Old Guy
Expert Class
Posts: 470
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posted October 08, 2008 10:01 AM
Penske Shock & GP fork Mods + Dunlop RoadSmarts
Put the RoadSmarts on 1,300 miles ago. Did a 700+ mile backroad trip to break them in. Running 36psi out back and 34 up front. Ride very smooth with easier tip in compared to Pirellis. Comparable when leaned over, but dont like them as much at max lean. A little sketchy when pushed on edge but maintained control & traction.Which is fine as theses aint for track days!! In the wet They are much better than the Stradas. And the Stradas are a very good wet choice IMHO. I live in Western Washington and see alot of wet roads.
Man the Penske shock is worlds better than the stock junk. Mine was totally shot so it seems even better than I recall. Had Barry at GP suspension North here in the Seattle area redo my forks. I dont even have things dialed in yet and its worlds better!!! The feedback is great which will make dialing in that much better. The stock stuff seemed like it was hard to fine tune. Raising the 06's spring rates is a must. I'm only 175 lbs. at it was too light for my scrawny ass.
I've also raised the rear ride height 3/8ths" and dropped the forks just 1/4".
The roadSmarts helped lighten the turn in, this quickened it up much more!! Will try raising the forks back to stock for added ground clearance. I remove my lower fairings so they dont get ground off and still drag my pipe and ground the bottom of the oil sight glass on the right and the shifter,sidestand and radiator hose on the left side.
Might try raising the forks PAST stock and dial some more ride height into the shock for more cornering clearance. Need to check to see how this will affect rake & trail and rear suspension geometry etc..
I know most of you folks are serious drag racers, but a few of us like to tour commute and blaze around canyons and road tracks too. Big Red will never be a zx10 or gixxer, but those bikes cant do it all as well as the 14. Oh ok the gixxer 1000 is real close but it aint a 14 or busa, heheheh.
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Living the good life...,
On a XZ !!!!!
Tsukigi stainless full system
pcIII w/custom map
NO freakin flies!!
GP suspension forks
Penske rear shock
Rich's custom seat
And a whole bunch of other stuff.
97 zx6r full race bike with all the
good stuff
  
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warbird
Needs a job
Posts: 2739
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posted October 08, 2008 01:32 PM
Good deal Old Guy.................  Sorting the suspension makes an already well rounded bike that much better doesn't it? I always wondered what the bike mags would say if you handed them a 14 with the suspension sorted, fly's out with a good exhaust and some better tire's................  WHOLE nuther ballgame.............. 
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I'd Rather Be Roadracing.
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Old Guy
Expert Class
Posts: 470
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posted October 10, 2008 06:36 PM
One of the rags tested a 14 with Ivans doodad and really liked the low end boost.
They all complained about the 14s wallowing in turns and thought it took alittle too much effort to turn in and hold a line.
All of them liked the RoadSmarts. We will see what kind of mileage they deliver. I'm easy on tires for some reason. 15,000 miles split between the stockers, a set of Pirelli Corsa III's and a set of their Stradas. The Corsas did 7 or 8 track days plus a bunch of street miles
Now just to redo my seat, pegs and bars and I'll have a poor old guys BMW that rocks!!!
____________
Living the good life...,
On a XZ !!!!!
Tsukigi stainless full system
pcIII w/custom map
NO freakin flies!!
GP suspension forks
Penske rear shock
Rich's custom seat
And a whole bunch of other stuff.
97 zx6r full race bike with all the
good stuff
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SteveWFL
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted October 10, 2008 06:52 PM
great read, thanks!
the stock shock that came on my ZX14 I agree was "pure junk". And it couldn't be adjusted to anything other than fluff soft and/or spongy.
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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