Suspension comparison

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wayno · #1 Post by **wayno** » Tue Oct 11, 2016 7:03 am

As you may know I sold the Falco back in the summer as I'd bought a speed triple and enjoyed riding it loads more than the falco.

I decided as I liked it so much I would buy a newer one and decided to do loads of test rides. I rode about 6 different models, half of which were the R model which has ohlins all round. I have never ridden on ohlins before and wow what a difference, it is so much plusher than riding on stock suspension. It showed me just how bad the Falco and Speed triple suspension is in stock form, and also made me realise how stupid I was not spending a couple of hundred quid getting the falco revolved as it would have transformed the handling and my love for the bike.

The main point I'm trying to make is that, if you're umming and aahing about whether or not it will make a big difference, riding on decent suspension is noticeably better and makes those little road imperfections disappear. I think it could probably make me 10% faster and 100% more confident over those roads where the bike felt very jarring before.

fatboy · #2 Post by **fatboy** » Tue Oct 11, 2016 6:25 pm

So now you know why Ohlins are fitted to the top spec models !
I have to agree with you there mate, recent Ohlins on the falco rear, the difference is night and day,thanks again Graham

Not only are you faster and more confident, you're safer because you know you will exit the corner according to plan and not hanging onto a bucking bronco hoping for the best of many possible outcomes....
No brainer, if you are able to/can afford upgrade your suspenders to top spec then stop dithering and bloody well do it !

spiderwheels · #3 Post by **spiderwheels** » Tue Oct 11, 2016 7:47 pm

Well I put an Ohlins on my Falco - I had it fully serviced and sprung to my weight - but I have been entirely underwhelmed by the improvement over the Nitro I had on before.

Yes it's slightly better but I think having the Nitro serviced and sprung (the previous owner was heavier) would have done the same job and saved a bit of money.

Ohlins may be the big name but lots of companies (like Nitro) know how to make decent suspension.

I can't make up my mind which shock to sell...

wayno · #4 Post by **wayno** » Tue Oct 11, 2016 8:01 pm

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying ohlins are the be all and end all. I was trying to make the point that properly made and revalved suspension is infinitely better than a bad system like the stock showa.

I had intron on the rear of the falco and it was night and day compared to standard, and I bet 95% as good as ohlins for half the price. I just wished I'd had the front done too now.

fatboy · #5 Post by **fatboy** » Wed Oct 12, 2016 6:27 pm

wayno wrote:Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying ohlins are the be all and end all. I was trying to make the point that properly made and revalved suspension is infinitely better than a bad system like the stock showa.
I agree entirely,there are many other suspension manufacturers but your message is not lost...
Standard fitment is usually considered by price unless you are buying a top spec model.
There is no reason why you should put up with third rate suspension when a bit of thinking and spannering can overcome a poor budget led decision from manufacturer

#6 Post by **mangocrazy** » Wed Oct 12, 2016 9:25 pm

The standard Sachs shock on the Falco is shite. I really can't find a good word to say about it. It felt harsh, crude, imprecise, unstable and gave me a (literal) pain in the arse after about 50 miles of saddle time. Mrs Mango hated it as well, and noticed as soon as I swapped it for something better.

The reason most people go for Ohlins shocks as a replacement is that they are readily available from RSV and Tuono 'spares kits' at a fairly sensible price, but thre are plenty of other equally good suspension manufacturers about. Nitron, Wilbers and Hyperpro are three names that would probably be equally as good.

Having seen the insides of an Ohlins shock when stripped down I do have to say that their engineering is excellent. However I'm sure that other manufacturers could be equally good in that respect.

Anyone with a Falco that still has the OE blue spring Sachs shock fitted should really live a little and replace it with something decent. You really don't know what you are missing. Decent suspension makes a huge difference to the riding enjoyment (and safety) on a bike. You only realise how much once you've made the change.

Tipper2 · #7 Post by **Tipper2** » Thu Oct 13, 2016 7:39 am

I put an Ohlins shock from an early RSVR on my Falco a couple of weeks ago and can't believe the difference!

The bike used to want to sit-up when it was leaning into corners and would throw me out of the seat on bad bumps but it's now much smoother on the road and corners really well.

I paid about £170 for the shock and £20 getting the spring powder coated but if I'd known how much of an improvement it would be I'd have happily paid a bit more.

wayno · #8 Post by **wayno** » Fri Oct 14, 2016 10:26 am

I replaced my shock with a nitron unit and it make the ride much more comfortable, but I wish I'd done the front as I had zero confidence that the front wasn't going to hit a ripple and lose grip, riding on decent suspension opened up my eyes as to how a bike should feel

The best way I can describe it (most of you know this) is that you can feel every bump, but you can also feel the suspension doing all the work and all you get up top is the knowledge that they're there. With bad stock suspension you feel every little imperfection coming through the bars which is not good.

I think the problem with a lot of bikes now is that they're setting the steering up to be sharp and awesome on the track, which just doesn't work too well on the road.

fatboy · #9 Post by **fatboy** » Fri Oct 14, 2016 6:57 pm

I'm sure I read somewhere that bikes destined for the UK market are set up for a 14 stone rider, that must cause a lot of handling issues

wayno · #10 Post by **wayno** » Fri Oct 14, 2016 7:03 pm

I'm nearer 16st

#11 Post by **mangocrazy** » Fri Oct 14, 2016 7:25 pm

I found the stock front forks (mine are Showa) were harsh and lacking feel, and was a bit like riding a road drill. After scouring the web, I found out that the standard fork spring rate was 1.05 kg/mm, which is really quite stiff. 0.9 kg/mm is a 'normal' rate for the average punter. I replaced the OE fork springs with a set of Hyperpro progressive ones, and replaced the stock compression valves with RaceTech Gold valves, and the front end was transformed.

My view is that the springs are too stiff/hard and the compression valving is similarly harsh and simply doesn't flow enough oil to give a comfortable and compliant ride. I now have complete faith in the front end whereas before I was always a bit nervous with it.

Everyone is different of course, so my findings won't chime with everyone. YMMV, as they say...

fatboy · #12 Post by **fatboy** » Mon Oct 17, 2016 5:20 pm

i don't doubt those Yankee fork valves do the stuff but they are sodding expensive.
Combine the cost of the valves, springs and a rebuild, must be close to RSV/R replacements ?

#13 Post by **mangocrazy** » Mon Oct 17, 2016 7:40 pm

Yes Paul, Gold valves are well over-priced, but I managed to pick up a set on eBay for 50 quid, which was a bit more like it... A set of Ohlins forks and triples can cost anything up to £500, and you'd be wise to pay for a service unless you can be sure it's been done recently, so I'm still on the credit side, I think. Besides which, I'd be surprised if a set of Ohlins were £500 better than my forks now.

I'm of the opinion there's not much wrong with Showa forks that a bit of fettling can't put right.

wayno · #14 Post by **wayno** » Mon Oct 17, 2016 7:46 pm

I was quoted £250 to revalve and service the showas, springs are about another £100 and fitting would be included (i wouldn't have needed them). So still cheaper than RSVR kit, you lose the bling factor though.

fatboy · #15 Post by **fatboy** » Tue Oct 18, 2016 5:05 pm

Wow, a set of the Gold thingies for £50 ?
You were in the right place at the right time !
I recently put a set of recently rebuilt forks on mine, massive improvement on what I took off and I can live with them for a while, not too bad but not what I could call made for me.
Which ever way you look at it there is no substitute for having your suspenders built up to suit you....
On the wish list, pencilled in for late winter