Suspension Upgrades
Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2013 5:03 pm
OK, I just got my first paycheque for my new contract, and it's starting to get cold, so it's time to get serious about upgrading the suspension on this bike.
I've changed my mind about how radical I want to go in the time that I've had the bike and become more and more fond of the current looks. I was originally intending on a swap to some wide 17" wheels and possibly a swap to a SSSA, but I've decided now that I want to keep the stock geometry (or very close to it), stock ride height (or maybe a -0.5-1.0" higher), and my CB1100F golden boomerangs. No interest in any frame bracing/mods at this point.
I'm going to keep all info I discover about having this work done here in this thread.
Here are the options I'm considering currently:
FRONT:
Definitely swapping to handlebars and keeping stock gauges & controls. Don't care if I keep the stock fuse box and ignition key location or not. Good cartridge internals sprung and damped for me & the bike are mandatory - nothing with damping rods or emulators. Better calipers would be nice, don't mind new rotors but I don't want them much bigger than the stockers or they'll obscure my wheels.
Another pro for #1 is that the forks are definitely long enough to let me add that height - might take some very tricky triple clamps to manage it with modern forks unless I can score oddballs from a road-focused adventure bike like a KTM 990 SMT, Buell XB12XT, or Tiger 1050.
Options #2 & 3 are probably similar level of difficulty & cost, and the same performance for a rider like me - the decision there is which look I prefer. RSU's would look OEM, USD's provide the bling... Either one would make talk of flex irrelevant and better braking than option #1.
REAR:
Definitely keeping the twin-shock setup, and definitely going with some good shocks that are adjustable for compression, rebound, and preload (but probably not remote/hydraulic preload) with straight-rate springs. I would like something better-looking than the stock swinger, and something that will take readily available bearings for ease of maintenance. Stiffer would be a nice bonus, but isn't a primary concern.
The shocks I'm considering that meet my requirements for quality and appear to be available for the CBX are:
As for the swinger, I want to keep stock length. I would like to raise the bike overall a little bit (0.5-1.0") if it can be done without messing with the chainline too much. Options I'm considering include:
Plenty to think about. I want to finalize all decisions in the next 2 weeks and have my parts in hand by the end of Oct. All I know for sure at this point is that I am VERY EXCITED about getting these upgrades done over the winter so I can ride the bike with more pleasure & comfort next year.
I think I'll keep a running list here of my current plans & what ends up actually on the bike:
I've changed my mind about how radical I want to go in the time that I've had the bike and become more and more fond of the current looks. I was originally intending on a swap to some wide 17" wheels and possibly a swap to a SSSA, but I've decided now that I want to keep the stock geometry (or very close to it), stock ride height (or maybe a -0.5-1.0" higher), and my CB1100F golden boomerangs. No interest in any frame bracing/mods at this point.
I'm going to keep all info I discover about having this work done here in this thread.
Here are the options I'm considering currently:
FRONT:
Definitely swapping to handlebars and keeping stock gauges & controls. Don't care if I keep the stock fuse box and ignition key location or not. Good cartridge internals sprung and damped for me & the bike are mandatory - nothing with damping rods or emulators. Better calipers would be nice, don't mind new rotors but I don't want them much bigger than the stockers or they'll obscure my wheels.
- Keep the stock forks, swap the internals with good cartridge stuff, custom over-top triple setup like Randak's to mount the bars, but styled more to my taste. Keep the 2-piston CB1100F calipers I already have.
- 43mm RSU cartridge forks from a bike of similar size/weight (probably a Bandit 1200) with some upgraded/tuned cartridges. Will probably need custom triples, definitely need some spacers & bearings sorted out to work with the current front wheel & speedo drive, and custom brackets to mount the fender. Would use the rotors & 4-piston calipers from the donor bike.
- 43mm USD cartridge forks from a bike of similar size/weight (probably 'Busa, or XZ-14), valved & sprung for me & the bike. Again, custom triples are almost definitely necessary. Again, would use rotors & 4-piston radial calipers from the donor bike (I really like the looks of USD+radial, so would not choose USD forks with an axial caliper mount).
Another pro for #1 is that the forks are definitely long enough to let me add that height - might take some very tricky triple clamps to manage it with modern forks unless I can score oddballs from a road-focused adventure bike like a KTM 990 SMT, Buell XB12XT, or Tiger 1050.
Options #2 & 3 are probably similar level of difficulty & cost, and the same performance for a rider like me - the decision there is which look I prefer. RSU's would look OEM, USD's provide the bling... Either one would make talk of flex irrelevant and better braking than option #1.
REAR:
Definitely keeping the twin-shock setup, and definitely going with some good shocks that are adjustable for compression, rebound, and preload (but probably not remote/hydraulic preload) with straight-rate springs. I would like something better-looking than the stock swinger, and something that will take readily available bearings for ease of maintenance. Stiffer would be a nice bonus, but isn't a primary concern.
The shocks I'm considering that meet my requirements for quality and appear to be available for the CBX are:
- YSS
- Ohlins
- WP
- Bitubo
As for the swinger, I want to keep stock length. I would like to raise the bike overall a little bit (0.5-1.0") if it can be done without messing with the chainline too much. Options I'm considering include:
- Mod the stocker to brace it and rework the pivot section to take new bearings that are more easily found.
- Find a suitable donor alu swingarm and have it modded to fit & work with the twin-shocks. If I go this way, I want a box-section swinger, not the kind of bulky units on modern sportbikes.
- Have something custom built from scratch.
Plenty to think about. I want to finalize all decisions in the next 2 weeks and have my parts in hand by the end of Oct. All I know for sure at this point is that I am VERY EXCITED about getting these upgrades done over the winter so I can ride the bike with more pleasure & comfort next year.
I think I'll keep a running list here of my current plans & what ends up actually on the bike:
- Swingarm: Chromed aluminum from TRAC http://tracdynamics.com/pages/swingarms
- Sprockets: 43 tooth black rear Stealth from Supersprox, and an 18 tooth front from CBX Performance. https://www.supersproxusa.com/Products/ ... ockets.php
CBX Performance
Note: My local retailer and/or Driven screwed up and I was sent the wrong sprockets and chain and told that they don't have a fitment for the CBX. Some of the folks at Driven supposedly have some CBX history - but it didn't seem like anyone involved in the screw-up wanted to work with me to get it sorted so I have no interest in ever giving them a dime. - Chain: Black 530 X-Ring chain from Supersprox
- Shocks: YSS RG 362-360 TRCL-09 w/ optional compression adjuster http://www.yssusa.com/series-g.html - the valving on these looked pretty bad on the dyno, so they were revalved by Rick at Cogent Dynamics http://www.motocd.com/
Note: After getting the YSS sorted out, I learned about the Ohlins HO 146. It has the same 4-way adjustability (preload, rebound, compression, and length) as the YSS, and the valving should be good to go out of the box. http://www.ohlins.com/Our-products-new/ ... rt/HO-146/ It's spec'd for a CB900, but Dan Kyle may be able to provide them ready to go on the CBX - although this may require some mods to the bike and/or shocks to get them to fit. http://www.kyleusa.com/ The cost for the 146 is about the same as the cost for the YSS + revalve. - Forks: Pro-Link forks rebuilt with AK-20 cartridge internals from Traxxion Dynamics http://www.traxxion.com/ and new tubes from TNK (available from Race Tech) http://racetech.com/page/title/FTNK%20Fork%20Tubes
- Triples: Custom top & bottom
- Front rotors: 310mm 2007 GSX-R1000 rotors, custom adapters
- Front calipers: 65mm Brembo axial mount 4-piston, custom brackets
- Front master cylinder: Bandit 1200, custom stainless lines
- Footpegs: 1" drop pegs from Knight Design - they don't make a CBX peg, and these will need some tweaks to be able to fit. http://www.knightdesignllc.com/Products ... _Pegs.html
- Bars: LSL Superbike Fatbar (I had to ditch the CR High Pro Taper Contour bars http://www.protaper.com/products/handlebars/contour because they didn't work with the CBX switchgear), with a KTM Duke 690 clamp assembly - chosen because I know that they work perfectly with the KTM GPS mount, which I like a lot. The bars may need some modification to fit the KTM clamps. http://www.spieglerusa.com/controls/fat ... ebars.html
- Gauges: Speedhut - they offer an incredible array of customization, each gauge set is made to order. I hated to do it, but I had to ditch the stock speedo because the rotor adapter precluded the stock speedo drive unit. I ordered a matching speedo, tach, and clock (which will replace the voltmeter) from these guys. http://www.speedhut.com
- Oil cooler: Earl's 13 row cooler plus a Thermostasis 190°F thermostat, plumbed with AN-6 braided lines and black fittings. http://thermostasis.com/
- Stands: sidestand and centerstand were both lengthened a bit to account for the increase in ride height. The sidestand was cut & welded, the chromed centerstand had some stainless feet added to the bottom to get the rear wheel 1/4" off a flat, level surface.