Forum Replies Created
-
Trailboss wrote:
Quote:Whatever you want to call it ECKS someone will know what you are talking about :laugh:TB
Yeah, this is true. Most manufacturers seem to list their products as “Dampers” so I’m going with that.
I think I’ll look in to a damper. Might start by letting my headstem bearings get dry, rusty and stiff, see how it goes.
Yeah Axel, gave someone the benefit of the doubt and, well, the doubt was there for a reason it seems! I’ll be getting Mick to do my work in future. He works cheaper, does a better job, explains it to me and even helps sort out other problems while he is at it.
Once I get some personal stuff sorted out I will get back to the bike. Right now, it ain’t happening, other than getting the correct springs from Greg tomorrow, then I have to organise for Mick to get them in the forks for me.
Maybe I should have gone with the instinct to sell the bike… not a lot of ride time happening lately and not looking like a great season for me either.
TB, I know you personally so I was not offended by your comments. I know what you are saying, I just hope you can see my side as well. I’ll get the thing sorted, and the bottom line dollar-wise will be comparable to the DRZ upgrade I did. Just a shame it has turned into a shitfight in the middle!
Stay tuned folks, actually no, forget that, I’ll get back to you when I have some good news to report!
Trailboss wrote:
Quote:I maybe just a old fashioned ECKS but I am a diesel mechanic so I dont do dentists work as that specialist stuff, meaning some things are better left to experts in that field. If you had sent the forks to Tekniks or the likes you would have them back and all would be done. Hell you did that with the DR and raved about how good they worked. Tekniks devoloped the kit and are updating all the time by all accounts.This thread is more painful to watch unfold then pulling teeth
TB
Ok, I acknowledge that I went with a local rather than a specialist, possibly in error. It was a conscious decision to look after a local bloke. If I’d have had the money I would have probably gone to Teknik or Terry Hay or someone like that direct. Sometimes it is worth giving someone a chance to prove themselves. Sometimes not. This was the latter case. Frankly I’d like more people to give locals a go before assuming things have to go to an out-of-town specialist. Maybe I’m the old fashioned one. :blush: :unsure:
Anyway the whole thing is not finalised yet. I’ve got major shit piled on my plate which won’t be aired here. The bike has dropped pretty low on the list of priorities right now.
Thanks for your helpful input there TB, by the way. “I told you so” never read so well.
:kiss:All righty then, time for the initial report:
The suspension had new springs front and rear, I haven’t checked the spring weights yet though… :blush:
Checking the static sag… there was none! Checked the rider sag and it came in at 80mm and should be 95-100mm. So the rear was too hard. And of course I didn’t think to bring a drift with me to loosen the preload so ended up riding at Catombal with a rear spring waaaaay too hard.
Anyway, a quick jaunt around the motocross track was surprising for two reasons.
1. The plushness of the forks was still there and the front felt pretty compliant on the small stuff. The rear was just too hard, but that is easy to sort out.
2. The bloody forks still bottom out on fast hits!! :angry:
My mate Mick who runs the place is a WRF man and what he doesn’t know about them isn’t worth knowing. He tells me that the shim stack in a stock WRF fork is actually spring-loaded. This spring loses tension and on fast hits it blows through and all bottoming resistance goes to hell in a handbasket! Recently he has upgraded his forks – twice. The first time was to get a Teknik kit in the stock forks which includes a “T-Valve” which does away with the spring loaded shim stack. This also includes adjustable shims. The second time he installed YZF forks and now he is looking to offload the old WRF forks.
So a deal was struck and secret handshakes ensued.
The bike is now at Mick’s place and he will install the T-Valve in my forks this week sometime.
So it seems that TB and I were both wrong. I didn’t lose plushness in the forks, which I believe is because the forks are now sitting in the correct part of the stroke most of the time. I didn’t, however, fix the bottoming problem, and hopefully I have a solution to that as well.
So, I’ll go back to Greg (the dealer at Orange) and just let him know the story. I have no problem with what he has done whatsoever.I just think he should know that the problem was mostly due to the spring loaded shim stack and that WRF forks are obviously different to what he normally works with.
In the real world I would probably have been better to go to Mick initially, but to be honest I didn’t want to stretch the friendship. Next time I’ll know better!
Gotta say, I was tempted, when the bottoming problem raised its head again, to get a set of normal cartridge forks from something like a XR650 or DRZ400 and bolt them on! Bloody USD’s!
By the way, Catombal is currently in the best condition I have ever seen it! There was 33mm of rain over the weekend, the tracks are beautifully groomed, traction is awesome, there is bugger-all dust and all in all it is a dirt bike nirvana right now! The park is open next weekend for anyone not going to any other ride, $30 per day and if you want to camp it is $5 per night. I’ll be heading out on Sunday because of commitments with the Wellington Town Band on the Saturday. Anyone wants to know more, just PM me. (This ride is NOT associated with any websites.)
Got the bike back today and have ridden it home – all of 6 blocks. No idea how it will go once I get off the tar (yet). I still have to set the static sag and check the race sag then play with clickers.
Total cost was less than quoted (by about 25%) so I’m chuffed – even if I need to get valving work done at a later date it is still likely to be great value.
I have a ride planned for Monday so hopefully I will have it sussed then.
I’d be riding today, but I have an issue with a client and … well, lets say I am at work now and leave it at that. :angry:
I’ll keep you all posted on the results.
Trailboss wrote:
Quote:Reckon the Ballard one is different a bit and better looking. The droopy look of a B&B would suit ECKS and a DR :laugh: :laugh:All the B&B stuff is over price IMO
TB
Actually I reckon that droopy donger of a thing would fit right in with the XR 650 lines… with a chequered flag jersey maybe??
Cheeky bugger!
B&B bashplates are good, and the same price as most competitors. But I would go for Force for most alloy gear like bashplates and rad guards. They don’t make stuff for old XR’s though – old technology y’see! :laugh:
