New bike or shock rebuild?

[T0MMY]

I'm in two minds whether to get a new trackbike or chuck some cash at my ZX6R G2 for this season as I feel like I've slightly outgrown it now, handling wise. It's running a standard rear shock at the moment with 20,000 miles on it so would probably benefit from an upgrade.

My options are to either get a replacement (e.g. Nitron) which will be at least £300 or get the current one rebuilt and set up for my weight and riding style which should be less than half that.

Will I see a much greater benefit with an upgraded shock or is a rebuild worthwhile? Does anyone know the best people to use?

Alternatively I cut my losses...sell the ZX6R for about £900 and chuck in some extra cash to get something slightly more capable...maybe a 750 SRAD?
____________________
ZX6R + CBR600RR

[Fizzer Thou]

A friend recently had very good service from these people

https://www.k-tech.uk.com/roadrace.php

They gave him some good advice,asked him how he rides and they suggested that a rebuild of his standard rear shock and front forks would be sufficient.They could quite easily have said that he needed a new mega-expensive shock absorber that would have made them lots of profit,but they were genuine enough to say that a rebuild would be okay.

Initially he only wanted the rear shock rebuilt,but after having had this done he found that the forks were inadequate by comparison with the uprated performance of the rear.New springs,oil and bushes/seals later,his forks were back in place and he feels like he has spent thousands whereas in reality it came to less than £300.
____________________
Just talk bikes.What else is there?

Always have a 'Plan B'

[T0MMY]

Was that £300 in total for both ends? That is a bit of a bargain I reckon. Was that a rebuild to standard spec or a revalve set up to his weight and riding style?

Actually, don't worry, I can ask them tomorrow when I give them a call
____________________
ZX6R + CBR600RR

[evoboy]

I slung a shock from a newer zx6 into my J1 then had it setup by K-tech.

Handled very well, even with the Renthal bar setup i had on it.

What have you done to the bike so far? Or is it a standard G model?
____________________
Suzuki GT250 x7------- Fazer 600------CB250RS------Aprilia Rally 70----- Bandit 600

APT Motorcycles

[T0MMY]

It's pretty much standard. Braided lines, DOT5 fluid and track compound pads (forget the make but they're absolutely brilliant) and it's downgeared. Handling wise I've dropped the yokes 10mm, got new fork oil in and done much fiddling with the suspension settings on track. I also run race scrubs on it in a steeper profile than standard. I think it's as good as it's going to get without spending some cash. Only other free thing to do is jack the back end up as it has a ride height adjuster so I'll add 10mm there too I think.

Main problems are braking stability and wallowy rear suspension but it's not that bad, sort of mid-fast group pace but I do feel like I'm on the ragged edge to keep up. I've gone out with instructors a couple of times and both have said exactly the same thing...that I shouldn't try to push it any harder in the corners or I will come a cropper. This is why I want to improve it or replace it as I feel like I'm having to hold back a bit now.

I was wondering if a shock from a later model would fit but having trouble finding out from google. I think the J model shock is a bit shorter but maybe not a problem if I can jack it up. Was the replacement shock on yours a stright swap?
____________________
ZX6R + CBR600RR

[Fizzer Thou]

If the front is already dropped by 10mm then adding 10mm at the rear shock will move the CoG even further forward,increasing the rear end being 'wallowy' and instability of braking really hard on the front,feeling like it is going to tuck under at any time.

Start by decreasing the amount dropped at the front to 6mm,increase preload by a few turns and increase rear ride height by 5mm at the shock,which will increase the rear by about 25mm.This should make your CoG more central.If you were to increase the rear by 10mm at the shock,this would increase the rear ride height by about 40mm,causing the back wheel to spin up coming out of corners.

As for the damper adjuster,go back to standard clicker settings and set that as your default.Adjust the rebound clicker first,as this has some affect on your compression.Try 3 clicks up/+ from default first,then you will feel if you are going in the right direction for further adjustments.If you feel that the ride is better,try 3 more.This way,you will feel the differance more immediately instead of +1 everytime.Then,if you feel that it has gone past what you feel is the optimum,go back 3 clicks and see how this feels.Keep a note of each adjustment and how good/bad/worse it feels everytime.
Once happy with the rebound,turn your attention to the compression clickers and do the same there.

Of course,all of these adjustments are worthless if the SAG has not been adjusted first,but I am assuming that you have checked this already (25mm for track,30-35mm for the road).
____________________
Just talk bikes.What else is there?

Always have a 'Plan B'

[T0MMY]

The braking stability has improved with my body position as I think I was too far forward in preparation for corner entry and was pulling unintentional stoppies so there might still be some improvement to come there. I also keep popping fork seals (fork legs are fine by the way)! But yes, I was thinking if I added more ride height I would raise the yokes up a bit again...see how it feels really but the rear seems more sensible to adjust to get more ground clearance. I will start with your suggestions and then work from there

The sag is correct (luckily, as the preload adjuster on the rear is seized solid) and I'm fairly confident I've already found the best rebound and compression settings with a lot of trial and error on track, plus some input from instructors. I started from stock and it's considerably better now, the rear used to pogo around and slide pretty spectacularly coming out of corners...haven't been able to find a better set up with further twiddling.

If I change the ride height I will have another tinker but I think I have quite a good feel for what the bike is doing underneath me and thus for setting it up. The problem is I think I'm getting the best out of the current suspension that I can...it's just not got enough damping anymore maybe?
____________________
ZX6R + CBR600RR

[evoboy]

I ran about 10mm drop on the front and some 10mm jack up on the adjuster at the back. All the zx6 shock from G onwards seem to be the same length. The standard shock is a bit naff.

J model shock is the same as the G.

Cant remember what i did to the forks on mine. Think i reduced the air gap a bit....cant remember how much by though! ( im 17st aswell).

Round Silverstone in the fast group, it used to get a drift on going through woodcote, throttle to the stopper in 3rd. Before i swapped the shock out from the standard one, going round Gerrards at Mallory, the shock used to get a bounce on and unsettle the bike completely. Changed the shock, sorted, planted. The bike never felt like i was pushing it beyond what it could do, but the tired old motor let it down. (63k)
____________________
Suzuki GT250 x7------- Fazer 600------CB250RS------Aprilia Rally 70----- Bandit 600

APT Motorcycles

[T0MMY]

Never done Mallory but I know Woodcote quite well. It's pretty planted through there, flat out on the thottle indicating 145 (I think that's the fastest corner of any track I do?). Feels like I could go a lot faster through there without pushing it but that's as much speed as I can reach accelerating flat out from the previous corner so it's a bit of a nothing corner although exhilarating just because it's so fast!

If your bike was out of shape through it either you're carrying a lot more speed from the previous corner than I can or my shock's not as worn out as your was...I'd rather it was the former as it would be better if my shock was knackered in terms of the improvement I'll see from a rebuild! What tyres were you running?
____________________
ZX6R + CBR600RR

[evoboy]

Supercorsa's.

My gearing was probably different to yours also as i still used the bike on the road. (-1 on the front).

A rebuild would probably help, but if its not squirming around when flat out cranked over, then getting it set up for your weight is about all you can really do without buying an upgraded shock.
____________________
Suzuki GT250 x7------- Fazer 600------CB250RS------Aprilia Rally 70----- Bandit 600

APT Motorcycles

[T0MMY]

It does squirm around, just not on that corner particularly. The quote I got from K-tech was cheap enough that it's a no brainer to go down that route so we'll see how it goes
____________________
ZX6R + CBR600RR