Bitubo cartridges for Marzochi non adjustable forks (did we not see this?)

[corey]

999 axial forks with fresh rebuild and Ohlins UES kit ($800), plus triple clamps(Stockers Bored/Shimmed, Included w/ Forks), plus tapered steering bearings ($40), plus clip-ons ($150), plus headlight brackets (CNC Italy, used to lower headlight to accomodate clip-ons, $75) plus spacers and new hardware ($60) on my S2R800.

That's about $1125 total for epic forks.
Installed myself, stock brakes still intact and working fine (until i save up some cash to get those 999 calipers from Theo...)

In my personal opinion, it doesn't seem like it matters what route you take on the S2R800/M695 fork upgrade.
In the end, anything that goes further than a respring/new oil is going to cost somewhere in the region of $1000 with all the proper bits for your weight.

For most of us, myself included, a simple respring/new oil for a few hundred bucks is probably sufficient, so long as you dont put on a shit load of weight.
Ask yourself if you really need the adjustability...

Half of the reason i went with the 999 forks was because they were fresh. I wouldn't have to pay someone else to open them up, because i don't want to open forks up myself.
I could just buy them, and put them on.

It was like, okay, ~$200 for springs and oil... then probably about $200 + shipping two ways to RaceTech to have them worked.
For another $400, I had fresh forks that i didn't have to send any where or wait around for....
Easy choice for me.

[xcaptainxbloodx]

Almost all of the posts in this thread discuss the alternatives, which often, I suspect, complicate things
to a point where many riders loose track and give up.

It's not that I'm against finding good affordable DIY solutions, but there is a need for plug & play upgrade products.
Or maybe I'm mistaken - perhaps most Monster riders just don't care about performance upgrades?

Hmmm - in fact I haven't heard or seen a Bitubo or Matris story in a very long time and compared to the total number of Monsters, the number of upgraded bikes must be very low?

I think it has more to do with the fact the a cartridge kit is more intimidating then replacing the whole fork. most riders have never seen the inside of a fork, but replacing a fork? thats like 16 bolts and few tie downs, its do-able.

 plus theres the wow factor, "I have bitubo cartridges" sounds way less cool then "I have superbike forks"

[Heath]

The Bitubo's are sprung for 165lbs rider.  I wonder if they can include stiffer springs for the same price.

[stopintime]

The Bitubo's are sprung for 165lbs rider.  I wonder if they can include stiffer springs for the same price.

"can be supplied on demand" it says.

Ask them and find out?

[seevtsaab]

I love threads like this, lots of info i can use in here. I've been pondering what to do, starting with the front end, to reduce brake dive and also improve comfort on some of the bone jarring - teeth rattling
sections of my commute.

I got a set of S2R1K adj Showa's in hand, but am intrigued by the Bitubo kit.

For the Showas I know I would need clip-ons, which will be a plus (adjustable sweep more than lowered), BUT, big but, must accept my bar heaters and soon to buy wind guards for cold ends of the riding season - stock bars will work for those (heaters already installed for a year) - still checking clip on compatability. Thinking the Bitubo kit will be better than the Showas until I rework them.

I bottom out the stockers (I'm <170lbs) and they are harsher than i want, to boot. I'll have plenty of questions in the near future, keep these threads coming.

[junior varsity]

i'd like to go back and ask if anybody has checked with Traxxion about drop in cartridges for the non-adjustable forks?

Additionally, is it possible to contact Ohlins USA in NC and see if the Ohlins 30mm kit can be retrofitted into the non-adjustable forks? They have one fork to rebound, other do compression - all adjustments done via the caps. If the caps can be put onto those non-adjustable forks, then you'd be pretty much set.

Since I'm not included in the groups of bike owners with those style forks, I haven't had much experience with the fork setups you guys have had to endure.


fwiw, i'd agree with He Man in his assessment of options for the front end:

3-way adjustable forks from a post 2000 monster (which has a 25mm hollow axle and the 65mm caliper mounts, and uses the same axle wheel setup).  Direct drop in for the forks themselves: no change to triples, no change to wheel, speedometer pickup (if applicable), fender, brakes, etc.

Using 749/999 forks with the 65mm mount will require either spacers or a 749/999 axle, and a different front fender. This will also require a change in triple clamps to adapt to the different diameters (bore top triple/shim lower, OR order up new triples from IMA SrL or SpeedyMoto)

Using 748-916 era forks will require the same changes to the triples, and an adapter to go from 40mm caliper mount to 65mm caliper mount. No change to fender, no change to speedo pickup if applicable, no change to axle or wheel.

Using 748-996-998 forks: require the same changes to the triples, no adapter for brakes, no change to fender, no change to speedo pickup if applicable, no change to axle or wheel.

Using 999R/749R - 848/1098/1198 Forks: Requires new wheel, new axle, new rotors, new radial calipers, changes to triples as noted earlier, changes to speedo pickup if applicable.

all that said, any forks you pickup to put on your bike probably needs fresh fluid put in and at least a look at the springs to see if they are going to be the correct for setting sag. Not always required, but need to be investigated. Valving on the SBK forks are better from the get go, but is harsh on the Showa's. You don't have to revalve, but its a great opportunity while the forks are off the bike.

The cost is much higher when converting to SBK forks, even if you get a "deal" on the forks (deals always make me leary about the straightness and condition of the slider and seals), because of the work needed for the triple clamps. Something additional to be considered is whether modifications will need to be made for clip-on owners, as they'll need to go from 50mm to 53mm.

An advantage of going to SBK forks is the number of options available for revalving and cartridges. There's RaceTech, Traxxion Dynamics, Ohlins, Bitubo, FG Gubellini, Matris, etc etc etc (the list is long!)

[battlecry]

A M, I got Traxxion's AK-20s on my 800S working on the Marzocchi fork shells.  When I ordered them they sent me cartridges that were too long.  I think they sent me cartridges for the SS800.  I talked to them and they asked me to return their kit and my forks and they would make a cartridge the right size and install it on their nickel.  Turnaround time was around one week. 

I'm very happy with them.  They have preload adjust and compression adj. on one fork and rebound adj on the other.  Preload was perfect and I haven't had to touch it.  I run it with the comp loose on the slab and halfway on twisties.  Only other mod I would make would be some teflon bushings for less stiction and a more rigid triple.

By now they should know the difference between the Monster forks and the SS.  This only matters if you are going to do the installation yourself.  If you send it to them, they know what to do, and you don't have to clean up the fork oil from your garage floor.

[junior varsity]

preload on both, right? compression on one, rebound on the other?

[battlecry]

Yes.

[junior varsity]

very cool. Price was the normal 1k?

[battlecry]

Yes, and it came with stickers too!

[Jarvicious]

Maybe I'm misreading battlecry, but what forks/bike are you refering to?  Like AM was saying, if I could plop in a couple of new cartridges and have all the adjustments external, 1k is a pretty easy decision.  Combine that with a set of 999 calipers and that would be a pretty nasty front end 

[Jarvicious]

I'm an idiot.  Supersport

They do list the S2Rs on the site.  Plus....

"Some bikes dont come with external preload, and rebound damping adjustment. We have made a special kit for those models, with a beautiful set of replacement fork caps with these features added in. The caps are an additional cost to the AK-20 total cost.  Some popular bikes that get this added feature are: Suzuki SV650 (all year models), Honda VFRs (optional), and Triumph Thruxton. We can also custom make these parts for other models of bikes upon request."

For a drop in kit, not to shabby.

[junior varsity]

They are good folks too. They were very easy to work with when I wanted a Penske shock with torrington bearing, spring rate, etc, and they answered my hundreds of questions.

[battlecry]

Jarvicious, yer no idiot.  They sent me SS kit by mistake, but they make some to fit the Monster.  They got confused with the measurements.  My 2003 M800S now has AK-20s inside the standard, nonadjustable Marzocchi shells.  They should be able to work S2Rs the same.  I got the adjustable fork caps too. 

I agree with you the AK-20s with 999 calipers would make a great front end.  I found the standard goldline dual rattling rotors fine for my riding, except for some difficulty modulating them at very slow speed (which could also very well be my lack of skill) 

a m, I agree with you on their service.  Very happy with them, and the torrington bearing and preload collar saved me some weight in the rear suspension.  I'm looking at your mods with a lot of interest, as I think I would prefer a more rigid triple to improve the handling.  I was surprised how flexible the fork assembly is.  I had the bike in the front chock and put some pressure on the bar and could see the the front flexing, no need for a dial gauge.