Suspension, Suspension, Suspension

Ssky0078

Ssky0078

Wizard
Visit site
Hi guys,

I have some quick questions and am looking for opinions.

I am finally feeling the need to upgrade the suspension on my bike. I'm loving the new Pilot Power 3's and have found that some times because I'm able to push the bike a little more I will feel a bottoming out if I hit crappy parts of road while in corners.

My current possible options.

1. Upgrade front fork springs to Racetech weight appropriate springs (1.0kg) (I weight 235 and have probably dropped 10 pounds off the bike from the fairing and fender, to get it down to 475).

2. Upgrade the rear spring to Racetech (15.2 kg) springs.

3. Upgrade the rear shock to a Penske 8975 (mostly dreaming here because it pretty much doubles the cost of the suspension upgrade).


I feel most of the bottoming out in the rear end, especially if I'm sitting full body weight in the seat, if I'm shifted/hanging off a little it doesn't seem to feel as loose.
 
Go for the stiffer fork springs. They are cheap enough and should get you to your correct suspension settings.

I wouldn't bother with a stiffer spring on the stock shock...it's already overwhelmed by the stock spring.

If you get the Penske shock from a place such as Traxxion Dynamics they'll set it up with the correct spring for your weight. No need to buy a separate spring.
 
Mmmh, I never had the rear bottoming out but the 06 has a harder spring. I rode a lot two up and with luggage so much heavier bike compared to you. Have you maxed out the preload?

If you want to upgrade the rear then I would think about the R1+adapter solution, that seems to be a very cheap option and would be a major advance in suspension. You would need a harder R1 Spring but that should be the same compared to the Fz1 spring. Used R1 shocks are very cheap on ebay and the adapter is as well not to expensive.
 
Suspension is always a good idea. It's the only performance modification I ever make to my bikes, really. I run stock exhausts, stock airboxes, filters, ECUs but never suspension.

Set a budget and we'll tell you best compromise you can get within that budget. A dollar figure gives us an idea of what you have to work with.

For example, I put aside about $500 for my 919 suspension. For $500 (a little over), I decided to go down the route of a shock and fork spring & service. $500 wouldn't get me anywhere near an Ohlins or Penske shock but it did get me fork springs and a CBR F3 shock built, valved and sprung for my bike by Traxxion Dynamics. The bike rails now. It feels amazing and is by far and away the best handling bike I've ever owned.

You won't regret suspension upgrades! :)
 
Last edited:
Dreamdemon said:
Mmmh, I never had the rear bottoming out but the 06 has a harder spring. I rode a lot two up and with luggage so much heavier bike compared to you. Have you maxed out the preload?

If you want to upgrade the rear then I would think about the R1+adapter solution, that seems to be a very cheap option and would be a major advance in suspension. You would need a harder R1 Spring but that should be the same compared to the Fz1 spring. Used R1 shocks are very cheap on ebay and the adapter is as well not to expensive.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the preload is maxed out on the rear. I had Dustin at DTR motorsports set it up. Maybe I just hit a couple of crappy sections of pavement (or disintegrating pavement, more specifically). The back end just gets really loose and it seems like the rear will hold then all of a sudden squish and it feels a little unsettling. It happens mostly after the apex as I start to roll onto the throttle and then hit uneven/crap road
 
Just got my bike back today from Traxxion Dynamics and its a world of difference. Bike is so much more planted on cornering and exit, no more squat diving on the front under hard braking, and just right (not to harsh).

I'm 240 and got the Penske 8975 with 625 lb. spring and .95 springs upfront with revalve. Worth every penny to me. This the second FZ1 I've had Traxxion operate on. I couldn't comprehend keeping a stock bike for any length of time.
 
Ssky0078 said:
Yeah, the preload is maxed out on the rear. I had Dustin at DTR motorsports set it up. Maybe I just hit a couple of crappy sections of pavement (or disintegrating pavement, more specifically). The back end just gets really loose and it seems like the rear will hold then all of a sudden squish and it feels a little unsettling. It happens mostly after the apex as I start to roll onto the throttle and then hit uneven/crap road
Click to expand...

Ah ok that sounds like the usual stock suspension, the damping is lousy and if you hit uneven pavement the rear starts to trample around. It's sometimes a bit scary and I can fully understand you want to upgrade. I did not change it but it is one of the things I am thinking about. Just would need the time to do it but right now I work leaves not even enough time to ride as much as i want so no time to work on the bike beside usual maintenance ;).

Back to your question I guess the R1 shock conversion is the way to go, because a harder spring will not help much with the problems you describe you need a better compression damping and that means change the shock.

If you can swap it yourselfe you should be paying less than 150$ for this and could sell the original shock for a bit to a Fz8 guy.
 
Suspension is you best bang for the buck, next to riding lessons.

The thing I really like about a better shock is how it tracks so much better than the OEM. Regardless of brand; Penske, Ohlins, Elka, Works, Wilbers, etc. they are SO much better than stock.

I know people say, "I'll never find the limits of the stock suspension!" Once you ride a performance shock and a good fork you'll never go back. That's a good thing and a bad thing as you'll be spoiled and never go back to stock.
 
Last edited:
I agree with Pete. I'd never ridden other than a stock shock and after getting the Penske, I was floored over how different the bike was, how much more settled it became and how well it tracks. Corners that were once a struggle are effortless and the corners I wouldn't dream of taking at higher speeds are now conquered with no fear.

I still need a lot of work in the front but I'm weighing the R1 conversion vs. AK20's and letting Lee have his way with the forks. We'll see what my next bonus looks like. ;)
 
I suggest the options that allow/make the rear end higher. If will help your bike hold a tighter line. The R1 shock would need a heavier spring at your weight. The first time you ride with a good suspension, you will be annoyed you didn't do something sooner.
 
Hey Eric,

Personally I think the R1 conversion is a better value than the AK20's. The R1 forks and radial brakes are simply wonderful. Lee's stuff is nice but you don't get the brakes.
 
OneSizeFitsAll said:
Why not just go on a diet?










OK, I was just kidding. Spend the bucks and up grade with the suggestions here - you will love it!
Click to expand...

I have. I'm actually down 20 pounds since I first started riding and almost 30 from my highest weight. I'm 6'4" and used to play sports, so I have around 180-185 pounds of lean mass (assuming off the last time I did a full submersion body comp test in college). I've hit a plateau at the moment because I started lifting again. My body composition is still changing as I'm down from XXL shirts to Large again, but my weight is stuck. Also started yoga so my agility on the bike has improved immensely from bringing some flexibility to a back with bulging disc and degenerative changes.

I'm probably still carrying an extra 20 pounds of fat and would like to get down to 210-215 but it's been a slow process over the last 6 months and I'm giving myself another 4-6 months to achieve my final goal.

I've had several people spy me on the bike and say it's too small for me based on my height and size, but I love it and absolutely refuse to ever turn to a cruiser. Cruisers actually make the bulging disc worse.

This is me back in April at The Snake (Mulholland Highway) and I've lost 5-7 pounds since then
View attachment 15290
 
Ruggybuggy said:
We were all thinking it and you went ahead and said it. LMAO :D

I wounder if the "bigger" members have more issues with suspensions then other members? Poll time?
Click to expand...

I would assume so. The stock springs are set for a rider weight of approximately 155-165 pounds. Assuming healthy body composition we are talking about an estimated rider height of 5'6" to 5'10" depending on their frame size small, medium, large.

It's kind of funny to think about anthropomorphic differences in riders. I passed a rider the other day, probably a kid from ASU, built like Arnold Schwarzenegger back in the day, on an R6 and he made that thing look like a kids bicycle. Probably only had 3-5% body fat at 5'10-6'0"ish and would have weighed in I guess around 225-245.

To be honest with you I'm a little jealous of the shorter riders, I think 5'10", maybe 6'0" would be the perfect height to ride motorcycles.
 
As a former fatty, I give you mad props for trying to lose the lard! Keep it up, you're doing very well and it will only get better :blowing_kisses::blowing_kisses:

At my worst, I was 285 lbs or so. I'm 6'0" and weigh in about 175 most days now.
 
Dustin said:
As a former fatty, I give you mad props for trying to lose the lard! Keep it up, you're doing very well and it will only get better :blowing_kisses::blowing_kisses:

At my worst, I was 285 lbs or so. I'm 6'0" and weigh in about 175 most days now.
Click to expand...

Wow, down to 175 from 285. My hat is off to you sir, that is some good work and dedication.

I appreciate the props, it's been a very good year so far.
 
Good for you on the weight loss!

As Dustin knows I am not real tall and no doubt packing some weight. I prefer to think of it as a low center of gravity.
Somehow my Katoom can still pull the front with ease :innocent:

I learned years ago when I upgraded the suspenders on my FJR the value of a good suspension. That is part of what I really like about KTM is top notch suspension from the factory.
 
Dustin said:
As a former fatty, I give you mad props for trying to lose the lard! Keep it up, you're doing very well and it will only get better :blowing_kisses::blowing_kisses:

At my worst, I was 285 lbs or so. I'm 6'0" and weigh in about 175 most days now.
Click to expand...

Wow well done!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2
 
Good job on your weight loss sky I recently put the R.1 shock and conversion on my bike it is well worth the $$$$ Im 210 and running the spring at its softest setting.It soaks up expansion joints nice.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top