Suspension upgrade question - warning long

[Heath]

oh crap another suspension thread    bare with me  

My 2006 S2R800 still has stock suspension.  Bike is used for commuting mostly and some twisties.  I have done a couple track days but do not see anymore in my near future.  Life is just too crazy and there is a lack of funds.  My wife (awesome wife) is pushing me to upgrade my suspension.  She got a taste for 2up and wants more.  We are starting slowly to get her gear and she wants to go on day rides. Possibly a west coast dimby?  I thought about selling my bike to get something bigger but financially I have come to realize this is not a smartest move right now.

So I see three options.
1. Upgrade rear spring and front springs to my weight range. (least expensive, no adjustability though)
2. Buy some sort used front end and rear shock. (ebay, dmf, ect..) (middle ground, adjustable)
3. Buy new rear shock and front forks. (expensive, adjustable)

I am leaning towards 1 with the possibility of going to 2 later on.  If I buy a rear spring sprung for my weight for the stock sachs shock now. Will that same spring fit say a used ohlins or pensky down the line?

Or should I just forget all that and go for the adjustability?  Ballpark how much would new suspension, used, cost me.  Also sprung for my weight.  I think I can handle doing the labor myself.

Last year I almost had to sell my bike for unemployment reasons.  It made me really think about how much money I have put into it. Do I really want to put $1500 worth of suspension on a bike that can only sell for around 5-6k?  At the same time do I want to put that much money into a bike that is just a 2v 800?  I love my bike don't get me wrong but sometimes I wish I had more power.
Thanks..

[cliff notes]
1. wife says upgrade suspension I want to ride with you
2. I am frugal and wonder if just new springs is good enough
3. some questions on if springs can be used later on
4. half of dmf falls asleep reading my long post.
5. I go make breakfast while waiting for replies
6. profit?

[hackers2r]

How about a cartridge kit up front to get adjustability and a new rear shock?  Will cost more than springs only, less than new forks and shock, more than used equipment and properly setup for your weight/riding style.  I think that since you use the bike for both commuting and 2-up, you should have adjustability to accommodate both situations.

[TitanMonsterS4R]

I have no insights but I love the crib notes portion.   

[Two dogs]

If $$ is really a constraint and the aim is to suspend the bike for two up riding
and not for high speed track days , just up your shock spring weight.
It will make a huge difference .

Change out your fork springs and also consider a heavier weight fork oil


But I would keep your eye out for a good used rear shock,
I did the above and the bike improved dramatically .

Then later I went the next step and picked up a second hand 748 s shock /adjustable dog bone
and forks from a  S2T for my old 695 which had similar limitations to your bike ,
I then installed the new spring on it and ended up with a really good set up.

The can of worms though was moving the coil and crankcase breather box not a big issue but something
to keep in mind.

It all depends wether you intend to keep the bike for a long time or eventually upgrade.

If you see yourself upgrading in the next couple of years just do the springs that way at least the bike
will be safer and more comfortable and you wont loose when selling.

My 2 cents

[stopintime]

The three things I notice in your post is,

Riding two up
Economy
No track days

You will be very happy with springs/oil up front and a stiffer rear spring (adjust rebound accordingly).
That will be enough for a much more enjoyable and safer ride.

Adjustability will cost more than it's value, for your needs.

Win the lottery? Upgrades will be available then.

[Triple J]

Since you're in northern Cali, I'd contact Dave Moss and see what his shop can do.

http://www.feelthetrack.com/

I'd probably do new springs, valves, & oil for both the forks and shock. Should cost around $1000 installed...that's about what I paid for the same thing on my trackbike (local shop though, not Dave's). They'll also help adjust it (as much as they can).

Later on you could get a new shock if desired. Who cares if the spring fits, the new one will come with one for your size.

[xcaptainxbloodx]

The three things I notice in your post is,

Riding two up
Economy
No track days

You will be very happy with springs/oil up front and a stiffer rear spring (adjust rebound accordingly).
That will be enough for a much more enjoyable and safer ride.

Adjustability will cost more than it's value, for your needs.

Win the lottery? Upgrades will be available then.

agree.

maybe peruse ebay for some used adjustable forks off a s2r1000/s4r. you might luck out and pick up a cheap set that you can re-spring and set up properly.  re-springing the rear will be fine for your useage. 

if nothing comes up in your price range a proper set up is all you really need for casual 2 up riding, its not like it would be dangerous or unsafe stock anyway.

[He Man]

Springs front and back, call it a day. I dont adjust suspension for 2 up riding unless it becomes agressive. I do adjust for the track though. You feel way more at the forks than the shock so if you were going to drop $1000, id be tempted to say spend the extra $300 and get the GP cartridge kit up front and just a spring on the rear....

and then you try an ohlins rear and the world changes.  and you need an ohlins rear. simply stay away from other nicer bikes!

[Heath]

 Don't most the cartridge kits cost as much as used forks?  I can't find a price on GP Suspension but I remember something $1000+ for just cartridges and springs.

@stopintime ya maybe I will wait to do it all when I really can afford to drop the money on it.

@Triple J  another good idea.  Dave is the one that first set my bike up for me and told me I need new springs.  That was at a track day several years ago.  I am pretty sure I can handle the labor myself.  Especially considering they charge $100 an hour and I make under $10 an hour right now =/

@xcaptainxbloodx   I will keep an eye out.   S2R1000 or S4R forks will bolt right up right?  But then I get into having to change brakes?

@He Man do you know how much those GP cartridges cost?

[stopintime]

@stopintime ya maybe I will wait to do it all when I really can afford to drop the money on it.

That's not what I mean. I absolutely think you need to do something. I just think you will be happy with the considerable gains even from the budget option (springs, oil and rebound adjustment)

Go ahead - good luck

[Heath]

That's not what I mean. I absolutely think you need to do something. I just think you will be happy with the considerable gains even from the budget option (springs, oil and rebound adjustment)

Go ahead - good luck

Sorry I did understand what you meant I just was rushed when replying earlier.  At a minimum right now I will do at least springs and oil.

If I get a spring for my weight now for my stock shock will that fit a used ohlins shock I may find down the line?  Are they the same size?

[He Man]

@He Man do you know how much those GP cartridges cost?

about $1500 installed.

If i ever do, i want to sell my S2R1000 forks that have racetech valves and springs for around ~$600 buy 696 forks and drop the GP kit in. Instant Jizz.

[caperix]

For buget I would agree on that changing out all the springs to fit your weight is the best place to start.  Next up would be a switch to used SBK or high end monster parts.  This will run 2 to 3 times as much as just a respring & depending on what you get your forks from they may need to be resprung also.  Even at agressive street riding the better valving of the SBK parts can be felt though.  I don't have any experiance with the cartrige kits for the stock forks, price wise they are about the same as I have in my full suspension, that includes front & rear with clip ons & new upper tripple. 

[ducpainter]

Keep in mind that the weight distribution while riding two up will be very different from solo.

If you're going to 'weight' your spring choices to one or the other it will be a compromise when riding the other way.

IMO it is better too go in the stiffer direction.

[He Man]

IMO it is better too go in the stiffer direction.

^^ what he said. I got mine a tad stiffer than you normally would. Its a little rough on the streets, but its perfect on the track, 2 up and for the weekend rides.