Need help with fork springs/suspension

[Costas]

I have a 04 zx10r that I ride pretty hard on the streets and will be doing some TD's once I get rid of my old bike and get some new goodies for this one. I was advised that due to my weight (130 lbs) I should switch out the fork springs for something with a lower rate, plus my right side fork is leaking right now so I figure I might as well do this while a shop has them apart. The stock fork spring rate is 1.000kg/mm, and this is what I got from racetech's website after punching in my weight:

Recommended Fork Spring Rate for Street: 0.838 kg/mm (use closest available)
Recommended Fork Spring Rate for Racing: 0.903 kg/mm (use closest available)

They come in 0.85 kg/mm and 0.90 kg/mm, which ones do you guys recommend I should go with? Granted either of the two will be an improvement over stock, just wondering what you guys input is on this. I already got the bike tuned at Motorcycles Unlimited to my weight, and it was a drastic difference over the stock setup, felt a lot more similar to my 636 afterwards. Although it feels pretty good as is right now, it still feels like the bike is trying to buck me off if I push it too hard, but then again the forks have been leaking for a while and I wonder if the unstable feel is a result of low fork fluid.

And one more question.. is it worth revalving it? A couple people told me not to worry about it, others said it's the same concept as switching out the sprockets along with a new chain, but I'm a suspension noob so I dunno. And one last thing to keep in mind.. the guy that did my suspension said he got the front end pretty close to where it needs to be, and that I should invest in getting an aftermarket rear shock instead. With that said, would I even notice a difference from respringing/revalving the front end or should I just keep fix it and keep it as is?

edit: didn't know if i should post this question in here or racers lounge, hopefully the racers see it in here

[delacampos]

Motorcycles Unlimited re-valved and re-sprung my forks with Race Tech internals. I weigh about 135-140 and they installed the 0.85's. worth every penny.

[Costas]

How noticeable was the difference from stock?

[lisiecki1]

If you're confident you won't be gaining any large amount of weight I'd go with the .85's....

[delacampos]

Originally Posted by Costas

How noticeable was the difference from stock?

night and day difference. although i'm curious to see how it's gonna ride now that Motorcycles Unlimited changed my spring out on my Ohlins shock to a lower spring rate this past weekend. the rear was too stiff and i'm sure that had an effect on the front. we shall see...

[Costas]

Originally Posted by lisiecki1

If you're confident you won't be gaining any large amount of weight I'd go with the .85's....

Yeah I've been 130 for a couple years now lol, I'm a pretty small dude

Originally Posted by delacampos

night and day difference. although i'm curious to see how it's gonna ride now that Motorcycles Unlimited changed my spring out on my Ohlins shock to a lower spring rate this past weekend. the rear was too stiff and i'm sure that had an effect on the front. we shall see...

Dang... ohlins rear, too baller lol. I'll have to pick one up if I ever come across a good deal on a used one. Did you use both racetech springs and valves? I notice they got some good deals on kneedraggers.com for them, $100 for the springs, $160 for the racetech valves + s/h. Time to bust out my credit card tonight! Guess I'll go with the 0.85 springs because it's somewhere in the middle between the automated calculations on their website.

[Hooligan]

130 is a bit on the light side, good choice in upgrading springs to fit your body. It's going to make a halluva difference.

[delacampos]

yes on the springs and valves. Call Patrick and get a price first. From what i saw, he pretty much matched the best prices i could find. You plan on installing yourself?

[Costas]

I looked at a tutorial online and it seems they were using tools I don't have access to. I'm gonna be buying a fork front stand soon so I can use that to get the front forks off and just drop everything off at Motorcycles Unlimited. I need to get stands anyways so I can pickup warmers soon so might as well do it all at once and pay a little extra for the stand. Can't wait to have everything ready!

[delacampos]

a lot easier if you just dropped the bike off that way they can set up the suspension once the forks are done though. probably cheaper as a package deal too.

[Costas]

I would but I live out in Sugar Land.. don't know if anyone is willing to give me a ride there and back two times. If I spend $100~ish on a front stand, might as well pay a bit extra and get one for the forks. I can always sell it and get my money back, but can't get money back for labor lol. I'll have to talk to Patrick though and see what kinda deal he can work out with me.

[SecretAgent]

i can give u a ride back both times, i need to go up there and order some new rear shocks for the harley anyways. hit me up.

[delacampos]

Originally Posted by Costas

I would but I live out in Sugar Land.. don't know if anyone is willing to give me a ride there and back two times. If I spend $100~ish on a front stand, might as well pay a bit extra and get one for the forks. I can always sell it and get my money back, but can't get money back for labor lol. I'll have to talk to Patrick though and see what kinda deal he can work out with me.

... i live almost 3 hours away from Motorcycles Unlimited! it's worth the drive, trust me.

[Costas]

Originally Posted by delacampos

... i live almost 3 hours away from Motorcycles Unlimited! it's worth the drive, trust me.

Good lord.. 3 hours i planned on just leaving the bike at my friends house, i don't have a rear stand yet and was gonna have him install new chain and sprockets and the 1/5th throttle mod while Motorcycles Unlimited takes care of the forks, we'll see. Thanks for all the advice so far

[lisiecki1]

Originally Posted by Costas

I looked at a tutorial online and it seems they were using tools I don't have access to. I'm gonna be buying a fork front stand soon so I can use that to get the front forks off and just drop everything off at Motorcycles Unlimited. I need to get stands anyways so I can pickup warmers soon so might as well do it all at once and pay a little extra for the stand. Can't wait to have everything ready!

a fork stand won't help you, you need a head stand to remove the forks

[v4lu3s]

when you say 130....is that you naked or is that you in full gear? I would use fully geared weight to calculate the springs you need.

[Costas]

Originally Posted by lisiecki1

a fork stand won't help you, you need a head stand to remove the forks

sorry didn't mean fork stand, it was the pitbul newfront stand i had in mind.

Originally Posted by v4lu3s

when you say 130....is that you naked or is that you in full gear? I would use fully geared weight to calculate the springs you need.

that's without gear, although the online calculator asks for weight before gear.

[lisiecki1]

Originally Posted by Costas

sorry didn't mean fork stand, it was the pitbul newfront stand i had in mind.

the cool thing about the pitbull is that they sell an attachment for thier fork stand that converts it to a head stand.

[07SLVRCBR]

do .85 in one side and .90 in the other

[Costas]

so i talked to jim at raceworx, he told me if i make such a drastic change in the front springs, it'll mess up the balance of the bike resulting in me having to get an aftermarket rear shock to be even with the front. any of the guys in here that just replaced the front springs notice a "unbalanced" feel after doing so?