SuzukiSavage.com - A quick test ride

LANCER

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A quick test ride
07/26/17 at 10:22:07

Got REX out this morning for a quick test ride. It only lasted about 10 minutes but I got him up and down the paved road for a couple of miles.
He did run well. Yep. Idled fine and accelerated HARD. It was a HANG ON kind of ride. Yep.
Now I need to get the carb tuned up properly; should be even more fun then. Oh yea.

Something else too, the front forks have virtually no give in them. What did I do wrong when doing the upgrade ? It seemed straight forward during the process.

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« Last Edit: 07/26/17 at 13:17:49 by LANCER »

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Gary_in_NJ

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Re: A quick test ride
Reply #1 - 07/26/17 at 11:08:44

LANCER wrote on 07/26/17 at 10:22:07:
Something else too, the front forks have virtually no give in them. What did I do wrong when doing the upgrade ? I seemed straight forward during the process.

What rate springs did you install? What is your weight?
Which GVE spring did you use and at how many turns?
What is the air gap/oil height?
You did drill out the existing damping rod holes, right?

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LANCER

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Re: A quick test ride
Reply #2 - 07/26/17 at 13:16:02

Gary_in_NJ wrote on 07/26/17 at 11:08:44:

LANCER wrote on 07/26/17 at 10:22:07:
Something else too, the front forks have virtually no give in them. What did I do wrong when doing the upgrade ? I seemed straight forward during the process.

What rate springs did you install? What is your weight?
Which GVE spring did you use and at how many turns?
What is the air gap/oil height?
You did drill out the existing damping rod holes, right?

I set mine up just like yours, as you described in your instructions, but on the adjustable tops I'm not sure where that is set at.
I'm at 194 lbs.
Not sure about the air gap.
I put in the prescribed amount of oil for the LS650 forks.
Yep, drilled the holes.

I've never had a set of forks do this...well, except when I way over filled the sporty forks.

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Gary_in_NJ

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Re: A quick test ride
Reply #3 - 07/26/17 at 13:55:14

If you put in the LS amount of oil (around 15oz) you have WAY too much oil in the forks. Go back and read the instructions on this procedure. You want to have an air gap of 140mm. That is measured with the spring, spacer and GVE out and the fork compressed. If I had to guess it's probably only 9 or 10 ounces. With 15oz in there, and the GVE, you probably have close to a zero air gap.

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LS650 Cafe, DRZ400SM, FZ6N, SV650S, CB900C, Ducati ST2, CB550F-SS
My LS650=> http://suzukisavage.com/yabb2.2/Attachments/Left.JPG

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LANCER

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Re: A quick test ride
Reply #4 - 07/26/17 at 16:01:01

Gary_in_NJ wrote on 07/26/17 at 13:55:14:

If you put in the LS amount of oil (around 15oz) you have WAY too much oil in the forks. Go back and read the instructions on this procedure. You want to have an air gap of 140mm. That is measured with the spring, spacer and GVE out and the fork compressed. If I had to guess it's probably only 9 or 10 ounces. With 15oz in there, and the GVE, you probably have close to a zero air gap.

Thanks, I will check it tomorrow.

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Armen Serious Thumper Offline Half-Witted Wrench-Jockey from Jersey Posts: 1452	Re: A quick test ride Reply #5 - 07/26/17 at 18:29:04 Did you put in the light flywheel?
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ohiomoto Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 2775	Re: A quick test ride Reply #6 - 07/26/17 at 19:34:08 Armen wrote on 07/26/17 at 18:29:04: Did you put in the light flywheel? --------------- Good point! The lighter flywheel will make the forks feel stiffer. (Said the fat ass who lowered his forks and only has about 40mm of air gap.)
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LANCER

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Re: A quick test ride
Reply #7 - 07/27/17 at 04:51:19

Armen wrote on 07/26/17 at 18:29:04:

Did you put in the light flywheel?

Yes I did, and the engine seems to spin up really well, but the ride was really short and with the new piston in it I did not want to crank it really hard so more testing will be needed before I can get a good feel for the difference. But, I was really pleased with its initial performance.
Also, REX has the chain/sprocket on it vs. the stock belt, so the final gearing is just a bit over the stock gearing. I don't remember the exact numbers for it but it is the sprocket combo that puts it just above stock.
That said, it does not seem to hamper performance at all. I would expect a slight bump in acceleration if using the belt, with the lower gearing.

I will be heading out to the barn shortly to fix the fork oil level. I apparently slept through that part of the instructions as I was reading it.

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LANCER Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Savage Beast Performance Parts Posts: 10668 Oklahoma Gender:	Re: A quick test ride Reply #8 - 07/27/17 at 17:30:30 Well, I spent a few hours working on the forks but to no avail. I could not get the adjustable caps off the tubes. One would turn in the middle but would tighten on both ends. It was crazy. The other did not want to turn at all. When installed they went on without any issue. Makes me wonder if I dumped some adhesive in there.
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Gary_in_NJ

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Re: A quick test ride
Reply #9 - 07/27/17 at 19:04:37

It's best to crack open the fork caps when the tubes are tightly secured in the triple clamps. Once you get them moving by a 1/4 or 1/2 turn they can be removed. If the forks are already uninstalled from the T-clamps, then you can secure them in a vice with a non-marring pad to protect the chrome. Yes, remove the pre-load by raising the adjusters all the way up before trying to loosen the caps.

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LS650 Cafe, DRZ400SM, FZ6N, SV650S, CB900C, Ducati ST2, CB550F-SS
My LS650=> http://suzukisavage.com/yabb2.2/Attachments/Left.JPG

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LANCER

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Re: A quick test ride
Reply #10 - 07/28/17 at 03:50:03

Gary_in_NJ wrote on 07/27/17 at 19:04:37:

It's best to crack open the fork caps when the tubes are tightly secured in the triple clamps. Once you get them moving by a 1/4 or 1/2 turn they can be removed. If the forks are already uninstalled from the T-clamps, then you can secure them in a vice with a non-marring pad to protect the chrome. Yes, remove the pre-load by raising the adjusters all the way up before trying to loosen the caps.

The forks are still on the bike. I was able to get them moving, that was not the issue. One was so stiff that it only turned about 2 complete rounds. The other moved freely once it got going but then when it should be really loosening it gets hard to turn again and then stops turning.
I will try it again later today. It is my mama's birthday today, she is 89, and still quite active. Some of the guys met her and my step dad in May when here for a ride. She loved them all.
Anyway, after spending time with her today I will try again.

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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: A quick test ride Reply #11 - 07/28/17 at 07:17:59 Things that break loose, turn, then bind up scare me.
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LANCER Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Savage Beast Performance Parts Posts: 10668 Oklahoma Gender:	Re: A quick test ride Reply #12 - 07/28/17 at 07:31:46 justin_o_guy2 wrote on 07/28/17 at 07:17:59: Things that break loose, turn, then bind up scare me. Yep, it does make you wonder what is going on. When I next try it again I am going to leverage it a bit more and just go for it. We will find out what it is made of. I am tired of babying it.
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: A quick test ride Reply #13 - 07/28/17 at 07:39:05 Shouldn't be Dry in there, but I'd probably squirt oil at it and work it back and forth as I brought it out. Sure would sukk to gall threads.
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LANCER Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Savage Beast Performance Parts Posts: 10668 Oklahoma Gender:	Re: A quick test ride Reply #14 - 07/28/17 at 07:41:14 justin_o_guy2 wrote on 07/28/17 at 07:39:05: Shouldn't be Dry in there, but I'd probably squirt oil at it and work it back and forth as I brought it out. Sure would sukk to gall threads. Did that yesterday with WD40 & rust something; both several time over about 4 hours.
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