| Author | Message | ||
     Thespive |
Just looking in to the Traxxion AK-20 cartridges and Penske double-clicker shock and was curious if anyone else has tried this setup and what they though of it. Bike is a daily commuter/weekend warrior. Are the Ak-20s overkill? Would I just be better off with new valves and springs? They are several hundred bucks cheaper. I just want the bike to be balanced front to rear. --Sean | ||
| Sticks |
This is the setup I have on my City. I love it. | ||
| Thespive |
How much of a difference did it make? Do you think it was worth the investment? Is it night and day, or just a small improvement? How easy was it to set up? I'd love some more feedback, thanks! --Sean | ||
| Sticks |
Sean, I think that it makes a difference that you are aware of all the time. In just pottering around it doesn't feel jarring or harsh, but I really notice the difference when I'm kindof getting on it a bit. I would say it's more planted feeling and also more communicative, to me anyway. Another thing I noticed is that with the new setup the bike won't bottom out any more, which used to happen once in a while with the stock set up with 16K or so on it. I thought that was interesting. I'm not a heavy guy either. I'm not a racer or expert or anything but I think it's worth it. The thing is, this stuff is made to suit your specific weight and intended use, it's not off the shelf stuff in that sense. Another cool thing is that it can be fully rebuilt and as such is pretty much the last suspension you'll buy for the bike. You can also adapt the cartridges to other bikes on down the road. Since it's built for you it's dialed in pretty good. I mess with mine a bit but didn't really have to do too much. I think there are cheaper ways to go, but I'm pleased with the choice I made and don't regret it a bit. | ||
| Thespive |
Thanks Sticks. I am 100-percent sure I am going to go with the Penske rear shock. Still undecided on what to do about the front forks. Not sure if I should use the stock cartridges and just get a re-valve or go with the AK-20s and blow my wad. I do like that they are modular. My only concern is with how hard they'll be to setup. I guess for my abilities, this suspension would be overkill, but I rather have excellent suspension than more power. Besides, I don't plan on trading up to a new bike anytime soon so the investment is worth it. --Sean | ||
| Mbest |
Hi Sean, I've got a 3 way Penske on the back and revalved and resprung the front forks ('08 Uly with 47mm tubes). Reduced travel on both ends to 6". After set up and testing the bike handles so so so so much better than stock. It's firmer riding than stock and on a smooth road you can really add 5 to 10 mph to your canyon speeds for the same "speed comfort" level. On my bike however, I had to back out the front comp (low speed) dampning quite a bit. To a point that it's a little softer than I like for the smooth stuff, because my revalved stock cartridges are way, way to stiff on Hi speed dampning. The rough patched pavement at higher speeds is brutal to the point of the front end skating. The fronts have been revalved a second time for more Hi speed blow-off but we just can't seem to get the low speed as firm on the smooth roads with out being WAY too harsh on the rough stuff. The Penske on the other hand is like magic. It's perfect on the smooth stuff and rolls over patched pavement as fast as you dare with out any fuss. If it was a track day bike only, the revalved front and rear penske would be great. But so far I can't get the Hi speed to "back off" a little more in the front for street running. The Traxxion cartriges may have a little more "digressive" ability than the stock cartridge pistons and stacks can provide. Call em and ask them about how their cartridges will work on your roads. If the Penske front cartridges (at $1500 a set) work as good as their rear shock I would write a check today. My set up is: Front springs .97kg strait rate, 10wt oil at 6.375" to 7" from top of tube depending on roads, Static sag 1" to 1.5" depending on roads. The rear has a 450lb strait rate spring, Sag at 3/4" to 1.25" depending on the roads. I may try some aftermarket cartridge pistons to see if I can get a more flexible street valving in the forks before I go to traxion, racetech or penske in the front. The 1125r bikes have a 25mm cartridge set in the new race catalog for around $600. I was looking into whether or not they could be adapted into my tubes. But I hear that they are (from the factory) a track only type of valving that would not work at all on rough street roads so it would still need a revalve. And on the rear Also I am using an Elka hyd spring preload on the Penske. *no chicken strips* | ||
| Thespive |
Mike, Thanks for the excellent and detailed feedback. It is much appreciated. I am pretty sure I want to do either fork revalve or AK-20s (just not sure if the AKs are overkill...or if there is such a thing on suspension) and the Penske. I also have an e-mail in to Stig at PPS in Anaheim. They are the local Ohlins specialist and I am curious what he has to offer in that price range that is comparable to the AK-20/Penske setup. --Sean | ||
| Mbest |
Sean, I chose the Penske 3 way rear over the Ohlins because (in my experience) the Penske's Hi Speed adjustments "work" better than the Ohlins do. On a smooth road or for track days there may not be enough difference to notice, But I run a lot of mountain roads with a good chance of flying around a somewhat blind turn just in time to find patched or broken pavement. And the Penske will take it in stride while the Ohlins seem to stay a little too harsh when you need it to soak up the bad stuff. I wish the Ohlins would have worked as good because It comes with the hyd preload adjuster on the Uly shock and would have cost me less. Not so on the Penske, I added an Elka Hyd adjuster ($200) on the Penske and it looks and works perfect. mike | ||
| Thespive |
Right on, that may be a huge consideration for me. I am a twisty mountain road guy, although I do ride reasonably mellow (The Pace). This is not a track day bike, it is a commuter and weekend warrior. --Sean | ||
| Phillipidesdan |
I have an '07 Uly and it tends to nose dive when I grab the front brake. Is there any remedy that I can do to lessen this effect. I like the smoothness of the bike but it is unnerving when I am doing a high speed entry into the corners. |
