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Ejaqua
| Posted on Sunday, February 13, 2011 - 10:08 pm: |
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My wife has a 2002 Blast. It has stock suspension and it stinks. I haven't been able to find much at all in the way of quality suspension parts for Blasts. We went to the motorcycle show in Cleveland, though, and talked to the Race Tech guys. They'll be glad to set up their Gold Valve and do a shock rebuild on the Blast, but they've never had one in their shop, so they don't know how to set it up. We're in western NY and they're in CA, so I'm not going to try to get her bike there. They asked if we knew anyone who lived near them who had a Blast and who would like them to fix the suspension on it. If someone came to them and got both ends of the suspension fixed, then they'd know about the Blast and could help all the rest of us out who have Blasts with econo-suspensions. Race Tech has a lot of experience and a good reputation. Check them out - http://www.racetech.com. Any takers? I'm not affiliated with them and am not promoting them. I just want good suspension for my wife's bike and they do quality suspension work for reasonable prices. Thanks in advance |
Sycho
| Posted on Sunday, February 13, 2011 - 11:34 pm: |
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Not really in the need for new suspension yet but I'll check this out for you, I live pretty close to their shop. |
Gearheaderiko
| Posted on Monday, February 14, 2011 - 01:17 am: |
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Welcome Ejaqua! Already talked to them. They wanted me to pay for their R & D work and for the parts. Not interested. Especially not when I know EZ has already done the R & D work, so has Works Performance (and a few others I dont recall). Also not much interested in paying somebody for work I can do and I know it'll be done right if I do. If you could've talked them into just getting a donor bike down there and the bike owner just paid for the parts (not the R & D and install), then I would have been happy to do it. However, I no longer have the money for even the parts. You can do pretty darn well with just the stock parts, a few shims and fork oil. If you want more then you can order a Works Performance rear shock and front springs. Then get the gold valves from Racetech (the application is listed under the suspension section). If I sound bitter, you're right. We raced a Blast for years using modified stock parts. Racetech was less than helpful when I called them about exactly what you want. Ask "SuperBrace" how many Blast fork braces they've sold as a direct result of the efforts of a few Blastards on Badweb. Racetech lost out |
Gearheaderiko
| Posted on Monday, February 14, 2011 - 01:20 am: |
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http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/201 64/33309.html?1295843949 "FEGV S3501 is their latest, I just look up for a Kawi ex250 86-07 - 37mm with the same ID, so will work with a Blast. My experience is that it works very well, feedback is smooth and sure, especially at hi speed. I use their 7.5 fork oil. EZ" |
Ezblast
| Posted on Monday, February 14, 2011 - 01:34 am: |
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I just took her out for a pleasure cruise the other day - still can't get the big bike to handle the goat trails like the modified Blast can - pin point accuracy, and with great rubber - the ease of handling is remarkable - what gets me now is the fact that the CR foot pegs are the exact same height and back as the CrossRoads, yet the CR needs a lot more input to execute turns - my dream would either to get it to handle as well as my Blast - I think that will just be practice, or get my Blast as fast as the CR - lol EZ |
Sycho
| Posted on Monday, February 14, 2011 - 10:06 am: |
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Ah, thanks for the heads up Gearheaderiko. Won't waste my time on this. Just doesn't make sense to pay somebody to keep my bike for any length of time for R&D. Ejaqua, this place is full of hands on experts when it comes to tinkering with the Blast. Ezblast and Gearheaderiko as well as Swampy are overflowing with useful info, so welcome to the Thumpers and Enjoy. |
Ezblast
| Posted on Monday, February 28, 2011 - 10:04 pm: |
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Talking about suspensions, I was just talking about them as well and mentioned calling Works, and ask/maybe negotiate a price for the 2 way adjustable at 599.00 and the 3 way at 799.00 - that was the prices about a year and a half ago, when I was thinking of buying a shock for the other Blast. In the end the front and rear end cost the same - except one is a big chunk and the other is several parts making up a big chunk - It took honestly 5 years to build up my suspension - first: I did the spacers front and rear one the shock and fork springs. 1/3" to the rear and a 1" spacers for the forks. Definitely better than stock. Since the rear end felt stable and the front end did not - I started work on the front! First the fork brace, then the Stainless braided line, then Galfer pads, then ditching the front spacers, in favor of the springs and spacers in the Works fork kit and 7.5 fork oil, then I had the front end pretty good, but the back was feeling more vague, because the better suspension up front was allowing more speed into corners, so then I investigated, but Works was still the only good solution, and I had been putting a side a little for 2 years, so when the 3rd year rolled around at tax time I took that refund and sprung for their best. Wow - what a difference, a real confidence booster, cornering was faster and smoother, though the front end still felt a tad vague in the fast stuff, as though it couldn't adjust fast enough, enter my last part of the puzzle for upgrading the suspension - the gold-valve emulators for a Ninja 250 pre 2006. Just like that the handling became as they say - spot on! I could easily tip the bike into any turn at any speed and enjoy a stability undreamed of by a stock Blast riders at serious lean angles. Good times! EZ |
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