OP
nampus
top rider
Spring is back from the coaters:
Hope to swap the shock back this Saturday
Hope to swap the shock back this Saturday
Dutch Vitpilen 701
- Thread starter nampus
- Start date
Wanderer
expert rider
nampus, your shock is looking new, did the shop give it a good polish up and rebuild.? Which bike was it off originally .?
I am finding the stock shock quite harsh on slow speed corrugations an bumps, have taken the setting out to the comfort listed setting, but not noticed much difference...
I am finding the stock shock quite harsh on slow speed corrugations an bumps, have taken the setting out to the comfort listed setting, but not noticed much difference...
Max Kool
pro rider
The rear feels very harsh, regardless of the setting. I have the feeling it has way too much rebound (at least mine, even on 20 clicks out it easily takes over a second to fully extend), and as a result rides in the end of the stroke most of the time. And yes, it feels very harsh.
I tried it on sport setting which makes it even worse, and if you open the rebound up further, over 23 clicks mine starts to weep fluid around the adjuster.
OP
nampus
top rider
The shock is from a 2014 KTM Duke 690R
It is definitely not new, it looks good in the pictures, but definitely has some marks when you look at it from up close.
The stock shock is a pretty useless piece of sh*t as soon as you have a bit of sporty riding style.
The fact a 6 year old shock with a spring that's to soft with who knows how many miles on it was a very noticeable enormous improvent over a shock with 6000km's on it says enough.
@Max Kool I noticed my stock shock weeps from the rebound adjuster too.
Like I said, pretty useless.
It is definitely not new, it looks good in the pictures, but definitely has some marks when you look at it from up close.
The stock shock is a pretty useless piece of sh*t as soon as you have a bit of sporty riding style.
The fact a 6 year old shock with a spring that's to soft with who knows how many miles on it was a very noticeable enormous improvent over a shock with 6000km's on it says enough.
@Max Kool I noticed my stock shock weeps from the rebound adjuster too.
Like I said, pretty useless.
Max Kool
pro rider
Yeah, I need an upgrade too@Max Kool I noticed my stock shock weeps from the rebound adjuster too.
Like I said, pretty useless.
Wanderer
expert rider
Ok good to know I'm not imagining the harshness and think it needs improving, 
sums it up quite well, KTM/Husqvarna seem to have cheeped out in some areas on these bikes, and it seems to be good a devouring good quantities of money 
sums it up quite well, KTM/Husqvarna seem to have cheeped out in some areas on these bikes, and it seems to be good a devouring good quantities of money MoeZambeek
fast rider
I find it quite harsh at lower speeds but it seems to smooth out a bit at higher speeds, relatively, though I’d agree it’s really poor on bad surfaces. I find the forks too harsh on compression.
But - I come from a series of long-legged supermotos and then adventure type bikes, so I was putting it down to it just being the way sports bikes are. I do miss that long travel suspension on city roads.
But - I come from a series of long-legged supermotos and then adventure type bikes, so I was putting it down to it just being the way sports bikes are. I do miss that long travel suspension on city roads.
OP
nampus
top rider
Shock is back in the bike. Preload is set, all the settings have been written down.
Max Kool
pro rider
And snow is falling? 
OP
nampus
top rider
Not where I am. I'm in Zeeland, snow was in Limburg.And snow is falling?
But I don't think I'll be riding before March.
Roads are still full of wet leaves, mud and salt, and it's too cold to ride now anyway.
Wanderer
expert rider
nampus, that's definitely stay inside and off the roads weather...
Here we have a heat wave coming through from Australia this week, up to 34c in some places, 29c where I am, booked in for my first service tomorrow, Tuesday my time, a 50km ride to my dealer through nice country back roads each way
Here we have a heat wave coming through from Australia this week, up to 34c in some places, 29c where I am, booked in for my first service tomorrow, Tuesday my time, a 50km ride to my dealer through nice country back roads each way
OP
nampus
top rider
I would love a heatwavenampus, that's definitely stay inside and off the roads weather...
Here we have a heat wave coming through from Australia this week, up to 34c in some places, 29c where I am, booked in for my first service tomorrow, Tuesday my time, a 50km ride to my dealer through nice country back roads each way
can't wait to go riding again!
Max Kool
pro rider
Our local Highway Patrol posted a few pics this weekend (taken last Saturday).
Elevation at this point is only 400ft above sea level...
Elevation at this point is only 400ft above sea level...
OP
nampus
top rider
FredFrenzy
fast rider
Max Kool
pro rider
CHP West Valley's social media posts have been on point lately. I hate the fact that they fine me every now and then, but they're not bad people.
Wanderer
expert rider
Thats the opposite side of the temp scale to me 
. Out from home at 7am, about 14c, rode for a hour in the country back roads to my dealer, first service from 8am to 9.30am, left them about 10, went for more country riding before going home, 12 noon made it home as the temp went north of 25c, by mid afternoon my workshop was showing 32c... Suppose to be hotter tomorrow and Thursday...
I know some places are into high 30s and even 40s, 100f +, but humid here makes it worse than some hotter places, I sure don't like putting all my gear on when its north of high 20s, and also won't ride without full gear...
Back in the early/mid 70s, riding Kawasaki 500 H1, and H2, and Z1, without much gear, the thoughts now are scary
. Out from home at 7am, about 14c, rode for a hour in the country back roads to my dealer, first service from 8am to 9.30am, left them about 10, went for more country riding before going home, 12 noon made it home as the temp went north of 25c, by mid afternoon my workshop was showing 32c... Suppose to be hotter tomorrow and Thursday...I know some places are into high 30s and even 40s, 100f +, but humid here makes it worse than some hotter places, I sure don't like putting all my gear on when its north of high 20s, and also won't ride without full gear...
Back in the early/mid 70s, riding Kawasaki 500 H1, and H2, and Z1, without much gear, the thoughts now are scary
OP
nampus
top rider
Lucky bugger!Thats the opposite side of the temp scale to me
I know some places are into high 30s and even 40s, 100f +, but humid here makes it worse than some hotter places, I sure don't like putting all my gear on when its north of high 20s, and also won't ride without full gear...
Back in the early/mid 70s, riding Kawasaki 500 H1, and H2, and Z1, without much gear, the thoughts now are scary
I've bought a ventilated pants and jacket last year (Rev'it Airwave 2) can't recommend it enough for hot days! It's like riding in your underwear but still protected!
And if it gets really hot, get yourself a cooling vest or dunk your shirt in water before you go riding. It's like having aircon
Wanderer
expert rider
My dealer has been trying to fit me into a Rev'it mesh summer jacket for maybe the last 3 summers, I have a couple of different Rev'it sets of gear, but that's for the other 3 seasons, and in the summer I tend to wear Dainese Leather jacket, have matching pants, but ever since I bought a pair of RST Camo cloth cargo pants with the armour and kevlar stuff I seem to prefer wearing those, maybe oneday I will try out a mesh job, but having said that, I just try to keep out of the worst of the heat, rather the other 3 seasons for more riding, even winter is good riding where I am, in the northern part of New Zealand.
The seasons roll by quite quickly, soon you will have spring, we Autumn
The seasons roll by quite quickly, soon you will have spring, we Autumn
OP
nampus
top rider
Well thanks to climate change I was ice skating on a frozen pond last weekend with - 5 °C and the whole country was covered in snow.
This week saw a lot of rain and temperatures shot up to 17°C yesterday and today! Allmost all the snow is gone and the rain washed the salt of the roads, so today I did a little over 150km on the new suspension
Even though it has stiffer springs up front and in the rear the bike is more comfortable now
The bike absorbs bumps and ridges a lot more than it did before. It's more stable, less erratic.
It just does what it's supposed to do.
Very happy!
This week saw a lot of rain and temperatures shot up to 17°C yesterday and today! Allmost all the snow is gone and the rain washed the salt of the roads, so today I did a little over 150km on the new suspension
Even though it has stiffer springs up front and in the rear the bike is more comfortable now
The bike absorbs bumps and ridges a lot more than it did before. It's more stable, less erratic.
It just does what it's supposed to do.
Very happy!