Best mod
03-29-2013, 05:46 AM
#1
THE LANE CARVER
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Best mod
If you had to choose 1, what would be your favorite modification on your SH?
And not to ask for too much, but maybe give a brief description so everyone else lookin for ideas will have better understanding. Thx
And not to ask for too much, but maybe give a brief description so everyone else lookin for ideas will have better understanding. Thx
Last edited by whatthefnck; 03-29-2013 at 06:00 AM. Reason: Revision for details
03-29-2013, 07:15 AM
#6
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+1 plus front brakes and steering as a whole 
The best thing I did so far is the CBR1000RR entire front end (still need to get a rear shock from Jaimie
), but there's many other mod's that well worth it, like gearing ratio on the sprocket & chain, lighter flywheel and so on... and then the mod's you don't really feel.. only when you have to pay for not having them, CCT's and R/R
The best thing I did so far is the CBR1000RR entire front end (still need to get a rear shock from Jaimie
), but there's many other mod's that well worth it, like gearing ratio on the sprocket & chain, lighter flywheel and so on... and then the mod's you don't really feel.. only when you have to pay for not having them, CCT's and R/R
03-29-2013, 07:38 AM
#7
El Cheapo
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Suspension mod.. they are expensive. But if properly tuned to your riding, they make you of existing HP, torque, brakes to the max.. far more performance gain than aftermarket exhaust.
Track school will probably help, too.
Track school will probably help, too.
03-29-2013, 08:49 AM
#10
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+ 1 more on suspension.
If I were to get a stock SH, first upgrade would be swapping in a USD fork front end. It addresses many things at once like adjustability, stiffness, and braking. Aside from all the "free" mods like shimming the rear shock, adjusting the carbs, TPS, etc like everyone said, and maintenance things like CCT's and tires.
The lightened flywheel and slip on exhaust are fun though
Edit: I guess just exactly what NHSH said.
If I were to get a stock SH, first upgrade would be swapping in a USD fork front end. It addresses many things at once like adjustability, stiffness, and braking. Aside from all the "free" mods like shimming the rear shock, adjusting the carbs, TPS, etc like everyone said, and maintenance things like CCT's and tires.
The lightened flywheel and slip on exhaust are fun though
Edit: I guess just exactly what NHSH said.
Last edited by 7moore7; 03-29-2013 at 08:51 AM.
03-29-2013, 09:45 AM
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03-29-2013, 11:31 AM
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03-29-2013, 12:10 PM
#16
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Actually, add or change fork oil can easily be done, that's consider suspension mod, not that expensive.
USD fork is great, but VTR's frame was never designed to operate with USD forks. Best to determine what you need from the forks before getting the OEM forklegs swapped out.
USD fork is great, but VTR's frame was never designed to operate with USD forks. Best to determine what you need from the forks before getting the OEM forklegs swapped out.
03-29-2013, 01:30 PM
#17
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Actually, add or change fork oil can easily be done, that's consider suspension mod, not that expensive.
USD fork is great, but VTR's frame was never designed to operate with USD forks. Best to determine what you need from the forks before getting the OEM forklegs swapped out.
USD fork is great, but VTR's frame was never designed to operate with USD forks. Best to determine what you need from the forks before getting the OEM forklegs swapped out.
I'm totally being an ******* with that statement, but couldn't help myself, lol
USD is on a very different level from adding fork oil in terms of modification. I'm not saying that either is more appropriate given the situation ($, time and experience). I'm not trying to call you out or anything, but would like to hear how a USD setup has been shown to cause frame problems on a VTR?
In theory the head tube would be stressed more, I get that, but the only ones I've seen break are due to crashes, and if you're riding it to the point where you feel flex, you're probably going to need to stiffen up the frame regardless of which forks you're running (stock ones with no brace I guess?) At that point I'd think you'd be flexing the forks enough that they wouldn't function properly anyway... but that's speculation, not experience talking...
03-29-2013, 02:23 PM
#19
THE LANE CARVER
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@everyone, that's good info
but to answer this, haa, more than 1 works- but be sure to put which 1 the rider liked most for any reason; whether it be cost, ease, looks. This thread is for us fairly new SH owners to get good ideas from you experienced and knowledgeable riders, as well as veterans getting new ideas too. This is good stuff.
03-29-2013, 03:49 PM
#21
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You're right. It wasn't designed to work with 330mm rotors either so I should probably put the stock rotors back on too.
I'm totally being an ******* with that statement, but couldn't help myself, lol
USD is on a very different level from adding fork oil in terms of modification. I'm not saying that either is more appropriate given the situation ($, time and experience). I'm not trying to call you out or anything, but would like to hear how a USD setup has been shown to cause frame problems on a VTR?
I'm totally being an ******* with that statement, but couldn't help myself, lol
USD is on a very different level from adding fork oil in terms of modification. I'm not saying that either is more appropriate given the situation ($, time and experience). I'm not trying to call you out or anything, but would like to hear how a USD setup has been shown to cause frame problems on a VTR?
Converting to USD fork without proper setup as fork oil, spring rate, damping vales, you are still going to have poor suspension performance.
Get the OEM suspension properly adjusted and set up would benefit far more than converting to USD fork without changing everything internally to suit your ride.
I'm calling you out, just converting to USD without proper setup improves nothing on OEM suspension.
In theory the head tube would be stressed more, I get that, but the only ones I've seen break are due to crashes, and if you're riding it to the point where you feel flex, you're probably going to need to stiffen up the frame regardless of which forks you're running (stock ones with no brace I guess?) At that point I'd think you'd be flexing the forks enough that they wouldn't function properly anyway... but that's speculation, not experience talking...
Last edited by cat0020; 03-29-2013 at 03:54 PM.
03-29-2013, 04:06 PM
#22
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Converting to USD fork without proper setup as fork oil, spring rate, damping vales, you are still going to have poor suspension performance.
Get the OEM suspension properly adjusted and set up would benefit far more than converting to USD fork without changing everything internally to suit your ride.
I'm calling you out, just converting to USD without proper setup improves nothing on OEM suspension.
Extra headtube stress from USD vs regular telescopic forklegs is not theory, just simple physics.
First I would ask have you ever ridden a SH with a USD front end? If not you have no idea how much difference it actually makes.
Yes my stock forks had been properly set up and a fork brace and were crap compared to the forks I am running now.
As for headtube stress....real world testing shows this is not an issue so nothing for you to stand on there.
Now for your set up stuff..... I'll call you on that. If both sets of forks are improperly set up the same (which sorry but makes no sense to go through the effort to swap the forks but not set them up but whatever) The USD units will work better due to the additional stiffness. Add that they can also be lighter and generally have bigger brakes.
So with all that, yes swapping forks is an improvement even if you are too lazy to set them up.
03-29-2013, 04:19 PM
#23
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Yes my stock forks had been properly set up and a fork brace and were crap compared to the forks I am running now.
As for headtube stress....real world testing shows this is not an issue so nothing for you to stand on there.
Now for your set up stuff..... I'll call you on that. If both sets of forks are improperly set up the same (which sorry but makes no sense to go through the effort to swap the forks but not set them up but whatever) The USD units will work better due to the additional stiffness. Add that they can also be lighter and generally have bigger brakes.
So with all that, yes swapping forks is an improvement even if you are too lazy to set them up.
As for headtube stress....real world testing shows this is not an issue so nothing for you to stand on there.
Now for your set up stuff..... I'll call you on that. If both sets of forks are improperly set up the same (which sorry but makes no sense to go through the effort to swap the forks but not set them up but whatever) The USD units will work better due to the additional stiffness. Add that they can also be lighter and generally have bigger brakes.
So with all that, yes swapping forks is an improvement even if you are too lazy to set them up.
Seat of the pants testing on public roads without compression sensor, rebound timer or onboard computer; I doubt anyone would be able to tell the difference in the "stiffness" gain from USD fork vs regular OEM.
03-29-2013, 04:20 PM
#24
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Here's the what I heard and why I responded:
"Putting in the correct amount of fork oil is better than a USD swap" <-- I know that's not what you said
, but I kinda ran with it in my head, lol. I'd bet that most USD forks (at least the common ones we see people put on the hawk) come set up much closer to what most Superhawk riders need as far as spring rates, valving, and oil than the stock hawk can achieve with just some fork oil added. Totally out of my league here, but based on my experience you'd have to show me an adjusted stock setup that works better for me than my stock 929rr front end for me to believe it.
And when I say "problem" I mean: Is it dangerous, or are the effects of the stress so dramatic that they outweigh the benefits of a stiffer front end?
I'm just trying to see why you would recommend not swapping a front is all (other than finances and or desire to keep the bike stock). It's lighter, stiffer, better aftermarket support, more adjustable, and a bonus brake upgrade all in one.
As said here:
Admittedly, I have much to learn about suspension, though, so I'll toss in a free grain of salt with all of that
03-29-2013, 04:40 PM
#25
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Not on a VTR, but on a XR650R for desert runs and supermotard/track use.
Just what are the specifics on your "real world testing" do you refer?
Seat of the pants testing on public roads without compression sensor, rebound timer or onboard computer; I doubt anyone would be able to tell the difference in the "stiffness" gain from USD fork vs regular OEM.
Just what are the specifics on your "real world testing" do you refer?
Seat of the pants testing on public roads without compression sensor, rebound timer or onboard computer; I doubt anyone would be able to tell the difference in the "stiffness" gain from USD fork vs regular OEM.
You seem to go in two different directions here...... I was clearly talking about the headstock. Real world testing is running it for 10's of thousands of miles and looking for any stress failures or if I have felt the front end flex.
But then you change to forks, so ok I'll cover that also.
As for you comment that you doubt anyone could tell the difference in flex between the two forks..... You are very wrong here. The difference is like night and day.
The first time I hit the brakes or transition from side to side with any aggression I could tell which forks are on the bike with no problem You may not agree but I can guarantee it
Are you also going to say the difference in flex can't be felt when you brace the swingarm?
Before you ask, yes both front ends were properly set up by known tuners with some really good bits in there, so once again an USD fork conversion is well worth the time and $$ if you ride aggressively.
03-29-2013, 04:59 PM
#26
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But then you change to forks, so ok I'll cover that also.
As for you comment that you doubt anyone could tell the difference in flex between the two forks..... You are very wrong here. The difference is like night and day.
The first time I hit the brakes or transition from side to side with any aggression I could tell which forks are on the bike with no problem You may not agree but I can guarantee it
As for you comment that you doubt anyone could tell the difference in flex between the two forks..... You are very wrong here. The difference is like night and day.
The first time I hit the brakes or transition from side to side with any aggression I could tell which forks are on the bike with no problem You may not agree but I can guarantee it
I only asked one question in my previous post, you still fail to answer it.
03-29-2013, 09:43 PM
#27
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This is gonna be another boxing match... for a forum with so much knowledge and has helped me out so much, I like it too much; I'm going to bow out...
03-29-2013, 10:52 PM
#28
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It was a civil discussion! He knows about maintenance, silly! He gave you the answer to your "only one specific question"
This is gonna be another boxing match... for a forum with so much knowledge and has helped me out so much, I like it too much; I'm going to bow out...
This is gonna be another boxing match... for a forum with so much knowledge and has helped me out so much, I like it too much; I'm going to bow out...
As for me the USD forks and braced swingarm completely transformed the bike, though like I said I don't know how to ride.
So he can argue with himself but just maybe one should actually try the mods before saying how they don't work or make no difference.
03-30-2013, 12:53 AM
#29
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Converting to USD fork without proper setup as fork oil, spring rate, damping vales, you are still going to have poor suspension performance.
Get the OEM suspension properly adjusted and set up would benefit far more than converting to USD fork without changing everything internally to suit your ride.
I'm calling you out, just converting to USD without proper setup improves nothing on OEM suspension.
Extra headtube stress from USD vs regular telescopic forklegs is not theory, just simple physics.
My answer for the OP's question, without any hesitation at all, suspension, suspension, suspension...
03-30-2013, 06:12 AM
#30
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It was a civil discussion! He knows about maintenance, silly! He gave you the answer to your "only one specific question"
This is gonna be another boxing match... for a forum with so much knowledge and has helped me out so much, I like it too much; I'm going to bow out...
This is gonna be another boxing match... for a forum with so much knowledge and has helped me out so much, I like it too much; I'm going to bow out...
Knowledge is gained only when you mind is open, bowing out is simply closing your mind to the discussion.
You have to weigh the cost vs benefit.
Without proper testing or setup, USD or OEM forks are not going to suit your riding, even though you might be able to tell the extra stiffness of USD forks at the seat of your pants, but that can easily be accomplished by changing the fork oil weight/height, get a fork valve and adding a fork brace to OEM fork legs at under $200.
Last edited by cat0020; 03-30-2013 at 06:43 AM.
