Speed Four Suspension Freshen-up

**Devil** · 7th April 2008, 08:52

Ok, so I've had my '05 Speed Four since brand new. Love it to bits, it has always been a great handling bike. I'm nearly up to 70,000km on it now though and the suspension is feeling a little tired. It's certainly not crap, but could be better!

The existing suspension is fully adjustable at both ends and I've spent quite a bit of time jiggling it around to how I like it. You can get quite a range of changes out of the adjusters and they're quite noticeable.
The issue i'm having at the moment is I get it set soft enough to deal with my typical backroads without throwing the front end off-line, but the downside is sometimes when throwing it around quick corners I get a little bit of a wallow as if it isn't providing enough compression damping...

There are aftermarket shocks for it, but i've never heard of any of them, so i'm not really interested in throwing my money away.
Ohlins, WP etc dont have specific shocks for it. What can I do about it?
I could get the rear shock rebuilt, but what does that actually entail? Can the original performance be improved?
What about the front end?

**Robert Taylor** · 7th April 2008, 08:58

Originally Posted by Devil

Ok, so I've had my '05 Speed Four since brand new. Love it to bits, it has always been a great handling bike. I'm nearly up to 70,000km on it now though and the suspension is feeling a little tired. It's certainly not crap, but could be better!

The existing suspension is fully adjustable at both ends and I've spent quite a bit of time jiggling it around to how I like it. You can get quite a range of changes out of the adjusters and they're quite noticeable.
The issue i'm having at the moment is I get it set soft enough to deal with my typical backroads without throwing the front end off-line, but the downside is sometimes when throwing it around quick corners I get a little bit of a wallow as if it isn't providing enough compression damping...

There are aftermarket shocks for it, but i've never heard of any of them, so i'm not really interested in throwing my money away.
Ohlins, WP etc dont have specific shocks for it. What can I do about it?
I could get the rear shock rebuilt, but what does that actually entail? Can the original performance be improved?
What about the front end?

We can custom build an Ohlins shock for that as many of the links in the Triumphs are similiar. Length, stroke, end fittings and spring rate varies. Is the front end cartridge or damper rod type?

**vifferman** · 7th April 2008, 08:58

I'm no expert, but it sounds to me like your springs are too soft. The fact that you say it wallows when it's set to give a compliant ride, seems to confirm that. If the springs and damping were right for your weight and riding style, it would feel firm without being harsh.

Did you get the DVD I stuck in your letterbox, or are the neighbours watching the MotoGP instead?

**Devil** · 7th April 2008, 09:04

Originally Posted by vifferman

I'm no expert, but it sounds to me like your springs are too soft. The fact that you say it wallows when it's set to give a compliant ride, seems to confirm that. If the springs and damping were right for your weight and riding style, it would feel firm without being harsh.

Did you get the DVD I stuck in your letterbox, or are the neighbours watching the MotoGP instead?

Are you calling me fat?

Well, it used to be ok, and I haven't really got any heavier. Which is why I'm leaning toward the damping side of things. Then again springs do not have an indefinate lifespan...

Yer, did, cheers. THAT was an excellent race to watch. I'll pass the '07 season on to the next deserving person.

**Devil** · 7th April 2008, 09:04

Originally Posted by Robert Taylor

We can custom build an Ohlins shock for that as many of the links in the Triumphs are similiar. Length, stroke, end fittings and spring rate varies. Is the front end cartridge or damper rod type?

Whats the quickest way to tell?

**Devil** · 7th April 2008, 09:15

According to my googling, it's a 43mm aluminium-cartridge KYB fully adjustable fork. (non-USD)

**Robert Taylor** · 7th April 2008, 09:26

Originally Posted by Devil

Whats the quickest way to tell?

If you could perhaps send me some images of the installation in the first instance. The original shock may be able to be rebuildable and images will confirm that or otherwise. The damping is clearly toast, hence the wallow.