Well I had a nice little ride to Wandsworth to go and see the guys at Set-up Engineering. I didn’t get my suspension changed at all but I should be returning to them sometime next year when I have some money I can spend.
From the advice I was given it looks like I will have to get a decent aftermarket rear shock to replace the Showa one that’s on there now. This would then be fitted up to the bike and an out the crate set-up done for £270, which doesn’t sound to bad to me. The shock on there has done a good 19,000 miles so far.
I was thinking of getting the front fork springs redone as well but he only said about springs and valves from Ktech which were £500 plus fitting. I’d have to see him again to find out about doing it with some not so good fork springs?
He did say he could do the Ktech fork springs and valves, create set-up and new shock set up for £1300 but I would have to get a rear shock onto of this so something like £1650ish, but then my suspension would be the muts nuts!
The whole time I was sitting there thinking is this really worth doing to the F-Sport? Its going to be ridden all year round and I will be commuting on it too. But on the other hand I do intend to do some track days on the bike over the summer so it would be a good benefit there. Also I’m going to be needing a new rear shock sometime soon so I might as well replace it now.
Would you say its worth it? I’m kind of in two minds lol
Glad you enjoyed your trip and got some good advice. Must admit, I have not bought anything fom them but James did set my bike suspension up on the old ZX7 and it was the mutts. Took 1.5 secs a lap off my Donnington times. A decent rider on a lower powered bike that is set up correctly will outdo the opposite on most roads and tracks.
Hrm, sounds expensive, though as the guys say, you can’t spend money any better on a sportsbike than with suspension work. The likes of Kais and Ktech will rebuild OEM units, and I believe their fork work is cheaper as well. I’m surprised to be honest, I thought the local boys would be cheaper.
I too have recently spoken to him [setup] and had identical quotes, which like Jay, I was a little surprised about, plus he made an error about something that made me wonder if he has actually done a K5 and therfore if he is actually the best person to go with. There is also the £270 “out of the crate setup” charge to adjust stuff like levers that I did as soon as I got the bike…
so I called Ktech direct…they quote the fork revalve and respring at £150+VAT or full 20mm cartridge conversion as well for the ultimate feel £350+VAT…with no mention of £500 kayaba valves that setup uses [but ktech dont]
The K5 rear shock is [like k3,k4 new CBR’s] fundamentally a quality unit and can be rebuilt/valved to work virtually as good as an ohlins “it feels as good or possibly even better, just does not quite get up to the same range of adjustment”
So, ths guy [ktech] could sell me a £595+VAT ohlins but is advising me that his £260+VAT alternative is effectively just as good.
KTech are top-notch, Kao5, I bought my Ohlins shock from them, with it built to my specifications. They know their stuff, are only too happy to talk to you about things. They do work for nearly every top-level UK racing outfits, and many more European ones, i.e. their work is race proven. My forks will be sent to them, in time.
James did a fantastic job on my GSXR 750 K3 and the handling was sweet beyond all belief, all with the standard suspension save a washer to increas rear ride height.
Sadly he was not able to do such a good job on my GSXR 1000 K4, however with my new WP Race shock set up by Steve Jordan I am now expecting great things again.
Well me and Snap are going to head up to SBT and just get the standard suspention played with, without being told I need full BSB spec suspension for commutting lol.
If the bike was purely for trakdays and occasional road riding (something special for the weekend ) then I would have gladly spent the money on decent suspension. Also if my bike was a little bit more special too lol.
that does sound over the top pricey to me, and altough i agree that suspension is the best stuff you can spend your money on, with the sort of riding you intend to do, i think that it might be a bit overkill… if you see me up at the ace i can give your 6 a quick look over to see if there is anything blindingly obviously wrong, and if you want we can have a play with your settings (might need a little notice so i can bring my tools down) and yes, i do do it for a living, and no, you wont have to sell a kidney… lol ( i ride the castrol NC30) let me know
Oh, I do so hope I will not go getting in trouble on this board - LOL
I am, as it happens, a newly arrived tuner from Australia, and will be setting up a base locally within the next few weeks.
It is possible to do so so much with just the stock Showa stuff within your 600, and I specialise in just this… (and have experience with all of the other kits, and have developed for Penske). If you choose to go to other people, so be it, I can nay help having nobody know me (but you could always Google… eh>?). Anyways, I am happy to answer questions and give truthful answers, wherever you wanna go - and yeah, I am race proven too (he he)…
I spose what I am trying to underline here, is that a good ride does not need to cost the earth.
) then I would have gladly spent the money on decent suspension. Also if my bike was a little bit more special too lol.