send suspensions forks to race tech

[erionalite]

I am looking to upgrade suspensions, for sv650s second gen. Any one here has sent the forks to race tech ? Just want a second opinion. They seam to have a good deal $500 for spngrings, oil, seals, emulators.

thanks in advance

[Petorius]

If you want a learning experience, do it yourself. Otherwise, Peter Kates of GMD Computrack Boston can surely do that for you as well.

[tsorfas]

Advanced traction in CT

[MFChop]

Advanced Traction! Jonn is a stand up guy with great service and prices. Don't quote me on it but $500 + shipping them, he might be able to get you a better deal than that.

https://www.facebook.com/AdvancedTraction

[MaRce1o]

I can contact you with race tech for anything you want, if you decide to go that route

[Uncle Snake]

My shit goes to Kates.

[Dave603]

another vote for PK

[Trouble]

All mine goes to Kates at Computrack Boston. As a matter of fact he has one of my bikes right now.

[G21forme]

Seacoast put racetech springs in my 636 forks, yes a Ducati dealer worked on my kawasaki crazy I know but they did an awesome job.

[cdovego]

Where do you live?

[FireboltEric_MA]

I also vote Peter kates. If you go anywhere else you WILL NOT get the abuse you deserve & paid for.

Just remember, he's not happy till you're not happy!

[SwiftTone]

Does GMD measure sag or do they do it by feel? I was at TTD at NHMS and the GMD guy there didn't measure sag. When I asked him about it he said he does it by feel and that he's been doing it for so long that he knows what he's doing.

Is this the norm for GMD? Is it a reliable technique?

[jasnmar]

If it was PK (and it probably was), he doesn't need to measure. He done it enough times to know.

Sag is also only one aspect (which is about setting preload). He probably also pushed on both the seat and clip ons. He was observing (and setting) both compression and rebound damping as he was doing that as well as checking for preload.

For someone like me, no. Not reliable. For him, yes.

[SwiftTone]

If it was PK (and it probably was), he doesn't need to measure. He done it enough times to know.

Sag is also only one aspect (which is about setting preload). He probably also pushed on both the seat and clip ons. He was observing (and setting) both compression and rebound damping as he was doing that as well as checking for preload.

For someone like me, no. Not reliable. For him, yes.

No it wasn't Kates. It was a younger guy.

I watch Dave Moss tune suspension on YouTube all the time and he always measures. Always thought that was the correct technique.

[jasnmar]

Dillon, I *think* is his name (if it's the guy I'm thinking of).

It isn't that measuring is wrong. It's more that measuring is just about getting a reasonably good starting point. Setting 1" of sag isn't necessarily "the best" point for the rider, the bike, or the track, it's a starting point. After that there need to be check-ins for how the bike is behaving and what the feedback is like (and how the tires are wearing). The 1" thing is about making sure that the suspension isn't "topped out" (under static load) and has some room to expand, as well as having most of its useful downward travel available. If Dillon thinks he can do it by feel, he's probably right. I'm sure that if PK thinks he can do it by feel he's right.

Oreo, for example, is running with a rear shock that has enough spring rate for me. "By the rules" it shouldn't work for him. It does.

[GMAN226]

Kates is the guy who always set up my bikes..

[nhbubba]

I believe it also depends on how externally adjustable your suspension is. If your suspension is like my SV, then preload is the only thing the forks have external adjusters for. And the preload effects EVERYTHING else. Change preload and you change dampening.

The way Dillon explained it to me, the front end is a compromise at the end of the day. Give up optimum sag in favor of more better dampening, or vice versa. Having text book perfect sag measurements is pointless if the forks don't dampen for shit. He then fiddled with my rear shock (which is adjustable) until it was similar to the front. Better to have the bike handle consistently than act like a rocking horse out there.

In my case, my forks were filled with some type of molasses. He backed off on the preload to try to get the compression dampening to not hard as a rock. It was what it was.

I since went and screwed with everything. I should give them their $20 again to tell me I basically made it worse.

[OreoGaborio]

Peter Kates, GMD Computrack...

Just called & paid that fucker today, actually. He was kind enough to service my old shock, change the spring & even ship it to the new owner for me. Got there way quicker than if he sent it back to me and I shipped it.


Oh & my race bike's also a 2nd gen SV... prob one of the best handling ones in the garage, thanks to him. He's done a ton of work on my bike over the years.

[Kurlon]

If you want the minutia, GMD can give you measurements of FAR more than just static sag to very high precision and accuracy.

After working with Mr Kates to dial in a bike that neither he nor any of the suspension providers have data on and watching how quickly he can hone things in by feel, I trust his bouncy bouncy.

[Chippertheripper]

Trust is everything in suspension. Pay who you trust (and not just trust to take your money).

[Paul_E_D]

I also use PK. Makes my bike work. Period.

Any tuner is only as good as the rider's ability to communicate with him. Local is always going to be better in that regard.