Fork internals

[Wasta]

After upgrading the shock last year its time to look at the forks. I put a heavier oil in which masked the age of components for a while, but the balance of damping is out now.

Can anyone recommend a cartridge kit, if there is one , or is a rebuild better?

I await your comments with interest.

[Flip]

I think depending upon what make forks (Marzocchi or Showa) you have on your bike determines what your options are.

There are more options from the likes of K-Tech for the Showa forks as they work in a more conventional way.

The Marzocchi's are slightly different as one leg controls the compression damping while the other copes with the rebound.

I have Mazocchi's on my '97 900 and over the years played about with various things to try and get them better with limited success and so after having Maxton rework the forks on my 1965 Ducati race bike with amazing results I bit the bullet and had them go over the Monster's too with similar results.

The bike is now an absolute pleasure over any road surface with no kicking off over bumps or suffering from compounding compression (like when braking fairly hard or for an extended distance on a bumpy surface).

I guess a lot comes down to cost over benefit to you (suspension feel is quite a personal thing) and if you plan on keeping the bike long term as personally I wish I had gone the Maxton route from the outset.

I am sure others here will have their own experiences with various results- as I say, suspension and the type of riding you do is a personal thing.

Keep us updated with what you decide and the results!!

[Wasta]

Thanks for the comments Flip, mine has the Marzocchi forks, i think. A revalve is probably the best option with new springs.
I know of people fitting Aprilia forks from an Mille or Tourno for adjustment that works, but they require sleeving and probably a rebuild as well.
I'll have a look around locally and see whats on offer.

[Darkness]

On a ‘98 M900 I’d have expected to see non-adjustable Showa forks, unless the factory had run out on that day and fitted ADT instead.
Have a good look at the inside face [Wheel side] of the ally fork bottom, as Showa have their name cast in there.
If they are Showa they can be rebuilt with new cartridge damping and springs matched to your weight.

[Flip]

I’m not sure a re-valve kit is available for the Marzocchi forks and even if there were you still have the issues of one leg trying to control compression while the deals with rebound meaning each leg has a lot to do to keep things nice.

The likes of Maxton completely junk all the internals and fit their own proper cartridge system (GP20 in my case) and you can decide how much adjustment you need and it’s costed accordingly.

[Darren69]

That will probably be my next big expenditure on my bike, getting the forks properly sorted. I had replaced mine with a newer set that were cosmetically better but otherwise identical to the ones I had already fitted (S4R Showa TiN spec) and had them serviced and fitted with Hyperpro springs. They're really no better and if I'm honest they may be slightly worse with the damping. I'm sure there is a sweet spot setting wise somewhere to be found but as of yet I have not found it.

So I wouldn't waste time and money going that route. I'm sure the Showa TiN are the best they did but the valving isn't up to much and is probably the same as the standard ones anyway. However it probably is worth swapping the Marzo for Showa ones and then start from there.

[Luddite]

... fitted with Hyperpro springs. They're really no better and if I'm honest they may be slightly worse with the damping. I'm sure there is a sweet spot setting wise somewhere to be found but as of yet I have not found it.

Aren't Hyperpro springs progressive? If so, you might get better results with a linear spring tailored for your weight and riding style rather than the 'one size fits all (or nobody!)' of a progressive.

[Wasta]

Just got round to checking and i have Showafully adjustable fitted, so i'll be contacting K-Tech about them.

I still enjoy riding the bike as it is but it really needs this sorting.

[Stafford]

I have a K-Tech piston kit in a set of mine, when they first did it it was a bit of a feck up so I had to solve the problems. Then they were mint.
I've just had them serviced there after a few years, all they had to do was change oil and seals, I now have two pogo sticks that would require a Hippo to compress and will be calling them this morning to explain themselves.

[Darkness]

I have a K-Tech piston kit in a set of mine, when they first did it it was a bit of a feck up so I had to solve the problems. Then they were mint.
I've just had them serviced there after a few years, all they had to do was change oil and seals, I now have two pogo sticks that would require a Hippo to compress and will be calling them this morning to explain themselves.

I'd be interested to hear what the problems (And solutions) are Staff as in the garage I 've a pristine pair of '93 spec Showa non-adjustable forks with RaceTech damping which are as supple as a housebrick!

[Flip]

I know some people look on at the likes of Maxton as ‘re-inventing the wheel’ by junking the original stuff and then fitting their own cartridge system but in both cases I’ve used them along with the other people I know (either through the classic racing or road riders) they have not only worked straight off but also been a massive improvement.

[Dukedesmo]

I have a K-Tech piston kit in a set of mine, when they first did it it was a bit of a feck up so I had to solve the problems. Then they were mint.
I've just had them serviced there after a few years, all they had to do was change oil and seals, I now have two pogo sticks that would require a Hippo to compress and will be calling them this morning to explain themselves.

I've got K-tech pistons/valves/springs in mine (adjustable Showa) and they work really well. I did have occasional 'bottoming out' when they first fitted the lighter springs, they suggested I add 5 - 10ml extra oil in each leg, I added 10ml and things are much better now.

I also had them fit re-valve/spring etc. the Ohlins forks on my 916 and they are superb, reassuringly firm yet surprisingly supple at the same time - they do have larger bore innards than the Showa though (30mm vs 25mm IIRC) which maybe adds to the feel/adjustability?

[Wasta]

I will contact K-Tech and Maxton and see what they say, i'll make a choice then who gets the work.

[Flip]

I will contact K-Tech and Maxton and see what they say, i'll make a choice then who gets the work.

The only trouble I am sure they will both (along with the other good specialists out there) be really busy with race season well underway and Chimay and the Classic TT on the horizon and with the nice weather here you may be without a bike for sometime if you go for it now.

[Stafford]

Mine are due to be collected today, they used to be the dogs nuts but now it's as if they have added 50mm to the pre load spacer during the service. Of course they will say they find nothing but as long as they are better then fine.

[Mossleymonster]

Just out of interest, how much did they charge you for the service?

[Wasta]

I wasn't planning on doing the forks until the back end of the year, so they're ready for next spring.

[Moco1961]

:chuckle:no pun intended!......brilliant:spin: