Advice on Suspension Upgrade?

[Sykes92]

I started to get some interest in upgrading suspension to be more tuned to my weight and riding style. I contacted a RaceTech approved shop and they gave a quote that was somewhat pricier than I expected. I'll post the email

For your weight recommended front spring is a .626. Stock is a .440. Rear recommend is a 7.7 stock is a 9.3. Front springs are readily available. Rear is not.

Based on this and your budget I would recommend putting front springs and/or emulator. The following is our prices on those components ans services.

Fork springs $110
Emulator $150
Fork service with spring and emulator install $240
Spring install $75, if only installing fork springs
Forks removal and install $90.
Seals and oil, about $35. Only needed with service.

So I'm looking for some insight as to whether it would be worth it or not. I have never worked on anything major dealing with a bike or car before. And I wanted more opinions/sources of options.

[alex.s]

those are standard if not cheap prices

i think those numbers for stock are not correct though.

go to the race tech website and do the calculations yourself. you can do the service yourself. you don't need emulators

if you're going to swap the rear you might as well upgrade to a gsxr shock while you're at it. buy a used gsxr shock ($40 ebay) and respring it before you put it on. then just swap the front springs and fork oil

[Sykes92]

Originally Posted by alex.s

those are standard if not cheap prices

i think those numbers for stock are not correct though.

So would you say it'd be worth getting done?

[alex.s]

side note i use sonic springs cause they're cheap

[alex.s]

if you can turn a wrench you can install new suspension. i dont think anyone should pay someone else to do something they can do themselves, so if you are physically able to ride a bike, i would think you should be physically able to fix it.

[csmith12]

Seems par for course for a dealer or shop. I just did this not to long ago on my 250. If you can't follow this DIY, you need to pay someone else or get some local help.

Here is another reference.

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by Sykes92

So would you say it'd be worth getting done?

Nope, I think for where you are at with your riding, you can get a better feel with just the super cheap spacer mod. And you should be able to complete it easily yourself. If you feel you need more, then go the route of springs, emulators and maybe even some caps. And after doing the spacer mod, you just might feel better about doing the springs yourself. See were I am going here?

Like I said in other threads, you can get within 4 seconds of multiple track records with the stock bits. You shouldn't be riding THAT hard on the street.

[TnNinjaGirl]

Originally Posted by alex.s

you don't need emulators

Why not?

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by TnNinjaGirl

Why not?

Cause he aint gunna notice the difference until later. It's a bit of cart before the horse.

[TnNinjaGirl]

Ok

[Sykes92]

Originally Posted by csmith12

Nope, I think for where you are at with your riding, you can get a better feel with just the super cheap spacer mod. And you should be able to complete it easily yourself. If you feel you need more, then go the route of springs, emulators and maybe even some caps. And after doing the spacer mod, you just might feel better about doing the springs yourself. See were I am going here?

Like I said in other threads, you can get within 4 seconds of multiple track records with the stock bits. You shouldn't be riding THAT hard on the street.

The guy said the setup was for street not track. But all this advice is good. I need these different perspectives. So I appreciate it guys

[stubshaft]

Originally Posted by alex.s

side note i use sonic springs cause they're cheap

+1 - On the Sonic Springs. I also used heavier oil and it made a world of difference in the overall ride. Didn't go with emulators myself as I only use my bike as a daily commuter and the roads around here suck anyway.

[mania]

Originally Posted by stubshaft

+1 - On the Sonic Springs. I also used heavier oil and it made a world of difference in the overall ride. Didn't go with emulators myself as I only use my bike as a daily commuter and the roads around here suck anyway.

Sonic user also & would like to add Rich there at Sonic knows his stuff & is very helpful with explaining spacer calc etc.
Nice folks to work with & prices are very reasonable.

Changing to better fork springs geared towards your weight & usage has to
be one of the best value per dollar mods.

[SMman]

I'm looking to purchase Sonic .75 springs for my 09 250 and plan to use 15 weight fork oil. I weigh 150lbs and want to fix the wallowing I experience in the corners. I still have the stock rear shock and I'm not sure if I will replace it. What's everyone's thoughts on upgrading the front springs and leave the stock rear shock? Thank you.

[sharky nrk]

I have the front setup with emulators, .90 racetech springs, preload adjusters, high quality fluid, the standard works for the stock housings on my track bike. It works reasonably well and I would highly recommend it if you have excess cash to blow through.

I have done 4 or 5 sets of emulator/spring installations now and I would personally rate it around a 3 or 4 on the 1-10 scale of installation difficulty. But then again I have done pretty much every type of mechanical work so my scale is a bit off.

Now that being said, on my commuter Ninjette I have .80 racetech springs, preload spacers, and high quality fluid. I didn't need the adjustment for the street bike I saved the cash. It does just fine.

[SMman]

Did you leave the stock rear shock in place on your street 250?

[InvisiBill]

According to RaceTech's calc, the NewGen's fork springs are too light for any human rider (they suggest 50% stiffer for a 100lb rider), but the rear is sprung for about 220lb. It will be a bit mismatched with only the fork springs swapped, but it'll be much closer than stock.

The PreGen's rear spring is actually pretty close for your weight, but the PreGen's shock is shorter and not adjustable. I don't know of an easy way to get a slightly softer rear spring on the NewGen. One of the GSXR shocks that are commonly swapped might have a spring in the right range. *shrug*

[SMman]

I'm going to try doing the front end first. I have a ZX-6R with a Hyperpro shock and Ohlins spring set to my weight so know what a huge difference properly setup suspension can make.

[sharky nrk]

Originally Posted by SMman

Did you leave the stock rear shock in place on your street 250?

actually have stock shock on both, but have raising link on track bike. Track bike is getting GSXR shock shortly.

[SMman]

Great. Thank you. Let me know if you decide to sell the raising link. Where did you buy it?