K-Tech SSRK cartridge kit adjustments

SonoraMike

2StrokeAddict
Have a set of K-Tech SSRK cartridges in my 07 R1 that I'd like to understand how to tune and adjust, but there is zero information out there online about them

Anybody help out with info/link/etc?
 

stangmx13

not Stan
SSRK is a piston kit, not carts. Are u sure you have that product? Do u have stock fork caps?

What do u want to tune and adjust? You can problem get the manual that came with the parts by emailing OrientExpress. That will prob have some base setting in it. Other than that, recommendations for how to tune the clickers or preload apply to all forks. It doesn’t matter who made the pistons.

If you want more specific info like damping curves, I don’t think u can get it. I’ve tried a few times to get that info from a few sources and got nothing.
 

SonoraMike

2StrokeAddict
SSRK is a piston kit, not carts.

you are correct, checked the box and it says piston kit.

Are u sure you have that product?
yes, product box in hand

Do u have stock fork caps?

yes

What do u want to tune and adjust?

Feel - don't feel like I'm getting enough feedback from the front end and I want to understand what adjustments are available, and how the adjustments will affect handling and feel. Right now I have "black magic" installed in my forks, and I need to remove that dynamic by learning about them.

You can problem get the manual that came with the parts by emailing OrientExpress. That will prob have some base setting in it. Other than that, recommendations for how to tune the clickers or preload apply to all forks. It doesn’t matter who made the pistons.
I'll give that a go

If you want more specific info like damping curves, I don’t think u can get it. I’ve tried a few times to get that info from a few sources and got nothing.
appreciate the response
 

stangmx13

not Stan
no guide, manual, or tutorial is going to allow u to fully understand how adjustment affect handling and feel. I can tell u that "more compression damping will make the forks feel like XXXX". you might even be able to guess what I mean. but u won't really know until you do it yourself. on top of that "wanting more feedback" is vague. u won't find a guide that says "do XYZ for more feedback". so theres plenty to learn before a guide is all that helpful.

the best way u can learn is by changing something yourself and doing back-to-back test rides. find yourself a short 5-10min loop and run it once. then change one thing and run it again. did u feel a change? if not, change that thing more. if yes, was it better? if it was better, change it more still. if it was worse, go the other way. do this for one adjuster until you are satisfied its as good as its going to get. then pick another adjuster and do the same. repeat as necessary.

if I were u, id start with the fork compression adjuster. try a 1-turn change and find what u like best
 

SonoraMike

2StrokeAddict
are there no adjustment points available on the piston kits? I can handle standard fork adjustments, but I'm under the impression that the pistons are adjusted in a certain fashion on install, which is the black magic I'm trying to get info on
 

stangmx13

not Stan
are there no adjustment points available on the piston kits? I can handle standard fork adjustments, but I'm under the impression that the pistons are adjusted in a certain fashion on install, which is the black magic I'm trying to get info on

piston == valve

an adjustment at the piston is called a revalve. a tuner could change the valve shims to produce a different damping curve. its the same with any cartridge forks. thats it. there is no other adjustment.

IMO, K-tech does a good job with their out-of-the-box settings for their fork products. I've run 2 diff fork carts from them on diff bikes and never had to mess with damping adjustments, nor had to revalve. so I suspect that the valving and damping curves for your piston kit are pretty damn close for most track riders. and I'd also guess that whoever installed your piston kit did not change the valving.
 

SonoraMike

2StrokeAddict
I confirmed all of the above with Skip @ Orient earlier this morning.

Not sure why I had it in my head that they were adjustable (more than the shim stack) but this makes more sense now. Occams razor and all that....

Going to pull the forks anyway and reconfirm that the air gap/oil height is correct at 100mm

Thanks
 

stangmx13

not Stan
what do u mean "air gap is correct at 100mm"? who gave u that number? if thats the OEM recommendation, its likely shit for track use.

standard practice for using stock fork cartridges at the track is to get in-range springs, disable the oil-lock if it exists, and run a larger air gap. this should give more feel on the brakes and allow u to use more travel.

u should prob start working with a good race suspension tuner. if u can find one that has personal experience with your R1, that'd be great. they'll have baseline numbers for ride-heights, air gap, spring rates, preload, everything. and those numbers are way better than just guessing.
 
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