Fitting Racetech Springs to my Z900RS | Tall, Heavy Rider

Was this the neatest job I've ever done? No. Definitely could have used more tools but it worked and the bike rides lovely.
To dodge the inevitable question, yes I could have ordered fork seals but I wanted to just push ahead and get the job done, if at a later date I need to do them I don't mind taking it all apart again :)
racetech.com/product-search/ is where I bought everything, and I paid for everything 100% myself.
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Bikes: Suzuki V-Strom 1000 2015
Honda CB750 Nighthawk 750 1997
Kawasaki Z900RS 2019
Honda Super Magna Vf750c 1987 (In Storage)
Suzuki GSX-R 750 SRAD 1996 (In Storage)
Gear: Street and Steel Anarchy 2 jacket
Lindstrand Jeans.
LS2 Storm(In Ireland) & HJC RPHA 11
Gloves: Lindstrad Orbital WP, Knox Orsa Leather Mk 2, Indie Ridge.
Boots: Oxford Continental WP Boots, Indie Ridge Commanches,
Indie Ridge Crows, Indie Ridge Crossfields.
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The legend that is Chewie! He made me some musica which I love :)
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Mental State: I don't own near enough bikes.
#Z900rs #racetech #diy

[@TheGorillaBiker]

This was not a difficult job really, just the fact you needed the second set of hands definitely made it slower in places than other jobs, I'm not used to needing a second person ever really. If you wanted to do this solo you'd just need to get a fork compressor stand. I didn't do the seals as they looked fine and I hadn't ordered them. Is this a job you'd tackle?

[@HippoDrones]

I'd need a fork compressor to do it myself as I don't have a Toaster sadly 😀

[@TheGorillaBiker]

@@HippoDrones I'll be honest, next time I do them I'll probably shell out for one anyway just so I have it, tools are investments :P

[@HippoDrones]

@@TheGorillaBiker mwore toooools! 😀

[@TheGorillaBiker]

@@HippoDrones the healthy way to live.

[@HippoDrones]

@@TheGorillaBiker we all need to take heed of this advice! 😀

[@markfortin8286]

Of the work I have done on bikes, the front forks made me the most nervous. I couldn't help worrying that the whole front end would randomly collapse mid-turn out on the road! It didn't, of course. Not having to change the seals is a huge bonus, too.

[@TheGorillaBiker]

Valve clearances for me, even though I've successfully done it on a lot of bikes now I always assume it's going to explode :D Yeah the seals being grand is lovely, that said other than the VStrom it's the newest bike I've ever had by......12 years :D So a lot less age on the rubber.

[@graemethompson]

I have always done my own maintenance and with that comes the struggles, frustrations and sometime mistakes but the also satisfaction of a job well done. It makes my biking affordable and each time I do even the smallest of jobs I take a well earned obligatory road test. Your video shows the journey of 'making it work' which I like. Thanks for posting it and now your bike is more 'yours'.

[@TheGorillaBiker]

Same, apart from the time Dean worked on my suspension, but I was there helping. Otherwise I've honestly never trusted anyone else, if I mess up doing it myself not like I can get angry. Set your own standards of work etc, and yes, it makes them far more affordable. Thanks!

[@callandy100]

Another good vid. OC - I like practical videos with basic tools. Having said that, you highlighted the benefits of extra tools (damper rod etc) which are worth the investment if you want to undertake these jobs in the future. I am very wary of "idiot" channels and try to do my own due diligence (I rue the loss of the thumbs down counter as that at least gave a clue as to channel "integrity"). I'll be doing fork refurb so this was very useful and I'll be checking out tools beforehand as per your comments 😊. Cheers, Andy.

[@TheGorillaBiker]

Thanks Andy! Yes I'd always recommend getting the basic ones at least as you have them forever then! You're still saving a ball of money doing it yourself and tools are an investment :P Haha but I'm one of those :P I'm the same, I hate the loss of the downvotes tbh, it was a hell of a lot better. Enjoy! I have other video showing seal replacement etc also :)

[@BigBert]

Much more enjoy practical repair and maintenance videos, great job 😎👌

[@TheGorillaBiker]

I am glad :D Thank you good sir :)

[@lindsayselby3647]

Hats off to you for giving it a go and a successfully out come .Now you have learned a new skill .Just do the things by the numbers and if it gets to much walk away come back in a calm state of mind and it will come together .Love your videos .

[@TheGorillaBiker]

Thanks!! :) Yes indeed, I've always been a patience type of person when working on stuff, which is odd as I am a very impatient person generally. I will invest in a little fork stand next time though, that'd be a nice to have. Thank you!! Glad you like them :)

[@byDanimal]

That's a lot of work! I'm just going to come over and let you help me with mine when I need to do it 🤣

[@TheGorillaBiker]

Sounds good to me! I miss working on friends bikes.

[@jdh4041]

just watched the last couple of videos back to back, excellent mate👍. really looking forward to the video on your thoughts regarding the ECU and the suspension mod's, hopefully that will be a bit of a ride out vid. also as we have said before sometimes we don't have all of the tools but do the best we can with what we have. I'm the same as you and have all the basic tools plus a few extra like a torque wrench etc. sometimes i take my bikes to the dealership/ motorbike shop and sometimes i do the jobs myself. lucky enough iv been around engineering most of my working life so pretty handy with a spanner. keep up the good work mate 👍cheers john.

[@TheGorillaBiker]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed them :) I've ridden it plenty since I've just been riding with my wife so I wasn't recording :) I have plenty coming tho :) I've honestly never trusted anyone except the lads in Freeman's motorcycles to touch my bikes, sadly every car mechanic I've ever tried to trust so I can be lazy has not done the job to the standard I'd do even with my limited tools and skills so I just avoid them now. Haha it certainly helps eh! Thanks!

[@HippoDrones]

Nicely done Michael 🙂

[@TheGorillaBiker]

Thank you kind sir :)

[@stephencartwright5046]

I like a bit of improvisation. I did get confused about the plastic spacer 🤔 Did Racetech specify shortening it? As you delve deeper into the internals the need for more specialised tools increases but I think it is better to learn what is possible with basic equipment. Will you be doing a video about how effective / beneficial the mods have been? Another interesting video. Thank you. 👍

[@TheGorillaBiker]

They did not but it would have been way too much preload on the new spring, they specify 15mm which shortening it gave me almost exactly and kept my stock length correct etc. I mean I don't plan on every revalving the stock internals etc so this is enough for me really. I don't think my talent requires that level :D Absolutely! Thanks! :)

[@gregbrassington2120]

Love the channel. Question for you ,your pit bull hed stem paddock stand would you know what size pin is on it I have just purchased a 2024 z900rs SE. Help appreciated. 👍

[@TheGorillaBiker]

Thanks! I just went and measured it, 25.5mm is the outer diameter.

[@gregbrassington2120]

@@TheGorillaBiker thankyou for that info .😉👍

[@TheGorillaBiker]

@@gregbrassington2120 you're welcome

[@Ringer1982]

Hi, did you try it already? Is preload better now? I also replaced the front springs, but mine were the same length as the original. The once I used are from Hyperpro.

[@TheGorillaBiker]

Yes I have, do you mean the feel and travel? Yes it's better now as the springs are the correct weight for me. Did they give you a linear spring rate or were the just standard progressive springs?

[@Ringer1982]

@@TheGorillaBiker yes the progressive springs.

[@TheGorillaBiker]

@@Ringer1982 Progressive springs are fine for the road but you'll never get the feel and performance for track use out of them imo. That's why I went with linear springs :)