08 Rear Suspension Upgrade !!

Ok,

Well you all might have read about the fork upgrade to Ohlins springs in another thread I posted for my 08 ZX10.., and how much of a huge success it was. I am just annoyed that I didn't do it sooner, but it is a good learning curve though..

I have now replaced the stock rear shock with a Penske shock. Same spring weight (9.17) but with much more adjustment, ride height adjustable and better valving. I am sure that it has to be better than the stock one for sure. ..!! So it's been installed in the bike, ride height set as per standard, as I am used to that, and everything else set in the middle for a start. I cant wait to test it out on the 10th and 11th of Feb at the island. Just got to get the sag set first and I am off...

I have also done the new brake pads, got rid of the exhaust servo with a 'servo buddy' so now plenty of room for the power commander... and I am even thinking of getting rid of the air induction pump as well.. just to clean up that area.. I currently have a marble in the hose, but if I am not using any of this stuff it would work better if I got rid of it completely..

So the bike is looking and feeling really good so far.. next update will be onthe rear shock in a couple of weeks.. here are some pics of the install today... It fitted perfectly.. just had to make a few small adjustments to the reservoir holder, but apart from that it was a very easy install....

Macca...

Attachments

Penske 4.jpg (50.25 KiB) Viewed 1785 times

Penske 3.jpg (59.79 KiB) Viewed 1785 times

Penske 1.jpg (58.15 KiB) Viewed 1785 times

Penske 2.jpg (57.87 KiB) Viewed 1785 times

cool, I have one of those on my 10r. You could have bought it off me if I had know.

Have you had it re-valved and set up for you or have you just chucked it in and see where it gets you from there?

Hi Russ,

I have not had anything done to it yet, just made sure the spring was the correct weight for me, the rest will be trial and error..??

What are your thoughts on these shocks..?? They get a good write up.. must be a big step up from stock..?? I am just keen to keep trying stuff that helps me to go faster..

Macca

They are good, and you will find it better than stock but in saying that after alot of harassment from Zeno it will be replaced for a TTX when the bike is back up and running.

They are good but they do have their limits just like anything else. This one has seemed to reached it's limit in HI Lo speed dampening and rebound (or so I am told from the actions of the bike under power).

Again all confidence in them up to a certain point then I am hoping the Ohlins will be just a bit more responsive.

Let me know what you think after you have ridden on it for a bit.

Aha, I remember that shock/customer... haven't seen him in a while, I thought he sold the entire bike to IK? (OCAU)

PM sent to Zeno for more info..!!

Macca

would these fit on a first gen?? how would they go on the crim??

Just curious as I have a first get shock thats been revalved, resprung and had the piston changed as well and It feels pretty bloody good with every quarter turn making a considerable differnce.

Taj, the eye to eye length is exactly the same.. 338mm

This one I can only wind down to 335mm, but it goes up another 15mm (that would be at the extreme end of adjustment though)

You still looking to upgrade your rear shock..??

You getting worried I might be passing you too much..

Macca

would these fit on a first gen?? how would they go on the crim??

Just curious as I have a first get shock thats been revalved, resprung and had the piston changed as well and It feels pretty bloody good with every quarter turn making a considerable differnce.

ohlins is your friend...

would these fit on a first gen?? how would they go on the crim??

Just curious as I have a first get shock thats been revalved, resprung and had the piston changed as well and It feels pretty bloody good with every quarter turn making a considerable differnce.

ohlins is your friend...

No my Penske is

Call me

would these fit on a first gen?? how would they go on the crim??

Just curious as I have a first get shock thats been revalved, resprung and had the piston changed as well and It feels pretty bloody good with every quarter turn making a considerable differnce.

This shock was from a Gen. 1, I did the conversion for T-man's '08 in '08 - & 8981 were not made in 2008 anymore too btw.

1st gen. shock revalved, nothing wrong with that as such, but ANY membrane shock, regardless of how good it feels (and I done a few) has a shelf life - membranes are porous...

One of these or any 8983 would go fairly well on the Crim, but would need different insides, as the 2 machines have same shock dimensions, but move very differently to each other. Oil life and service times are a lot longer than any OEM shock too.

OK, back from a couple of days at the island testing this new rear shock...

All I can say is excellent..!! Did the sags immediately and it was already perfect, set up with slightly less sag than the stock one by 5mm, so I was happy with that. I set the rebound and compression exactly in the middle of the range and started off with that.

This shock felt perfect right from the start, less squatting, which I could feel especially when exiting turn 12. The bike is just feeling better every time. SInce changing the front fork springs to Ohlins, this has made the front feel way better than stock, and my times have continually dropped. Now the rear is even better, my times have dropped again.

The new rear shock has also changed the feeling in the front slightly, so I will just keep tweaking until I get the match right, (although I have been advised to top the fork oil up an extra 5mm) but I have to say that I am very happy with the results.

Macca

Noice noice Think ill look into a penske rear for my 09 soon aswell.. Its what Zeno highly recommended for it when i was down there getting my steering damper revalved ..