I swung by a local spring manufacturer today. He can make us springs to spec, but buying just one or two would cost too much. He said it would be around $300 for setup and then around $40 per spring. So if we get 10 people together, that's only $70 per spring. Cheaper than the RaceTech which is way too soft.

Stock spring: 16.8 kg/mm
Recommended: 16.5 (210 pound rider, stock bike)
Stiffest available now: 16.0

I have the 16.0 on mine, and find it way too soft. With a passenger it will bottom out even with preload at max. The 900 shock has been a good improvement on the damping side, but the spring really needs to be stiffer.

Thanks for the offer Carlos. I'm pretty happy with the 16kg spring, as I only weigh approx. 185 lbs. and it works for me.

Are you sure 16.5 is enough? In order to get the sag set properly with me on the bike, (180 lbs, 16.0 spring), I am at full preload, and have absolutely no static sag. The stock setting of 16.8 may work better.
I heard somewhere that Ohlins recommends a 17.3

Ohlins is really stupid about springs. I'm heartily unimpressed by the Ohlins-equipped bikes I've ridden. I'm open to other ideas on the weight though. Personally I'd be happy to go higher as it will work better with the bags. I thought the stock rate was fine.

I had pretty good luck with the stock spring rate and most of my rides anymore are with soft luggage. I would vote for 16.8

On the Penske shock i bought, they put a 1300lb. spring on for my weight and riding style.
That would come out to an 18.32 kg/mm spring.

Don, maybe it's because you use to type in all CAPS and they thought that everything you did was on a big scale. :lol:

Carlos...Don't you mean you SPRUNG by a local dealer ???? :lol:

You fixed your CAP LOCKS. WD-40 does work! :lol:

I have a Works ? spring. It's hard as a f'ing rock. I want to soften it up some. My ass jumps out of the seat when I hit a freeway bump.

For the 900 shock or the stocker? Where did you get it? Any idea on the spring rate? What do you weigh?

I'd go with a 16.5, preferrably, but if a 16.8 is the only one offered, I'm still in.

That is, as long as it's under $100.

With four takers, we're at $115 each. Anybody want to spread the word of this around other XX boards you may be on? I don't go to any of the other ones any more.

Carlos

I'm going to look at CBR 900 shocks for sale if I find one I'll be in.
You metioned elsewhere part numbers
MWO-003
MWO-0132A
MWO-0132B
MAE-0032B
Are they actually stamped on the shock?

Cheers
TC

Yes. The part # is right on the Showa badge on the shock body.

Like Northman, I'm in if you can get it below $100.
16.8 would be good for me...But anything right now to get the stocker off of the bike and the 900RR shock out of the workroom!

What did you guys pay for a 900 shock.....?

Thanks
TC

I was lucky...It cost me nothing. :grin:
Actually I had the choice of two, a fellow instructor had a couple lying in his garage.(Sorry guys, once I told a fellow instructor with an XX about this, the other was snatched up quick.)

I was lucky...It cost me nothing. :grin:
Actually I had the choice of two, a fellow instructor had a couple lying in his garage.(Sorry guys, once I told a fellow instructor with an XX about this, the other was snatched up quick.)

Mine was $50.

How'd you adjust the preload? I thought dampening was the only adjustable point?

On the stock shock, the shock body is threaded. You add or remove preload by adjusting the threaded washers (one adjusts, the other locks it in place) that sit on top of the spring. It may be easier to remove the shock before you try to adjust it. On a 900RR shock, you have a ramped collar that you can turn to add or remove preload.

How does the 900 shock disasemble to change the spring.....?

TC

Hmm... I'll have to try that. My preload is waaay soft. (stock shock)

You compress the spring, then remove the 2-piece collar at the bottom of the shock that's held in place by the spring.

A five minute job with the proper tools. I used a shop press to do mine.

I am in, they better be good though I cant afford to have it not be right, hard enough to get a hunsky outta the old lady, but then to not have it be right.. oh man shit house for sure..

Anyone know what year models of the 900RR will work for the shock swap?

TIA-


Sanch

Its all here folks...... CBR 900 93-95
http://www.cbr1100xx.org/newhome.html?mods...on/index.html&2

Sweet, thanks.....



I found a MWO-003 on a '98 model...should fit though right? The doode says it is 12 3/4 in long from center to center on the bolt holes...anyone care to measure theirs? :cool:

That's the one.

The MWO-003 is the same shock I have. 12.5 inches center to center, and it's stock from a '93 model.

I'll take a spring.

Ok, looks like enough people to make it cost-effective. Now the question...do we go for Racetech's recommendation of 16.5kg, the stock 16.8, or something else?

Well I am in the 210lb class so 16.5 I guess.

How big is Swampnut since he is bottoming out the 16.0?

I've only bottomed out the 16.0 a few times, and each time was 2-up, and loaded with luggage.

I say the 16.5 is the way to go. Stronger for the loaded times, but optimal for solo canyon carving. :twisted:

Count me in also........maybe.

Apparently I'm on the lighter side here. I weigh around 170, depending...... and rarely ride two up.

Would I be better off buying one of your guy's spring once you upgrade?
Any suggestions? I find the stock spring to be a little much, but then again, I don't want to bottom out during those few times that I do have a pillion.

Either way, I'll need a spring.

215#, plus the Beetle Bags. I'm not bottoming when I ride solo, but it's definitely too soft. With even a small passenger I can bottom it on hard turns.

Jason, you should run your numbers through the calculator on the RaceTech site and see what it recommends.

I ran my numbers through the racetech site. Per racetech, for my weight, the recomended spring is 16.5. Further down the list, I find that racetech considers the 16.8 spring ideal for a 170 lb. rider. When I started the calculations, I entered my weight as 180. Looks like there are some problems with their calculations.
Has anyone called racetech and asked for recomendations?

I am the same size plus GIVI setup.

Am I too late to get in on this? It still going down?

No, and yes. I plan to get on it next week, don't have time this week. We'll have to figure up the final commitments, get the cash together, then do the order.

I have a stock 900RR shock that was given to me. It is Yellow tho so will have to paint it but free none the less. Where refering to the "stocker" does that mean the stock Bird spring or the stock RR spring ? I am a light weight at 150 lbs and rarely ever ride two up. Can I use either the stock Bird or stock RR spring for my set-up ?

if the order hasn't already been placed then count me also if the spring rate will work for a 180 lb solo. will they ship them out seperately to different addresses?
cheers andrew

If you still havn't ordered these Carlos, I'm interested, although I'll have to find the shock too...

I was wondering if the stock bird spring would fit the RR shock. The stock bird spring is more than 16KG, right? Or is the spring a different dia? Anyone persued the 954/929 shock swap yet? probably need a new lower link for that swap though, the shock is a different length.