I say "stuff" to justify why this is not on the tech side of the house, as I suspect that the many others who actually know what they are talking about when they address suspension issues might expect this sort of thing to be there.
Anyway, got an email from cmgies who asked me about the front fork upgrade to my Norge. After I responded, decided I would post that here as I think others might be interested. Here is what I said:
Just read a comparo in the Dec '08 MCN about HyperPro & Ohlins as upgrades for sport-tourers. Worth reading. Also just bought and am slogging thru Andrew Treavitt's latest glossy paperback on sport bike suspension.
The most interesting comment in the MCN piece was the view that the shocks, front and rear, did improve things, but in no way so much (in their own seat-of-the-pants sensing or tech equipment findings) as the enthusiastic reviews of actual buyers.
Oh, before I forget, they said that the HyperPro equipment used there (for a R1100RT) was, after was said and done, more a SPORT-touring set-up, and the Ohlins, more sport-TOURER. Assuming the same is generally true of I got from our own racerx, am sure glad I got the HyperPro.
I am probably guilty of that post-purchase giddiness. That said, I have put quite a few K (8?) on the rear, and 3K on the new front end, 1200S forks with HyperPro progressive 1200S springs.
Anyone who has ridden a stock Norge (which, IMO, is the sport-touring equivalent of a 1972 Cadillac Coupe deVille!) and then rides mine will only know they are on the same machine because of looks and grunt. And, the grunt is now much more usable.
I will also say that I "think" I can tell the difference in the front end, but, as it was away three months for the engine rebuild, I'm not sure I could pass a blind "tasting." I can say that it is a delight to ride. In addition to my 1K-mile ride fro Houston to Atlanta, followed shortly thereafter by my 2K-mile r/t to Virginia last week or so, did a brief but enthusiastic ride in the hills on it with Kathi this past weekend. Not one scrape on the centerstand between Houston, Baltimore, and back, and, on the two-up romp, I was not as responsible as a 61-yo guy ought to be, and we did not touch down once nor did I ever worry about coming out of curves that, previously, would have been vomitus-in-helmet events. :woohoo:
We all know that many of us--including ich--really do not exploit the capabilities of our stock suspensions. That flows from laziness, fear, mystery of the "black art," and more. But I am also VERY sure that the stock Norge was--for my purposes, i.e., an old guy trying to make up for missed motorcycling in the "gap"--so deficient as to be almost dangerous. I have a SPORT-tourer now, and possibly a SPORT-TOURER, when I had little of either before, at least for venturing off city streets or the slab.
Bill
Anyway, got an email from cmgies who asked me about the front fork upgrade to my Norge. After I responded, decided I would post that here as I think others might be interested. Here is what I said:
Just read a comparo in the Dec '08 MCN about HyperPro & Ohlins as upgrades for sport-tourers. Worth reading. Also just bought and am slogging thru Andrew Treavitt's latest glossy paperback on sport bike suspension.
The most interesting comment in the MCN piece was the view that the shocks, front and rear, did improve things, but in no way so much (in their own seat-of-the-pants sensing or tech equipment findings) as the enthusiastic reviews of actual buyers.
Oh, before I forget, they said that the HyperPro equipment used there (for a R1100RT) was, after was said and done, more a SPORT-touring set-up, and the Ohlins, more sport-TOURER. Assuming the same is generally true of I got from our own racerx, am sure glad I got the HyperPro.
I am probably guilty of that post-purchase giddiness. That said, I have put quite a few K (8?) on the rear, and 3K on the new front end, 1200S forks with HyperPro progressive 1200S springs.
Anyone who has ridden a stock Norge (which, IMO, is the sport-touring equivalent of a 1972 Cadillac Coupe deVille!) and then rides mine will only know they are on the same machine because of looks and grunt. And, the grunt is now much more usable.
I will also say that I "think" I can tell the difference in the front end, but, as it was away three months for the engine rebuild, I'm not sure I could pass a blind "tasting." I can say that it is a delight to ride. In addition to my 1K-mile ride fro Houston to Atlanta, followed shortly thereafter by my 2K-mile r/t to Virginia last week or so, did a brief but enthusiastic ride in the hills on it with Kathi this past weekend. Not one scrape on the centerstand between Houston, Baltimore, and back, and, on the two-up romp, I was not as responsible as a 61-yo guy ought to be, and we did not touch down once nor did I ever worry about coming out of curves that, previously, would have been vomitus-in-helmet events. :woohoo:
We all know that many of us--including ich--really do not exploit the capabilities of our stock suspensions. That flows from laziness, fear, mystery of the "black art," and more. But I am also VERY sure that the stock Norge was--for my purposes, i.e., an old guy trying to make up for missed motorcycling in the "gap"--so deficient as to be almost dangerous. I have a SPORT-tourer now, and possibly a SPORT-TOURER, when I had little of either before, at least for venturing off city streets or the slab.
Bill