| Author | Message | ||
     Knickers |
I'm looking at what to do with my 1125 this off season and debating whether to put more money into suspension. I raced on a stock front end this year with a TTX rear. I made steady progress in my set up and lap times throughout the year and know there's still plenty of time left to be had with the hardware I'm running. Yet I can't help but be curious how an aftermarket set of cartridges would help or feel. I know a lot of guys immediately toss the stock components and upgrade to their brand of choice so I'm interested in hearing from anyone who raced on a stock set of forks and later upgraded. Did it make a big difference in feel for you? I know that as I continue to make progress, eventually I'll find limitations in my current set up, but I just don't have the experience at this point to know where that limit is. Any advice? Kurt | ||
| Harley_jethro |
FYI, there's an Erik Buell Racing set up for sale in classified section. A friend is very happy with the set up. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/21/ 603187.html?1289230264 | ||
| Gmay99 |
ohlins makes a 30mm kit with springs, for around 1250 installed. This is the same kit I used through the 2010 season. It is really good. | ||
| Knickers |
Well I guess I can't get much bigger of an endorsement than that :-). I just have this nagging worry that If I went with a high $ set up I'd feel no difference. I know it all depends on the pace you're running. Maybe I just need to bite the bullet and find out for myself. | ||
| Gmay99 |
You should feel the difference right away. Even for the street. I have ridden the stock ones and they aren't very confidence inspiring. | ||
| Trojan |
I've used Traxxion Dynamics cartridges for racing in the past and really like them. However they cost around the same or more than the Ohlins and if Geoff recommends Ohlins for the 1125 then know they'll be good  | ||
| 99buellx1 |
I'm in the same boat. Running the TTX on the rear of my race bike also, and been debating on doing the Ohlins for the front or the Erik Buell Racing Showa's. | ||
| Gmay99 |
go with the ohlins. | ||
| Jdugger |
AK-GAS! I'd bet my left nut they are every bit as good as the Ohlins. On the bumpy tracks we ride down here in TX, they sort out the front end like nothing else. | ||
| Paint_shaker |
FYI... Yesterday I was at the track. I rode my bike all day. It is basically stock with race springs, heavier weight fork oil and tuned to my likings. Another Buell rider was there with full Ohlins on his bike. I got to take a spin, but only got one lap in due to the end of session. The difference was immediately noticable (basically like comparing a Camaro to a Corvette)... | ||
| Knickers |
Wow, that's exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for. Time to start saving my pennies. I've heard good things about the AK gas as well, but last time I looked they were quite a bit more expensive then traditional cartridges, like upwards of 2K. | ||
| Slimdave |
I have a set of fork internals that I didn't use. These are highly recommended parts. Contact me for info. slimdave@yahoo.com | ||
| Slimdave |
Corrected contact address is: slimdatkinson@yahoo.com | ||
| 99buellx1 |
Bah! Dang you Dave, i really need to spend on getting the rest of the bike fixed, not this....but it's so damn tempting. | ||
| Walt221 |
I still have a set of stock forks with the Ohlins 25mm cartridge kit installed for sale. Not trying to thread jack with a for sale item, but you will definitely tell a difference with a quality fork kit. Some guys will just do a piston kit and that works up to a certain point - however for racing I would definitely spend the extra for a full cartridge kit. You will enjoy the feel, adjustability and predictability. I've ridden on Ohlins, Showa and Traxxion cartridges and they all work well - the best though is still Ohlins in my opinion. | ||
| Blakesadbag |
if you have a suspension guru on your team, get free stuff which you would have a suspension guru on your team, or can fly in Hans and Frans from sweden... go with ohlins without question... consult your local track suspension guy first, if you have questions you want them working on a product they are very familar with.. The best don't mean Jack if it's not set up correctly | ||
| Blake |
>>> I just have this nagging worry that If I went with a high $ set up I'd feel no difference. That is impossible. The difference will be astonishing. Your confidence will grow as your lap times fall. | ||
| Trojan |
or can fly in Hans and Frans from sweden... go with ohlins without question... If your local track suspension specialist can't set up Ohlins (the worlds most popular track suspension) I would advise you to go to another 'expert' entirely! Even on 'standard' settings you'll find top end Ohlins/Traxxion stuff heaps better than the stock forks. | ||
| Knickers |
Are the Ohlins cartridges transferable between different model bikes the way the AK-20's are purported to be? | ||
| Stirz007 |
Running the Hee Bee Harrrr cartridge and rear. Noticeable difference right away (in a good way). I couldn't quite drop the coin for a full Ohlins set-up at the time(double to triple what the HeeBeeHarr set cost). The Ohlins are nice, if you can afford them. The racetechs have been getting some good props, too, but don't have direct experience with these. | ||
| Trojan |
Are the Ohlins cartridges transferable between different model bikes the way the AK-20's are purported to be? They may be transferable between similar types/models of forks but not 100% between all types. Likewise you may find that in order fit the Traxxion Dynamics cartridges you may have to have some machining work done on the forks first. I had a set fitted to stock forks on a XR1200 and it needed quite a lot of work to fit them (although they did fit adn worked very well!). The cost of expensive cartridges can end up being almost as expensive as a new set of forks though, and ebay can have some real bargains if you want to upgrade your front end I swapped the front end out completely on our last XB race bike, and fitted gthe entire front end from a Yamaha R1 that was sourced from ebay at a fraction of the cost of Ohlins cartidges etc and was a huge improvement over stock. | ||
| Jersey_thunder |
KURT, ARE YOU OUT RIDING YOUR STOCK SET UP? SPRINGS AND FLUID ...THE STOCK WORK PRETTY DAM GOOD...WE UP GRADED BUT TO BE HONEST.. NOT SURE WE COULDN'T PUT THAT MONEY ELSE WHERE...FOR NOW...SEAT TIME, AND A GOOD DIAL IN...YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED JT | ||
| Knickers |
I don't know if I'm over riding or not - I'm sure a better rider could go quicker on stock forks. But I know that my stock front feels kind of "plush" - I don't get much feedback that would give me confidence to push harder. I'm pretty close to having compression screwed all the way in, but if I go any further it just gets too harsh over bumps. I think what it comes down to is that I won't know until I try it and at some point stock forks will be a factor in what's holding me back. After I pick up my engine from ebr we'll see how much is left for suspension. Geoff's endorsement has got me eyeing gold. (Message edited by knickers on December 20, 2010) | ||
| Jersey_thunder |
geoff is the man....what can i say  | ||
| Tepiddeath |
Knickers- I have to totally agree with Geoff May, GO WITH THE OHLINS!!! I had the opportunity to learn a couple of things last year about front suspension, and did some DIY videos for Ohlins. What I got from the experience was that their 30mm cartridge system is superior to anything on the market. One leg, usually left, handles only compression, and the right would handle only rebound. The advantage to this is that you are able to eliminate hystronics, which is the lag that you feel in the suspension when it is asked to compress then rebound repeatedly, and vise versa, thus making for a smoother ride. I rode a DYNA that was set up with the OHLINS 30mm system in the front forks, and was set for a man almost 3 times my size, and I could notice a huge difference just on the street. I can only imagine what those must feel like when set up right! Listen to Geoff May! | ||
| Tepiddeath |
Oh yeah, I almost forgot, use either Ohlins' fork oil, or a good synthetic 5w fork oil, like motul | ||
| Knickers |
Thanks for the feedback. I've got the forks out and packaged up. They'll be going off to Ohlins shortly. | ||
| Tepiddeath |
Dude, do it yourself! I am but a lowly girl, and I can do it! If you need help, you can refer to the youtube vid  | ||
| Knickers |
I could but ohlinsusa does the install for free with the purchase of the kit. Might as well have the pros do it. | ||
| 99buellx1 |
Here's a different question on the same lines. Ohlins spring and valving kit vs. the Showa Cartridges? |
