Evo 1100 rear shock - possible upgrade? - Page 3

Luddite · 22-01-2021, 03:57 PM

Bet you can't wait, Paul! I think chris.p will agree with me here that this work will transform the enjoyment of your Evo. By the way, did you manage to order your shock with the bespoke spring you wanted or did you have to buy that separately?

A couple of tips for when you reinstall your forks.

Pushing the forks up through the yokes can scratch the gold anodising. If you have some old-style sprung wooden clothes pegs, pull a couple apart to use as wedges.

Push them into the yokes to open the clamps slightly and the forks will slide right in without touching the yokes. And being wood, they won't damage the finish on the yokes.

As for positioning the forks, it can be difficult to measure the distance shown on the workshop manual as the yokes get in the way. An alternative is to put some masking tape around the fork 195mm from the underside of the bottom yoke to the end of the top tube (where the rubber dust cover meets the gold).

Slide the forks back in and, when the tape touches the bottom yoke, you're there! Also, if you apply the tape to each fork side by side, you can ensure they're both identical do they'll be exactly level when you reinstall them.

bigredduke · 22-01-2021, 08:37 PM

Excellent tips there Vince! much appreciated. I have some plastic window-fitting wedges available, they should do the trick for opening up the fork yokes. Measuring from the bottom of the fork seems easier than to the top so I will try that approach thank you.

James asked Ohlins about the rear shock spring and apparently the 115nm standard spring will be ok for my bulk so he has ordered that one.

It will be interesting to assess the difference once the bike is properly set up. Assuming of course that I am capable of doing so! *

*Assessing the difference, that is, not setting it up.

Omar · 23-01-2021, 10:58 AM

Thanks for that Luddite, as my forks will be coming out, useful tips for me too.

Luddite · 23-01-2021, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omar

Thanks for that Luddite, as my forks will be coming out, useful tips for me too.

One more tip if you're planning to strip the forks yourself, (rather than send them away), is to loosen the top caps while the forks are still clamped in the yokes - much easier than trying to undo them on loose forks.

slob · 23-01-2021, 12:41 PM

Leave them clamped up in the bottom yoke, leaving the tubes squeezed by the top yoke around the cap isn’t always helpful.

chris.p · 23-01-2021, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slob

Leave them clamped up in the bottom yoke, leaving the tubes squeezed by the top yoke around the cap isn’t always helpful.

I was just going to say the same thing myself

Luddite · 23-01-2021, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slob

Leave them clamped up in the bottom yoke, leaving the tubes squeezed by the top yoke around the cap isn’t always helpful.

Good point, well made!

bigredduke · 19-03-2021, 08:19 PM

Picked up my upgraded forks yesterday & spent today refitting them:

New KTech valves, springs, oil & compression damping adjusters. Interestingly, James had to have some collars machined for the top of the springs to stop them rattling around in the caps as the KTech springs are apparently a smaller diameter than the standard springs.

Just waiting for my new Ohlins rear shock to arrive from Sweden now!

Shout out to James @ JRW suspension in Louth, Lincolnshire.

Thanks to Chris.P for the KTech spring information (they are actually CBR 600 springs, not listed on the KTech website for the Evo).

Thanks to Vince (Luddite) for the measuring & clothes peg tips, they were really helpful.
Measuring accurately from the top of the forks to the bottom yoke is nigh on impossible!

Once I have fitted the rear shock, I will pop over to JRW to get the bike set up properly pour moi.

In any event the bike won't be back on the road before April, it's still far too cold for my old bones!

Luddite · 19-03-2021, 09:06 PM

Great news BRD! Bet you can't wait for the shock and to try it out.

Interesting what you say about the fork springs - I originally had the same ones as Chris.p, (and so the same as yours too), but I subsequently changed them for softer 7.5N/mm Maxtons. Crawsue bought my K-Tech springs and told me that he had had to have some work done to the fork tops to accommodate them and I'd assumed that the springs were too large but it seems the opposite was true.

Do keep us informed.

Luddite · 19-03-2021, 09:21 PM

PS don't you just love the positive clicks you get with the K-Tech damping adjusters? Much more confidence inspiring than the OE ones, which don't feel as if they do anything, no matter how much you twiddle them.

Luddite · 19-03-2021, 09:42 PM

PPS did you contact Chris about those Desmoworld frame plugs in the end?

bigredduke · 19-03-2021, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luddite

PS don't you just love the positive clicks you get with the K-Tech damping adjusters? Much more confidence inspiring than the OE ones, which don't feel as if they do anything, no matter how much you twiddle them.

Not twiddled yet! I will leave them be until I take it out for a run

bigredduke · 19-03-2021, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luddite

PPS did you contact Chris about those Desmoworld frame plugs in the end?

Not yet, I don't need a full set because I have crash bungs fitted where the front ones would go but I do want to get rid of the OEM ones, they are horrible.

Luddite · 19-03-2021, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigredduke

Not yet, I don't need a full set because I have crash bungs fitted where the front ones would go but I do want to get rid of the OEM ones, they are horrible.

Noted. Since those Desmoworld plugs are their own design and made for/by them, Chris might be able to do you a custom order.

bigredduke · 19-03-2021, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luddite

Noted. Since those Desmoworld plugs are their own design and made for/by them, Chris might be able to do you a custom order.

Good point. I will contact him next week

22-01-2021, 08:37 PM	#32
bigredduke Nothing to see here Join Date: May 2005 Location: brough Bike: M1100evo Posts: 1,550	Excellent tips there Vince! much appreciated. I have some plastic window-fitting wedges available, they should do the trick for opening up the fork yokes. Measuring from the bottom of the fork seems easier than to the top so I will try that approach thank you. James asked Ohlins about the rear shock spring and apparently the 115nm standard spring will be ok for my bulk so he has ordered that one. It will be interesting to assess the difference once the bike is properly set up. Assuming of course that I am capable of doing so! * Assessing the difference, that is, not setting it up. Last edited by bigredduke; 22-01-2021 at 10:18 PM.. Reason: addition*

19-03-2021, 08:19 PM	#38
bigredduke Nothing to see here Join Date: May 2005 Location: brough Bike: M1100evo Posts: 1,550	Picked up my upgraded forks yesterday & spent today refitting them: New KTech valves, springs, oil & compression damping adjusters. Interestingly, James had to have some collars machined for the top of the springs to stop them rattling around in the caps as the KTech springs are apparently a smaller diameter than the standard springs. Just waiting for my new Ohlins rear shock to arrive from Sweden now! Shout out to James @ JRW suspension in Louth, Lincolnshire. Thanks to Chris.P for the KTech spring information (they are actually CBR 600 springs, not listed on the KTech website for the Evo). Thanks to Vince (Luddite) for the measuring & clothes peg tips, they were really helpful. Measuring accurately from the top of the forks to the bottom yoke is nigh on impossible! Once I have fitted the rear shock, I will pop over to JRW to get the bike set up properly pour moi. In any event the bike won't be back on the road before April, it's still far too cold for my old bones! Last edited by bigredduke; 19-03-2021 at 08:23 PM..

22-01-2021, 03:57 PM	#31
Luddite Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Southampton Bike: M1100evo Posts: 2,465	Bet you can't wait, Paul! I think chris.p will agree with me here that this work will transform the enjoyment of your Evo. By the way, did you manage to order your shock with the bespoke spring you wanted or did you have to buy that separately? A couple of tips for when you reinstall your forks. Pushing the forks up through the yokes can scratch the gold anodising. If you have some old-style sprung wooden clothes pegs, pull a couple apart to use as wedges. Push them into the yokes to open the clamps slightly and the forks will slide right in without touching the yokes. And being wood, they won't damage the finish on the yokes. As for positioning the forks, it can be difficult to measure the distance shown on the workshop manual as the yokes get in the way. An alternative is to put some masking tape around the fork 195mm from the underside of the bottom yoke to the end of the top tube (where the rubber dust cover meets the gold). Slide the forks back in and, when the tape touches the bottom yoke, you're there! Also, if you apply the tape to each fork side by side, you can ensure they're both identical do they'll be exactly level when you reinstall them.

23-01-2021, 10:58 AM	#33
Omar Registered User Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: grimsby Bike: M1100evo Posts: 95	Thanks for that Luddite, as my forks will be coming out, useful tips for me too.

23-01-2021, 12:41 PM	#35
slob . Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: East London Bike: Multiple Monsters Posts: 9,736	Leave them clamped up in the bottom yoke, leaving the tubes squeezed by the top yoke around the cap isn’t always helpful.

19-03-2021, 09:06 PM	#39
Luddite Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Southampton Bike: M1100evo Posts: 2,465	Great news BRD! Bet you can't wait for the shock and to try it out. Interesting what you say about the fork springs - I originally had the same ones as Chris.p, (and so the same as yours too), but I subsequently changed them for softer 7.5N/mm Maxtons. Crawsue bought my K-Tech springs and told me that he had had to have some work done to the fork tops to accommodate them and I'd assumed that the springs were too large but it seems the opposite was true. Do keep us informed.

19-03-2021, 09:21 PM	#40
Luddite Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Southampton Bike: M1100evo Posts: 2,465	PS don't you just love the positive clicks you get with the K-Tech damping adjusters? Much more confidence inspiring than the OE ones, which don't feel as if they do anything, no matter how much you twiddle them.

19-03-2021, 09:42 PM	#41
Luddite Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Southampton Bike: M1100evo Posts: 2,465	PPS did you contact Chris about those Desmoworld frame plugs in the end?