K Tech suspension upgrades?

[jmacas87]

anyone else running k techs? starting to research my options.

[twotone]

It's a bit of a gamble, KTEK is good stuff, being race oriented it may lean on the stiff side.

[jkraft]

It's a bit of a gamble, KTEK is good stuff, being race oriented it may lean on the stiff side.

Being adjustable I don't think that's a problem. I just revalved a customers SV Andreani cartridges as they were a little too plush.
Fit and finish on the K-Tech is higher as reflected in their price.
 

[pattonme]

The Andreani was too plush? That's gotta be a first.

[twotone]

The Andreani was too plush? That's gotta be a first.

 
Perhaps it had the right air gap

[jkraft]

The Andreani was too plush? That's gotta be a first.

Well I've done two of their SV kits and a Ducati scrambler and all needed to be a quarter to a half a turn out on both compression and rebound to get them firm.  Adding one more shim to each stack made a significant difference and a little more room for adjustability. While i was in there i machined the sealhead to accept a four pin cartridge tool to make future changes easier.
 

[twotone]

Do you mean a quarter to half turn IN? (Clockwise)
To get them firm. So adding shims stopped them from blowing through the stroke?
On the single function forks a little can make big difference.

[jkraft]

Do you mean a quarter to half turn IN? (Clockwise) To get them firm. So adding shims stopped them from blowing through the stroke?
On the single function forks a little can make big difference.

Very little damping until I closed the adjusters (clockwise to a stop) and then opened them a quarter to a half a turn (ccw) 

[pdt155]

So is the standard KTech Razor R shock the same one that AP Moto Arts sells with their linkage?

[mossrider]

So is the standard KTech Razor R shock the same one that AP Moto Arts sells with their linkage?

Yes.

[pattonme]

The K-tech shock comes in "street" and "race" with different spring ranges and valving. Be sure to specify which you want. Check the Shock options page for forum vendors who might be able to give you a price break.

[pdt155]

Yeah that's what I was getting at, if it is the same shock, I'd much rather support a forum vendor. I'll check out the shocks page.

[pdt155]

Whoops, forgot to say "Thank you everyone"!

[phm14]

I have the K Tech Razor Light, with Race Tech emulators in the forks, on my '21. The shock has good feel. For me, at 205 lbs no gear, I'm at 5 clicks out, of 35 clicks total. Race Techs recommendations were very close. When I added 5cc per leg, I lost travel, and took it back out, I did not need springs, and so far, the only deviation from their setup is that I have replaced 15cc of the 15w oil, with 30w, just to added a bit more damping. Will do more testing over 3 days riding the Three Sisters here in Texas for a few days. The bike felt ~90% there last ride, and I'm confident the set up will yield good results, especially for the ~$750 usd I have invested. Feels like a different bike. My only concern was the smaller shock piston, from a durability & heat standpoint, but time will tell on that. Anyone had any failures with their K Tech shock?

Edited October 13, 2021 by phm14

[PMT-07]

On 10/13/2021 at 9:13 AM, phm14 said:

I have the K Tech Razor Light, with Race Tech emulators in the forks, on my '21. The shock has good feel. For me, at 205 lbs no gear, I'm at 5 clicks out, of 35 clicks total. Race Techs recommendations were very close. When I added 5cc per leg, I lost travel, and took it back out, I did not need springs, and so far, the only deviation from their setup is that I have replaced 15cc of the 15w oil, with 30w, just to added a bit more damping. Will do more testing over 3 days riding the Three Sisters here in Texas for a few days. The bike felt ~90% there last ride, and I'm confident the set up will yield good results, especially for the ~$750 usd I have invested. Feels like a different bike. My only concern was the smaller shock piston, from a durability & heat standpoint, but time will tell on that. Anyone had any failures with their K Tech shock?

How are you liking the k tech lite? I’ve been eyeing it for my 19 mt. 

[phm14]

The K Tech has been set and forget for 1440 miles now. Recommended settings were very close, with a few clicks of added damping. I'm getting good travel, with the dust seal stopping ~5mm from the bump stop on the shock shaft, after the last ride. Bike power wheelies over a steep railroad crossing and comes down smooth and controlled, where the stock stuff just slammed me down on the back side of the hump. Just checked for leaks (none), and it's 2 lbs lighter than the stock unit. I've done suspensions on cars, bikes, MTBs over the years, but don't recall getting more improvement for the buck. Best $750 of suspension money I've probably ever spent, and I've installed a lot of high end parts. As far as I'm concerned, for my use of this bike, the suspension is done, unless I start using the bike for a different type of riding. Honestly, you could put more money into it, and not get any more improvement, or even less. For most, I think suspension is the 1st thing to set up on the MT07. Mine rides better now, than a premium factory set up would likely have, under my 220lbs, so I'm way ahead on the money . Any problems develop with the K Tech, I'll post up. Now I need to sort out my KTM 500 suspension...

[cornerslider]

On 10/13/2021 at 8:13 AM, phm14 said:

I have the K Tech Razor Light, with Race Tech emulators in the forks, on my '21. The shock has good feel. For me, at 205 lbs no gear, I'm at 5 clicks out, of 35 clicks total. Race Techs recommendations were very close. When I added 5cc per leg, I lost travel, and took it back out, I did not need springs, and so far, the only deviation from their setup is that I have replaced 15cc of the 15w oil, with 30w, just to added a bit more damping. Will do more testing over 3 days riding the Three Sisters here in Texas for a few days. The bike felt ~90% there last ride, and I'm confident the set up will yield good results, especially for the ~$750 usd I have invested. Feels like a different bike. My only concern was the smaller shock piston, from a durability & heat standpoint, but time will tell on that. Anyone had any failures with their K Tech shock?

I had two failures of the main seal, on two different Razor "Lite" shocks in the last year (each of them was on a different Yamaha R3). I also had the bracket fail on my K-Tech Razor "R" on my FZ-07 (the one that holds the remote reservoir onto the frame). When that failed, the reservoir/hose fell onto the chain for a couple laps (wearing a hole in it). It got pretty "bouncy" after that !!!! K-Tech has a "known problem" with the main seal on the Razor "lite", (but only in cold climates). It seems that during the manufacturing process, they did't put enough lube on the inside if the seal. When it gets cold, the seal gets stiff, and tears. I'm not too happy with K-Tech at the moment...... Between my wife and I, we have four bikes with K-Tech shocks (all less than 2 years old), and 3 out out of the 4 have had problems. They covered the first seal that failed on the Razor "lite", but would NOT cover the repair of the Razor "R" on my FZ-07. I'm taking the second Razor "Lite" to my suspension guy today. Hopefully K-Tech will make good on it. I think they make a pretty good product. Hopefully, I just had some bad luck-

[phm14]

Just now, cornerslider said:

I had two failures of the main seal, on two different Razor "Lite" shocks in the last year (each of them was on a different Yamaha R3). I also had the bracket fail on my K-Tech Razor "R" on my FZ-07 (the one that holds the remote reservoir onto the frame). When that failed, the reservoir/hose fell onto the chain for a couple laps (wearing a hole in it). It got pretty "bouncy" after that ">!!!! K-Tech has a "known problem" with the main seal on the Razor "lite", (but only in cold climates). It seems that during the manufacturing process, they did't put enough lube on the inside if the seal. When it gets cold, the seal gets stiff, and tears. I'm not too happy with K-Tech at the moment...... Between my wife and I, we have four bikes with K-Tech shocks (all less than 2 years old), and 3 out out of the 4 have had problems. They covered the first seal that failed on the Razor "lite", but would NOT cover the repair of the Razor "R" on my FZ-07. I'm taking the second Razor "Lite" to my suspension guy today. Hopefully K-Tech will make good on it. I think they make a pretty good product. Hopefully, I just had some bad luck-

I can only say that I'm happy with the performance of the K Tech, at this point, for the road riding I do. I made it a point to check both the shock, and the mileage, so readers would know that my shock has less than 1500 miles-not many miles for a street shock. I've always been happy with Ohlins, but they're not perfect either, and availability, at the time, left very limited options. I appreciate your posting your experience. Was the shock out of warranty on the second failure? I agree that it would have been best, if K Tech had reset your warranty clock, on the problem units, after the 1st failure-you were obviously inconvenienced quite a bit, with a 75% failure rate on the 4 shocks you guys bought from them. Do you have an idea of how low temps have be, before seal failure accelerates? Do you know a ballpark average mileage on the shocks, when the seals failed?  Anyone know of a good suspension guy in the Houston area that can fix the seal issue, if I have a seal failure? Please update us on the results you get with your suspension guy. What's does he charge for the work?

Edited February 20, 2022 by phm14

[cornerslider]

13 hours ago, phm14 said:

I can only say that I'm happy with the performance of the K Tech, at this point, for the road riding I do. I made it a point to check both the shock, and the mileage, so readers would know that my shock has less than 1500 miles-not many miles for a street shock. I've always been happy with Ohlins, but they're not perfect either, and availability, at the time, left very limited options. I appreciate your posting your experience. Was the shock out of warranty on the second failure? I agree that it would have been best, if K Tech had reset your warranty clock, on the problem units, after the 1st failure-you were obviously inconvenienced quite a bit, with a 75% failure rate on the 4 shocks you guys bought from them. Do you have an idea of how low temps have be, before seal failure accelerates? Do you know a ballpark average mileage on the shocks, when the seals failed?  Anyone know of a good suspension guy in the Houston area that can fix the seal issue, if I have a seal failure? Please update us on the results you get with your suspension guy. What's does he charge for the work?

It sounds like K-Tech will be covering the blown seal..... If you are from TX, I doubt you have anything to worry about. I'm in MN, and it gets REALLY cold here. My understanding, is the seals don't fail from riding in the cold. They fail from being stored in the cold. The milage on the two shocks that blew seals was drastically different- one had 300 miles on it, the other had 5K on it. Most racers get their shocks rebuilt every year. I get all my shocks serviced/rebuilt every two years. I think it's usually $125-$150 per shock? Luckily, K-Tech has covered all parts & labor on the blown seals. It's just been frustrating having to juggle bikes around for prepaid track days-

[phm14]

5 hours ago, cornerslider said:

It sounds like K-Tech will be covering the blown seal..... If you are from TX, I doubt you have anything to worry about. I'm in MN, and it gets REALLY cold here. My understanding, is the seals don't fail from riding in the cold. They fail from being stored in the cold. The milage on the two shocks that blew seals was drastically different- one had 300 miles on it, the other had 5K on it. Most racers get their shocks rebuilt every year. I get all my shocks serviced/rebuilt every two years. I think it's usually $125-$150 per shock? Luckily, K-Tech has covered all parts & labor on the blown seals. It's just been frustrating having to juggle bikes around for prepaid track days-

Interesting. As expensive as track days are (~$500 per day at COTA, garage not included), I'd consider investing in some back up shocks, if I were tracking as much as it sounds like you & your Wife are. Never heard of the cold temp storage issue, but there's always more to learn! Got my 1st bike 45 years ago, and the damn things still put a shet eating grin on my face, every time I ride.  $150 sounds like a fair deal for service. Hopefully, you'll get better results with the rebuilt units.