Hey Robert..

It was good to see you again on Sunday..! great to see how you are helping out young Ken...

i must get my RG50 to you one day...

**Robert Taylor** · 30th August 2011, 23:15

Originally Posted by ajturbo

Hey Robert..

It was good to see you again on Sunday..! great to see how you are helping out young Ken...

i must get my RG50 to you one day...

Ken has very admirable qualities including being extremely polite, he is well bred. Increasingly rare these days.

**ajturbo** · 31st August 2011, 07:31

Originally Posted by Robert Taylor

Ken has very admirable qualities including being extremely polite, he is well bred. Increasingly rare these days.

You have the nail on the head....(not too sure about the breeding).. hahahahah

but i did notice you by pasted my comment on the RG....

**F5 Dave** · 31st August 2011, 17:05

So as not to waste the good Dr's time allow me to answer that. - I think the only pistons you will find in the humble RG are the front brake & a small one in the noisy hot bit in the middle. Can I thus suggest, say 30 weight oil in both ends. Having carefully assessed your stout manly form I would have preferred to suggest 40 or 50 weight but I'm not sure they make that so perhaps melt some (1 & 1/2 metric handfuls) of axle grease into the mix. No no, no need to thank me.

oh yeah & nice thread. I though you had a shock dyno? or is this an update?

**ajturbo** · 31st August 2011, 17:20

Dave... your my savour...

**Robert Taylor** · 31st August 2011, 21:26

Originally Posted by F5 Dave

So as not to waste the good Dr's time allow me to answer that. - I think the only pistons you will find in the humble RG are the front brake & a small one in the noisy hot bit in the middle. Can I thus suggest, say 30 weight oil in both ends. Having carefully assessed your stout manly form I would have preferred to suggest 40 or 50 weight but I'm not sure they make that so perhaps melt some (1 & 1/2 metric handfuls) of axle grease into the mix. No no, no need to thank me.

oh yeah & nice thread. I though you had a shock dyno? or is this an update?

We have had an Italian made shock dyno for around 8 years but in true Italian fashion it has had an intermittent problem for the last 3 years or so. So we have ordered a state of the art Roehrig fork and shock dyno from the US. These are recognised as the industry best and the capabilities and what you can read are way beyond our existing dyno. When it arrives I will post up further info, photos and test results etc.
I hasten to add that this has not been funded by my massive profits ( yeah right ) but from a legacy.

**HQfiend** · 31st August 2011, 22:17

Originally Posted by Robert Taylor

We have had an Italian made shock dyno for around 8 years but in true Italian fashion it has had an intermittent problem for the last 3 years or so. So we have ordered a state of the art Roehrig fork and shock dyno from the US. These are recognised as the industry best and the capabilities and what you can read are way beyond our existing dyno. When it arrives I will post up further info, photos and test results etc.
I hasten to add that this has not been funded by my massive profits ( yeah right ) but from a legacy.

Well Robert, you know that Italian stuff, get it wet and the electrics play up!

Just out of curiosity, what is a ball park figure for doing an Ohlins cartridge conversion to the stock forks of a SV1000s K7?
http://www.sv-portal.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41536

**Robert Taylor** · 1st September 2011, 07:52

Originally Posted by HQfiend

Well Robert, you know that Italian stuff, get it wet and the electrics play up!

Just out of curiosity, what is a ball park figure for doing an Ohlins cartridge conversion to the stock forks of a SV1000s K7?
http://www.sv-portal.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41536

There is no Ohlins cartridge kit specific for SV1000. The only way it would be in any way economically viable would be to pick up a good used 25mm set from somewhere. But you would also have to factor still buying some parts, machining and lots of labour. The end result would be like night and day but you'd have to be prepared for cost and downtime.

The stock cartridges are of course sealed for life units but it would be possible to bastardise ( maybe not the right word ) with servicable / strippable 20mm cartridge pieces and fit good pistons and valving. To that end I believe we have all the parts to do so. We also have a very good used set of Traxxion cartridges that could be used as the base components, married to the latest and greatest Race Tech pistons. Not as good as the end result with Ohlins but a huge improvement nonetheless.

**ajturbo** · 1st September 2011, 08:20

Yeah.. if i had a legacy... i would sell it too..

**Robert Taylor** · 1st September 2011, 10:58

Originally Posted by ajturbo

Yeah.. if i had a legacy... i would sell it too..

Yeah AJ, worse than Italian stuff!

**jellywrestler** · 1st September 2011, 12:05

Originally Posted by Robert Taylor

I hasten to add that this has not been funded by my massive profits ( yeah right ) but from a legacy.

A Subaru Legacy by chance?

**Robert Taylor** · 1st September 2011, 13:25

Originally Posted by jellywrestler

A Subaru Legacy by chance?

You're a brain surgeon! No, sorry to disappoint

**husaberg** · 25th May 2012, 20:56

Originally Posted by Robert Taylor

You're a brain surgeon! No, sorry to disappoint

I will post this here in the hope that you will see this Robert.

I have a NF4 Bucket i am currently building it will be around 75KG i will be er... closer to 90kg
the Chassis as far as i can ascertain is a 89 (I think) it has a Adjustable rebound and Comp rear shock.
But the forks appear to be air adjustable only. they are obviously in need of a rebuild.(Zero damping currently)
but is it worth it? what can be done with them.Gold valves etc what is in them just damper rods?
Or should i just hunt around for later model forks.
I was kind of surprised they weren't at least rebound adjustable to tell you the truth.

Oh i obviously haven't cracked them open yet either.

**Robert Taylor** · 27th May 2012, 21:54

Originally Posted by husaberg

I will post this here in the hope that you will see this Robert.

I have a NF4 Bucket i am currently building it will be around 75KG i will be er... closer to 90kg
the Chassis as far as i can ascertain is a 89 (I think) it has a Adjustable rebound and Comp rear shock.
But the forks appear to be air adjustable only. they are obviously in need of a rebuild.(Zero damping currently)
but is it worth it? what can be done with them.Gold valves etc what is in them just damper rods?
Or should i just hunt around for later model forks.
I was kind of surprised they weren't at least rebound adjustable to tell you the truth.

Oh i obviously haven't cracked them open yet either.

Excuse my ignorance, what is an NF4?