So as promised here's my report on my recent shock upgrade. Firstly, I have an 05 model for the track that is fitted with a rear Ohlins shock and a stage one conversion on the front forks, this consists of Ohlins replacement springs and Ohlins oil. Set up for fast road riding by Kais at Atherton, Wigan, so I know what a good set up feels like. I decided I didn't want to go down the very expensive route again of an Ohlins upgrade for my 08 blade as the rear shock now costs around £1200 so after fitting, sorting the front forks and setting up I'd have very little change from £2000! So I opted for a 2012 rear shock replacement as I'd heard these were of much better build quality. Took my blade to Lancaster Honda and for £300 they fitted the shock, sorted the forks and set the bike up. The work was carried out by a guy named Jeff who apparently races in his spare time so should be reasonably competent. No problems with his part in this although Lancaster Honda did manage to give me the wrong key for my bike on collection and lost my original 08 rear shock! Took the blade out for the first time today and on the way up to the motorway the only difference I noticed was it's a little smoother on well surfaced roundabouts. Met up with the lads and we headed for some bumpy roads over Quernmore (Trough of Bowland). That's when I noticed the difference, the way it handled the rough surface, re-settling itself much quicker than before. Travelling at a quick pace I found myself leaning further and more confidently. The key to evaluating the upgrade is to ride very familiar roads as your brain sub-conciously knows how it normally feels. So feeling chuffed with myself I press on. Very soon I forget all about the upgrade, then when I remember, I wonder if I've wasted my money. Not so, as when I think about it my tyres show I've been right over with no issues and when the other guys complained of rough roads I didn't think they were so bad. I've felt extremely confident all day, even on right handers (I prefer left) and And7rp2 even told me my arse end looked sweet!.............Oooeeerrrr!! So the conclusion is for £300 set up fee and £140 for a second hand, little used rear shock off Ebay, I now have a bike that handles sweet. Although I must add that I'm measuring this against an 08 blade that could have had the same service done using it's original shock and may well have had the same outcome! Personally I think it's money well spent and far more useful than an aftermarket can or bits of carbon. We all know that riding well or fast is mostly down to confidence and that's what I've gained.......Job done!
Great honest feedback mate, going to stick one on mine, together with the internals done, see how I get on with that for staters
Think I'm considering this too done a few miles now and could do with a refresh. Might upgrade the forks to 2012 BPF at some point too, anyone got any tips fitting to a 2009 ABS?
Thanks for the report mate. Looks like a solid investment if it gains confidence, which is what we are all after when it comes to handling.
The rear shock fits straight in mate, with no issues. I'd guess you'd need the front yokes or have the ones on your bike machined out to suit.
Fitting the fronts sounds like a ball ache, for some reason I thought it was a retro fit, might just do an internal upgrade instead.
The 2012 forks fit straight onto a 2008 - 2011 blade with no issues. I managed to fit a pair in a couple of hours taking my time to save scratching the anodized coatings. Depending on which bolts you have fitted on the lower triple clamp you might have to remove the front fairing. I had normal hex nuts and I could get a spanner if without too many problems. There would be less room with hex head allen bolts. Got to agree totally with the comments on the rear shock they are great for the road and do a great job of controlling the rear end. The 2012 forks are also very good and give you shed loads of confidence braking late into bends.
Agree with all that's been said. I am no suspension expert but the difference is like night and day. I am comparing 13000 miles on my 09 to 1000 miles on my 12.
So would you say the big chance that you noticed is that the rebound is much better over the 08 shock ?? I would like to think the reason you had such a smooth ride is down to the new shock but i think the fact you know that road inside out will have been a massive help. But saying that when andy came surging up the inside of me into a right bend his bike seemed to hardly move at all where as i was going a good few mph slower and i was being bounced around like crazy and lost count how many times i crushed my nuts on the tank
But saying that when andy came surging up the inside of me into a right bend his bike seemed to hardly move at all where as i was going a good few mph slower and i was being bounced around like crazy and lost count how many times i crushed my nuts on the tank[/QUOTE] That's because I'm a fair bit heavier than you ( fat b'tard ) and the bike just doesn't move under me !! P.s. hope the overtake wasn't too bad ?
maybe i should of had double sausage and chips at hawes then and i might have gone a little faster no the overtake was fine, you were on the wrong side of the road anyway so you gave me plenty of room lol, it was quite impressive to watch some of you fast boys yesterday but i just wasnt prepared to push on blind bends that i didnt know as i had only been on that road 1 time before. it did make me realise just how much of a marketing gimmick "fast road/track day" tyres really are as those pilot road 3 tyres you were on clearly give all the grip you could ever need on the road
Fez, the fact that I know the road was a bonus because I have a static reference point with which to measure my smoothness. It isn't just down to the rebound setting, it's a combination of rebound, preload and compression set up by someone who knows what they are doing. Even he tells me this is a rough guide and is open to fine tuning. Believe me Fez I was still feeling the bumps in the road, I just felt that the bike was now coping better with them and instilling more confidence in me. Also when you follow someone they almost always look smoother than you feel!
the rear shock is certainly an area i would like to upgrade but i did notice yesterday that i felt a slight hint of brake fade as i was pinning it in a straight line and then scrubbing of lots of speed before the bends as i just dont know the road well enough and also quite a worrying vibration for the first 2-3 seconds whilst apply reasonable pressure on the brake lever so my initial interest is to look at getting the brakes a good service or maybe look at upgrading to some swanky brembo stuff i have also been looking at bi-turbo and k-tech as an upgrade to the rear shock but not sure how these would compare to the 2012 shock and i cant afford ohlins
Exactly why I have them fitted! Brucie Bonus is they are also miles better in damp/wet/greasy conditions than 'Fast Road/Track Day' rubber but also last 3-6K where as the super sticky stuff is fecked by 1K and also needs to be kept up to temps to perform. Best Tread pattern by a country mile as well! Whats not to like?
Nothing wrong with my brakes Fez and I think yours is the same year. I don't even feel the need to fit braided hoses! I'd have the discs checked, calipers cleaned and new brake fluid added if I were you.
yeh thats why i think i will get them serviced first as i see loads of track blades and obviously superstock riders running a near to stock setup and that makes me think mine are certainly not as good as they should be, i really should let a more experienced rider have a quick ride and get there opinion
Sounds as though you may have warped discs there Fez Also my mate has just fitted those pilot 3's after watching Andy on the Scotland tour, and raving about them. Thing that impressed me the most with those tyres was when we pulled up at Inveraray in the pissin rain and the amount of steam coming off of those tyres was confidence inspiring in itself. You just know they were a league above the rest.
that was my initial thought colin but the vibration does go away after the first few seconds, surely if i had warped discs then it would happen all the the time i was on the brakes wouldnt it ? not just when the initial pressure is applied i am still heavily favouring the dunlop sportsmarts but that could yet change, the amount of rubber i shred from my drc's on sunday was quite alarming
