rgv250 (93 VJ22) - Suspension Upgrade options?

**imdying** · 26th October 2007, 13:03

My poor 93 VJ22 RGV screams in fright when it transports my tubby little body about (95kg ready to ride, maybe a few less after a good dump). What can be done? Much of anything? I feel it dives too quick at the front, it seems like the springs have too low a spring rate for my weight? Or maybe the poor shock at the back simply has no rebound control? Given that it was made for tiny little Japanese teenagers, this doesn't surprise me... suggestions welcome... but preferably ones that don't include any sort of diet

Things like sitting in a different place won't work, at six foot, the position I can sit on the bike is fairly limited

**James Deuce** · 26th October 2007, 14:03

Talk to Robert Taylor. New front springs, new rear shock. With springs for your weight.

Lube steering head and swing arm bearings whilst you have it apart fitting the new suspension components. Lube rear suspension linkages too.

**imdying** · 26th October 2007, 14:14

Love the avatar

More lube you say?

I'm sure Mr Taylor will run across this in due course

**FROSTY:Me** · 26th October 2007, 18:07

Mate early RGV back shocks were not to flash from new the internal damping was shite,By now your one is well and truely pogged out.
Thats the BAD news --the good news is that the darn things have been raced rallied n rolled so often theres a heap of suspension stuff around for em
What you need to do is go- what budget can I afford to spend on the suspension ? once you have that figure then look to what will offer the greatest improvement for that budget.
Id actually give Billy on the site a yeodle--hes a RGV racer from waaaay back

**imdying** · 26th October 2007, 18:19

Yeah I figured they'd have been well worked over by now. Pretty much all I'll do with it is take it Akaroa and maybe track days, so that's my focus. No adjustment up front, except for preload. They're not SP ones, but I draw the line at swapping new gear in... I'd rather do that to the sv.

**F5 Dave** · 29th October 2007, 15:36

Well springs & reoil at a min . Anything less is just wasting a fine light chassis if it is on the bumpstops. Was it NZ new? Jap import may well have even lighter springs than the Australasian market.

**imdying** · 29th October 2007, 15:45

It's a Jap import.

**F5 Dave** · 29th October 2007, 15:55

Well I guess it can only improve in leaps & bounds with correct springs, they don't cost that much, search RGV for rates for ~ your weight (or RT obviously). Has the bike done many ks?, the rear is where the money is, but might be sort of ok with a reoil & correct springs, as I said better than off the bumpstops where they go solid & that can only be dangerous. Mine has racetech kitted forks & Ohlins rear, but depends on your budget of course.

Saw a delectable VJ23 in Lucky Strike colours the other day, pity they never brought a full power version here.

Presumably you have read up on powervalve servicing for your 22? (best check them sooner rather than later) & only run top qual oil in both engine & gearbox?

**imdying** · 29th October 2007, 16:02

KMs are 9800, but it is 1993 of course. Yep, only good oil. I'm picking through a multitude of bugs with it, all minor though.

**imdying** · 29th October 2007, 16:04

No destriction items hiding in your garage perchance?

**F5 Dave** · 29th October 2007, 16:12

This should derestrict it to about 90hp.

**imdying** · 29th October 2007, 16:25

WTF is that? An RG motor?

I see Barry has a VJ22 rolling chassis setup for one for sale for 600GBP. One fixxer upper at a time eh

**F5 Dave** · 29th October 2007, 16:32

Nah it's my RZ/Cheetah 500 twin from the other thread. In race trim they punt out 115-120 no prob.
RGV site should tell you what needs to be changed for derestriction, & Vic wreckers in Aus should have a ton of spares.