Log in

View Full Version : Decisions, Decisions...


Amber Lamps
03-04-2010, 09:37 PM
Okay Boys and Girls, I got my $1,000 deposit back from my friends at the BMW dealership today. I want to spend it on my bike, any suggestions?

I'm thinking,

A. a new body kit

B. that Matris remote pre-load shock I posted a while back

c. aftermarket rims

FWIW a and b can be purchased for around $1,000, the rims I want will cost more than that but I've seen them for under $2,000 for the set. Oh and I am totally doing this for looks and to make myself feel better about not buying a new bike!:lol:

dReWpY
03-04-2010, 09:55 PM
Matris

Trip
03-04-2010, 09:58 PM
shocks will make your bike better for track/spirited riding.

BobTheBiker
03-04-2010, 10:00 PM
new forged rims will also make it handle better, as well as look cool. less rotating mass means easier to turn.

smileyman
03-04-2010, 10:42 PM
Booze and strippers.

Rear shock next!

fasternyou929
03-04-2010, 11:03 PM
If it were my bike, it'd be a quick decision:
B. that Matris remote pre-load shock I posted a while back

But that doesn't play well with what you said next:

Oh and I am totally doing this for looks and to make myself feel better about not buying a new bike!:lol:

If you want looks, go for the rims. As a bonus your bike will feel completely different and you'll suffer from perma-grin the first few times you ride it.

Homeslice
03-04-2010, 11:57 PM
If that shock doesn't come sprung and valved for your weight (which a guy like you needs), fuck it, get an Elka instead

http://www.elkasuspension.com/?q=node/42

Amber Lamps
03-05-2010, 02:27 AM
If that shock doesn't come sprung and valved for your weight (which a guy like you needs), fuck it, get an Elka instead

http://www.elkasuspension.com/?q=node/42

Well, my stock shock was valved and sprung by Race Tech. I have an email in asking if the stock size spring fits their shock... I'll probably call Louise down at RT and see if he knows... As far as valving goes...well, I never knew that you got a shock valved for a specific weight but I'll certainly look into it. Thanks. FWIW the Matris shock in in sale for about $700 so if I have to buy a $100 spring so be it.

Amber Lamps
03-05-2010, 02:28 AM
new forged rims will also make it handle better, as well as look cool. less rotating mass means easier to turn.

Blackstone carbon fiber...I found some used ones for $1600 but I'm a bit leery...

tommymac
03-05-2010, 07:55 AM
Well, my stock shock was valved and sprung by Race Tech. I have an email in asking if the stock size spring fits their shock... I'll probably call Louise down at RT and see if he knows... As far as valving goes...well, I never knew that you got a shock valved for a specific weight but I'll certainly look into it. Thanks. FWIW the Matris shock in in sale for about $700 so if I have to buy a $100 spring so be it.

If the shock was set up by race tech no need in a newer one unless its a few yrs old and needs arebuild.

I think most of these places now will put in the spring for your weight. I had all that done with my ohlins, but also saw that with penske and the racetech guys. I ordered springs for my futura and on the website I had to ener my weight, type of bike and riding style and it would give you the the "proper" weight springs.

marko138
03-05-2010, 09:15 AM
Blackstone carbon fiber...I found some used ones for $1600 but I'm a bit leery...
Pimp.

smileyman
03-05-2010, 09:40 AM
CF wheels are way cool, but you don't wanna be the fool riding it 3 years from now when some stress fracture from a pot hole lets go...

Homeslice
03-05-2010, 12:06 PM
Well, my stock shock was valved and sprung by Race Tech. I have an email in asking if the stock size spring fits their shock... I'll probably call Louise down at RT and see if he knows... As far as valving goes...well, I never knew that you got a shock valved for a specific weight but I'll certainly look into it. Thanks. FWIW the Matris shock in in sale for about $700 so if I have to buy a $100 spring so be it.

Valving needs to match the spring. The stiffer the spring, the more rebound damping you need.

The thing about Elka is, orders go straight to the manufacturer, so they valve it for you before shipping it out. With Ohlins, 9 times out of 10 you're just buying something out of a retailer's warehouse. So it's up to you to get it re-valved by a shop or tuner of your choice.

tommymac
03-05-2010, 12:10 PM
Valving needs to match the spring. The stiffer the spring, the more rebound damping you need.

The thing about Elka is, orders go straight to the manufacturer, so they valve it for you before shipping it out. With Ohlins, 9 times out of 10 you're just buying something out of a retailer's warehouse. So it's up to you to get it re-valved by a shop or tuner of your choice.

I ordered the ttx cartrige and shock combo and they had it set up for my weight. Granted this was through an online dealer and not ohlins directly.

Homeslice
03-05-2010, 12:20 PM
Who was the dealer? Did they specifically say they re-valved it? For most places they either don't know how, or don't want to take the extra time cuz they figure the customer won't care. Also I've heard a few people say "oh the customer can just set the clickers to his preference, we don't need to revalve it"

tommymac
03-05-2010, 12:32 PM
Who was the dealer? Did they specifically say they re-valved it? For most places they either don't know how, or don't want to take the extra time cuz they figure the customer won't care. Also I've heard a few people say "oh the customer can just set the clickers to his preference, we don't need to revalve it"

extreme sport bikes in indiana (or superbikes, I dont remember which and am too lazy to go look) I am not sure about the shock being revalved but there is a heavier spring and for the front they just sent the cartriges to be installed in the fork tubes.

Amber Lamps
03-05-2010, 01:30 PM
If the shock was set up by race tech no need in a newer one unless its a few yrs old and needs arebuild.

I think most of these places now will put in the spring for your weight. I had all that done with my ohlins, but also saw that with penske and the racetech guys. I ordered springs for my futura and on the website I had to ener my weight, type of bike and riding style and it would give you the the "proper" weight springs.

Yep! I know that a few guys here aren't RT fans but they have done all of my bikes since the early 90s and I swear by them. For the money, you can't do any better imho.