Tiny little flush-mount turn-signals that nobody can see.

Makes it look like a racer.

 

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.

 

Umm ok then.

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.

 

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.

 

Sorry, trying to keep it friendly!

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.

Ok, I 100% agree with you. I even said "I get that". What I'm asking, is has that extra stress ever been a big problem in a Superhawk? Again, it could be... I know they brace the frame and all in the moriwaki bikes.

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:
Not only did it improve something for me, it was my favorite thing!

Admittedly, I have much to learn about suspension, though, so I'll toss in a free grain of salt with all of that

 

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.

 

Normally, just running it 10k miles would require fork oil change to maintain certain level of performance.

Seat of the pants testing does not count. On public roads, there is no need for the extra stiffness of USD if you know how to ride with what you got; in this case, properly setup OEM fork.

I'm only talking about fork, not swingarm; get with the program marine.

I only asked one question in my previous post, you still fail to answer it.

 

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...

 

I'm with you... I guess I don't know how to ride, don't know maintenance and sure don't need that Ohlins valved USD front end I have on there.

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.

 

Sooo... How does CBR 1000RR forks with Öhlins internals, setup for me specifically by the same team that does WSB bikes for the top teams sound? Oh BTW, the frame is braced at the headstock and other places...

My answer for the OP's question, without any hesitation at all, suspension, suspension, suspension...

 

At which point was I not being civil in this discussion?
Knowledge is gained only when you mind is open, bowing out is simply closing your mind to the discussion.

Of course two of you are in bed together, why wouldn't you? both of you arguing for USD fork without getting USD fork properly setup and tested for you personal use; easily could have saved some money and time by tuning the OEM forks specifically for your usage.

I have tried USD forks vs OEM forks, I said that few posts ago, did you not read careful?

So how much does all that mod to USD forks/braced headstock cost vs just getting OEM fork specifically tuned for you specifically to suit your riding?

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.