Go Back   Two Wheel Fix > In the Garage or Shop > Mechanical or Tech

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-28-2011, 01:30 AM   #1
Rangerscott
Viff6N Mutated Warrior
 
Rangerscott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Texas
Moto: '01 Honda VFR 800 & '09 ER-6N
Posts: 8,704
Default

It's all in your head. The springs are just like the oem ones. Admit it. Just because something is "aftermarket" and more expensive doesn't mean it's better.
Rangerscott is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-28-2011, 07:32 AM   #2
Papa_Complex
Nomadic Tribesman
 
Papa_Complex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Brampton, Canada
Moto: '09 ER-6n
Posts: 11,150
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rangerscott View Post
It's all in your head. The springs are just like the oem ones. Admit it. Just because something is "aftermarket" and more expensive doesn't mean it's better.
Nope, it doesn't. The fact that something aftermarket is better makes it better

That's why I'm withholding final judgment on the front suspension; I know that the fact that I've spent money of the damned thing will make me tend to want to see improvement, even if there really isn't any.

A little more information then.

With the OEM setup the front end felt tight, but there was a smooth and progressive dive under braking. The dive wasn't significant, which would make sense if I'm right about what the stock spring rate was, but it was there. With the new cartridge inserts my impression is that the initial dive occurs more quickly, but then slows and stops almost immediately.

The back end, as I said, is very much like I remember my old Type 4 Ohlins feeling. The stock shock wallowed significantly, over wavy pavement. The rear of the bike seems almost to float, just soaking up road imperfections. Now it's like someone has run a rail, plumb straight and level above the road, then attached the rear of my bike to it. I'm extremely happy with the shock, given that I was suffering from sticker shock over the purchase.

Still waiting for the Kawi screen. Once that's in place I might add brush-guards, then call it a day on the mods.
__________________
"Everything's better with pirates." - Lodge, "Dorkness Rising"

http://www.morallyambiguous.net/
Papa_Complex is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2011, 10:43 AM   #3
Papa_Complex
Nomadic Tribesman
 
Papa_Complex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Brampton, Canada
Moto: '09 ER-6n
Posts: 11,150
Default

Unfortunately I had to remove my low/braced handlebars in order to get the windscreen to fit. With the lower bars, the right mounting bracket for the Kawi screen was coming in contact with the brake reservoir banjo bolt. I'll have to find a slightly higher set of alloy bars.
__________________
"Everything's better with pirates." - Lodge, "Dorkness Rising"

http://www.morallyambiguous.net/
Papa_Complex is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2011, 11:09 PM   #4
Rangerscott
Viff6N Mutated Warrior
 
Rangerscott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Texas
Moto: '01 Honda VFR 800 & '09 ER-6N
Posts: 8,704
Default

Hows the ride wiener?
Rangerscott is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2011, 07:53 AM   #5
Papa_Complex
Nomadic Tribesman
 
Papa_Complex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Brampton, Canada
Moto: '09 ER-6n
Posts: 11,150
Default

Damned good. The tight nature of the front end is giving good surface feedback, in corners and the shock is excellent. I'm liking it better than my old Penske, that I had on my VFR.
__________________
"Everything's better with pirates." - Lodge, "Dorkness Rising"

http://www.morallyambiguous.net/
Papa_Complex is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2011, 12:27 PM   #6
Rangerscott
Viff6N Mutated Warrior
 
Rangerscott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Texas
Moto: '01 Honda VFR 800 & '09 ER-6N
Posts: 8,704
Default

I yot a PCV coming my way. I bet I get at least 25hp out of it.
Rangerscott is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2011, 12:35 PM   #7
Papa_Complex
Nomadic Tribesman
 
Papa_Complex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Brampton, Canada
Moto: '09 ER-6n
Posts: 11,150
Default

That'll be interesting to hear about.
__________________
"Everything's better with pirates." - Lodge, "Dorkness Rising"

http://www.morallyambiguous.net/
Papa_Complex is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2011, 01:01 AM   #8
Rangerscott
Viff6N Mutated Warrior
 
Rangerscott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Texas
Moto: '01 Honda VFR 800 & '09 ER-6N
Posts: 8,704
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Papa_Complex View Post
That'll be interesting to hear about.
We'll see. I got this for $157. I'm hoping to find a deal on an autotune. I'll just have to drill out a hole and weld in a bung for it since the US model didn't come with an O2 sensor.
Rangerscott is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2011, 12:49 PM   #9
Rangerscott
Viff6N Mutated Warrior
 
Rangerscott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Texas
Moto: '01 Honda VFR 800 & '09 ER-6N
Posts: 8,704
Default

Man. Theres a youtube vid of this dude putting a turbo on his 650r but he never did an update. Theres plenty of room down there and the 2-1 pipe makes it easy to put a turbo where the muffler connects.
Rangerscott is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2011, 11:50 PM   #10
Rangerscott
Viff6N Mutated Warrior
 
Rangerscott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Texas
Moto: '01 Honda VFR 800 & '09 ER-6N
Posts: 8,704
Default

Damn. You could have saved a lot here. This guy says it's a direct bolt on swap. Just got to weld on some stops on the lower triple.

http://www.kawiforums.com/ninja-650r...fork-swap.html
Rangerscott is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:25 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.