KTM WP shock in RD07

[scarfacehugo]

Hi guys!!

I've been reading some stuff on the Portuguese Africa Twin forum about getting a 620/640 LC4 WP shock in an AT.
Apparently they fabricate a plate to make the rear brake master cylinder move further back in the bike, and they just throw it in.

In total a Lc4 WP measures 410mm, while the AT showa's got 380mm. Knowing the rubish the Showa is with 2 up, i decided to go for this "cheap" mod before my Morocco trip, next spring.

I got a WP shock off an old ktm on ebay and after a quick search , I found 3 or 4 companies to sorthen my WP shock to the Showa lenght. Some said they wouldnt do it, some didnt reply, one (ABEngineering) quoted me for 120£ , service included wich I thought a bit too much.

My question: Anyone as done this before (shortening shocks with spacers)?

[Shox Dr]

It can be done, however the damper needs to be reduced in total length, not in stroke. (Although it may need that as well) 120 for a full service and mod, is not that bad.

[scarfacehugo]

... however the damper needs to be reduced in total length, not in stroke.

Hi!
Could you be a bit more specific about this? I am a motorcycle engineer, but my knowledge doesnt go into rear shocks. I can do internal mods on forks, but not shocks. We do custom bikes, wich are not to be ridden, but are something like garage furniture.

£120 to service a shock, change seals and put a spacer to reduce the travel (and consequently the length, that's what they quoted me.

I havent send it yet, because I use my bike as an experiment, a quest for knowledge. I dont do mods just for the purpose of it, but also for the learning process. The guy was a bit vague about it, and I would prefer it to be done by someone who goes through all the details with me, send me pics like i've done with seats, wheels,panniers and many other things.

Thanks for your help.

[Shox Dr]

It's understandable he was "vague" If I had a Penny for everytime someone told me they were "an engineer"....

Dampers are very dangerous in the wrong hands; in my old workshop there was a Rebound Needle stuck in the ceiling (some 15' high) where a guy I was training had not listened to me and decided to strip a damper " a quicker way" needless to say if his head head had of been in the way, it would have killed him.
Even knowing this a friend of mine striped a damper only last yr, and shot his mate with the rebound needle in the face, he needed 3 stitches, and was lucky he didn't lose an eye.

So I'm afraid I'm not going to instruct you either, sorry. Not because I don't believe you but there are plenty of people on here (the interspaz) I wouldn't trust to sweep the floor.

What he told you he was going to do is pretty much just that, by reducing the stroke inside the damper, you also reduce the overall distance, simples, but you knew that

[scarfacehugo]

It's understandable he was "vague" If I had a Penny for everytime someone told me they were "an engineer"....

Dampers are very dangerous in the wrong hands; in my old workshop there was a Rebound Needle stuck in the ceiling (some 15' high) where a guy I was training had not listened to me and decided to strip a damper " a quicker way" needless to say if his head head had of been in the way, it would have killed him.
Even knowing this a friend of mine striped a damper only last yr, and shot his mate with the rebound needle in the face, he needed 3 stitches, and was lucky he didn't lose an eye.

So I'm afraid I'm not going to instruct you either, sorry. Not because I don't believe you but there are plenty of people on here (the interspaz) I wouldn't trust to sweep the floor.

What he told you he was going to do is pretty much just that, by reducing the stroke inside the damper, you also reduce the overall distance, simples, but you knew that

Thank you for your words, but I dont intend to strip it and there are plenty of shock servicing videos on youtube.
I want some one who knows what they're doing, to do it, but I really want to make sure they know what they're doing.
Would you consider doing it? if so... please PM me the cost.
Thank you

[Shox Dr]

Personally I would reduce the length of the shaft by either fitting a shorter one or machining the old one down. Spacers are OK, but sometimes you can get "topout" (where the shock on full extension "topouts" resulting in noise and a harsh feeling. However a lot depends on the internals, some you can get away with it some not.

As for offering my services, sorry I got out of that line of work 4 yrs ago.


Ask them this; By shortening the stroke internally to archive the correct eye-2-eye measurement will it affect the stoke, in relation to the stock damper. If so do they reduce the length of the body tube in conjunction to compensate for this. If they don't then you will end up with the correct e-2-e but reduced travel.

Have you asked WP (only up the road from me ISTR)

HTH

[Paul-S]

Why not just keep the shock to the original length. The extra ground clearance will help and on an AT I can't see it would have much of an effect on handling other than turning in will be quicker and sharper

[Shox Dr]

If it was only as easy as that...

If that's what you want to do, fit the damper with the spring removed and make sure nothing fouls when the suspension is a full compression.

[scarfacehugo]

Ok, more info!!

Just measured the stock Showa and it's got 90mm travel in total (75 with rubber stopper).

After spacing the WP for the 380mm lenght it should get 80mm travel (65 with stopper. I wont be doing jumps, so my guess is I dont have to machine the outer tube in order to reduce shock body length...right? 1 cms less is no big deal.

Waiting for your wise words, Dr

[scarfacehugo]

Have you asked WP (only up the road from me ISTR)

HTH

After explaining everything in detail this is what I got back:

"The problem you have is the stroke? If you shorten the stroke by 30mm you will not have enough stroke for the African Twin. Plus the fitment is
different anyway."

Can you read in there ?!?: "Go bother someone else!"
I think its too obvious.