Shock air balance kits

[hank43]

Anyone know where I can get an air balance kit for the rear shocks 2009 VV1700/ABS ?

hank43

[David (N. Alabama)]

Hey Hank. I haven't felt the need to get one because I set the bike up for riding two up with luggage and leave it at that. When I am solo I appreciate the extra lift on the rear which makes the bike turn in quicker and have better cornering clearance.

Here is how Gadget recommends doing it.

http://www.gadgetjq.com/airshockbalance.htm

[HMB Don]

Thanks David

I've been wanting this mod. Have your rear shocks softened up and with your mileage, with only 1900 miles mine are very firm, I'm using 25 lbs of air. I tryed 40 lbs but it was very harsh with the new seat.


Don Medina
President
NorCal Voyagers Club
AVA Board Member
AMA Charter Life Member

[David (N. Alabama)]

Thanks David

I've been wanting this mod. Have your rear shocks softened up and with your mileage, with only 1900 miles mine are very firm, I'm using 25 lbs of air. I tryed 40 lbs but it was very harsh with the new seat.


Don Medina
President
NorCal Voyagers Club
AVA Board Member
AMA Charter Life Member

I am running 30 lbs of air and have the rebound set on 2. I haven't noticed any change in handling the curves and I do stick to nice smooth roads when I am on the Voyager. At least as long as I remember to put the GPS on fastest instead of shortest distance. I definitely reserve shortest distance for the KLR or Versys.

[HMB Don]

The roads I've been riding a twisting back roads and sometimes not smooth. Rebound is set on #2 and this week I'm lowering the air pressure to 20 lbs Tire pressure of front 41 and rear 41. I only have one motorcycle and I'm trying to make it handle all road conditions.

Don Medina

[David (N. Alabama)]

I am running 36 front and 40 rear. You might want to bump down your pressures some since you are not riding around with max load on the tires.

I've taken the Voyager on some not so nice roads and I just don't like hearing all that bodywork vibrating around on rough roads. Back when I had the XII I decided if it didn't have painted lines I wasn't going on it unless I had to, and then I would be going slow.

[1st one]

I run 28 psi in front tire, 44 psi Avon Venom reinforced rear & rear shocks have 22lbs air damping set on 2 this is for one up. Two up damping goes to 3, then too 4 with 2 up & luggage.

[HMB Don]

I'll drop the front tire to 36 lbs and the rear to 40 lbs and the rear shock I'll go to 20 lbs on the rebound #2

[David (N. Alabama)]

I run 28 psi in front tire, 44 psi Avon Venom reinforced rear & rear shocks have 22lbs air damping set on 2 this is for one up. Two up damping goes to 3, then too 4 with 2 up & luggage.

How is the front tire holding up? How many miles on the bike? I know that is what Kawasaki recommends for the front tire but most feel that is to low a pressure for a bike this size. I sure would like to know their reasoning behind this recommended pressure. Grip in the turns? Compensating for too stiff a spring rate in the forks?

[1st one]

I run 28 psi in front tire, 44 psi Avon Venom reinforced rear & rear shocks have 22lbs air damping set on 2 this is for one up. Two up damping goes to 3, then too 4 with 2 up & luggage.

How is the front tire holding up? How many miles on the bike? I know that is what Kawasaki recommends for the front tire but most feel that is to low a pressure for a bike this size. I sure would like to know their reasoning behind this recommended pressure. Grip in the turns? Compensating for too stiff a spring rate in the forks?

With 28lbs in the front tire the front end rides a lot softer no hard jars directed up to the faring more contact surface on the road. There never has been any significant, or unusual tire wear just tread wear and minor cupping. For the record my second front tire (Metzler had 27,000 kms when it was replaced & it was still in a safe drivable condition between 4 & 5 32nd tread left. Now as far as mileage on the bike its at 51,000 kms. For the rear tires I will stay with Dunlop E3 or Avon Venom reinforced, nothing else.

[HMB Don]

I've now got 2k miles on the 1700, the tire is just beginning to show signs of cupping on both sides. With the 41 psi in the front it's not nice and soft anymore, at like the 1200 stock front end, very harsh. Since I've gotten the 1700 I've been riding a lot of winding roads, with 41 psi the front end doesn't feel vague at tip in. I'm beginning to have a lot more fun with it

Don Medina

[David (N. Alabama)]

I've now got 2k miles on the 1700, the tire is just beginning to show signs of cupping on both sides. With the 41 psi in the front it's not nice and soft anymore, at like the 1200 stock front end, very harsh. Since I've gotten the 1700 I've been riding a lot of winding roads, with 41 psi the front end doesn't feel vague at tip in. I'm beginning to have a lot more fun with it

Don Medina

I noticed when I had the Dunlop E3 on the front that the front end was too harsh and didn't absorb minor imperfections at all so I would watch my windshield vibrate up and down. Back with the Bridgestones and the ride is much better even with 36 PSI up front. I am seriously considering doing Gold Valve cartridge Emulators up front from Traxxion. They also do a full cartridge conversion but not sure if I will notice the difference in performance.

[Turbo4x4]

I think we're getting off the question the original poster intended. I too would be interested in anyone who has come up, or come out, with a air balance valve assembly for the 1700. Of course it's easily doable using an adapter kit designed for auto air shocks, but we need to see something clean, preferably something that someone has already installed, so we have an actual install to look at.

[hank43]

I think we're getting off the question the original poster intended. I too would be interested in anyone who has come up, or come out, with a air balance valve assembly for the 1700. Of course it's easily doable using an adapter kit designed for auto air shocks, but we need to see something clean, preferably something that someone has already installed, so we have an actual install to look at.

I think what I will do, is just make my own, when completed, I will share on this forum. Standby.....................