Front suspension swap

[Claviger]

I have been thinking over the front end of the R3R. I can't stand the front suspension, after swapping rear shocks the front feels both too harsh and too soft creating an overall loose feel.

Just wondering if anyone has gone down this road already.

Thinking of picking up a set of forks from an 07 Speed Triple. The triple tree mounting points are the same dianeter, not sure on length though.

Then I would grab a set of Brembo S3 calipers to fit the new radial mounts on the forks.

The three big variavariables I am not sure of are fork length, axle diameter, and brake rotor offset.

Anyone know if it us viable without a bunch of custom fabrication to make it work? If it is a straight bolt on its a pretty significant upgrade with minimal cost.

 

[TOMCAT]

Wilbers front end kit would be a far better option. I rode Ponters bike with the Wilbers kit , it's the most planted front end on any bike i've ever ridden, bar none. Speed Triple front end is way shorter than a Rockets for a starter. Anything is doeable i guess but i'd be going the Wilbers route , best $1,500 you'll spend on your bike

 

[Claviger]

Is the kit a retro-fit to the stock forks or full replacement? Do you get external adjustability? Not seen it before for sale, not sure if I can source it in the US.

Time to start looking.

 

[bill widrig]

check with RACE TECH...they have excellent suspension parts and services...they MIGHT have springs and valving kits for the r3...

 

[Claviger]

I spoke with them. They are willing to do it, but they have not done a roadster yet, so I would have to send the forks in as the guinea pig. The other issue is all adjustments are internal on their system making it almost pointless.

 

[TOMCAT]

I had RaceTech gold valves and springs on my last Harley , like you said need to be adjusted internally. Pain in the arse .. and you just end up giving up fiddling with set-up.
The Wilbers is a retro-fit kit, not a replacement front end .. be good if you could get a full Wilbers front end for $1,500

 

[Triple Trouble]

Progressive fork springs make a huge difference and is relatively cheap. Maybe combine that with a Wayne Tripp trick and you'll be good to go.
I'm off to bed soon but if you want to know more I'll be on some time tomorrow.

 

[Claviger]

I'm going to look into the Wilbers front end and see how it compares to the racetech full Monty setup. After reading the racetech info they have posted on damping rods etc, I can clearly feel what they mean about too little low speed damping and way too much high speed damping. Combined with the overly soft springs I have no confidence that a simple spring and oil swap will get what I want from the front end.

If the wilbers stuff can't be sourced here, I'll probably just end up doing the racetech emulators with 1kg springs installed at racetech.

Still don't like the ides of having to open up the forks to dial in the front end damping though, thus the ides of an S3 front end.

 

[zimtuff]

The Progressives are good value . After 45000klms mine are still good

 

[Speedy]

The R3 forks are internals are sh---t. The dampening is way too soft in both compression and rebound, as are the springs. Progressive springs may help but they too don't have sufficient rate until the very end of normal travel. The stock springs are .55k. You need upwards of 1.25 or more ( I have 1.3k in mine) provided you have sufficient dampening. I adapted adjustable Ducati dampers to my forks with top cap adjustment of compression and rebound and fit different Progressive spings to them. However, by the time I was finished I could have went for the Wilburs setup and saved time and money. However, the difference is amazing. My recommendation is to go with the Wilburs and forget about Progressives and RaceTech. These companys make some good products but the R3 is not something either one has designed product for so you get parts adapted from something else based on what fits in the R3 and their experience.
Sounds like Wilburs has this all worked out.