Can I please have some advice? My 2010 has the Showa BPFs from the later Blade and I really don't like them. They clunk at low speed and generally make the bike feel like the head bearings are shot (which I know they aren't). I want to upgrade in the new year but I don't know where to start. Questions are, - Can you junk the internals and use the same fork tubes? - Can you replace bits of the internals to improve the overall quality? - Any suggestions of what I need to replace? - How much of the existing forks will I need to throw away / replace?
I imagine it will come down to how much you want to spend. You can keep the fork tubes and have a completely new cartridge kit inside from someone like KTECH. Not sure what idividual internal bits you can replace on the standard forks. Mine came with Ohlins R&T forks when I got it, but the suspension dude said he would have recommneded keeping the standard tubes and fit a KTECH cartridge kit if it didn't already have the Ohlins on.
Re-sprung mine with OhLins springs and oil a month or so ago, then had the whole bike set up by KAIS. It’s a new bike Rich, all in was around £220. They did say the standard rear shock was junk, and to go for the 2012 on if I can find one, but if the bike is set up well in standard gear, then it’s a no brainier. It took all of 30 seconds to feel the difference, the old set up was hard as nails (which I knew) and felt skitty. Have you adjusted it since Colin had the bike, he was a fair bit heavier than you, and you would feel it rick hard in comparison?
I did have it set up by my usual guy but it didn't feel right on the ride home. I really should've turned around and taken it back but I was pressed for time. I got some settings off here that worked a lot better but the bike just feels horrible during slow speed manoeuvering and really crashy over bumps. There's another place fairly close to me called KRG Motorcycles that does suspension. I think I'll have a word with them and see what they suggest. If I could get away with around £220 that'd be sweet.
I was thinking along those lines. I'll have a word with this local suspension company and see what they think. I saw that the K-Tech ones (DDS) were around £900.
I've heard good things about KRG. My bike will be going there early next year for the Ktech cartridge kit and a setup as I've just banged a DDS pro rear shock on and set it myself.
These are the setting I use on my bpf they've been spot on for me. I'm 16st tho probably getting on 17 with kit
