Kitze2
Just got it firing!
- Joined
- Dec 14, 2009
- Messages
- 5
This saga was originally posted over on WG.
Thought it might be of interest here also
Little back ground.
I bought a 2010 V7 Cafe from MI in Dec. I bought it as a companion/replacement track bike for my SV650.
I also have an '08 Norge.
Previous to this thread I installed a Mistral pipe and cross over.
I also sent my forks off to Traxxion Dynamics to have theirr AK-20 cartridges installed.
After that...There is this...
So after much impatient waiting I've finally gotten my bike back in a ridable condition.
I guess I'll call this "Phase 1" as far as the mods go.
In my book the most important mods are suspension. So I started with
While the stock forks weren't horrible. There was certainly a lot of room for improvement.
I originally planned on installing some emulators. I've used 'em on several bikes in the past. And while they work pretty good they are still a damper rod set-up with all the inherent failings in the basic design. I toyed with making a new triple and installing the whole front end off a GSXR. That would have worked great. But it also would have been a total Frankenstein job. So from the aesthetics side that was out. So that brought me back to emulators. Somewhere I stumbled on a review of the ak-20 cartridges from Traxxion.
http://www.traxxion.com/AK-20AxxionCartridgeKit.aspx
Gave 'em a call..."No we don't have anything for Guzzi". "But" said the tech "send us your forks and info and we'll use 'em as a prototype" Sweet. So off they went along with all my personal riding info. Right out the gate there was a snag. Part of the install is modifying the fork caps to accept the adjusters. Well my caps were skeletonlized on the inside so there wasn't enough material to drill and tap for the cartridges. Well shot. I'd have to make new caps. And it would be pricey for a one off. But the tech said "Let me see if I can get the boss to make up several pairs for future use. We have a staff meeting tomorrow" Cool. He calls me back and sure enough they are gonna make a few sets. So my cost dropped dramatically.
Last Friday after 5 weeks I got the forks back. And they're cleaner then the day they were built. At 1st glance the look completely stock except for the sticker on the lower leg. Visible it upper photo. But a closer look shows those cool compression and rebound adjusters.
Stealthy.
So how do they work?
Compared to the OE setup they are infinitely better.
Excellent dampening under all conditions. Much better "feel" and control. The bike as a whole is much more composed with predictable handling. The only fly in the ointment are the springs. I spec'd out springs that are a wee bit too firm. But that's my screw up. Besides, I've got springs here anyways. Once that are swapped I'll be sittin' in tall cotton.
I can't say enough about Dan and Mike at Traxxion. They went above and beyond to help me get this done.
Unfortunately...Don't ask what it cost. As this was a prototype with a long turn around time (normal is about a week) I got the deal of the century. But the good news? They are now familiar with the Guzzi forks and can quickly do emulators or the full up AK-20 install without any hassle.
So much for the front...
With new fork guts on the horizon shocks became the next hit.
I looked at Ohlins but they have nothing for the V7 and no interest in 'em.
Penske was so impossible to deal with that they quickly dropped off the radar.
Bitubo has a nice Piggyback shock that should work. But after asking a few questions and getting completely incorrect info from the factory I ditched them.
So it was back to Ted about Wilbers. Imagine my shock when he told me that the 2010 application chart has my bike listed! After him confirming that they were in fact available I ordered those babies up. Now I like Wilbers, got one on the Norge, but they only had an emulsion type available. But I figured that based on my experience with the Norge that they would be adequate. The shocks showed up in a couple of weeks.
Like the Norge shock they are beautifully made. They work as well as the forks demand. Excellent dampening control and perfectly sprung. Plus as a bonus they are 10mm longer than stock. Perfect.
Other than the final tweaking the suspension is done. Oh yeah...I'm gonna lose the grab rail as soon as I get a chance to make some new fasteners.
Also installed a sump extender while I was waiting for the forks.
And installed some stickier rubber for the street. Ultimately I'll run the AN22 and 23s.
So...."Phase 2" begins next week.
The powercommander and auto tune should be here this week.
Decided to upgrade the brakes. New radial master cylinder will be here next week.
Figure I'll run with the stock rotor as an experiment. But I'm leaning towards a cast iron Braketech rotor.
"Phase 3" is rearsets and a diet. Haven't decided if I'll replace the steel rims with aluminum yet. I'd like to as part of the diet. We shall see.
On the rearset front...I'm hoping I can get my hands on the "Racer" parts. But I've made some preliminary sketches of my own in case the Guzzi parts fail to materialize.
I guess you could say...
To be continued...
Thought it might be of interest here also
Little back ground.
I bought a 2010 V7 Cafe from MI in Dec. I bought it as a companion/replacement track bike for my SV650.
I also have an '08 Norge.
Previous to this thread I installed a Mistral pipe and cross over.
I also sent my forks off to Traxxion Dynamics to have theirr AK-20 cartridges installed.
After that...There is this...
So after much impatient waiting I've finally gotten my bike back in a ridable condition.
I guess I'll call this "Phase 1" as far as the mods go.
In my book the most important mods are suspension. So I started with
While the stock forks weren't horrible. There was certainly a lot of room for improvement.
I originally planned on installing some emulators. I've used 'em on several bikes in the past. And while they work pretty good they are still a damper rod set-up with all the inherent failings in the basic design. I toyed with making a new triple and installing the whole front end off a GSXR. That would have worked great. But it also would have been a total Frankenstein job. So from the aesthetics side that was out. So that brought me back to emulators. Somewhere I stumbled on a review of the ak-20 cartridges from Traxxion.
http://www.traxxion.com/AK-20AxxionCartridgeKit.aspx
Gave 'em a call..."No we don't have anything for Guzzi". "But" said the tech "send us your forks and info and we'll use 'em as a prototype" Sweet. So off they went along with all my personal riding info. Right out the gate there was a snag. Part of the install is modifying the fork caps to accept the adjusters. Well my caps were skeletonlized on the inside so there wasn't enough material to drill and tap for the cartridges. Well shot. I'd have to make new caps. And it would be pricey for a one off. But the tech said "Let me see if I can get the boss to make up several pairs for future use. We have a staff meeting tomorrow" Cool. He calls me back and sure enough they are gonna make a few sets. So my cost dropped dramatically.
Last Friday after 5 weeks I got the forks back. And they're cleaner then the day they were built. At 1st glance the look completely stock except for the sticker on the lower leg. Visible it upper photo. But a closer look shows those cool compression and rebound adjusters.
Stealthy.
So how do they work?
Compared to the OE setup they are infinitely better.
Excellent dampening under all conditions. Much better "feel" and control. The bike as a whole is much more composed with predictable handling. The only fly in the ointment are the springs. I spec'd out springs that are a wee bit too firm. But that's my screw up. Besides, I've got springs here anyways. Once that are swapped I'll be sittin' in tall cotton.
I can't say enough about Dan and Mike at Traxxion. They went above and beyond to help me get this done.
Unfortunately...Don't ask what it cost. As this was a prototype with a long turn around time (normal is about a week) I got the deal of the century. But the good news? They are now familiar with the Guzzi forks and can quickly do emulators or the full up AK-20 install without any hassle.
So much for the front...
With new fork guts on the horizon shocks became the next hit.
I looked at Ohlins but they have nothing for the V7 and no interest in 'em.
Penske was so impossible to deal with that they quickly dropped off the radar.
Bitubo has a nice Piggyback shock that should work. But after asking a few questions and getting completely incorrect info from the factory I ditched them.
So it was back to Ted about Wilbers. Imagine my shock when he told me that the 2010 application chart has my bike listed! After him confirming that they were in fact available I ordered those babies up. Now I like Wilbers, got one on the Norge, but they only had an emulsion type available. But I figured that based on my experience with the Norge that they would be adequate. The shocks showed up in a couple of weeks.
Like the Norge shock they are beautifully made. They work as well as the forks demand. Excellent dampening control and perfectly sprung. Plus as a bonus they are 10mm longer than stock. Perfect.
Other than the final tweaking the suspension is done. Oh yeah...I'm gonna lose the grab rail as soon as I get a chance to make some new fasteners.
Also installed a sump extender while I was waiting for the forks.
And installed some stickier rubber for the street. Ultimately I'll run the AN22 and 23s.
So...."Phase 2" begins next week.
The powercommander and auto tune should be here this week.
Decided to upgrade the brakes. New radial master cylinder will be here next week.
Figure I'll run with the stock rotor as an experiment. But I'm leaning towards a cast iron Braketech rotor.
"Phase 3" is rearsets and a diet. Haven't decided if I'll replace the steel rims with aluminum yet. I'd like to as part of the diet. We shall see.
On the rearset front...I'm hoping I can get my hands on the "Racer" parts. But I've made some preliminary sketches of my own in case the Guzzi parts fail to materialize.
I guess you could say...
To be continued...