Bandit Alley

MODEL SPECIFIC => BIG BANDIT BANTER => Topic started by: Buddha on April 11, 2006, 12:34:05 PM

Title: Shocks
Post by: Buddha on April 11, 2006, 12:34:05 PM

I'm not going to pretend that I really know what I'm talking about here. I've never touched my shocks although I have heard that they are adjustable? My issue is that I seem to like bottoming out. Yesterday I had to slow down quite a bit to prevent the front shock from bottoming out when I hit bumps. The rear shock so far has only bottomed out when I had a passenger, but I'm not the smallest of guys at about 225. Does anyone know if the stock 1G B6 shocks can be adjusted so I can ride without dealing with bottoming out? Do I need to get new shocks? Should I get shocks off of an older GSX-R 750? GSX-R 1100?

Title: Shocks
Post by: Red01 on April 11, 2006, 01:09:21 PM

The front of the B6 is not adjustable, but you can get preload adjusters from a SV650 and get one adjustment. Heavier fork oil and/or better fork springs will also help.

The rear shock is at least preload adjustable. There's a collar on the shock and a tool in the kit for that. B6 owners can chime in if there's more, I'm not that familiar with the B6 shock.

Title: Shocks
Post by: blackbandit on April 11, 2006, 04:13:13 PM

fit progressive springs in front and thicker oil
that will take up the sag
fit a b12 shock in the back
see how you get on with that
ps eat more salad lol......

Title: Shocks
Post by: chupacabra on April 12, 2006, 08:30:58 AM

Yes preload is all you get with the G1 B6 stock shock.
I put on a G1 B12 shock it is preload adjustable and damper ajustable.
The B12 shock has a better coil, and bolts right in. Really EZ job.
I had my B6 shock preload on max and the B12 shock is firmer set only on the second step.

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y164/VomitsAlot/eeed3a3f.jpg)

Title: b6
Post by: tacoman on April 12, 2006, 02:26:32 PM

I've felt your pain.  I'm 200 lbs+ and the first good set of railroad tracks I hit with my stock B6 suspension got me good!  The forks spike your shoulders and the shock spikes your back, ouch!!  At your weight the only thing you can do is what blackbandit outlined.  Go with 15wt oil.  Its an easy mod and shouldn't set you back more than $150 (springs, B12 shock on ebay, and some fork oil).  You'll be amazed at the difference.

Title: Shocks
Post by: Buddha on April 12, 2006, 04:15:19 PM

I'm wondering if any of that stuff was done to it before I got it. I've only bottomed out on the rear once (double up with about 400lbs on the bike and hitting a bump going around a corner) and the front a few times the other day. I took it down the same road yesterday and didn't have any problems.

Title: Shocks
Post by: Red01 on April 12, 2006, 04:20:46 PM

The rear shock should be easy enough to tell with a quick look...

Title: shock
Post by: tacoman on April 13, 2006, 03:00:06 PM

Pauls right, the b12 shock has tighter coils.  Is your B6 a gen 1 or 2?  The 2nd gen may have had some different valving.  My B6 stock was just mushy, I didn't even attempt 2 up.