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Old January 18th, 2013, 08:09 PM   #1
mikecronis
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Elka shock worth $625?

So anyone here got a disposable income and try the Elka shock absorber for '08+? I'm wondering if it's worth the effort. I'm not planning on entering the 250 Cup anytime soon, but I've had several track days on several bikes, I've always used stock (though dial-able) shock suspension.

I suspect when encountering nasty bumps, rebound rate would be more fluid and responsive and quick without upsetting the chassis. I find compared to my other bikes I've owned, the '08 Ninjette hops around a bit when upset in stock-form, though easy to keep in-check as it's so agile, nimble and light, it's not quite as.. "sure-footed" as, say, my 2005 Honda Superhawk 996, though I understand there's several other factors involved than just the shock absorber, I suspect it's definitely a player.

I know Ninjette owners are often frugal (my wife who owns Custom Seat Creations keeps her seat covers reasonably priced for 250s for that very reason), I also enjoy upgrading motorsports to a point for performance reasons (though certainly not as rabid as getting that over-priced Yoshi carb setup, probably high-priced to get a kickback from R&D costs).

Elka shock opinions?
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Old January 18th, 2013, 10:14 PM   #2
tubarney
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If your going to spend that much why not go all they way and get the ohlins for 100 more?

The shock can do more than the bike will every be able to do. If I was going to upgrade the rear shock I would get this: http://sportisimotorsport.us/index.p...products_id=29

Much more suited to the capabilities of the tubular steel frame.
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Old January 19th, 2013, 07:10 AM   #3
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Okay, what would be the benefits of an upgraded shock? Was I spot-on?
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Old January 19th, 2013, 10:48 AM   #4
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Yes, you're right. The ninjette gets a little upset over bumps. A nicely tuned rear shock will help with that a lot without feeling too squishy. Make sure to read up a bit on the basics of how to tune rear suspension for damping and preload (sounds like you already have a good idea )

I know nothing personally about the different brands of shocks. My point of reference is from riding a full suspension mountain bike and adjusting air pressure and damping based on trail conditions and balancing the feedback I get vs the bike bouncing over the trail.
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Old January 19th, 2013, 11:46 AM   #5
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upgrading the shock on the 250 is only worth it if you can afford it. many of the cheaper shocks, while offering adjustment, do not allow fine tuning, are not calibrated to the spring rate necessary for your weight and in many cases do not have support in the US (i.e. servicing).

Spending more will get you more, but there are diminishing returns.
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Old January 19th, 2013, 08:31 PM   #6
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Elka is a great brand. Many of the racers at the track I go to use them and are very happy. I was about to buy one for the 636 but found a used Hyperpro shock with an Ohlins spring all set up for my weight. It completely transformed the bike. I'm desparately trying to not spend money on the 250 like I have on the 636 but these threads are making it difficult
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Old January 25th, 2013, 07:39 AM   #7
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I run the Elka's on all 3 of my race bikes. When puchasing them they set the valving and spring rate for my weight. They make a world of difference over the factory shock on the track and the street.
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Old January 25th, 2013, 08:13 PM   #8
tubarney
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Even if you upgrade you suspension on this bike it will still get upset going over bumps in corners. You have to remember that you have conventional forks. They will never be able to encounter bumps mid corner and handle them.

I have race gold valve emulators in the front and the rear shock I mentioned earlier. As said above they make a world of difference when your cruising and in corners. BUT don't expect to be able to get your knee down on the street. If you hit a decent bump mid corner that low you will know about it trust me.
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Old January 26th, 2013, 08:44 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tubarney View Post
Even if you upgrade you suspension on this bike it will still get upset going over bumps in corners. You have to remember that you have conventional forks. They will never be able to encounter bumps mid corner and handle them.

I have race gold valve emulators in the front and the rear shock I mentioned earlier. As said above they make a world of difference when your cruising and in corners. BUT don't expect to be able to get your knee down on the street. If you hit a decent bump mid corner that low you will know about it trust me.
Not to sound counterdictive but race valve gold emulators dont make you a better rider and draging your knee isn't an indicator that your suspension is set up right.
I, personally, have taken a box stock ninja 250 to our parking lot and ran it in circles with my knee on the ground. On the other side of the coin I have witnessed begginer racers crash their "gold valve, Ohlins shocked" bikes off perfectly smoth corners on the race track.
I have done some inexpensive but really effective modifications to my fork internals, without the gold valves, that have made worlds of improvement to the front end of my race bikes. So much so that spending the extra coin on anything more would be a waist. These mods would carry over to a street bike with equal results.
To the OP, a good rear shock and some front end work taylored to your weight and intended use WILL make you and the bike better as a whole.
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Old January 26th, 2013, 08:58 AM   #10
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I like this post^^^^
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Old January 26th, 2013, 09:55 AM   #11
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All I've changed in my forks is spring rate, oil thickness, and preload. It's a great setup with minimal effort.
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Old January 26th, 2013, 10:01 AM   #12
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I'll just throw this out there.

You can go sick fast on a bone stock bike with just a sticky set of tires. 6 big faces is a bit much for my blood, but it's relative I guess. I would spend the paper on track time instead and go for a cheaper rear setup.

If whatever parts you buy make you feel better about riding the bike at pace, then they are worth whatever you are willing to pay. Simple as that. Your buying more in confidence than performance at some point though.

See ya on the grid!
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Old January 26th, 2013, 11:48 AM   #13
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All I've changed in my forks is spring rate, oil thickness, and preload. It's a great setup with minimal effort.
Your on the right track !!
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Old January 27th, 2013, 04:57 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bruce71198 View Post
Not to sound counterdictive but race valve gold emulators dont make you a better rider and draging your knee isn't an indicator that your suspension is set up right.
I, personally, have taken a box stock ninja 250 to our parking lot and ran it in circles with my knee on the ground. On the other side of the coin I have witnessed begginer racers crash their "gold valve, Ohlins shocked" bikes off perfectly smoth corners on the race track.
I have done some inexpensive but really effective modifications to my fork internals, without the gold valves, that have made worlds of improvement to the front end of my race bikes. So much so that spending the extra coin on anything more would be a waist. These mods would carry over to a street bike with equal results.
To the OP, a good rear shock and some front end work taylored to your weight and intended use WILL make you and the bike better as a whole.
When did I say gold valves make you better rider. I think you miss understood what I wrote. What I am trying to say that this expensive shock is a waste unless you ride track as stock suspension set up is all you need for the street.

I can get my knee down on the street and but don't do it often as it is dangerous no matter what suspension you have. Parking lots are smooth as, how is this a comparison, I was doing this a week into learning to ride.

Just to let you know, my front and rear suspension of set up by these guys http://www.shocktreatment.com.au/racetech.html so its set up properly. I decided to give it a go myself, tuned it every week for six months, bough numerous books on suspension even the race tech bible but still couldn't get it right so I took it to them.
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Old January 27th, 2013, 05:09 AM   #15
tubarney
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and if you think changing oil weight,spring rate, spring preload or oil level gives you the same performance benefits as gold valves your dreaming mate. or maybe your just to cheap to have someone who knows what their doing set them up.

My entire suspension set up cost the same as this shock. so who is wasting money
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Old January 27th, 2013, 05:40 AM   #16
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Old January 27th, 2013, 07:31 AM   #17
tubarney
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im sorry I can't sit back while someone is told to spend 6 times as much on the rear then on the front. Weight is 50/50 with the rider on any sport bike so the money should be spend evenly.
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Old January 27th, 2013, 08:14 AM   #18
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Sorry man....wasn't trying to piss in your Wheaties......
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Old January 27th, 2013, 06:39 PM   #19
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While I have no desire to get involved in any pissing matches, there are much better ways to spend that money than on that rear shock, especially on a stockish bike. That being said, if you have 600 and have to get rid of it on a rear shock, the ElKa should be miles better than the shocker
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Old January 29th, 2013, 05:02 PM   #20
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I must be the biggest idiot of all....

sucks to be me...
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Old January 29th, 2013, 09:03 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mikecronis View Post
Okay, what would be the benefits of an upgraded shock? Was I spot-on?
Mike, looks like this thread took a wrong turn! Sorry about that. You asked for opinions on the Elka shock and being that I spent some good money on 3 of them I felt qualified to offer what you asked for, my opinion. Its
a good product and worked well for my application.
To answer your above question, The advantage to using a better shock would be that you can tune it to your needs: weight, surface conditions, riding ability, and so on. Thats kind of hard to do with the stock shock with a spring that seems to be better suited for a 90 pound beginner and no comp. Or rebound adjustment.
I think you said you were a track day guy. If that's the case you seem to have the mind set to take your riding up a level. I think some suspension tuning may be in your future.
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Old January 30th, 2013, 05:04 AM   #22
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I have to agree. Sorry to turn this into a s**t fight. Not what I'm here to do.

If you choose to spend the money and upgrade your shock you will notice the difference. If you ride track you would want to look into upgrading the stock, if you race you probably will have to take it off as in Aus at least you need a stock shock.

With shocks you have 2 way and 3 way adjustable shocks. Most include pre-load adjustable. 3 ways are more expensive but offer both low and high speed compression adjustability.
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Old January 30th, 2013, 05:45 AM   #23
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The last time I used an Elka was back in 2005-2007. Back then, there was not much support for Elka as they were mostly known for their ATV work. thus, I could get little to no support for the shock and setup. I would check around you locally to see if tuners there know Elka and how to tune/rebuild it. Check with other riders (like you are doing) and get their opinions. Finally, make the choice to upgrade or not.

In the end, the stock shock is fine, but it has very limited setup capabilities. If you are bottoming the spring, this is a big issue, but don't worry too much about "proper" sag on a 250.

I have much too expensive a shock, but I'm building a "250" superbike in my spare time.

I like small bikes.
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Old January 30th, 2013, 05:55 AM   #24
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Just to throw it in. How about a harder spring. Much cheaper

http://www.beet.co.jp/english/kawasa...50r/index.html
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Old January 30th, 2013, 10:27 AM   #25
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I have much too expensive a shock, but I'm building a "250" superbike in my spare time.

Do you plan on racing it in the Midwest next season ?
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Old January 30th, 2013, 11:24 AM   #26
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I have much too expensive a shock, but I'm building a "250" superbike in my spare time.

Do you plan on racing it in the Midwest next season ?
Ccs?
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Old January 30th, 2013, 01:08 PM   #27
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Last time I checked Elka was not making shocks for the Ninja 250 or discontinued them. If they are can you point me in the right direction?
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Old January 30th, 2013, 03:28 PM   #28
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Ccs?
Is that your preferance ? Its as good of an organization as any. Theres a group of about 5 Ninja 250's that show up at each race.
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Old January 30th, 2013, 04:31 PM   #29
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Last time I checked Elka was not making shocks for the Ninja 250 or discontinued them. If they are can you point me in the right direction?
I checked with the supplier that I bought mine from, he said they are still available. His name is Kevin and can be reached at 225-315-3423.
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Old January 31st, 2013, 11:42 AM   #30
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I checked with the supplier that I bought mine from, he said they are still available. His name is Kevin and can be reached at 225-315-3423.
Damn, had I known I would have done so...I already placed an order with Racetech
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Old January 31st, 2013, 04:55 PM   #31
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You bought one of the gs shocks?
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Old January 31st, 2013, 05:02 PM   #32
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You bought one of the gs shocks?
Yep
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