Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

i gets ya

esie wrote:So, I got some quotes to get the suspension done on my '09 Z1000. I am REALLY unhappy with it out on the road, especially last week when I was heading over the Up and Down racetrack (also known as the Mt Lindsay H'way twisties). It was skittering through the corners, felt really vague, and I just had no confidence in it. Anyway, I rang MPE Suspension at Beerwah, about $2850 and Suspension Improvements at Slacks Creek, abut $2300, both for front and rear complete overhaul. Apparently the Z1000 suspension completely needs to be replaced. Is this a fair price?

My 05 Z handled like a bucket of shit when I first bought it and i read all the advice about upgrades to improve it's handling but, after putting a new set of tyres on it and spending some time adjusting the original suspension it is vastly improved on what it was. Interesting that you mentioned the Mt Lindsay H'way because it was one road that originally put the bike way out of shape but after setting it up correctly it's no longer a problem. I'm just saying that it costs nothing to do some adjustments to the gear you've got and you may be surprised at the results. And i might not be the fastest rider around but my tires are scrubbed to the edges and i haven't unsettled the bike yet so, unless you rider harder than i do you should be able to set the bike up pretty nicely without wasting any money.

The suspension was my biggest gripe with my 08 zed, I found that playing with the setteings and a different set of tyres inspired more confidence however at the end of the day its bargain basement gear so the zed stays as my commuter ad I bought a second bike with better supension.

So, I have bitten the bullet. My Z1000 went into Suspension Improvements at Slacks Creek today to have the forks done. Unfortunately the rear can't be done until mid to late January because the parts won't be here until then. Due to the cost, and as we are wanting to renovate the house, I have been procrastinating about having the work done for ages. Then, after a bit of a chat with Jeff and a couple of others, I realised that as the bike was just sitting in the garage, and I had very little desire to ride it, it was just becoming a big white elephant. So, I think this will make all the difference!

Hey Esie, did you ever talk to Julian ?.... You may well have saved yourself a lot of dosh if you had.

Good luck with it Anne, look forward to a review!

Cheers
Matt

In this forum under general tech & performance talk there is a thread right at the top that tells you, (in quite a lengthy but thorough disertation) how to set up your suspension.

esie wrote:So, I have bitten the bullet. My Z1000 went into Suspension Improvements at Slacks Creek today to have the forks done. Unfortunately the rear can't be done until mid to late January because the parts won't be here until then. Due to the cost, and as we are wanting to renovate the house, I have been procrastinating about having the work done for ages. Then, after a bit of a chat with Jeff and a couple of others, I realised that as the bike was just sitting in the garage, and I had very little desire to ride it, it was just becoming a big white elephant. So, I think this will make all the difference!

Hay esie,

How did thing's go? Did you only get the front end done?....Was it costly and did you end up replacing the rear shock if so what with?

Well better late then never, My Z1000 has a 636 front set up and a stock rear shock (i have the 636 rear in shed, one day i will install it ) and i find this fine front shocks set reasonable stiff although i am 110kg suits me fine, ridden 160kms daily from the kurrajong down the putty all the way to City, works well.

Yes, I got the front end done just before Xmas. It has made a huge difference! . In the end, the front forks were rebuilt, and currently the original spring is still in as the Z has a heavier spring than most bikes, and Steve did something else with the back as well... Anyway, it is like riding a whole new bike! I have a hell of a lot more confidence in the bike again, it isn't trying to stand up in the corners, I am not bouncing around all over the place, and I am not getting the feedback of the road bumps through the throttle anymore. The back could still probably be improved somewhat, but I get off at home smiling!

Just thought I would add a little more to this thread ....I recently put a ZX14 rear shock in my '09 Z1000 and went straight in,was looking at an '08-'09 ZX10r shock but for reference will NOT fit in this model Z1000 as the reservoir sit's too high....

Got the chance to finally take the bike for a run on the weekend and feel's totally different ....I now know what dampening feel's like and am not bouncing around corner's, has mad the bike alot smoother.....Total cost $100 ...

Was tossing up between getting a set of 636 fork's from the US/Canada and getting them worked on but have decided to throw a few hundred at the stocker's for now (when I find the time and thank's to the road captian) as I think it will be more than enough for my riding abilitie's ....

Just thought I'd throw this in here to show there is cheaper option's than 2k+ to improve these babie's

So I finally got the $$$ together to do the rear suspension of the Z1000. I had installed a Wilbers hose mounted spring and shock (due to the limited space under the bike). What a difference! I took it out over Mt Nebo and Mt Mee the day after I got the bike back, and had a grin on my face the entire ride. I found the confidence in the corners that I had lost, as the rear of the bike had been so vague previously, and I could finally feel what the rear of the bike was doing. All in all, it was well worth the money!

esie wrote:So, I got some quotes to get the suspension done on my '09 Z1000. I am REALLY unhappy with it out on the road, especially last week when I was heading over the Up and Down racetrack (also known as the Mt Lindsay H'way twisties). It was skittering through the corners, felt really vague, and I just had no confidence in it. Anyway, I rang MPE Suspension at Beerwah, about $2850 and Suspension Improvements at Slacks Creek, abut $2300, both for front and rear complete overhaul. Apparently the Z1000 suspension completely needs to be replaced. Is this a fair price?

G'day, you would be crazy to just throw that sort of money at it, $2800 should buy you an Ohlins shock, pay for revalving it so it rides the bumps AND pay for a very good fork make over. Unless you are way above or below average weight ANY decent bike mechanic should be able to improve it via what is available standard, ANYTHING can be rebuilt its just a matter of finding someone who just isnt in it simply for the money. For example, 1098 Ducati base model, mate fits a $2000 shock to it to improve the ride, his theory not mine, result is $2000 out of pocket and WORSE RIDE, its about setting up what you have to perform at its best where YOU ride. You need to research research research, fiddle with all and any adjustments you have, read up on preload and what effect your settings have, try them all over various roads one at a time, make sure the standard spring rates are correct for your weight, make sure ride heights are adjusted correctly etc, you should be able to get it good without spending thousands.

Cheers,.