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Post by mekon on Sept 1, 2020 18:37:21 GMT
Right, the suspension on the RC390 seems to resemble a pogo stick. I'm sure if you're really an newb A2 class rider it's not really a problem as I'm probably just going a bit quicker then someone fresh off a 125 and my local roads are utter shit.
My initial thoughts are the suspension is too hard, the VFR was soft but a magic carpet ride compared to this thing, the only advantage being I could outbrake the VFR by miles. Without spending much money do I have any options like changing fill levels and fork oil weight? If not do you reckon I can get away with just a spring change more suited to my weight? I know you mentioned getting it properly setup, how much do you reckon that would cost? I think I'm in danger of falling into the just buy another bike trap.
I can get a sort of decent aftermark shock for about £500 on the rear OR another trick seems to be to stick a R6 shock in the back.
I don't want to get rid of it straight away as I have a tart's handbag idea for the winter involving wrapping the fairing in a tasteful peppermint green that goes with orange from (did it on photoshop and it looked good)
This isn't my fault of course, it's KTM's for not making a RC690.
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Post by Droog on Sept 2, 2020 0:17:20 GMT
As I mentioned before it is budget suspension. Most smaller capacity bikes have the damping in one leg and the spring in the other. It's an awful compromise. Just call a well known suspension expert and see what they can do for the price you want to pay. Someone like Maxton rather than the companies that mainly deal with race bikes.
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Post by philthewindsurfer on Sept 2, 2020 8:54:05 GMT
As its a secondhand bike, did the previous owner tinker with it and fuck it up?
I concur with Droog, take it to someone who knows.
I did a trackday at Donington Park and Chris Walker (BSB Yamaha days) was in the next pit garage with a mate of his who was riding. I asked Chris to take a look at my bike (YZF750). He fiddled with preload, compression and rebound damping on the fully adjustable forks. 1 more session, 1 less click on compression and it felt perfect. A couple of months later either MCN or a mag did a trackday suspension setting article and their settings were exactly the same as Chris', who had spent 30 seconds bouncing it up and down.
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Post by mekon on Sept 2, 2020 11:34:37 GMT
No, the bike's not been fucked with. Guy took it to the same dealer and has 4 years of service history and the bike is bog standard, one owner from new job. It was his commuting bike. I may try and get some solutions out of the 390 and duke forums but the problem is the are very Indian-centric and it all seems a bit bodge job will do for most of the owners.
Found a nice fairing kit that makes it look like a moto3 bike for about £500 though. Daytime MOT job obviously.
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Post by mekon on Sept 2, 2020 19:40:11 GMT
My mate has just bought a brand new 390.....
He's not a fast rider and just turned 60 so will suit him I guess. At least it gives me a good reference to see if my suspension is possibly just tired and needs fresh oil. Never know some dumb shit may have even overfilled it last it got done. It must have had fork seals off at some point at the covers have tell tale screwdriver marks.
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Post by Droog on Sept 3, 2020 4:01:40 GMT
You can usually tell if forks have too much oil in them. It makes them rock hard and steering is badly affected to the point of being un-rideable. What is the issue you're having when riding Meeks? Too soft, no dampening or too firm? Is there any play in the interaction between outer and inner legs? Or do they just feel like pogo sticks?
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Post by mekon on Sept 3, 2020 7:29:33 GMT
Whereas say the VFR would soak up a section I go over at 80 without much drama, once I get up to speed on rc the suspension feels like I'm riding a rigid. It feels like I'm on the verge of skipping over the road. In layman's terms I used to feel like I was riding my MTB and now I feel like I'm riding my racer.
Like you say maybe it's just shit suspension. I remember going off road on my KMX and thinking it was what it was and VERY hard work. Then I road my mates KLX with proper competition suspension and the fucker just ate the bumps up. It was night and day.
From what I've gathered off RC forums they have progressive springs in and you're better off sticking single rate springs in as step one. Step two is dump the fork internals.
The other problem is the exhaust. Since it sits under the rear shock it heats it up like fuck and reduces it to shit. Solution is aftermarket pipe.
Hopefully in a week or so I will have given my mates ride a go so I can see where I am like for like.
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Post by philthewindsurfer on Sept 3, 2020 8:24:15 GMT
I remember pogo sticks compressing the spring fairly easy then rebounding to lift you off the ground. No compression or rebound damping. That doesnt sound like what you are describing here. If it feels soft and compliant enough bouncing the forks, then the normal compression damping would be ok, its the high speed damping (speed at which the fork compresses not mph) which might be the problem. My Street Triple was a bit like that, its was ok for hard braking, didnt dive much, but hit a bump at 70pmg (never went above that ever, your honour) it was really hard.
Unless you know people on the RC forum well enough, you wont know if they are idiots talking shite or not. They might not ride it at 80mph either.
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Post by beefus on Sept 3, 2020 11:30:15 GMT
I'd put it back to factory settings and go from there....lots of setup info online...but, as has been mentioned, maybe its also general wear and tear that can only be fixed by replacing/servicing parts.
Good luck...its a dark art!
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Post by mekon on Sept 3, 2020 11:55:26 GMT
Sounds like lots of japery is required to even get the springs out. You literally need to heat it up to get the thread lock to go and have a mega leverage pin wrench. www.rc390-forum.com/threads/trouble-removing-spring-cap.2440/I'll ride the rest of year out and then also ride my mates to see if they are all like that. Keep my eye out on ebay see if any RC cup forks pop up or anything and just do a straight swap and then try and get some setup. No point taking the bike off the road yet. My mate will also have to run his in so no doubt he won't be going quick on it so I won't be going that fast. The grip seems to be on the verge of leaving the roads anyway. The other morning it was actually cold. Another month it'll be pushing your luck time. I remember having the CBR400 and thinking the suspension was ok and then when I got the Zx6r I was like oh, this seems a LOT better. Now I'll just have to get used to shit suspension again for a while. |
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Post by Diego the toe clipper on Sept 3, 2020 22:26:40 GMT
Whereas say the VFR would soak up a section I go over at 80 without much drama, once I get up to speed on rc the suspension feels like I'm riding a rigid. It feels like I'm on the verge of skipping over the road. In layman's terms I used to feel like I was riding my MTB and now I feel like I'm riding my racer. Like you say maybe it's just shit suspension. I remember going off road on my KMX and thinking it was what it was and VERY hard work. Then I road my mates KLX with proper competition suspension and the fucker just ate the bumps up. It was night and day. From what I've gathered off RC forums they have progressive springs in and you're better off sticking single rate springs in as step one. Step two is dump the fork internals. The other problem is the exhaust. Since it sits under the rear shock it heats it up like fuck and reduces it to shit. Solution is aftermarket pipe. Hopefully in a week or so I will have given my mates ride a go so I can see where I am like for like. That sounds like the suspension is pumping down to me. Had it happen on one of my GSXRs just after I bought it, last owner had left the settings all over the place. I literally had to pull over and stop because it was unrideable. It's an odd experience because when you set off again everything seems OK for a short while until it pumps down again. |
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Post by philthewindsurfer on Sept 4, 2020 6:34:53 GMT
The forks in that KTM are non adjustable though. No preload, compression or rebound damping twiddly bits.
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Post by Diego the toe clipper on Sept 4, 2020 17:57:46 GMT
The forks in that KTM are non adjustable though. No preload, compression or rebound damping twiddly bits. Oh, I'll STFU then!😄 |
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Post by mekon on Sept 5, 2020 18:37:09 GMT
Mate did his test ride before he finally put the cash down on the RC. Says the suspension is softer than mine. Don't think the forks have changed since my model so something is wrong. May take some oil out and see if it makes a difference.
When he comes round tomorrow I'll try and measure static and rider sag. From sitting on it the front isn't going down much from what I can see. Preload on the rear is 3 clicks in which is 'comfort' but still feels shit to me. Starting to wonder if I should clean it up over winter and get rid. Or just buy some used forks for £150 off ebay.
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Post by Droog on Sept 5, 2020 18:39:18 GMT
Go mental and buy full ohlins kit for it front and rear.
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