Adding schrader valves to the forks? to add pressure to the air spring? - Page 2

old3 · January 2nd, 2014, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex.s

im going to make a bet that the bike was used and the PO put new springs in but didn't cut new spacers..... or put any oil in.

With the way they built mine, Kawasaki might have forgotten to put any in during assembly!

alex.s · January 2nd, 2014, 10:10 AM

maybe the post shipping assembly guy for your bike "fixed it up" for you, old3

old3 · January 2nd, 2014, 10:25 AM

Maybe I'm not paranoid and "they" ARE out to get me too!!!

Na, they would have gone pretty far out of their way to do that! My front brake caliper was loose after a few hundred miles!

alex.s · January 2nd, 2014, 11:23 AM

choneofakind · January 2nd, 2014, 11:49 AM

Jim, I like those bearings on my stem as much as the next guy, but that isn't the biggest problem here. She's getting pogo-ing and (dependig on the op's answer) excessive sag. That sounds like fork internals, not head stem bearings. Those are for AFTER we get the pogo feeling figured out.

alex.s · January 2nd, 2014, 12:39 PM

and here i thought stem bearings were responsible for controlling fork damping.

JohnnyBravo · January 2nd, 2014, 04:03 PM

I see a nutty Florida mod thread coming with airbags rear, air assist springs front... Who got the gold plater??? We gonna pimp my riiiiiiiiide

old3 · January 2nd, 2014, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Jim, I like those bearings on my stem as much as the next guy, but that isn't the biggest problem here. She's getting pogo-ing and (dependig on the op's answer) excessive sag. That sounds like fork internals, not head stem bearings. Those are for AFTER we get the pogo feeling figured out.

I'm only sure there is a known issue and it takes about 5 minutes to check for it, if that. Can't hurt to look. I've dealt with a few rider complaints that were resolved nowhere near what they thought the problem area was.

My first suggestion is to check for metallic noises/sensations while topping out the forks, which could be internals or the commonly loose and failure prone bearings.

Not every rider is a great diagnostics tool!

old3 · January 2nd, 2014, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treecat

the way she describes it, its like its rebounding too quickly toping out compressing and topping out again and again and again even on smoothish roads.
she was bottoming it out and getting the harshness you described but with the preload spacers I cut her she hasnt bottomed it since

Like clunkity clunkity as she goes down a smooth road? Check the steering bearings for sure. It don't cost ya nuthin!

treecat · January 2nd, 2014, 08:06 PM

Its a brand new bike. 1200 ish km on it (booked in for first service early next week)

it sags about 40mm-45mm with her weight and no preload spacers. its in the right ballpark when I added the spacers.

old3 · January 2nd, 2014, 08:21 PM

I'm getting 25mm of bike sag at the fork, full gas tank and a tank bag loaded with 3-4 lbs., 9,000 miles on stock springs and stock length preload total. I cut the spacers to allow for the emulator length. You had 30mm on a stock bike? Not really that far off considering the tolerances everywhere else!

How experienced and mechanical is the rider having the problem? What is rider weight?

alex.s · January 2nd, 2014, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treecat

its in the right ballpark when I added the spacers.

good job. i hope she gave you head for fixing her bike. i know if a girl fixed my bike i'd give her head for sure.

JohnnyBravo · January 3rd, 2014, 10:44 AM

Anyone need bike work done??? Hahaha
Sounds like folks around here pay good

Lychee · January 3rd, 2014, 12:31 PM

The information in this thread is weird. I always thought that compressed air/gas injection into an oil based shock was done to pressurize the oil chamber and prevent cavitation. Only small, small amounts of air should be added and the actual damping is still done by the oil.

old3 · January 3rd, 2014, 12:50 PM

OP was looking for more spring rate/bottoming resistance, not damping from air.

backinthesaddleagain · January 4th, 2014, 07:30 PM

70s era dirt bikes used air, oil, and springs. In the 80s the shrader valve on dirt bikes was there to release air after the heat of the fork movement increased psi and resulted in a harsher ride. Now some mx bikes 450 Honda and kawi use air as the spring rather than a coil spring.

backinthesaddleagain · January 4th, 2014, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old3

OP was looking for more spring rate/bottoming resistance, not damping from air.

Correct. Whish is what adding air will do.

January 2nd, 2014, 10:10 AM	#42
alex.s wat Name: wat Location: tustin/long beach Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14	maybe the post shipping assembly guy for your bike "fixed it up" for you, old3 __________________________________________________

January 2nd, 2014, 11:23 AM	#44
alex.s wat Name: wat Location: tustin/long beach Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14	__________________________________________________

January 2nd, 2014, 12:39 PM	#46
alex.s wat Name: wat Location: tustin/long beach Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14	and here i thought stem bearings were responsible for controlling fork damping. __________________________________________________
	2 out of 2 members found this post helpful.

January 2nd, 2014, 04:03 PM	#47
JohnnyBravo Certifiable nontundrum Name: Harper Location: NC Milkshake stand Join Date: Mar 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2013 SE NINJA 300 Posts: Too much. MOTM - Sep '13, Sep '16	I see a nutty Florida mod thread coming with airbags rear, air assist springs front... Who got the gold plater??? We gonna pimp my riiiiiiiiide __________________________________________________

January 2nd, 2014, 08:06 PM	#50
treecat ninjette.org newbie Name: Tim Location: australia Join Date: Dec 2013 Motorcycle(s): r6 Posts: 8	Its a brand new bike. 1200 ish km on it (booked in for first service early next week) it sags about 40mm-45mm with her weight and no preload spacers. its in the right ballpark when I added the spacers.
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

January 2nd, 2014, 10:25 AM	#43
old3 ninjette.org sage Name: Jim Location: NJ Join Date: Nov 2012 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 300, KTM EXC610SMR Posts: 913	Maybe I'm not paranoid and "they" ARE out to get me too!!! Na, they would have gone pretty far out of their way to do that! My front brake caliper was loose after a few hundred miles!

January 2nd, 2014, 11:49 AM	#45
choneofakind ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: . Location: . Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much. MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14	Jim, I like those bearings on my stem as much as the next guy, but that isn't the biggest problem here. She's getting pogo-ing and (dependig on the op's answer) excessive sag. That sounds like fork internals, not head stem bearings. Those are for AFTER we get the pogo feeling figured out.

January 2nd, 2014, 08:21 PM	#51
old3 ninjette.org sage Name: Jim Location: NJ Join Date: Nov 2012 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 300, KTM EXC610SMR Posts: 913	I'm getting 25mm of bike sag at the fork, full gas tank and a tank bag loaded with 3-4 lbs., 9,000 miles on stock springs and stock length preload total. I cut the spacers to allow for the emulator length. You had 30mm on a stock bike? Not really that far off considering the tolerances everywhere else! How experienced and mechanical is the rider having the problem? What is rider weight?

January 3rd, 2014, 10:44 AM	#53
JohnnyBravo Certifiable nontundrum Name: Harper Location: NC Milkshake stand Join Date: Mar 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2013 SE NINJA 300 Posts: Too much. MOTM - Sep '13, Sep '16	Anyone need bike work done??? Hahaha Sounds like folks around here pay good __________________________________________________

January 3rd, 2014, 12:31 PM	#54
Lychee sail away Name: Jon Location: San Jose Join Date: Jul 2012 Motorcycle(s): gixxer (sold), ninjette (upgrade!) Posts: 964 Blog Entries: 8	The information in this thread is weird. I always thought that compressed air/gas injection into an oil based shock was done to pressurize the oil chamber and prevent cavitation. Only small, small amounts of air should be added and the actual damping is still done by the oil. __________________________________________________ Unregistered found this post helpful. Track Day Preparation Checklist 1. Financial 2. Mental 3. Physical 4. Gear / Bike

January 3rd, 2014, 12:50 PM	#55
old3 ninjette.org sage Name: Jim Location: NJ Join Date: Nov 2012 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 300, KTM EXC610SMR Posts: 913	OP was looking for more spring rate/bottoming resistance, not damping from air.

January 4th, 2014, 07:30 PM	#56
backinthesaddleagain ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Greg Location: Rhode Island Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2013 ZX6R 636 Posts: A lot.	70s era dirt bikes used air, oil, and springs. In the 80s the shrader valve on dirt bikes was there to release air after the heat of the fork movement increased psi and resulted in a harsher ride. Now some mx bikes 450 Honda and kawi use air as the spring rather than a coil spring.

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