Should I spend the money on new Shock\Forks on my V-Strom 1000

[RideAfrika]

I have a K5 DL1000 that I use for commuting, travel and the occasional fire road. I weigh 180lbs (80kgs) and travel with as much as 50lbs (20kg) of gear.

Would it be worth the time and money to upgrade my shock or forks. I've heard a lot of people very happy with their upgrades but they all tend to be a little heavier than me and carry more luggage.

I don't have any real problems with the suspension but I have ridden bikes with Showa and Ohlins suspension and the just feel so planted and confidence inspiring on the freeway and on fire roads.

I am willing to spend up to $1,500 if it will feel like $1,500 well spent. BTW I am partial to the Ohlins brand. Price is not a factor as long as it is below $1,500.

[MPH]

I'm in a similar boat (weight of body, though usually 35 pounds of stuff added: briefcase, full CyclePort suit, and bike). The V already has cartridge forks, usually the upgrade there is a stiffer-than-stock spring (Sonic, Prorgressive, acording to your weight) coupled with lighter-weight oil, which most folk report addresses the dive on braking and harshness on tar strips on the freeway.

Many bigger folk also replace the rear shock, but the entry point for a high-end damper is usually beyond my means.

Mark

[LexLeroy]

I put on a fork brace, made some 1/4" taller spacers so that I had optimal sag at the mid-point of the preload adjusters and replaced the oil w/ Dexron VI ATF which is supposed to be about 7.5 wt. Like you I weigh 180 lbs, and the bike seems to feel much better.

When I'm carrying stuff in the bags I crank up the rear shock's preload - seems to work just fine. Of course I may never have ridden a properly set up bike and consequently may not know the difference between good and bad.

[ram1000]

I had occasion to bounce my 07 Strom off road and found the only complaint after increasing the pre-load to be the dampening allowing the suspension to clunk both front and rear. I think the Race Tech Gold valves front and rear would solve that problem and have given me all I would want from a 550lb bike off road. On the other hand 8" of travel would just about equal the Tenere.

[precarious]

Replaced my shock with a Progressive 465 and it's like a whole new bike. No going back.

[tweeder]

Put a DL1000 Ohlins shock on my DL650-love it. Also did the Race Tech and springs-pretty good use of money.

[Titus58]

Yes. Been told its the best upgrade for the $. The stock suzuki suspension is a low cost compromise (not complaining, just stating the truth). This is next on my list for my Vee - I have ridden on other adv bikes w good susp and YOU CAN tell the difference! I have heard good things about the Elka shock, and svracing offers a discount for vstrom owners.

T

[Chuck in Indiana]

I worked with Jay Jobes at Suspensions by Sasquatch on the front and rear changes to my Wee. I reworked the forks with the Gold Tech Emulators and heavier springs and Jay rebuilt the OEM shock with the full treatment of a heavier spring, internal valving, etc. The bike is very much more planted on the road now and I can handle the loads for my loaded touring trips very easily. It was a good set of upgrades and cost ~$1K.

[RideAfrika]

I guess the answer to my quest ion is "yes, the V-Strom's suspension can be improved." $1,000 front and read upgrade from Sasquatch sound tempting. The Elkas and Progressive shocks look well made and the Ohlins brand speaks for itself.

I have no idea how I am going to pick one but I'll be doing front and rear before I head to Panama in February. Expect an a YouTube review.

[tweeder]

I scored my Ohlins for 800, lists for 1275. Put 200 in parts into the front (used Race Tech springs, new cartridge emulators) plus some cash for labor on the front end, and I'm in just over $1k for both.

I debated the rear spring for a long time (2 years almost) and am glad I did it. Have fun taking it out and putting a new one in...

[Chuck in Indiana]

Originally Posted by tweeder

... Have fun taking it out and putting a new one in...

True. Things are tight in that area, particularly on the '07 and later bikes because of changes required for the ABS. I found that taking the knob off of the adjustment valve (don't lose the tiny spring and steel ball) helped in the process by making it a bit smaller.

[tweeder]

I took off the rear wheel and the rear side plastics. I had to manipulate the swingarm up and down to get the Ohlins in (has a piggy back reservoir) which made things a lot easier.

Otherwise, I didn't have to do anything to either the stock shock or the Ohlins, and was able to put the Ohlins in from the bottom, rather than from the top as some others have had to.

[Reposado1800]

Originally Posted by precarious

Replaced my shock with a Progressive 465 and it's like a whole new bike. No going back.

+1. With the shock and forks done, the bike does 2up perfectly. Well worth it.

[Wheedle]

I put a Penske 8983 on the rear, resprung the forks and went to 10wt oil. I had to relearn how to ride the thing. The difference was simply amazing.

Spacers and raising links are only bandaids. The real problems are too soft springs and too soft damping front and rear.

[glasswave]

You may want to consider sasquatch. You could do your front & rear for just $560. It'll probably get you 90% as much as buying an elka or hyper pro etc...

http://www.sasquatchrider.com/DL.html