I know almost nothing about suspension except that it's time to refresh mine. Bike is a 2011 V-Strom 650 with around 130,000km. Rear shock is stock with nothing done to it. Forks have Sonic Springs in them (10w, 0.90 springs installed around 100,000km ago) and I also have a fork brace.
When riding 2up, the bike now bottoms out quite easily. When riding solo it's ok for commuting, but if I turn it up a notch for some happy cornering, then I feel those bumps and the bike is certainly less stable than a few years ago. I really notice it when riding twisty roads and following others who have nicer bikes than me. While my bike is getting older, and looks a little banged up, it runs very well (by my standards) and does everything I ask it to (except go faster). If I don't get a new bike, I can see myself easily taking this bike past 200k.
I'm looking for the bike to feel really planted in the corners, over bumps and dips. I also want the bike to be really comfortable and not bottom out for my wife when she's on the back.
I know about Accelerated Technologies in Buckhorn, and am thinking about using their services, but they are so far away and I do not know of other places locally (Mississauga is where I'm at). Also not sure if I should just refresh my stock suspension or go for something new. Remote adjustment is not something I know much about - all I care about is that the bike handles well (ie 2up traveling or solo twisty madness).
Although I'm a mechanical noob, I have the service manual and a good set of tools. I think I could swap the rear shock out ok. I'm not sure if I would mess up a fork removal & reinstall though. I'm definitely better with plants, but am learning to do more on the bike.
I could remove my rear shock and get it refreshed, but then I'd be bikeless for a while - best if a GTA place could do this over the winter.
I could drop my bike off to Accelerated have have both the front and rear done, but then I'd be bikeless for a while and $$$.
I could buy a used stock shock off ebay or something and have that refreshed, so I'm not bikeless and less $$.
I could buy a new and better rear shock like Elka or Progressive etc and install it myself and have a shop properly set it up (I think)...
Not sure what to do about the forks because of my mechanical prowess (or lack thereof). Maybe it just needs an oil refresh? No clue.
Since the bike is getting older (I do still like it), I want to upgrade / improve the suspension without dropping too much coin.
Thoughts / Suggestions?
Thanks!
When riding 2up, the bike now bottoms out quite easily. When riding solo it's ok for commuting, but if I turn it up a notch for some happy cornering, then I feel those bumps and the bike is certainly less stable than a few years ago. I really notice it when riding twisty roads and following others who have nicer bikes than me. While my bike is getting older, and looks a little banged up, it runs very well (by my standards) and does everything I ask it to (except go faster). If I don't get a new bike, I can see myself easily taking this bike past 200k.
I'm looking for the bike to feel really planted in the corners, over bumps and dips. I also want the bike to be really comfortable and not bottom out for my wife when she's on the back.
I know about Accelerated Technologies in Buckhorn, and am thinking about using their services, but they are so far away and I do not know of other places locally (Mississauga is where I'm at). Also not sure if I should just refresh my stock suspension or go for something new. Remote adjustment is not something I know much about - all I care about is that the bike handles well (ie 2up traveling or solo twisty madness).
Although I'm a mechanical noob, I have the service manual and a good set of tools. I think I could swap the rear shock out ok. I'm not sure if I would mess up a fork removal & reinstall though. I'm definitely better with plants, but am learning to do more on the bike.
I could remove my rear shock and get it refreshed, but then I'd be bikeless for a while - best if a GTA place could do this over the winter.
I could drop my bike off to Accelerated have have both the front and rear done, but then I'd be bikeless for a while and $$$.
I could buy a used stock shock off ebay or something and have that refreshed, so I'm not bikeless and less $$.
I could buy a new and better rear shock like Elka or Progressive etc and install it myself and have a shop properly set it up (I think)...
Not sure what to do about the forks because of my mechanical prowess (or lack thereof). Maybe it just needs an oil refresh? No clue.
Since the bike is getting older (I do still like it), I want to upgrade / improve the suspension without dropping too much coin.
Thoughts / Suggestions?
Thanks!