Question About Front Forks.
 

I own 99 VTR SH with appr 10k on it and very happy with the way of this
v-twin handle on the street so I need to ask for your expertise also advices what should I do for my 8 years young bike esp with this front suspension. I have seen some recommend from this forum about gold valve and Race Tech spring and heavy 10w oil, but does it actually improve rides handling. because I never owned any bike for more than 10k even though been riden around 24 years and no tracks expirience, currently ride VTR 1000F and 954 RR. Thanks ahead of time for any of your helps.

The difference is Night and Day.

I put RT springs in the VTR front end and was amazed at the change. Getting the RT springs and valves in my GSXR made the bike handle like a dream.

Improving the front end will make you want to upgrade the rear suspension as well.

Are our stock springs progressive rate? And are the Racetech bits constant rate?

So is it ok to keep org valve just replace RT springs, forks oil. I' m 5'7 155 lbs

The stock springs are in fact progressive. They start at .58kg/mm. Racetech, Ohlins, and Eibach are all constant rate springs.

Should we keep the stock valving? That's a good question. It depends how far off the stock spring rate you are going. With maybe .85 kg/mm springs you might be able to get away with it. Anything over that and you start to overpower your rebound damping with the spring. Add to that the fact that the spring itself is a form of compression damping and you will wind up on opposite sides of the spectrum with damping.

The same goes with fork oil, though many have reported success with just springs and 5wt oil.

I just revalved Nuhawk's forks and put in .90 kg/mm springs. We will have to wait a few days to get the verdict since FedEx just picked them up today.

Oh well I just go head and replace the forks w/RT gold valve and springs, also want to drop 10mm on the front (half an inch) so what do you think? anybody here done that? And how is it feel like? Thinking about go to Deal's gap. have to schedule my work first bcause May is my busy month for my job.

Can you raise the rear instead of dropping the front? You'll be losing a bit of clearance by raising the triples / lowering the front.

Or do both! I've raised my tubes 10mm and my shock is about 5mm taller than stock. I think using about a 3:1 linkage ratio that would be about 15mm taller in the rear.

The Gold Valves aren't bad, though if I knew now what I knew then I'd have gone about it completely different.

My forks are 10mm shorter than stock and have had no issues. If you've done both your hawk must turn in really quick eh Greg?

That's what I thought gona be a problem, bcause ground clearance of SH is so limit .alot of times when leanning the bike through turn the top of my shoe carve the road. thanks bro.

Yup, turns on a dime! And no stability problems to speak of. That's all suspension setup, of course. :)

I've been trying to get the big RR to steer and handle like the VTR since I bought it. Although stability on the RR is better, the VTR is more compliant and turns quicker. I also feel more comfortable leaning it over on its side. Now that I've got Ohlins internals on the RR though, we'll have to see how much has changed.

With crazy thoughts sometimes I just want to swap front end for my curiosity to see and feel how it likes. My 954 rr suspension is too stiff,it may be good for track but no road bike. But It is feather weight for liter bike. VTR is still my 1st choice to roll out of my garage, plus it is a V-twin too. On the down side VTR is too heavy for little guy like me, eventhough w/all the diets that I can afford to pitch in.

With some work you can get the weight down to current literbike weight. I had mine weighed at a buddy's work a few years back. He worked at a moving and storage company and they had calibrated scales for pallets and such. With over 1/2 tank of gas the bike weighed in at 432 lbs. I've not done too much except for aftermarket exhaust. Hell, I've added weight with stuff like the Scottoiler.

Hi Greg! Look like you did have quite of works done there.