I know we really dont have a vendor section, so I will put this here.
I want to let you all know that I traveled to Southern California last week to attend a week long training class hosted by Paul Thede, owner of Race Tech. The classes were suspension theory classes with some shop skills thrown in. You would never think that a suspension class would be so intense, but he took us back to the basics and started us out there. With the engineering behind suspension design and theory. Yes, we even had to figure quite a bit of calculus, geometry, and algebra. I was a bit rusty from my own engineering classes over 20 years ago.
I came away with more of an appreciation for his company and designs than I had before. I am a Race Tech dealer, and now I am one of his certified shops.
So, what am I getting at here? Well, he has a couple of new products that I am interested in getting in some tigers. The first is his set of Gold Valves for the front of the Roadies. The description on his website does not do it justice. The front forks on the Roadies are almost worse than the old damping rod forks found on the earlier girlies. This kit fixes that totally. It will transform the bikes suspension. It converts the fork legs into one being for compression and the other handling the rebound damping. The dyno curves on the completed suspension were quite impressive. The kit is $399, Fork springs at $109, Fluid at $60. What I would like to offer you guys is to do the forks for $600 complete, less shipping. That is a full rebuild and the installation of new springs and Gold Valves.
For the same bikes you can also finish the package with one of my reworked stock shocks that include a new spring, complete valving rework and rebuild for $450.
So, for about the same price for an off the shelf Ohlins, you get your whole bike done.
Next, for Girlies. Along with Race Tech, I am also a HyperPro dealer. HyperPro does offer a line of shocks for the Girlies from a basic emulsion stock replacement shock for about $600 to a full works remote preload and remote reservoir unit for around $1100. Top that off with a rebuild of the front forks with new springs and RT Emulators, and you will wonder why you have not done this years ago.
Steamers, trust me, I have not forgotten about you. I dont know how to say this without sounding like I am just out to sell something, but if you have never had your shock serviced on your Steamer, it is beyond dead. No matter what you think, I can guarantee you that there is no nitrogen charge left in the shock and the fluid is totally contaminated. I have done many Steamer shocks and not a single one had any nitrogen pressure left. It bleeds out over time.
If you dont have me do it, fine, but get it done. You are seriously riding on a very bad shock if you dont.
Feel free to ask questions and I will answer them to the best of my knowledge and ability.
(http://sasquatch.smugmug.com/Friends/LA2010/IMG1719/862149790_bPdCx-L.jpg)
Wow nice! I'll keep this in mind for the roadie!
Thanks big yin, very informative.
Could you post up any kit refernces for the Roadie Gold Valve kit, I'll investigate with the UK distributor. Is it a DIY job or specialist knowledge / tools required?
Just had the Steamer Ohlins rebuilt, I'll think about the forks when I've had her back on the road for a while.
Pity your in the USA.
Shipping a shock to and from the UK is just too costly.
Quote from: "Sin_Tiger"Thanks big yin, very informative.
Could you post up any kit refernces for the Roadie Gold Valve kit, I'll investigate with the UK distributor. Is it a DIY job or specialist knowledge / tools required?
Just had the Steamer Ohlins rebuilt, I'll think about the forks when I've had her back on the road for a while.
The Race Tech part number is FMGV S2053C. While it can be a DIY, some tools are needed.
well since you opened yourself up for questions:
is the rear Girly shock not rebuildable? I gather that by the replace only that Ive seen around
and whats it take to improve the forks?
I'm only a small 245 lb guy and my suspension is in decent shape since it was such a low milage 2001, but figure it could use some love, and why not go all out and spend somemoney to have a better ride.
is there a service package or soemthign you reccomend? I'm mostly a street guy with some dirt roads thrown in for fun
Quote from: "REGULATOR"well since you opened yourself up for questions:
is the rear Girly shock not rebuildable? I gather that by the replace only that Ive seen around
and whats it take to improve the forks?
I'm only a small 245 lb guy and my suspension is in decent shape since it was such a low milage 2001, but figure it could use some love, and why not go all out and spend somemoney to have a better ride.
is there a service package or soemthign you reccomend? I'm mostly a street guy with some dirt roads thrown in for fun
The rear shock is welded shut and thus nothing can be done with it. I have an 01 as well. I suggest a Hyperpro shock for the rear.
The forks are pretty easy. A set of firmer springs, Race Tech emultators and a fresh servicing.
Jay
This rebuild is high on my list of priorities. Money for it is just a little low right now. Thanks for the info!
I'm still really considering this for my Roadie.
@Sasquatch: Does the rear shock price imply our stock as trade in?
Quote from: "EvilBetty"I'm still really considering this for my Roadie.
@Sasquatch: Does the rear shock price imply our stock as trade in?
The price is the rebuilding and modification of your shock.
I'm an owner of a 1996 Steamer. When I got the bike with 28k on it, the rear end washboarded like crazy on a flat road whenever I wend over 50 mph or so, it was that completely gone.
Sasquatch rebuilt my rear shock. It is now completely awesome. There are posts on here all about it. Even pictures. He does great work.
Sasquatch I will say that when I rented a 2008 Tiger for a couple of days, I was really, really unimpressed with the suspension. I actually thought my Steamer was better sorted in many ways. Now what you say about the roadie kinda confirms this.
Confirms what Sasquatch was saying about the Roadie suspension :
http://m.motorcyclistonline.com/howto/1 ... index.html (http://m.motorcyclistonline.com/howto/122_1009_triumph_tiger_1050/index.html)
I don't agree with a single one of his upgrades but yeah, I agree the stock suspension sucks if you're over 150lbs.
I just had 1.0Kg Race Tech springs installed in the forks, and that alone has been a tremendous difference. I think a stronger spring on the rear is next. Solo with the pre-load maxed it was OK, but with luggage on today it was way too soft.
Why don't you like his upgrades?
I do think both my 96 Sprint and my 96 Tiger are too divey in the front. The Sprint's fork tubes were completely replaced in 2006 and I should have put cartridge emulators in at that time. I wasn't confident I could do the machining myself so I didn't do it.
EvilBetty,
What dont you like about my work? What experiences have you had? I strive for happy customers, and so far I am virtually 100%.
Quote from: "Sasquatch"EvilBetty,
What dont you like about my work? What experiences have you had? I strive for happy customers, and so far I am virtually 100%.
I think he's talking about the link I posted about the upgrades a fella did to his Roadie's suspension, not your work Sasquatch. You should read that article, though. The guy spent $4k on his suspension upgrades.
I'm still lovin' my "Suspensions by Sasquatch" rear shock you did! I even carefully slid the sticker that came with it underneath the spring to stick it to the shock body, I'm so happy with it.
LOL I'm so sorry... I was referring to the specific upgrades in the article chosen by the author, not your upgrades. I whole heartily agree with your suggestions. If I could afford it I would tear down and send my forks and shock to you now!
I am having to take it in small steps with my budget. I got 1kg Race Tech springs installed at Cafe Racer in Kansas City just this Thursay. Great improvement but on the trip down here to Jasper with luggage attached it was apparent I need a rear spring as well. Preload is maxed, so the rebound is suffering.
Quote from: "EvilBetty"I don't agree with a single one of his upgrades but yeah, I agree the stock suspension sucks if you're over 150lbs.
I just had 1.0Kg Race Tech springs installed in the forks, and that alone has been a tremendous difference. I think a stronger spring on the rear is next. Solo with the pre-load maxed it was OK, but with luggage on today it was way too soft.
with the new shock and cartridge conversion your looking at a new anaimal. Say a tiger with sharpened claws. I am having a cartridge insert put in my bike with the extrenal adjustment and then a custom built rear shock. I know what to expect as I have done a very simular thing on the KLR and its not even the same bike. I hope for the same improvement on the tiger