XT660Z: Do I REALLY need new suspension?
 

Call me fussy, but I like a bike with a responsive steering...not that I race, but to me there is a confidence-inspiring of a front tire that tracks in a turn. And my Ten sadly lacks that. I also hear the rear shock can use a bit of beefing up.

So I am seeking opinions as to whether I should tweak that suspension or not. I use the bike for daily commute and loaded solo adventures.

~CW

I can't help you with your question... I can give you my thoughts and experiences though.

I swapped out the front springs for HyperPro's, new heavier oil and some different pre-load settings. The Hypro springs are also longer than the OE springs so the spacer comes out too. (its all in the kit and with full instructions)

In my opinion, the bike was transformed into a bike that tracks better, brakes better and doesn't wash out at the front on loose stuff as much. There is much less front end dive which means more stability in heavy breaking.

I was so impressed I replaced the rear spring with a HyperPro, there was a difference but not as marked as the front. Personally, I wouldn't run a Tenere on OE springs, but rather than replace the OE rear, I'd be more inclined to swap the entire spring/damper out - which I'll probably do in the near future anyway.

Are the murky waters of suspension set up..:014:

Theres not a lot yer can do with the shock... It is what it is...
It dosn't matter what spring yer put on it..the damping is just
not able to control it..

The front end , there are a few options other than full replacement..
As stated new springs & heavyer oil... but the best is a set of Gold valves.
You do have to pull the forks apart & drill the holes in the damping rods so they no longer work.. then all the compression & rebound damping
is then done by the gold valves.. they are adjustable for compression & re-bound damping..

Have you set the sag ?... most people don't.. use it as it comes..
or they set it for the least amount of compression when they sit on
the bike... Suspenion has to be able to travel in both directions..
so for a bike with around 225mm 9" of travel you should have about 75mm of sag when seated or 30/35% of travel..

trying to set the sag is quick easy indicator to find out if the bike is sprung correctly for you & and any extra weight you carry..

+1 Start with the "free-to-do" stuff!

After that, the world's your oyster - you can spend thousands and thousands if you feel the need, or you can spend relatively little on springs, fork oil, adjustable links etc; combining these with careful setup and things will improve. Let's face it, any improvement (big or small, expensive or cheap) will make the suspension better on an XT!

Suspension is very personal, everyone rides different, weighs in differently, lives in different climates with different terrains blah, blah blah... - the only person who can possibly know what you want to achieve is you ( well, you and your wallet!) ;)

Or you can just be like me... Come from a TTR and a YZF and with my limited exposure.... Think the XTZ rides like a limousine!!
;)
Matt

Nice comments so far. All very useful.

First will be the free stuff: preload, oil.

But still interested in different linear front springs, can you please share the model of hyper pros?

Also I did a gold valve job for an old klr and it was fantastic. If you know the model (I take it this is race tech you are talking about) that would also help.

And if anyone of you are Aussies, names of dealers and source would help.

Alain


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

I fitted Heavier front springs, Teknik V4S valve and modified the damper rod to suit the V4S valves. I also fitted a heavier rear shock spring and had Teknik revalve the shock to suit the heavier shock spring. With these mods done the bike is completely different to ride and it now is how it should have been from the factory. The heavier springs are for my weight as recommended by Teknik. I first rode the bike with the heavier rear shock spring but the shock was not revalved and the damping was not enough to control the heavier spring, I then sent the shock to Teknik to be revalved and the result was a shock that controls the spring correctly and a bike that handles extremely well.

I was very sceptic about exchanging properly working parts on the Tenere (by that I mean rear suspension) and now I am in big doodoo. The rear gave up after riding through Kazakhstan (I am in Semey now). The bike has 23000. Completely no damping, I ride now only on the spring. I ordered new Wilbers shock, but it will only wait for me in Ulaanbaatar. I will be there in two weeks time, so I guess I just have to ride slower... :banghead:
Now I regret that I've not changed before the trip...
Sent from my GT-I9100G

I am about to prepare my Z for a long overland tour - starting this coming summer - and I would like to treat my Z with some upgrades. And for what I understand the suspension is a weak point that could use some aftermarket stuff.

What would you suggest that I do with the rear suspension? A totally new one? If so - what brand is recommended? �hlins, Wilbers, Hyperpro etc?

And what about the front? Will new springs and oil do the trick? And what brand do you suggest?

Thanks in advance!

Hey everyone,

I've moved from exhaust to suspension, and in the spirit of saving money but making improvements I'm thinking of getting �hlins fork springs and a hyper pro rear spring. Will there be a problem operating these two together?

I appreciate it is not ideal but spending money on a new rear shock would limit by ability to travel and make use of the bike!

Thanks in advance XT660!

I fitted Ohlins springs and Teknik T-Valves (Gold Valves) to the front. The transformation was amazing, but soon showed up the limitations of the rear end which would bottom out savagely when the bike was loaded up.

Next I fitted a Yacugar shock and spring to the rear and the bike now behaves as it should, with the most noticeable improvement being able to carry higher speeds into rutted corners and braking later. Accelerating out of rutted corners has also improved with the bike now able to get the power down, whereas previously it would just tramp all over the place.

You soon accept these improvements until you are caught out at high speed hitting a deep rut lurking in the shadows as I was yesterday...Previously it would have been a near death experience..not anymore, the bike just soaks it up and continues in a straight line...

Unfortunately the dream set up will remain a dream for now. I'm not racing, I'm just heavy and the current setup is quite tired.

It's a world of difference... Did you get Nick at Teknik to do the work or all yourself.
Matt.

Did it all myself....

Bought the T-Valves from Teknik and fitted them along with the springs . Required some engineering skills but nothing beyond a "handy" rider.

Also purchased the Yacugar from Teknik. Fitting the shock and setting up was pretty much plug and play.

The Yacugar shock comes stock with a heavy spring...suited my requirements perfectly.

Is the Yacugar rear spring worth considering as a budget addition to the standard shock?

Yacugar and Hyperpro are the same products just in a different colour and a different box!

Fitting a HP/Yacugar spring only to the shock will improve things in terms of holding up the rear end, especially if you got too much sag with the made-of-cheese stock spring. A fair few members have done it, but it isn't going to do anything for the poor damping qualities of the OE shock, in fact it'll probably exacerbate the problem.

A Hyperpro Sport YA06/Yacugar ER-S is a good shock at a reasonable price and gives a huge improvement over stock in both springing and damping departments. I use one in conjunction with linear Ohlins springs and T-Valves up front.

xtr
 

Hi
I've been looking at these http://firefoxracing.co.uk/ YSS

3 for the xtr

std at �250
valved �360
External res �500

full front suspension revamp �200

great reports on http://earth-roamers.blogspot.co.uk/...-12000-km.html

for the same price are top end ohlins or whilber you can have the whole bike sorted.... it'd be night and day in difference.

I already have hyperpro rear spring and hyperpro front with heavier oil... very bg improvement but very little dampening..

firefox...

They make to measure and seem like they know what they are doing.

Firefox Racing
Waddington Street
Keighley
West Yorkshire
BD21 5LP

01535 606200

Taking mine in Febuary for the middle rear shock and front re work.

I have to take my raising links off and he'll hand make to suit my size and weight..


cant wait. :)

�hlin suspension
 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/19aid4a2vu...28.48.jpg?dl=0

I was considering to change my XTZ-08 (30000kms, Owened from new) for a KTM 690. Basically because of the poor Off-Road behaviour (I work as Bike mechanic and rides different bikes every day).

But a change like this is quite costly: Either I by a new bike, knowing there are no problems from poor maintenance ot hard riding or I by a used one with risk of the above ( I see to many used 1-2 years old, 3000 km bikes that are badly worn..)

So I decided to spend money and bought the �hlin shock and fork springs wich I just installed.

Test run Gravel road and offroad: I've got a completely new bike! It feels small and flexible like my 250 KTM Enduro.

So in comparision with the cost of buying another bike I must say that the ~ 1000 EU I spent on suspension was cheap!

I also just learned that there is soon an Cartridge Emulator soon available for the XTZ.... just waiting

Hello all
Check the Teknik web page & look up Xt660z for heaps of good info & videos. I have just done the stage 1 & the improvement is great. Money well spent

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

no, IMO you do not need new suspension! I have 2015 model and after setting the sag properly suspension is very good for my weight of 230lb. FYI I ride tenere like dirt bike, heavy off-road and no problems at all. I just don't understand why people change thing which works fine, just for sake of doing mods :Christo_pull_hair:

Sorry...
but

230lbs and yer got the sags correct with the standard yamaha springs....
tell yer this for free they are NOT correct...
35mm static " bike under it's own weight "
33% rider " with rider standing on the pegs "
Sitting moves the rider weight bias rearwards and ligthens
the front...


..

I'm with Petenz here. My shock was nothing short of dismal - springing too soft and very under-damped.

Best thing I've done to my bike: an Ohlins shock.

Hi Mudcrawler,
Which emulator were you waiting for? Who is making one for the xtz?

I am using the V4S valves (emulators) from Teknik Motorsport in Australia on my XTZ. Can't fault them. An infinite improvement over the stock damping.

I bought a yss rear and hyperpro with heavier oil and a spacer. The yss has been great and took some real hammer. Night and day in performance both on and off road.
Cheaper option yss than ohlins by quite a margin too.

Very good. I have the abs model, and I'm not sure they supply shocks for those. what I saw from Teknik said no abs...... That was the Yacugar ones.. Guess I'll just have to ask them.

For overlanding reliability usualli us is a focus point. So for the rear shock i would definititely recommend a shock with a gas reservoir. (see example of different types http://hyperpro.com/shocks/ )

The entry level aftermarkets are emulsion shocks, are not so suitable for race of offroad use. Shocks work harder under these conditions. Emulsion can't cope with that.

The advantage of a shock with a gas reservoir is that the temperature stays lower and the internal pressure is lower, which in turn prevents your seals from overheating and crapping out.

Another advantage is better damping charactaristics.
Disadvantage is the higher price.

But for overlander, i'd spend some extra if you'll be living in the bike... :)

For the fork i think a nice start will be springs and oil depending on your budget you can take it from there.

Thanks for the advices. However my questions about suspension was posted about two years ago and upgrades were done just a few weeks later. Did new springs and oil in the fork and new rear shock - but without a reservoir. No point throwinh pearls at a pig....
Found it to be adequate improvements.

Hi @nethen, which shock from YSS did you installed on your xt660z?
How is shock's performance after 2 years?