Seeking Opinions of Suspension Rebuild Vendors (6th gen)

[myke_w]

I've been lurking and posting in other folks' threads for the last couple weeks trying to glean more info about what I can do to improve the suspension on my 6th gen.

I'm a pretty aggressive rider and I keep feeling the VFR do funny things under me when I'm riding, things I'm not used to on my old ride (sv w/ gsxr front) so...

I'm considering sending my forks and rear shock to Race Tech or possibly another vendor for a complete rework, but I'm seeking opinions first.

I'm more or less wondering if performing a valve / spring upgrade meets most people's expectations or if they wished they have gone all the way and purchased say - a shock from Ohlins.

Thanks in advance for any advise!

[havcar]

As an aggresive rider myself I am mostly happy with my current set-up of full stiff pre-load in the front and 2 clicks out from full pre-load rear and 4 clicks out from full stiff rebound on rear. Those settings are on Metz M3 sport-tec tires.

I tried pilot powers this summer for giggles and that set-up didn't work at all. I can't be sure if it was the tires or the bike but I went back to M3's ASAP and everything was corrected. Too much pushing from the PP rear made the front feel like it wanted to tuck under with moderate throttle during cornering, the only time it ever really felt nuetral was under heavy throttle. Like I said, I ended up blaming this issue on the Michelins( which I will never use again) but it could have easily been a bad tire/suspension set-up combo.

[myke_w]

I'm don't think this is so much a tire issue. To get the correct sag on my bike I'm, 3 turns out in the front and about 10 turns out in the back (I weigh 175). It makes the front feel like it's stiff enough, but it's really bouncy, which indicates to me that I definitely need a spring more appropriate to my weight.

[Bubba Zanetti]

Race Tech all the way.

I had springs for my weight up front and I shipped my rear shock to Race Tech at the beginning of this year and had them re-build it.

Some friends and I have gotten into doing track days. One of the best mods I've ever done.

The rear shock rebuild was about 350.00? If you search my profile/ threads, its in their somewhere.

I had my local mechanic do the forks. I just ordered the parts.

BZ

[02 VFR Rider]

I would like to start with tires do make a differance on your suspension setup.
if you set up suspension for one brand of tire ( I run Metz M-3 ) and you change to another brand it will effect your setup.

I weigh 162 (preload )so front forks are set to 2 lines showing and rear is set 2 up from full soft opps forgot rear screw setting I think it is 4 turns out.

I ride very hard and Ex-road racer, I don't have any real issuses w/ the stock set up.
It sucks yes but it gets the job done without and ill effects.
any upgrade to the stock set up will improve 110% ( street ride will be alittle on the harsh side from stock susp ) A must if you want to do track days IMO.
new rear shock w/ ride height adjustment if you have the cash is even better then stock rebuild but that is up to you and your wallet.

I have looked for info on swaping in a upside down fork set up and never found a complete write up on all that is needed ( yamaha R-1 set up will work ) no info as far as what kind of triple clamp, clip ons, stem bearings and brakes are used as well as rear shock from say a cbr 1000 will fit on a 6th gen.

If anyone has any info please chime in, I would like to find something that I can pick up on flea bay rather then spend big $$$ on a new custom set up.

my sugestion would be while you are looking for parts to replace your stock set up, is to keep playing around with your suspension, sag adjustment to start and that it just a base - you can add more or less to fit your riding style.
don't forget you can add a shim to rear shock to raise ride height and raise front forks as well to fine tune it.


also link below - great book for susp set up.

Sportbike Suspension Tuning, Andrew Trevitt, Book - Barnes & Noble

[02 VFR Rider]

please list tire type and also air pressure you are running and please don't say 38 front and 42 rear

[myke_w]

I would like to start with tires do make a differance on your suspension setup.]

I completely agree that tires make a big difference in handling, I'm not disputing that at all.

But having been through about 50k miles of various tires on sport bikes I can definitely tell the difference between a tire handling characteristic and a suspension shortcoming. This bike is sprung too weak in the front and the amount of preload I've added to achieve optimal sag causes the front ride height to be higher, compression damping is harsh and it's bouncy at road speed. The rear spring rate seems ok for my weight, but rebound damping seems off, like too slow, and definitely not well matched for the front.

Race tech and others promise to be able to deliver a complete matched suspension setup that compresses and rebounds at the same rate front and rear (allegedly developed on this model), is appropriate for my riding style (hence bleed hole size and stack design), and uses a spring that is dialed in for my weight all for about a $1000 installed which sounds like a great deal to me, especially when I start shopping around for replacement components (ohlins etc) and just the shock is a $G.

Keep in mind, I want to keep linked brakes and ABS on the bike, I want to keep the stock forks.

What I'm seeking here is input on "bang for buck" on various levels of suspension upgrades.

[02 VFR Rider]

Is the $1,000.00 just for the forks or is that including work to rear shock??
I agree on keeping the LBS & ABS, I must say I was not a big fan at first but after 3 years with the LBS I think it is a big plus. ( I don't have the ABS doh )

there is a susp guru on this site but can't think of his name, hope he chimes in maybe he can do work for a better price.

[myke_w]

please list tire type and also air pressure you are running and please don't say 38 front and 42 rear

New this season Pilot power 2CT - 36F - 40R (I generally run 1-2lb low on other bikes I own). Tires are not cupped or abnormally worn.

[myke_w]

Is the $1,000.00 just for the forks or is that including work to rear shock??

That's for both - done by RT HQ in cali

there is a susp guru on this site but can't think of his name, hope he chimes in maybe he can do work for a better price.

I'd love to have a person more familiar with VFR's advise me, I know RT can't spend an enormous amount of time on any single model in development, and so they have to make some generic assumptions.

[02 VFR Rider]

That's for both - done by RT HQ in cali




I'd love to have a person more familiar with VFR's advise me, I know RT can't spend an enormous amount of time on any single model in development, and so they have to make some generic assumptions.

I'll find the guys info and pm you once I get it.
I have spent the past 2 hrs looking up susp swaps and only came up w/ this link for rear.

Vtec Shock Options - VFR Discussion

[NorcalBoy]

I'm don't think this is so much a tire issue. To get the correct sag on my bike I'm, 3 turns out in the front and about 10 turns out in the back (I weigh 175). It makes the front feel like it's stiff enough, but it's really bouncy, which indicates to me that I definitely need a spring more appropriate to my weight.

If it feels bouncy, that is the damping, not the spring. It is quite possible that the "use heavier fork oil" suggestion might come up, but don't fall in to the trap of changing fork oil, as it will only change the effective spring rate at the bottom of the fork travel.

[havcar]

I'm don't think this is so much a tire issue. To get the correct sag on my bike I'm, 3 turns out in the front and about 10 turns out in the back (I weigh 175). It makes the front feel like it's stiff enough, but it's really bouncy, which indicates to me that I definitely need a spring more appropriate to my weight.

I had a tuner do my suspension about a year ago, specifically the sag. He set it to my body weight of 190lb and 6ft tall, basically by the book. Which also meant full soft for my bike with a caveat from the tuner saying that the VFR susp. may not operate all that well with a supposed perfect sag. I found that he was right as the front end was way to too loose. So we ended up forgetting about sag altogather and just expermented with handling untill we got an adequate setting with the OEM.