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Post by Jess on Sept 13, 2017 13:25:13 GMT -5
You can purchase a new progressive shock for 180.00 for a set, and then buy springs for another 85.00. Not too expensive, considering bottom end Ohlins are about 800.00.
My problem is preload settings, rebound rates, spring rates, dampening, adjust ability, blah blah blah may as well be a foreign language. Its kind of like scotch... My brother can taste the difference between a 12 year old McCallen (65.00 a bottle) and a 30 year old McCallen (2000.00) a bottle. I can't.
I am not much of a suspension aficionado... I probably wouldn't know a good set up from a bad one. I have one bike with Ohlins on it. Set by the manufacturer for my weight and my bike. I can't tell the difference between them and the progressives.
I have a Re5 with a set of works performance shocks. It is my favorite rider. It is plush, and comfortable for me. It seems to handle well... but as I said, I wouldn't know if it didn't. I just don't ride them that hard...
I have some modern bikes with fully adjustable suspension, and frankly, I cant tell the difference from one click to the next... I had my Suzuki Bking and my Yamaha GTS (after getting new high dollar front and rear) set up by a very knowledgeable suspension guy... couldn't tell a thing was different, except my wallet was lighter.
Bottom line, for me... even the cheap Chinese 80.00 per set Ohlins knock off shocks from eBay are better than a worn out 40 year old POS that the factory installed.
If all that stuff is meaningful to you... you should probably spend the bucks on the caviar. As is often brought up by one particular member, I'm a damn hillbilly. Budweiser works for me.
Again... MY opinion, yours may be different.
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Post by wayne on Sept 13, 2017 18:34:52 GMT -5
Framitron, thanks for the website, that's quite cool. I've pondered how to figure out spring rates.
Jess, it can be a blessing. I can't tell the difference between a $7 bottle of bubbly and a several hundred dollar Moet. So you'll know what you'll be drinking at celebrations 'round my place.
Cheers........
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Post by Framitron on Sept 13, 2017 21:22:54 GMT -5
Jess: Its good to hear that the cheap stuff provides a reasonably good ride. Buying a black box that works ok is not a bad idea in this case. Honestly I dont even really mind the stock shocks because there is so much else wrong with the bike that the soft, wallowy ride just means that the bike is functioning well enough to get me out of the garage! I would prefer to not spend the time doing a deep analysis of the suspension. I just fear that I get stuck with something that is even worse. But based on what you said, it sounds unlikely. I'm sure that if I was racing road courses with it I would figure out what suspension adjustments are needed to get it to handle better.
I'd rather drink the oil from of a burnt out utility pole transformer than scotch or whiskey but Bud is ok by me. Pour it (the Bud, not the transformer oil) into a tall pilsner glass and most beer snobs wont notice the difference. Presentation works wonders :-)
Wayne: Yeah, its nice being able to demystify spring rates. Having that formula is great because you can now go to the junkyard armed with a pair of calipers and calculator and you can pick up a mystery shock and determine in a minute if its what you are looking for. Eyeballing it is virtually impossible especially if the coil diameter or wire diameter is much different from the original shock you had in mind.
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Post by timpa136 on Sept 14, 2017 17:54:12 GMT -5
that the soft, wallowy ride just means that the bike is functioning well enough to get me out of the garage! 13.5-ish coils. I calculated a spring rate of 124 in-lbs. Framitron, I suppose that the shock fluid has leaked out, are the shocks oily? My general impression (for what it is worth) is the shocks were highly dampened. Thanks for that calculating post. Years back some customers and myself had a set of mullholland shocks and as I recall he had 130 springs that were way too stiff even double up. 120 sounds about right as I recall. Tim
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Post by Framitron on Sept 14, 2017 22:47:07 GMT -5
Hmm, if they were highly damped when new then that is interesting to know. I don't weigh much, maybe 150 with all my gear. So a wallowy ride might mean that one of my shocks could be blown. The bike had been in a crash before I got it so its possible. I could pull the shocks and rig up a system to let me determine if there is any damping left in them. I'm not sure if the shocks are disassemble-able. If so then that will be easy to figure out.
If 130in-lb springs are too stiff then that means I'll need to be pretty careful searching for replacement springs. Also, we haven't talked about pre-load yet. I dont know how much preload the stock shocks have, nor do I know what your Mullholland shocks had. So that is another possible issue that could have caused your overly stiff ride. I have my preload set somewhere in the middle. I should experiment by bumping it all the way up and seeing if it goes from slow wallowing to faster pogo-ing. I don't have a spanner so its a pain to adjust. I'll need to buy one.
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Post by Framitron on Sept 15, 2017 16:38:13 GMT -5
If anyone happens to know the spring rate or coil dimensions of the rear shocks for the Kawasaki ZR1200 that would be great information to have. They seem to be decent quality KYB shocks with adjustments for preload, compression and rebound. Perhaps they would be a good candidate for the RE5. (With some modification to accomodate the lower eye mount.) Thanks!
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Post by Framitron on Sept 16, 2017 11:44:04 GMT -5
Upon further research the Kawasaki ZR1200 rear shocks are 14.3" long so they might be a bit long. It has a lower eye rather than clevis so modifications to either the shock or swingarm would be needed.
Or I could drop $800 for the Ohlins SU143 and bolt it on in 5 minutes.
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Post by timpa136 on Sept 18, 2017 17:15:17 GMT -5
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Post by jm0406 on Sept 18, 2017 18:18:15 GMT -5
This would never work on our bikes, this bike has pistons. Jeff
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Post by Jean-Denis on Apr 21, 2018 8:08:13 GMT -5
Hi, I have installed new 13" shocks and it's clearly help. I have chosen Hagon for Suzuki GS1000E and it fit perfectly while keeping the original look.
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Post by timpa136 on Apr 21, 2018 9:08:56 GMT -5
They look good. After some miles, tell us how they perform 2 up and rough roads etc.
Timpa136
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Post by Jean-Denis on Jun 9, 2018 10:50:00 GMT -5
Hi,
After my 2200kms trip I can say that with these shocks it's a new bike, handling and confort are really good.
Jean-Denis
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Post by Framitron on Oct 9, 2019 9:13:09 GMT -5
Finally got my hands on some vintage Holland made Koni's. Type 7610-1394. According to the Koni records they were built specifically for the RE5. Presently waiting for a rebuild kit to arrive. The document also shows that the stock spring that came with this was 235-18/25/33 and according to IKON this spring is suitable for a rider in the 160-200lb range. The KONI documentation is on an Excel spreadsheet that you can download here: www.ikonshocksusa.com/collections/ikon-shock-springsI am about 140lbs so am presently wondering if I should look for a lighter spring? Any skinny guys here able to weigh in on their spring tuning experiences? Also, I'm not sure if my spring is the correct spring. I measured it and calculated that it has a rate much lower than the stock Suzuki spring. (Stock=124lb/in, mine=88lb/in). Once I get the rebuild kit and mounting bushings I'll be able to install them and get an idea if they are even close... For anyone wondering about the spring numbering system: AAA-BB/CC/DD. AAA is the uncompressed spring length in mm. BB/CC/DD are the three different spring rates in Newtons per mm. If you look closely at one of their progressive springs you can see that it is wound in three distinct pitches. (they also make some dual pitch springs. I just happen to have a triple rate spring)
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Post by pmcburney on Oct 13, 2019 19:47:34 GMT -5
Those exhaust covers could do with a bit of a panel-beat and tidy-up.
Just sayin'...
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Post by wayne on Oct 14, 2019 4:49:39 GMT -5
Those exhaust covers could do with a bit of a panel-beat and tidy-up. Just sayin'... Am I reading this right? Is this the loose, carefree, anything-goes Mac B I thought I knew? You must have caught a bout of anal retentivitis after sitting in my sidecar. Don't worry, you'll be better soon.
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