Last year I got into track days and started out on a SV650. I recently moved up to a F4i prepped to CRA specs. The bike was built for a 185lb rider but I weigh 205 lbs.

I’ve got three track days on the bike. The first thing I noticed were how the Vortex clip-ons are mounted above the top triple clamp making the forks look like they’re raised 30mm. I expected this to make the bike twitchy, however I was surprised to find it drifts wide instead.

I don’t know what springs are in the shock or forks yet. Race Tech's online calculator recommends 1.0 kg fork springs and a 16.0 shock spring. I set the fork sag to 35mm and the shock sag at 30mm.

I don’t have the equipment to tear down the Penske shock but I’d like to do the forks. Are there any Must Read threads here or elsewhere specific to the F4i? I’m looking for things like baseline sag numbers, dampening settings, fork height, fork oil weight and level, shock length and recommended modifications.

Also, can anyone recommend a good shop near Springfield, MO? If not, what do you guys do? Box everything up and mail it to Traxxion?

Thanks for the help.
-Mark

 

The shop manual. Its around online if you look hard enough.

 

on the F4/i the clipons go on top of the triples

other than that I'm useless on this

 

I’d like to get a 2nd set of rims, too. Are all F4i rims the same, from ’01 to ’06?

 

yup, may have gotten a lil lighter but I doubt its enough to worry about.

 

Does anyone sell fork rebuild kits or do you have to order each part individually? Are F4i forks something the average Joe can rebuild himself? I set up the forks in my SV, but they're archaic damper rod forks. This cartridge stuff looks a little more complicated.

 

Sounds like that is a pretty sweet setup you got there. Are you sure it's just not you that needs to learn how to ride the bike better? Rather than tearing into the suspension, why not set your baseline and then go work on your skills.

 

I'm certain that the rear shock isn't right, I suspect the spring's too soft. Last weekend I got to ride it at a track I'm familiar with (Heartland Park Topeka). It wouldn't hold its line in the carrousel, which is a long, constant-radius, uphill left. The slightest amount of throttle would send it wide.

I think it's going to be an awesome track bike once it's set up for me (which is why I traded an '08 bike for it). I'm thinking of taking it to Cafe Racer, Inc in KC to have them help me with the suspension and check everything over. Anyone here have any experience with them?