Hi all, time to add my (quite verbose) two pence. Feel free to just read the first and last paragraphs and ignore my drivel in between!
Another "+1" on Devilsyam kit. I sent him my R6 shock I sourced, and he sent it back with all bits ground and drilled, and the shock cleaned and all adjusted up for my ample bodyweight, along with good instructions and a shiny set of dog bones - all within a few days!
Fitting was quite easy, fortunately I could get to all of the bolts with a ratchet an spanner, even the top shock mount one with the addition of a UJ and a couple of extension bars. How people undo that top mofo with a 14mm spanner I'll never know - I had a 2 foot ratchet on there!! Anyway, ignoring the bolt size differences (instructions say 19mm on one, but they were all 17mm or 14mm on my bike) the instructions are more than informative enough, and the new shock just plopped straight in with no issues. Only thing to be careful about is the washers glued to either side of the top shock mount - in this cold weather they popped off when I looked hard at them. I just covered them in grease and got them to stick in place that way whilst I bolted everything up.
So, how is it I hear you ask? Well, firstly let me say that I couldn't find the stock settings for the front forks as recommended, so they are set to 11 clicks out on compression, and 4 clicks on rebound with a couple of rings showing on the preload. I did also pop the forks through the clamps 10mm to quicken up the steering. If someone can confirm the stock settings for me I'm more than happy to try them, I think I might dial down the compression setting a touch.
Anyway, I digress, my first impressions as I warmed up the bike gently were wow, this feels SOOO much lighter - once moving at any speed it feels like 10 kilos has been lopped off, not the 1 kilo difference between the two shocks! She also felt much more willing in the corners, catching me out with her eagerness to bend over
So, I topped up her kangaroo juice, and went off on the hunt for some nice roads to play with. Once "pressing on" a touch more, the bumpy potholed roads didn't upset the bike, she felt a lot more composed and glued to the roads, attacking corners with a new limpet like quality akin to my old CBR6 - it felt great! Obviously not being a riding God I cannot give quantifiable evidence, but I was attacking corners more quicker, with absolutely no dramas - and both bike and rider felt a lot more comfortable and confident. The upgraded ability of the back end seems to compliment the front end too, and that is much improved.
We then had to stop for a set of lights on a dual carriageway - and I wobbled up to the front, around the shiny metal bollards. The lights changed and off we set - much like a scalded cat. The difference in acceleration behaviour is quite something, gone is the feeling the back end is attached to a pogo stick! The only motion is forwards, and its quite intoxicating! I then attacked a fast dual carriageway section at a fairly unreasonable pace and the increased high speed cornering stability is quite apparent, again very confidence building.
Then back to home down slower twisties that I knew well, of course now I was happy and warm, as was my steed, so we "made progress" quite significantly here too. She does now seem to have much more of a tendency to lighten the front wheel and shake her head when pushing hard out of corners, also hitting the odd crest in the road did see the front wheel lifting here and there - not wheelies or anything (I still can't do them) but definitely much more eager to lift an inch or two off the road and make you look like a hero. There is absolutely no drama from the back end, just happiness and compliance with your every whim.
So in summary (if you are still with me) a VERY worthy upgrade, making your bike feel much keener, more planted and giving you much more confidence - There are no downsides it seems. If you have some spare pennies - go buy an R6 shock kit from Devilsyam and get it on there - you won't be disappointed. I've fallen in love with my bike all over again - certainly rekindled "the spark". My next job is to remove the AIS facehugger, and see what removing a bit more weight does for us!
