- Joined
- Apr 21, 2014
- Messages
- 689
- Location
- Chilliwack, BC, Canada
Comparing the price of a revalve + spacers to the cost of entire new suspension units is a liiiiittle bit apples to oranges I'd price it based on 1.: materials used, 2.: time spent, and 3.: compensation for expertise. Parts cost a few bucks; It takes an expert way less than a full day to revalve and lower front and rear. Then you add the cost of expertise and friendly service So the $1000 may be a good deal depending on what you get, but I just want to say that it's FOR SURE possible to do it for much less! Good-quality lowered suspension doesn't have to cost $1000!
(I really really hope I don't come across as pooh-pooing LadyBerg's choice of suspension service!! I have the feeling I do; I apologise and ask for understanding that English is not my native language and I have some trouble with the nuances of diplomacy )
But most importantly:
REVALVING IS NOT DONE BY DRILLING! It is done by carefully replacing and reordering a few metal shims inside your dampers; That set of shims is determined by extensive simulation with advanced software and thorough discussion
And revalving IS NOT guesswork.
The elements of suspension damping are very simple. However: the hydraulic calculations in practice are very complex, so it's very hard to intuit what's going on inside the dampers. BUT!! There is computer simulation that does this for us!
This means that a DIY revalve *is* reasonable and within the realm of mortals. Same goes for lowering.
DIY revalving goes like this: Someone measures the suspension internals, and inputs them into Shim Restackor. Simulations are run. Then by looking at the graphs and discussing ideas, people come up with ideas for new valve stacks with better behavior. These are run in the simulator. Then when the community feels they have a stack worth trying - and the Shim Restackor simulator is really very good and deep! - someone puts it in their bike. The process involves ordering some shims online, opening up the dampers front or rear, unscrewing the damping valve and replacing and reordering shims. Assemble, test on a stationary bike, then go for a careful test ride.
Please try a stock valved DR-Z. Designed by engineers. Then please try a correctly done DIY revalved DR-Z. The latter is obviously MUCH SAFER. The market DOES NOT capture engineers' expertise in suspension, but rather optimizes towards the customers' lack of experience and judgement, and poor official evaluation of suspension safety in practice. I'm SURE the engineers would like to put better suspension in stock bikes. In practice the beancounters win.
I have to state it again: REVALVING IS NOT DRILLING ANYTHING. It's not sailing blind either!
I have read allot on people opening ports by drilling as per the point I was getting across what you read and what actually happens is a whole different story. Yes you can throw the figures into a calaulator but this is just a guess to how you ride and if it will work for you and yes for the average person this will cost as per the person setting it up. It takes allot to set a bike up for each individual person as we all ride different and are different weights ect. so what is good for one is not good for another. A oem bike is set up to work for the general population and when you change it by backyarding most of the time riders have no idea for the most part and just go with it. As for the DRZ only one model DRZ is sold as a motard bike and this has a different set up than the dual purpose bikes. Even with this they are a base dual purpose trail bike and an entry level bike with ****** components as per the price. No such thing as a dual purpose as you cant have both worlds and work great in all situations. With the price it captures a big crowd as after motarding it still comes in at the same cost as a high end bike. Cheap machine that is easy to motard and with that said when they are motarded they must be reworked. We cant even compare the drz suspension to a husa with WP as the WP parts are worth more than the whole DRZ. I wouldn't ever think of going into a serious single track trail on a DRZ as it would be an unsafe practice. Now to put up a logging road and go to the local starbucks maybe.