| Author | Message | ||
     Jdugger |
My forks are binding badly (stiction) in the top 1.5 inches of fully extended travel or so. I've had them rebuilt with race tech internals, and that helped tremendously, but as I've gotten faster and had to add damping, the top part of the travel has gotten so sticky now the bike literally "sticks" in that portion of the travel and won't free without a major event. (Brakes, major weight shift, etc.) The stiction difference between compress and release and extend and release with me on the bike is over one inch! Honestly, the bike has always been this way that it has progressively become much worse. I have a second 1125r that has fully stock suspension, and it doesn't have any of the stiction issues at all. My guess is either a fork tube is tweaked or the bushings are gone, but either way, I'm evaluating options for replacements. Here's the three I know about: 1. Order up a new set of stock forks + the showa race cartridges 2. Order up Showa BPF forks. 3. Order up the Ohlins kit. Are there any other options? Thoughts? As for pace, based on my current lap times I'd be a slower/lower half novice pace at the club (CMRA) level... I wouldn't be on the podium, but I wouldn't be last. I want a solution that can grow with me to "club race" speeds and won't get in the way. | ||
| Blake |
Sounds like a rebuild is in order. Only other issue might be binding due to improper installation/tightening. If you remove the forks and check them you should be able to determine in that form if just one or both or neither are sticking. If none, then the question is still open, could be install/tightening issues or it could be internal bushing or other issues. If you find that one or both are still sticking in the free state, then something was likely not installed properly during the race tech installation process. I'd have someone like Marcus McBain look at it. He's a suspension expert and is there at most every CMRA event. Tell him Blake from BadWeatherBikers sent you.  | ||
| Blake |
The service manual describes proper fork installation method, which involves exercising the forks with the brace and one pair of triple clamps loosened. I think. Check it out. That might be all that it is, slight binding due to slight misalignment. | ||
| Dirty_john |
yep sounds to me like there is something binding as well, I would take out the front wheel whilst supporting the bike and release the upper and lower triple clamps (triple trees to you over the pond) and reassemble very carefully, we usually bounce the front end a bit before fully tightening all the triple clamp bolts fully with the axle slightly backed off, then tighten the axle followed by the clamps. May be worth a try. | ||
| Chevycummins |
You might even try Klotz synthetic lube in them, it seemed to make some difference with mine. I would also look at the upper bushing in the tube, it is a little loose due to its design and with extra wear I could see how it could make them even more sticky. I had some issues with my original forks with stiction, clunking, and metal flakes in the oil. | ||
| Jdugger |
Thanks guys. I doubt it's a mounting issue, but I will remove and retorque to spec just to be sure. Funny you mention that, Chevy, bceause that's what a bud of mine who's also a bit of a suspension guru said to check next. |
