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Thread: Spring spacer for rear shock?

  1. #31
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    Sorry for the thread drift Robert. Have you worked out solutions to the MT09 front and rear? What would it cost approx?The budget suspension would be my big sticking point over buying one of these.

  2. #32
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    Quote Originally Posted by nzspokes View Post
    I dont disagree with what you are saying with low speed compression being the issue on the Hornet. But within the stock shock there is no way to adjust this. I believe from what Ive read overseas there has been some success with the squat issue by using a few mm longer shock with better low speed damping control. But to be fair putting a $1500 rear shock into a 4k bike that is at best an average bike is somewhat pointless. If it were a Gixxer or the likes that I had 10+k invested in then it would be a no brainer. I would only up the spring rate now if the sag numbers were way out. The spacer is to reduce the bike sag a smidge. This was Daves suggestion after looking at my bike and he spent a good half hour going over it and was the only homework item he found. The bike is much better for what he did to it.

    And for the record I paid the business that he was visiting, not him directly.
    Why is putting a $1500 shock on a $4000 bike pointless? What does it matter what the bike is worth? It may be pointless if you were going to sell the bike next month but if the bike is a keeper then you might as well sort the problem properly.

  3. #33
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    Quote Originally Posted by sil3nt View Post
    Why is putting a $1500 shock on a $4000 bike pointless? What does it matter what the bike is worth? It may be pointless if you were going to sell the bike next month but if the bike is a keeper then you might as well sort the problem properly.
    Because its a 900 Hornet.

  4. #34
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    Quote Originally Posted by nzspokes View Post
    Because its a 900 Hornet.
    I was happy to drop a grand Roberts way three years back oh and a couple hundy on new fork springs too. Best money spent on my Hornet, and as I can't afford to replace the bike with another I consider it $ well spent.

    Funny thing is you will see every second rider on the road wearing a grands worth of name brand pipe(s) but the same $ on suspenders would vastly improve their ride.

    When I do replace the Hornet, the replacement will be getting the bouncy bits sorted.

    Decent bongers also have good resale value or if you are luck can be adapted to another ride.

    I suspect you do enjoy the journey in fiddling with that shock

  5. #35
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    Quote Originally Posted by AllanB View Post
    I was happy to drop a grand Roberts way three years back oh and a couple hundy on new fork springs too. Best money spent on my Hornet, and as I can't afford to replace the bike with another I consider it $ well spent.

    Funny thing is you will see every second rider on the road wearing a grands worth of name brand pipe(s) but the same $ on suspenders would vastly improve their ride.

    When I do replace the Hornet, the replacement will be getting the bouncy bits sorted.

    Decent bongers also have good resale value or if you are luck can be adapted to another ride.

    I suspect you do enjoy the journey in fiddling with that shock
    Im happy with the forks thus far. Have bought it some gold valves though (only because they were very cheap). Springs already done.

    Im not unhappy with the rear shock. Spring has sorted most of it.

  6. #36
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    $50 spacer and you may be set

  7. #37
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    Quote Originally Posted by Robert Taylor View Post
    $48.90 plus gst and freight. This one will ''add'' 12mm of distance. If you are lucky no finish machining but what it would pay to do is to e-mail me current shock spring i.d and the dimensions of the preload adjust coollar that this spacer would sit on. We will then see what would be required and if its just a couple of minutes in the lathe for us then no danger
    Out of intrest what are the rear shock options for the Hornet?

  8. #38
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    Quote Originally Posted by nzspokes View Post
    I dont disagree with what you are saying with low speed compression being the issue on the Hornet. But within the stock shock there is no way to adjust this. I believe from what Ive read overseas there has been some success with the squat issue by using a few mm longer shock with better low speed damping control. But to be fair putting a $1500 rear shock into a 4k bike that is at best an average bike is somewhat pointless. If it were a Gixxer or the likes that I had 10+k invested in then it would be a no brainer. I would only up the spring rate now if the sag numbers were way out. The spacer is to reduce the bike sag a smidge. This was Daves suggestion after looking at my bike and he spent a good half hour going over it and was the only homework item he found. The bike is much better for what he did to it.

    And for the record I paid the business that he was visiting, not him directly.
    Unfortunately the cost of components is not indexed to the value of the bike.

    Yes more length in itself gives more squat control geometrically and many damper units for such bikes inherently lack low speed compression damping anyway, but also too much high speed! Its worse for passenger cars, just how bad the suspension is on so many cars drives me nuts. Its sad also that many people think ''that's as good as it gets''. Mediocrity is rife

    Im heartened to hear about the payment method.

    Ph: 06 751 2100 * Email: robert@kss.net.nz
    Mob: 021 825 514 * Fax: 06 751 4551

  9. #39
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    Quote Originally Posted by SVboy View Post
    Sorry for the thread drift Robert. Have you worked out solutions to the MT09 front and rear? What would it cost approx?The budget suspension would be my big sticking point over buying one of these.
    Yes indeed! The bike is artificially low priced because they cut costs bigtime on the suspension. Don't let that put you off as an upgrade to make it all work properly is quite realistic.

    FRONT END Underdamped and undersprung. It has a single 20mm cartridge that has to perform ALL of the work, this is in the rightside fork. In the left side fork the cartridge outer and rod etc is there, but no pistons or holders etc. THIS IS A TRULY SHOCKING EXAMPLE OF WHY ACCOUNTANTS SHOULD NEVER EVER BE ALLOWED TO MAKE ENGINEERING DECISIONS.

    OPTION 1 Fit Race Tech piston kit set to the right side cartridge to give it some decent damping control, also respring it appropriately. Quite cost effective and all parts we have in stock. Still though its all done still in one spindly cartridge and it still lacks external compression adjustment

    OPTION 2 Look at adding holders, needles , pistons etc to the left side cartridge so that then both cartridges become properly functional. This is time consuming a lot of parts and in light of other options not so cost effective. Also no external compression adjustment.

    OPTION 3 Fit ANDREANI cartridge kit specifically made for the MT09 ( and many other makes and models.) 2 functioning cartridges with delivered appropriate springing to the rider stats. The right side fork becomes wholly rebound, adjustable from the top. The left side fork becomes wholly compression , again externally adjustable at the top. THE GOOD NEWS IS $1399 PER SET INCLUSIVE, plus a little extra cost for fitting and oil. We have become the NZ distributor for ANDREANI and have sold a good number already of their cartridge kits and piston kits / speciality parts. We are delighted with these products

    REAR END Springing is a little firm in rate for average weight range riders, the reason its soft and blows through its stroke under acceleration etc is because there is abysmal compression damping, everywhere. We have dyno'd a stock shock to verify that and we shake our heads at the keyboard morons proclaiming the need for firmer springing as ''the fix''. That is complete and utter uninformed bullshit

    The oem rear shock is another triumph of ''bastardisation by mindless accountants'' and is essentially non rebuildable and academically not of value for money totry and re-engineer it. No apologies offered to the sales and marketing people who believe their own insidious spin.

    OPTION 1 Ohlins have one only official factory built listing, a single tube 46mm shock with internal gas dividing piston, castellated spring preload lockrings and a rebound adjuster. $1149 incl, in stock. Doubtless you might be able to buy one off the reselling parasites out of North Mexico, cheaper. BUT, if the valving and fitted spring is not so ideal for our roads ( and stock it isn't until we rework prior to sale ) then you are ''on your own'' in respect that they are not going to pay the freight both ways and rework it for you. Plus these bastards don't employ Kiwis or put anything back into our local economy

    OPTION 2 NITRON 40mm single tube shock with same specification as Ohlins above $899 inclusive. With ride height adjuster $999 inclusive. Hose reservoir shock with ride height adjuster and compression adjuster $1399 incl. Hydraulic preload adjuster options also available

    We have been selling an increasing number of Nitron shocks, go to www.nitron.co.uk Quality is at least as good as Ohlins and ride control and compliance is also at the same level. The pricing is excellent and the company philosophy is ''no dutch auctions'' so mpricing is ( affordably ) stable

    Ph: 06 751 2100 * Email: robert@kss.net.nz
    Mob: 021 825 514 * Fax: 06 751 4551

  10. #40
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    Quote Originally Posted by nzspokes View Post
    Out of intrest what are the rear shock options for the Hornet?
    Ohlins single tube $1149 incl ( equivalent Nitron $899 or $999 with length adjuster )

    Ohlins 46mm with compression adjuster, reservoir and hydraulic preloader $1999 incl

    Nitron hose reservoir shock with compression adjuster $1399

    See MT09 answers above and go to www.nitron.co.uk This product is impressive and we had their owner out here for a week 3 weeks back. Very clearly they are the UKs very best manufacturer of motorcycle suspension.

    Ph: 06 751 2100 * Email: robert@kss.net.nz
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  11. #41
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    If Dave Moss has any sense he has a Business address in the Caymen Islands and his international business receipts are paid there...

    I know Dave has also sent business to your door too Robert.... He certainly opened a lot of peoples eye with respect to what can be achieved with suspension changes.... Good to have him here in NZ.

  12. #42
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mort View Post
    If Dave Moss has any sense he has a Business address in the Caymen Islands and his international business receipts are paid there...

    I know Dave has also sent business to your door too Robert.... He certainly opened a lot of peoples eye with respect to what can be achieved with suspension changes.... Good to have him here in NZ.
    Granted, the flipside is that there will be a good number of people that having had their stock suspenders tweaked will think that the mediocrity that they will still have will be ''as good as it gets''. Nothing could be further from the truth.

    The reality is the expertise exists here in several incarnations without having to send money offshore. Please don't regard that as a means for people to start an argument about his presence, Im just stating the realities where people are rather less inclined to support local industry than in years past. Enough said.

    Ph: 06 751 2100 * Email: robert@kss.net.nz
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  13. #43
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    Actually Dave was the most "local" suspension specialist I know of. He went up and down the country, worked with local businesses and attended track days and race events. Way more "local" than the less visible local specialists.

    He he also made it pretty clear that tweaking poor stock suspension is just the beginning of what is possible and if you want more, see a local specialist.

  14. #44
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    Quote Originally Posted by Robert Taylor View Post
    Granted, the flipside is that there will be a good number of people that having had their stock suspenders tweaked will think that the mediocrity that they will still have will be ''as good as it gets''. Nothing could be further from the truth.
    Thanks for the pricing, thats food for thought. Is the $899 Nitron the one way one? If so how good is it? And the Ohlins without the external can, what does it lack over the full spec model?

    Now to address the above. To use your quote, about what you said Nothing could be further from the truth. The basis of what he was doing was making sure bikes were not in a dangerous state. Example, rebound set to slow, seals causing stiction, regular fork oil changes etc. At no time did he say at the night I went to that you have to put up with what you have. What he did say was lets make it safe. He said at the end for everybody to pass the information on to help keep others safe. With the more racer guys Ohlins was mentioned as an option.

    Your name did come up a couple of times and even though I cant remember the exact context he was speaking highly of you and your work.

    I believe as a workshop night his was the best motorcycle one I have been to.

  15. #45
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mort View Post
    Actually Dave was the most "local" suspension specialist I know of. He went up and down the country, worked with local businesses and attended track days and race events. Way more "local" than the less visible local specialists.

    He he also made it pretty clear that tweaking poor stock suspension is just the beginning of what is possible and if you want more, see a local specialist.
    To not put too fine a point on it Mort the ''less visible'' local specialists are busy working in their workshops. But it would surprise you how often we are away, its just impossible to be everywhere when you are doing the full context of the trade.

    Ph: 06 751 2100 * Email: robert@kss.net.nz
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