I went out on a 20 minute test ride and hit every bump I could find.
I am super happy with the results!!
The jolt/jarring is dramatically reduced. If you drive over a brick at 45 mph you'll still get a jolt, but normal-ish road imperfections don't have the harsh impact now.
In one turn there is a ~1 inch pavement ripple, just floated over that, no jolt, no wiggle, just absorbed it.
And how much did this costs? $6 usd - oil $7.12 usd - shims
$13.12 total!!
Well ... there were tools ... and the GRiSO stand.
But the fork specific tools: $15 - ebay fork spring compressor thing $20 - Motion Pro damping rod pull up thing (guys on youtube are using a zip tie)
I already had the impact wrench, and the vice soft jaws. The $15 long allen wrench set, I'll call that generic tool.
So if I had paid a suspension shop $250-$350 for a suspension revalve, I would have been happy with these results.
So ... what change did what? I did 3 things ... 1. Different compression stack 2. Lighter weight oil 3. Less oil in the forks
I feel it is a combo of #2 & #1. And the oil the left fork was super thick ... so #2 might be the biggest difference ... don't know.
But Round 1 was a major success!!
Actually, not sure I need a Round II. Will hopefully get some more rides in this week and test some more.
Subject: Re: Reworking forks ... Sun Jan 19, 2020 3:34 am
Picking up where Usedtobefast left off.
The OEM rebound stack is;
17 x 0.10 17 x 0.10 17 x 0.10 17 x 0.15 10 x 0.2 10 x 0.2
I have decided to replace the valves with Racetech Gold valves and use the spreadsheets /calculations they provide for the shim stacks. In talking to the Racetech technical department when I found they don't have the GRiSO in their system, he said 'we can roughly calculate a set up and adjust from there'
So using the 2006 Suzuki GSXR 750 to get into the system and then added 70 lbs to my rider weight, ( 175 lbs ), to compensate for the weight difference of the bikes ( roughly 420 lbs to 490 lbs ).
These are the baseline shim sets
Compression;
17 x 0.15 17 x 0.15 17 x 0.15 17 x 0.15 17 x 0.10 15 x 0.10 13 x 0.10 11 x 0.10 9 x 0.15
Rebound
17 x 0.15 17 x 0.15 17 x 0.15 17 x 0.15 17 x 0.15 17 x 0.15 17 x 0.15 17 x 0.15 15 x 0.10 13 x 0.15 11 x 0.15 9 x 0.30
A 5 weight oil & air gap of 120 mm recommended. However I have changed out the springs, so the air gap may need some fiddling with.
usedtobefast GRiSO Capo
Posts : 207 Join date : 2018-08-29
Subject: Re: Reworking forks ... Sun Jan 19, 2020 5:32 am
Cool! You doing the work yourself? Or having a suspension shop/person do it? Seems like a lot of 17mm shims! But then the racetech valves supposedly flow more oil ... so would make sense to need more shims.
Hope it turns out great.
Nobleswood GRiSO Capo
Posts : 488 Join date : 2016-12-21
Subject: Re: Reworking forks ... Sun Jan 19, 2020 6:41 am
Found a suspension guy who doesn't mind me looking over his shoulder & buying the parts.
rick pope GRiSO Capo
Posts : 422 Join date : 2019-08-17 Age : 67
Subject: Re: Reworking forks ... Sun Jan 19, 2020 9:24 am
Nobleswood wrote:
Found a suspension guy who doesn't mind me looking over his shoulder & buying the parts.
Let us know how it all works out. I'd like to get my forks done as well, and I'm not that far away, 'bout 100 miles. I installed the Race Tech valves in my Blackbird a long time ago. It wasn't difficult, but a bit tedious. Now my eyes aren't as good, and my stubby fat fingers aren't quite as nimble.
Nobleswood GRiSO Capo
Posts : 488 Join date : 2016-12-21
Subject: Re: Reworking forks ... Sun Jan 19, 2020 11:26 am
I will ! Are you going to be at the ‘Garage Brewed’ event in Cincy on 2/8 ?
rick pope GRiSO Capo
Posts : 422 Join date : 2019-08-17 Age : 67
Subject: Re: Reworking forks ... Mon Jan 20, 2020 12:25 am
Yes I will. I'm actually hosting a bunch of fellow CBXers that weekend, and we'll all be there. We call it our PMS party (Parked Motorcycle Syndrome).
Look for a custom Kawasaki in orange/rootbeer w/ single sided swinger. A friend of mine built it.
The whole experience went well; Jakes a good guy & didn’t mind a gearhead learning. Thanks to you pointing out what other bikes the Showa's were on I could get the parts ordered.
I’ve only had the bike out twice now & once for a real ride. The result; the front end seems to just comply with road. You know what’s under the tyre but it’s not unsettling the bike. As this is the best set up suspension I’ve had, I can at the moment only say what it’s not doing. Which is odd. Over the summer I’ll get to know & understand it better.
All in all I’m pleased. So pleased that I bought the same front end set up that I’m going to instal on my V11 Sport, when I can get back to earning some money.
Nobleswood GRiSO Capo
Posts : 488 Join date : 2016-12-21
Subject: Re: Reworking forks ... Sun Jul 25, 2021 5:44 am
As there's a few threads on suspension mods going on at the moment, thought I'd add something to this one as Usedtobefast's comprehensive write up helped me with some actual nuts & bolt details.
Last year due to Covid I didn't ride much & its only now that I'm spending time on the bike.
Without a doubt this one of the best use of money in my opinion. I just got in from a 6 hour ride around some twisty roads that are new to me. The bike feels more planted, better balanced, it's not that my confidence has gone up in the corners (yet) but that I don't get those small slips or running wide incidents. And my chicken strips are diminishing.
Strangely the bike doesn't tire me out as much as it used to. I'm not as sore after a ride.
The high speed bumps need a bit more work but still a good beginning.
BobW981 likes this post
BobW981 Grignapoco
Posts : 123 Join date : 2021-06-12 Age : 64
Subject: Re: Reworking forks ... Sun Jul 25, 2021 7:58 am
Nobleswood wrote:
As there's a few threads on suspension mods going on at the moment, thought I'd add something to this one as Usedtobefast's comprehensive write up helped me with some actual nuts & bolt details.
This thread has been a good read, and a tribute to Usedtobefast
I’ve agreed to (soon) hand mine over to Maxton for them to perform their magic, front and rear
Nobleswood wrote:
Last year due to Covid I didn't ride much & its only now that I'm spending time on the bike.
Without a doubt this one of the best use of money in my opinion.
Snap! A really difficult time. My recent purchase of the GRiSO was my way of addressing a problem by treating myself, with my first MG.
Excellence in suspension is so misunderstood and undervalued by so many riders, who’d prefer to fit the latest ‘hot can’ than sort the handling. Maybe point and squirt requires less skill? [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Bob
paulbrice GRiSO Capo
Posts : 1214 Join date : 2015-01-05 Age : 60
Subject: Re: Reworking forks ... Thu Aug 05, 2021 1:12 am
Keep us posted Bob....I could be tempted to follow if you bring back some good news on front (& maybe rear) shock upgrades
So using the 2006 Suzuki GSXR 750 to get into the system and then added 70 lbs to my rider weight, ( 175 lbs ), to compensate for the weight difference of the bikes ( roughly 420 lbs to 490 lbs ).
These are the baseline shim sets
Compression;
17 x 0.15 17 x 0.15 17 x 0.15 17 x 0.15 17 x 0.10 15 x 0.10 13 x 0.10 11 x 0.10 9 x 0.15
Rebound
17 x 0.15 17 x 0.15 17 x 0.15 17 x 0.15 17 x 0.15 17 x 0.15 17 x 0.15 17 x 0.15 15 x 0.10 13 x 0.15 11 x 0.15 9 x 0.30
A 5 weight oil & air gap of 120 mm recommended. However I have changed out the springs, so the air gap may need some fiddling with.
Nobleswood. Did your guy drill a bleed hole in the valves? If so do you know what diameter it was?
RobR, couldn't find the reference to drilling holes in the valves. You can email Racetech tech support & see what they say.
ecs GRiSO Capo
Posts : 158 Join date : 2013-11-12
Subject: Re: Reworking forks ... Tue Aug 17, 2021 8:30 am
I just came back from a 180 mile each way ride to Traxxion Dynamics in Georgia to have my forks re-valved and the rear shock and spring switched out. Dropped it off at 9am and rode away at 1.30pm. They have a good waiting room and there is a Starbucks and a Zaxby's just up the road so kept myself occupied.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] Was $699 for the fork valve upgrade and $100 to remove and replace the forks. I gather that most ship their forks and shock rather than ride in.
I took the Matris M46 KD-ID from my Norge which fits the GRiSO. They are familiar with the GRiSO and he first said that the OEM shock is good and can be revalved but when he put the Matris on the shock dyno, the Matris went on. Matris were rubbish at picking the right spring so they put a right sized spring on for $99 and $100 for the remove and replace.
This is my second GRiSO that I have had re-shod (the first in Australia). As expected is a night and day difference. Now it holds a line in curves and I don't feel the bumps.
If you are at all considering it, I would do it soon. Prices are going to go up as everything is getting expensive.
Subject: Re: Reworking forks ... 
Mon Dec 03, 2018 3:55 pm
