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Understanding suspension.
- mark1122
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I have a book by Kevin Cameron. in it he says that the old bikes where not able to go less than about 26* of rake without becoming unstable at speed on 100 hp bikes. I’m not exactly sure what he means by that. what does hp have to do with it , unless he means the added torque on corner exits? Then he says this was improved with the mono shock.
Does anyone have any good info on the transition from dual to mono shocks and why?
my bike now has a ZX9 front end and ZRX rear end. I have 26* of rake with the rear shocks laid down.
The bike rides ok but has too stiff a rear end. it will bump me off the seat on medium sized bumps.
When I take it to red line in 5th it is stable in a straight line. but if I hit a dip at say 80 miles/hr. it wobbles.
if I raise the shocks to a more vertical stock location the rear spring rate is better but the rake drops to 22.5*. I have not done much testing this way as yet.
76 KZ, frame gusset work,1200CC.Ported by Larry Cavanaugh, 1.5mm.over intakes, Carron Pipe, ZRX12 rear end, and seat,96zx9 front end.
01 CBR600F4i Track bike.
Cobourg, Ont. Can.
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- Kawickrice
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These are the ones I got just wondering if they are the same. Marzocci Strada is what I was told but am not 100% sure. Thats a good looking bike by the way
73 Kawasaki Z1
07 HD CVO Ultra Classic
82 Suzuki GS 1100
74 Yamaha RD 350 (My two stroke toy)
77 Kawasaki KZ 650B-1 (My putt around bike)
80 Indian Moped (My American Iron)
1
Long Gone
75 Suzuki GT550
74 GT 380
79 RD 400 Daytona Special
72 Honda CL 175
74 Honda QA 50
Tampa FL
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- 531blackbanshee
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leon holmes
skiatook,oklahoma 1980 z1r,1978 kz 1000 z1r x 3,
1976 kz 900 x 3
i make what i can,and save the rest!
billybiltit.blogspot.com/
www.kzrider.com/forum/5-chassis/325862-triple-tree-custom-work
kzrider.com/forum/5-chassis/294594-frame-bracing?limitstart=0
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- 1973Z
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- 650ed
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1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
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- mark1122
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i only have a wobble isue at lean. its kinda fun though:woohoo:
but safe , :laugh: .
I have an old steering damper. that will have to go on for sure. i need to have a tab welded on somewre first though.
Kawickrice those are nice looking shocks, how long are they?
76 KZ, frame gusset work,1200CC.Ported by Larry Cavanaugh, 1.5mm.over intakes, Carron Pipe, ZRX12 rear end, and seat,96zx9 front end.
01 CBR600F4i Track bike.
Cobourg, Ont. Can.
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- mark1122
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Did you have the wobble before you swapped swingarms? Swingarm bushings/bearings if not just right can contribute to this problem.
I don’t think so ED. but I never rode it hard with the stock arm. But it doesn’t show up unless I’m going pretty fast through a corner and hit a dip.
It has good bearings, unless the tolerance in the new sleeve I had made is too loose? I had to have a sleeve made to shim the kz swing arm bolt to fit the larger diam zrx bearings. Food for thought. I will have to jack it up and check for play.
Thanks.
76 KZ, frame gusset work,1200CC.Ported by Larry Cavanaugh, 1.5mm.over intakes, Carron Pipe, ZRX12 rear end, and seat,96zx9 front end.
01 CBR600F4i Track bike.
Cobourg, Ont. Can.
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- Kawickrice
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Kawickrice those are nice looking shocks, how long are they?
They are 14 inches eye to eye
73 Kawasaki Z1
07 HD CVO Ultra Classic
82 Suzuki GS 1100
74 Yamaha RD 350 (My two stroke toy)
77 Kawasaki KZ 650B-1 (My putt around bike)
80 Indian Moped (My American Iron)
1
Long Gone
75 Suzuki GT550
74 GT 380
79 RD 400 Daytona Special
72 Honda CL 175
74 Honda QA 50
Tampa FL
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- mark1122
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76 KZ, frame gusset work,1200CC.Ported by Larry Cavanaugh, 1.5mm.over intakes, Carron Pipe, ZRX12 rear end, and seat,96zx9 front end.
01 CBR600F4i Track bike.
Cobourg, Ont. Can.
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- mark1122
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i have some basics but would like more detail so i can improve my kz's handling.
I want to learn a little more about the old tube frames and suspension .
So far the theory is:
1. u need to stiffen the frame ,mostly in the neck and at the swing arm pivot.
2. more weight forward. Modern bikes are weighted 50/50 f/r to 54/46%.rakes are 22.5 to 24.5*. This puts more load on the front wheel and slows the steering, this then , allows u to quicken the steering with less rake.
3. longer travel twin suspension helps take load of the frame. I need to understand this 1 better. Some how the mono shock helped here.
why did they lay the top of the rear shock down a bit?? this would give them more clearance and a steeper rake.is there more to it han that? i found that this made my springs too stiff. if u lay them down and respring would u have to revalve?
76 KZ, frame gusset work,1200CC.Ported by Larry Cavanaugh, 1.5mm.over intakes, Carron Pipe, ZRX12 rear end, and seat,96zx9 front end.
01 CBR600F4i Track bike.
Cobourg, Ont. Can.
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- trianglelaguna
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really get your attention in fast sweepers and cause grave concerns and big fast get offs....my 19 with no dampner,no fork brace,and single disk,can track very well at 100....new springs new oil,air caps and correct profile tires also....the frame and bike were made for this type of front end....the early z racers had to run treaded fronts to track......just thoughts...mark1122 wrote:
anyone give me some insight on the transition from old school to new school, in regards to improving handling?
i have some basics but would like more detail so i can improve my kz's handling.
I want to learn a little more about the old tube frames and suspension .
So far the theory is:
1. u need to stiffen the frame ,mostly in the neck and at the swing arm pivot.
2. more weight forward. Modern bikes are weighted 50/50 f/r to 54/46%.rakes are 22.5 to 24.5*. This puts more load on the front wheel and slows the steering, this then , allows u to quicken the steering with less rake.
3. longer travel twin suspension helps take load of the frame. I need to understand this 1 better. Some how the mono shock helped here.
why did they lay the top of the rear shock down a bit?? this would give them more clearance and a steeper rake.is there more to it han that? i found that this made my springs too stiff. if u lay them down and respring would u have to revalve?
1976 KZ900
2003 ZX12R
2007 FZ1000
2004 ninja 250R for wife
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- trianglelaguna
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1976 KZ900
2003 ZX12R
2007 FZ1000
2004 ninja 250R for wife
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