KTM WP shock in RD07 (How to...)

[stageonesimmo]

Dude.

[Huib Holland]

Hi Hugo,

Nice work on the shock and the tank! I noticed your frame is black (Looks great!). Did you do it yourself?? I'm thinking about doing the same one day.

Greetz Huib.

[scarfacehugo]

Hi Hugo,

Nice work on the shock and the tank! I noticed your frame is black (Looks great!). Did you do it yourself?? I'm thinking about doing the same one day.

Greetz Huib.

Hello Huib!

Yes, I did the frame, 2 years ago. It was sand blasted and powdercoated to a special textured black. The surface it's a bit rough, almost as sandpaper with no shine at all. Very resistant to scratch. I believe some R1s and R6s had the same frame colour in 2005 or 2006, cant be sure.

[janne.k]

What spring are you using? Original AT spring is about 10 kg/mm and I think that WP uses 6-7 kg/mm (in KTM). Did they do any damping adjustments in service?

[scarfacehugo]

What spring are you using? Original AT spring is about 10 kg/mm and I think that WP uses 6-7 kg/mm (in KTM). Did they do any damping adjustments in service?

I've got no idea about the spring weight. All I know it's a Caponord stock spring and a bit "heavier" than the stock Showa and the white WP. All I know is that to get the right sag, I almost dont need to compress the spring with the adjusters, wich is a good thing for luggage weight.
No damping changes were made to the shock. Same gas pressure and oil viscosity.

[lootch67]

Did you try to fit the shock before you had it shortened? I'm looking to raise my AT a bit but don't know whether fitting a longer shock will do the trick or whether I'll need to get a kit like this one from African Queens. I was hoping to have an engineering shop make me the bits for the forks - the AQ kit is horribly expensive..

[scarfacehugo]

Did you try to fit the shock before you had it shortened? I'm looking to raise my AT a bit but don't know whether fitting a longer shock will do the trick or whether I'll need to get a kit like this one from African Queens. I was hoping to have an engineering shop make me the bits for the forks - the AQ kit is horribly expensive..

Hi!

If you try the KTM shock in it's original lenght, the bike's going to be too high and the chain is going to wear you chain guide quite fast and possibly your swingarm as well.

I've lowered and rised XRVs by doing some changes to the rear suspension links as you can see and read about here.AT lowering kit

Cant help you with the front, but you're going to have to use firmer fork springs to compensate for the weight that a higher rear end pushes forward. Stiffer springs=less sag=higher front end

[scarfacehugo]

I am happy to report that this £110 WP shock not only is a LOT better on the road, it's also lighter...

I didnt get a chance to try it off road yet but so far sooooo goooood. Soft on potholes, stiff on bends and sags a lot less than the stock one wich is good for heavy panniers like mine.

I'm happy!!

[diskow]

Did you try to fit the shock before you had it shortened? I'm looking to raise my AT a bit but don't know whether fitting a longer shock will do the trick or whether I'll need to get a kit like this one from African Queens. I was hoping to have an engineering shop make me the bits for the forks - the AQ kit is horribly expensive..

I was waiting and dreaming long time to raise my bike.
After some time searching - about 1 year ago I ve installed AQ kit like this.
Bought it used on Ebay - cheaper but still expensive. But original AQ price is just ridiculously to much! Makes me s...

What I can tell you:
- The height is very good. I like it.
- Installation was easy
- Chain guide looking good after one season (myb a bit more than normal wear BUT i have 16/48 sprockets)
- !You need to install longer brake hydr. cables!

In december I will install complete new front susp. (Fork change)
So i will remove front AQ adopters for height. I did some investigation how should I raise my bike without shorten AQ U link at back i have installed and come to easy but expensive solution. Longer shock about 1.5cm will raise your back for 4-5cm. Since I have almost new Ohlins at the back which is normal length I am stuck for some time with this shorter U link. For my next investment i am thinking how to change my Ohlins with the longer 1.5cm version... dont have a clue yet.

Reason for all this thinking:
Shorter U link makes more and quicker progression in damping. Basicaly progression is mooved in upward direction and the pressure level of damping is harder.

[scarfacehugo]

Reason for all this thinking:
Shorter U link makes more and quicker progression in damping. Basicaly progression is mooved in upward direction and the pressure level of damping is harder.

Shortening the "u link" makes the suspension stiffer, therefore you adjust the spring and the dampering settings as you like it. I've shortened and extended links from 0.7 to 0.9 and and that gives you about 2 times more height in the rear. Its not linear, also depends on the suspension sag you've got.

An Ohlins should take ver well a 0.8 shorter U link without too much effort. The Showa does.