Intiminators installed: I'm underwhelmed.

**chopperT** · 15th April 2014, 19:32

I had a big worklist on my bike last weekend, 2010 KLR model bought new in 2012, now with 50,000km on it.

On the list was a Progressive 465 shock install, and a set of Ricor Intiminators for the front (Progressive springs already installed).

Everything installed fine, no bother at the rear, and an oilchange to 5wt on the fork as advised. I had a buddy help me set the sag (it's hard to measure by yourself!). We ended up at 27.5% front and rear.

After a couple of long rides now my impressions are of a nicely tied down rear, but the fork is all over the place. There seems to be very little rebound damping, and the brake dive is no better than previously. While stopped a big push down on the bars will see the front cycle a couple of times before settling, like a worn out auto shock.

Now maybe I have some work to do with oil grades or levels, but one question I need your experience with. Before installation of the intinimators I looked them over carefully. I understand the concept of how they operate, with the compression damping shim stack, the RIV piston, and the annular rebound port. The thing I couldn't quite figure though was that the compression shimstack did not completely mask the compression damping ports on the valve. Daylight was plainly visible through the ports, as if the OD of the shims was too small. (Only one of the (total)ten shims was of a large enough OD to mask the port, and it was installed at the top of the stack (of 5), so the ports were still open.

So the question are, How can the shimstack work effectively if there is effectively a permanent orifice that is open to compression and rebound flow, and how is that any better than orifice damping? OR, are the shims too small an OD and SHOULD they mask the ports?

Thoughts or experience welcome. Thanks.

**Padmei** · 15th April 2014, 19:51

Hi there
I installed intimators on my KLR when I had it. i didn't notice any difference really. After so many people raving about them & telling me they were fantastic I didn't want to stand out like the dumb kid so went along with them & agreed. To be honest I don't think I ride well enough to notice differences in suspension however I did do a proper experiment re brake dive & found absolutely no difference.

http://www.klr650.net/forums/showthread.php?t=72228

**Woodman** · 15th April 2014, 20:11

Installed them in my KLR (Gen1)about 4 years ago. Recently added progressive springs and a fork brace.

Brake dive was less, but not that substantial.

The front feels (is) more planted, but the best thing is under hard braking on rough surfaces like those stuttery bits on gravel roads. Way better.

At the end of the day KLRs have a terrible front end for riding fast, sorta like they are on another ride somewhere else, and tend to waggle all over the show. Just get used to it.

**chopperT** · 15th April 2014, 21:08

Of course the KLR is never going to be an amazing dirtbike, but I was kind of happy with the Progressive springs and 15w fork oil. I can also accept that I
can't expect miracles from the intiminators, but this seems like a backwards step.

**hayd3n** · 15th April 2014, 21:34

Originally Posted by chopperT

Of course the KLR is never going to be an amazing dirtbike, but I was kind of happy with the Progressive springs and 15w fork oil. I can also accept that I
can't expect miracles from the intiminators, but this seems like a backwards step.

considered mailing Robert taylor?

**GPS MAN** · 16th April 2014, 07:18

Originally Posted by Woodman

Installed them in my KLR (Gen1)about 4 years ago. Recently added progressive springs and a fork brace.

Brake dive was less, but not that substantial.

The front feels (is) more planted, but the best thing is under hard braking on rough surfaces like those stuttery bits on gravel roads. Way better.

At the end of the day KLRs have a terrible front end for riding fast, sorta like they are on another ride somewhere else, and tend to waggle all over the show. Just get used to it.

I agree with Woodman 100%....note this will be a first!

**Night Falcon** · 16th April 2014, 09:39

Originally Posted by GPS MAN

I agree with Woodman 100%....

I recall that picture Bart took of Woodman bottoming out the red devil after taking on that 6inch jump at the beach, kinda makes his point

**Underground** · 16th April 2014, 10:39

I put Intiminators in the Africa Twin and they made a huge difference, a bit harsher but it eliminated the big brake dive issue and better control all round.
So, I thought I'd chuck some in the Dommie because they have real shit suspension.....they were quite alot better but still shit so I biffed the forks in the corner and fitted the KTM front end

What it seems is that Intiminators won't turn a sows ear into a silk purse but because the AT has far better quality suspension to start with than the Dommie they just do their bisiness a whole lot better in there.

**rogson** · 16th April 2014, 18:18

I don't see how Intiminators can work. They don't require drilling-out the fixed orifice hole of the damping rod, so unlike cartridge forks (or Racetech emulators for that matter) they don't change/increase the original/primary damping orifice size on hard/sudden compression impacts. Intiminators try to get around this by using a lighter viscosity oil (less resistance to flow through the hole), but this is not remotely close to the effect of increasing the size orifice/hole the oil has to flow through. Also, by using a lower viscosity oil I question how they don't upset the rebound characteristic of the fork (which is sensitive to oil viscosity in fixed orifice damper rod type forks)

**chopperT** · 16th April 2014, 19:46

Thanks for the responses so far. I am pretty happy with the spring rates as installed, there is no excessive preload, and the sag heights are spot on, besides the front (Progressive) springs are not new installs and have been performing satisfactorily.

I also realise that other products on the market have their advantages/benefits and their fans, and quite rightly too.

So before I go chasing my tail and spending hours and dollars trying to get a setup on these intiminators I want to get to the bottom of what I see as an anomaly with the arrangement of the shim stack. My research thus far leads me to believe that the shims used are (sourced from/the same as) Fox shock shims, which come in numerous different ODs to allow tuning of tapered shim stacks. I suspect, given the odd mix of shim ODs in my valves that the majority of shims used are of too small an OD, and are failing to mask the port, or act as the valve they are meant to, resulting in the apparent lack of damping and disappointing performance.

With the power of google on my side I have learned that Nordieboy from these parts used Fox shims to tune a set of intiminators. Any idea on the OD of the shims used?

**nzspokes** · 16th April 2014, 20:03

Originally Posted by chopperT

I had a big worklist on my bike last weekend, 2010 KLR model bought new in 2012, now with 50,000km on it.

On the list was a Progressive 465 shock install, and a set of Ricor Intiminators for the front (Progressive springs already installed).

Everything installed fine, no bother at the rear, and an oilchange to 5wt on the fork as advised. I had a buddy help me set the sag (it's hard to measure by yourself!). We ended up at 27.5% front and rear.

After a couple of long rides now my impressions are of a nicely tied down rear, but the fork is all over the place. There seems to be very little rebound damping, and the brake dive is no better than previously. While stopped a big push down on the bars will see the front cycle a couple of times before settling, like a worn out auto shock.

Now maybe I have some work to do with oil grades or levels, but one question I need your experience with. Before installation of the intinimators I looked them over carefully. I understand the concept of how they operate, with the compression damping shim stack, the RIV piston, and the annular rebound port. The thing I couldn't quite figure though was that the compression shimstack did not completely mask the compression damping ports on the valve. Daylight was plainly visible through the ports, as if the OD of the shims was too small. (Only one of the (total)ten shims was of a large enough OD to mask the port, and it was installed at the top of the stack (of 5), so the ports were still open.

So the question are, How can the shimstack work effectively if there is effectively a permanent orifice that is open to compression and rebound flow, and how is that any better than orifice damping? OR, are the shims too small an OD and SHOULD they mask the ports?

Thoughts or experience welcome. Thanks.

I strongly suggest you talk to Robert Taylor before you hurt yourself. Not trying to be a prick but something is very wrong with your set up and I dont want to see you hurt because of it.

Of course the shims should cover the ports or its doing nothing. Unless it has a small bleed for some reason. Do these control compression and rebound?

**Padmei** · 16th April 2014, 20:29

Have you read thru the ricor thread on klr650.net I'm sure they had loads of info on what you're supposed to do to get them optimum.

**pete376403** · 16th April 2014, 20:34

At the moment 'm tossing up between a 685 piston or some of these http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Progress...6d4edf&vxp=mtr

**Deano** · 16th April 2014, 20:46

Who came up with the word intiminator and how ? I can understand emulator, which is what I have in my SV, but I can't even find anything like intiminate etc in my dictionary.

**chopperT** · 16th April 2014, 21:28

I agree Mr. Taylor may indeed have sage words for me, but as I didn't purchase the product from him to begin with I would feel uncomfortable with asking for business knowledge and taking his time to answer my flaky "my KLR has shit suspension" questions.

All I really need to know is the correct OD/ID for the Ricor intiminator shims. (Yes it is a fecking stupid name).