Picking up my bike after suspension upgrade

[bluninja]

Just had my DL650 in for a full upgrade on the suspension at KSS. Robert just called me to get my butt down there pronto to check it out and take it home before he heads off south for the next round of the nationals. Just a cup of tea and some muffins and I'm off. Really looking forward to this.

[Dogboy900]

Hope you do a write up of it. I have no spare money at the moment but getting a suspension upgrade always hovers at the back of my mind.
Looking forward to hearing how it improves things

[bluninja]

First impressions:

I climb on the bike and it no longer sinks at the back
Bike feels more stable and tracks through bends without adjustment even with a few minor bumps and rough surface. Previously the front end was adequate but vague and it would wander wide over rough tarmac and repairs in a corner.
Braking hard from 100kmh no longer has the front diving and I can 'feel' the front as I'm slowing.

I did have to play with the brakes as I didn't need them in the gentle roads I've tried so far (New Plymouth to Oakura; then New Plymouth to Inglewood via Windsor, Henwood and Egmont roads).

I did notice that the smoother more absorbant ride meant I was carving the bends at 15-20% faster and thinking I was taking it easy. On 1 bend marked 65kmh I took it at 100 and hit a big bump about 50cm from the centre line; the bike moved about 10cm out with the bump and I was then able to just immediately change the line to move away from the car on my side of the centre line. No fuss, no flapping, no shaking.

Robert Taylor at KSS was really good; one nasty hiccup (not from Robert), but sorted immediately. I have my old fork springs and OEM rear shock all boxed up. I have a 13 spring on the rear, but if I need to move up to the 14 after more time riding than todays test ride allows Roberts said to take it back and he'll change the spring. BTW I originally had a 9.5 rear spring as standard....so no wonder it was saggy at the rear with me on it.

Will give it a better ride this weekend, but my face and head was hurting with the helmet on and my eyelids are puffy and making seeing a pain. Might head to Manfield on Sunday and give it a long distance workout.

[baffa]

Great to hear OP.

Got the rear end rebuilt by KSS recently, was a huge improvement, but the front was too soft by comparison. Have maxed out the front suspension and dialled the rear in a bit, which has brought the bike alive, but eventually Ill need to get the front done to match.

[arcane12]

Sounds great! I need to win lotto, I mean work harder, so I can afford a bike worthy of such treatment

[bluninja]

Sounds great! I need to win lotto, I mean work harder, so I can afford a bike worthy of such treatment

I could have just starved for 18 months so that my weight was in the range for the suspension The good thing is that the Ohlins rear shock can be moved to another bike, rebuilt, or sold, if I upgrade the current bike.....or I could try and sell the OEM shock So it's not like I'm just blowing the money for the one budget all rounder motorbike.

[caspernz]

Good call to spend a few bucks on suspension upgrade. I done the same to my toy a couple of years ago, best money I ever spent on a bike. Loud pipes, Power Commanders and all manner of so called go fast stuff? Meh, power is nothing without control...but Mr Pirelli thought of that before many of us

[Marmoot]

I used Safety as excuse/reason to get my suspension upgrade done.
It worked like a charm with the wife, as well as myself.

[GrayWolf]

The Original owner of my MT had an Ohlins rear and a CKT (KSS) front rebuild done.. I've since ridden a standard MT, and the difference is quite astounding once you are travelling at 100kph or over. tracks better, more feel of the front wheel. Less bounce and sponginess overall, without being harsh. Vastly reduced dive under hard braking, Mine has the 6 pot R1 calipers. it is certainly a worthwhile upgrade.

[nakedsv]

Its amazing what an upgrade will do, especially if the stock strom suspension is anything like as bad as the stock sv ones.

[bluninja]

Its amazing what an upgrade will do, especially if the stock strom suspension is anything like as bad as the stock sv ones.

It is ...basically the DL650 is an SV with a bigger fuel tank, front wheel and longer forks. Had Robert at KSS rebuild my forks and supply an Ohlins rear for my race bike a few years back.

[skinman]

what sort of money is involved in suspension upgrades
I am considering doing mine as I am too light to make the stock suspension work properly. Does not soak up things like bridge transitions & other short bumps at all. Either that or its completely knackered.

[SVboy]

Can I too ask exactly what RT did/what model Ohlins/what spring types etc and how much it cost; I have a mate with a DL thinking of taking the plunge.

[bluninja]

what sort of money is involved in suspension upgrades
I am considering doing mine as I am too light to make the stock suspension work properly. Does not soak up things like bridge transitions & other short bumps at all. Either that or its completely knackered.

You'd be better emailing or pming KSS (or any other suspension provider) for speciifics. I think on another thread RT said $250 for a set of front springs, which he will exchange if the rate (as per calculator) is not right for you and the bike.

I paid just over the 2k mark for front fork springs, emulators, and an Ohlins rear shock all fitted and ready to drive away (after the set the sag). SVboy, sorry no model numbers to hand as the receipt is all filed away somewhere, but it's the model below the hydraulic preload adjuster one. An extra $400 to be able to twiddle a nob for preload rather than use a spanner on the few occasions I'd need to adjust it.

[bluninja]

Gave the bike a much longer road ride yesterday: New Plymouth to Mokau to Hamilton stopping at Te Kuiti for fuel. Then Hamilton to Te Kuiti to Taumeranui to Whangamomona to Stratford (filled up with fuel) to home. A good selection of open smoothish roads, twisties, bumpy twisties, and a short stretch of gravel. Really impressed with the overall ride and handling compared to stock. Only area fro improvement is that on fast sections with bumps it feels like I'm being kicked in the arse over each one. This was more noticable at the end of the day as I got tired and started to be more planted on the seat.

Great view of Mount Ruapehu from the top of Tahora saddle, and Mount Taranaki looked great at twilight covered with a blanket of cload against a clear dusk sky. Wonderful light for viewing, not so good for seeing the road surface changes and the road ahead, but the front was settled over the sudden drops and bumps and able to change ines pretty well if the corner tightened, or there was a big pile of rocks blocking half the road just round the bend.

So summary as it stands. Front great. Back a bit harsh, particularly over high speed bumps.

Mods made Ohlins S46DR1 rear shock. Spring rate increased from 9.5 to 13 at rear. Front; Race Tech fork emulator and Race Tech springs at 0.95. AND Ohlins suspension fluid.