Everything about fork mods

[yoshiki]

hi

started this thread to accumulate all opinions on our fz6 front fork mods. (actually, at the same time, ask if its worth for me to upgrade to r6s forks when i have ohlins fork springs on my fz6 2007?)

what have riders done so far: (sorry if i missed out your mod, or those who were the original/first riders whom have done so. pm me and i will include your thread. those with instructions on how-to will be appreciated by everyone.)

-fz6 with r6 inverted forks
- you need these for 03-04 r6 fork mod. courtesy of LERecords.
-2009 r6 inverted forks, radial mounted calipers.
-r6r inverted forks, radial mounted calipers
-installing r1 forks
-r6r forks doable?

at this point, can any1 tell me which r6/r1 forks are actually the same? from what i found,

r6 2001-2002: Fully Adjustable 43 mm (1.7 in) Telescopic Fork, 5.3 in (134.6 mm) of Travel
r6 2003-2004: 43 mm (1.7 in) telescopic fork w/adjustable preload, compression and rebound damping; 4.7 in (119.4 mm) travel
r6 2005-2010: 41 mm (1.6 in) inverted telescopic fork w/adjustable preload, separate high & low-speed compression damping, rebound damping; 4.7 in (119.4 mm) travel

06-10 R6s forks are the same units as the 03-04 forks, but they have softer spring rate.

05-10 R6 inverted forks are the same as the R6r forks cause the bike they come off of is the R6"r".

__________________

other inverted forks mods, r1 2003, 2004, gsxr

apart from changing the whole assembly, we can also

-change to heavier fork oil
-change to ohlins at post 8., hyperpro springs
-install matris fork cartridge kit
-install ricor intiminator
-install cartridge emulators by racetech

existing thread with some reviews. i am trying to go slightly more in depth here.

 

[slandis]

I'm glad you started this thread! I had been contemplating a similar all-encompassing thread for fork mods, as I've been racking my brain, reading and re-reading all the various posts and measuring and re-measuring everything I can get my hands on or get anybody else to get their hands on.

I still have a couple people to bug for some quick measurements (hopefully they'll play nice!) and then I have a setup that I think will work well and is easily accomplished.

Until then, I'll be watching here for any other expert opinions.

--EDIT--

I have a complete 2006 GSXR setup that I was going to swap in, but I can't get over the axle issue. I know the member who posted his work use used some kind of compression ring to hold the FZ6 axle in the GSXR forks, but that seems a little sketch to me. Short of having a custom axle turned, I'm not sure how else this particular swap is going to work...

 

[Shinn]

Don't forget the ever popular catridge emulators from Racetech!
Until this morning i was sure I wanted the emulators, then someone just HAD to post the Ricor intiminator. Now I am even more confused.

 

[yoshiki]

I'm glad you started this thread! I had been contemplating a similar all-encompassing thread for fork mods, as I've been racking my brain, reading and re-reading all the various posts and measuring and re-measuring everything I can get my hands on or get anybody else to get their hands on.

I still have a couple people to bug for some quick measurements (hopefully they'll play nice!) and then I have a setup that I think will work well and is easily accomplished.

Until then, I'll be watching here for any other expert opinions.

--EDIT--

I have a complete 2006 GSXR setup that I was going to swap in, but I can't get over the axle issue. I know the member who posted his work use used some kind of compression ring to hold the FZ6 axle in the GSXR forks, but that seems a little sketch to me. Short of having a custom axle turned, I'm not sure how else this particular swap is going to work...

sorry i cant help too much on the technical details, but i try to find as much information as i can to consolidate all here. keep me updated on your project!

Don't forget the ever popular catridge emulators from Racetech!
Until this morning i was sure I wanted the emulators, then someone just HAD to post the Ricor intiminator. Now I am even more confused.

updated my 1st post.. thanks!

 

[SANGER_A2]

You can link to my thread on the Hyperpro springs here. In the first paragraph, I link to all the other threads other members have made on their Hyperpro spring installs.

 

[yoshiki]

You can link to my thread on the Hyperpro springs here. In the first paragraph, I link to all the other threads other members have made on their Hyperpro spring installs.

done! linked to your thread, as well as mine for the ohlins. :BLAA:

 

[4drfocus]

06-10 R6s forks are the same units as the 03-04 forks, but they have softer spring rate.

05-10 R6 inverted forks are the same as the R6r forks cause the bike they come off of is the R6"r".

 

[yoshiki]

06-10 R6s forks are the same units as the 03-04 forks, but they have softer spring rate.

05-10 R6 inverted forks are the same as the R6r forks cause the bike they come off of is the R6"r".

how's your r6 front fork mod coming along? completed? what about handlebar?

 

[yoshiki]

after reading this, wolfman's mod for radial calipers, i am wondering if i should go for these adaptors along with r6 calipers, and r6s adjustable forks or matris/raccetech gold valves kits.

 

[yoshiki]

seen a sudden interest in r6 fork mods recently in the forum.. i have my project coming soon! will post up pictures when its done!

 

[mfletch69]

I just ordered a set of 0.95kg/mm Sonic Springs. I will report my impressions after install

 

[jcfz6]

I have a quick question about the R6 forks. I know to install them on the FZ we need two 0.090" axle shims to use with the stock bushings. But is it possible to just get the R6 bushings and not have to use the shims? or are the R6 bushings still going to need a shim?

I'm rounding up all my parts to do this mod, got a pair of 2008 R6S forks, the shims and spacers from McMaster and now I'm on ron ayers looking for an axle and end bolt. Which is why I thought of this now.

Thanks for your help guys.:thumbup:

 

[CCHOUSEKY]

I have a quick question about the R6 forks. I know to install them on the FZ we need two 0.090" axle shims to use with the stock bushings. But is it possible to just get the R6 bushings and not have to use the shims? or are the R6 bushings still going to need a shim?

I'm rounding up all my parts to do this mod, got a pair of 2008 R6S forks, the shims and spacers from McMaster and now I'm on ron ayers looking for an axle and end bolt. Which is why I thought of this now.

Thanks for your help guys.:thumbup:

I don't believe you can just get the R6S bushings and forgo the shims. I've got '07 R6S forks on my '06, so it's been a while since I thought about this mod...lol. IIRC, the reason you need the shims/spacers is because the FZ6 upper and lower triple sits slightly wider than the R6S upper and lower triples. So you need the shims to make up the extra room.

Of course, I could just be pulling that out of my arse...lol. But I think that's correct.

And don't forget the toughest thing to find for this mod now...the fender adapters. Once you do the R6S forks, your stock FZ6 fender won't line up with the mounting points on the R6S forks, so you'll need to fender adapters to make it work. Or zip ties...some people have actually done that.

:thumbup:

 

[jcfz6]

Ahh ok, that's what I was thinking as well just wanted to throw it out there and see if anybody had experience. As far as the fender adapters I got some aluminum flat stock that I'm going to make some bracket out of. Maybe won't be as sweet looking as the machined versions but it'll work pretty well.

Thanks

 

[CCHOUSEKY]

Ahh ok, that's what I was thinking as well just wanted to throw it out there and see if anybody had experience. As far as the fender adapters I got some aluminum flat stock that I'm going to make some bracket out of. Maybe won't be as sweet looking as the machined versions but it'll work pretty well.

Thanks

Believe me, that wasn't a bad question at all. I wish it was as easy as getting the bushings for the R6S! (Not that the spacers are a problem).

And the flat stock will work just fine. You can't see the fender adapters anyway once they're installed with the fender, so they can look awful and work just fine. :thumbup:

 

[FAZR6]

Yes you still neet to shim the wheel spacers to make up the difference in the spread of the FZ6 tripples versus the R6. But DON'T FORGET YOU NEED TO SHIM THE CALIPERS TOO OR THEY WONT BE CENTERED WITH THE ROTORS.

.090 washers (shims) placed between the caliper and the fork mounts.

 

[CCHOUSEKY]

Great point, FAZR6, and one that I forgot (although I've got the caliper shims on mine, obviously). Those are the ones that give me the most trouble when I've taken the wheel off, too! Trying to hold them and slide the bolt through, they always want to roll off my finger and fall out...lol.

 

[jcfz6]

Yes you still neet to shim the wheel spacers to make up the difference in the spread of the FZ6 tripples versus the R6. But DON'T FORGET YOU NEED TO SHIM THE CALIPERS TOO OR THEY WONT BE CENTERED WITH THE ROTORS.

.090 washers (shims) placed between the caliper and the fork mounts.

Yup, I got the shims for the axle, 0.090" and according to the drawings posted on SBN I got some shims for the calipers at 2.5mm or ~0.100" so I should be good to go there as well. Thanks for all the good info guys:rockon:

 

[1.8tbora]

Has anyone thought of buying a set of R6S forks and swapping the internals and top adjusters to the FZ6 fork eliminating alot of shimming and time consuming work??? Just a thought:thumbup:

 

[FAZR6]

I'm not sure it would even work but even if it did, isnt that sort of creating more work so save less work? Rebuilding forks is very specialized and not something that I have ever even wanted to attempt. You still have to buy the parts as well as special tools if you don't have them or pay a mechanic to do the work. If that were the route to take then I seen no reason to not just buy cartridge emulators from racetech or whomever that are made for the forks they are intended.

Forks are pretty specialised so I would be shocked if internals from one type of fork would work in a totally different style of fork. Maybe I'm totally wrong.