Gen 4: Picked up a shock

3244 Views 17 Replies 4 Participants Last post by 10Arghh, Mar 1, 2017

10Arghh

Discussion Starter · Feb 23, 2017

I believe it was previously used by a team in British Superbikes (maybe Buildbase) and has recently been refreshed.

Has some wear marks, but I'm just happy that it cost me less than half the RRP (RRP is around £1085 - $1360).

I also bought it as I hate the difficulty in adjusting the preload on horizontally mounted shocks.

Hoping to fit this weekend.

Some pics

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Carlos76

· #2 · Feb 23, 2017

BSB Buildbase shock raced with aftermarket swingarm and linkage.
Do you have info what linkage should be used with it?

mpp12

· #3 · Feb 23, 2017

the chance that that shock is setup to a normal link and normal arm is 0.0001%...

you should send it to a good tuner to get it dial to your bike...

10Arghh

Discussion Starter · #4 · Feb 23, 2017

Oh well. Know a good suspension shop that can sort it out.

Carlos76

· #5 · Feb 23, 2017

What rate spring you have?
What is the shock length, distance between bolt centers?

evallarta1

· #6 · Feb 24, 2017

First off congrats on a good find!

And don't let these guys scare you, this is getting way over thought. Put the shock on, take your time to feel/sort the shock out and go from there.

I'm one of the technical service centers/distributors for Bitubo in the US, so if you have any questions let me know and I'll see what I can do.

Good luck!

10Arghh

Discussion Starter · #7 · Feb 24, 2017

evallarta1 said:
First off congrats on a good find!

And don't let these guys scare you, this is getting way over thought. Put the shock on, take your time to feel/sort the shock out and go from there.

I'm one of the technical service centers/distributors for Bitubo in the US, so if you have any questions let me know and I'll see what I can do.

Good luck!

Thanks evallarta1.

Yes that was my plan...Fit it, set rear sag and then set damping to Bitubo base recommendations, then see what happens.

I will download the manual for the shock, but would you have any base damping settings you would recommend?

Thanks.

Carlos76

· #8 · Feb 24, 2017

That is not a good plan.
You save much time, wrenching and frustration if you simply set shock length and preload before installing, while on table.
Belive me there is reason to doubt that numbers on this BSB shock may not be in ballpark for stock bike.

If shock length is way off then you crank some unreasonable preload numbers just to get the bike steering (rear heigth).
Simply set length to 314mm (adjuster near top joint) and check that preload is not far away from 14mm (less for 120 spring, more for 95 spring). To have preload number you find out what is "free length spec" for this spring type and substract spring length "as is" on unloaded shock. Race shocks have stronger topout springs affecting sag much. You get preload number right and then there is no need to measure sag.

Stock link may work ok unless spring (and high speed valving) are light or/and you weight is high, since shock may be at hard side.

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10Arghh

Discussion Starter · #9 · Feb 24, 2017

Carlos76 said:
Belive me there is reason to doubt that numbers on this BSB shock...

Ok you seem to be a dog with a bone on this one...so I confirmed

The previous owner raced in BSB Superstock, but the shock was also swapped between a full BSB Superbike.

There were 4 bikes in total (2 of each), and the Superstocks ran Kawasaki stock linkages, whilst the full fat BSB bikes ran linkages supplied by tuning shop and team MSS Colchester Kawasaki.

The shocks were completely compatible between the two. Set up was limited to the controls on the shock. Nobody died

You may find something that says you must use this linkage or whatever, but if a guy in BSB superstock has no problems setting laptimes I can only dream about, I should have no problem.

Cheers for your input anyway...Always best to know such information especially as I plan to race the bike.

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evallarta1

· #10 · Feb 24, 2017 (Edited)

10Arghh said:
Thanks evallarta1.

Yes that was my plan...Fit it, set rear sag and then set damping to Bitubo base recommendations, then see what happens.

I will download the manual for the shock, but would you have any base damping settings you would recommend?

Thanks.

Without really knowing too much about your bike, geometry numbers, pace, tracks etc I can only tell you that Bitubo shocks out of the box work pretty damn well. Short of messing with preload to get the bike balanced I really don't have to touch damping settings. In case you're lazy here are the stock specs.

Reb - 18 clicks out
Comp - 10 clicks out
HS Comp - 10 clicks out
Length - 310 mm
10kg spring at 14mm of preload.

Reactions: 1

10Arghh

Discussion Starter · #11 · Feb 24, 2017

evallarta1 said:
Without really knowing too much about your bike, geometry numbers, pace, tracks etc I can only tell you that Bitubo shocks out of the box work pretty damn well. Short of messing with preload to get the bike balanced I really don't have to touch damping settings. In case you're lazy here are the stock specs.

Reb - 15 clicks out
Comp - 14 clicks out
HS Comp - 12 clicks out
Length - 307.5 mm
10kg spring at 12mm of preload.

Excellent stuff...I shall apply those settings and see how I get on.

Thank you.

ccasion1

Carlos76

· #12 · Feb 24, 2017

When I bought my stock gen4, the first mod was Ohlins shock installed at stock length (309, no shim) and spring 110.
It ran wide everywhere. 5mm shim made holding line much better.
Just my 0.02.

10Arghh

Discussion Starter · #13 · Feb 25, 2017

Carlos76 said:
When I bought my stock gen4, the first mod was Ohlins shock installed at stock length (309, no shim) and spring 110.
It ran wide everywhere. 5mm shim made holding line much better.
Just my 0.02.

That's good info...I heard about the shim trick. 8mm some people use.

Will check how I go and then try as an option maybe.

evallarta1

· #14 · Feb 25, 2017

I'm setting up the geometry on a stock 2011 today, I'll post up actual measurements and where we go and why.

Reactions: 2

10Arghh

Discussion Starter · #15 · Feb 25, 2017

Hi evallarta1,

I am looking for a user manual for my Bitubo XXF31V2 shock, and was wondering if you knew how I could get hold of a PDF copy.

If not can you help me understand what all the controls in the picture are for.

Would appreciate any help.

Thanks.

10Arghh

Discussion Starter · #16 · Feb 26, 2017 (Edited)

So Carlos was correct about the fitment.

The shock doesn't fit the standard linkage.

I believe the seller has supplied the wrong bushes (I think that's what they're called) for the stock linkage.

I will order the correct ones from the UK distributor this week

Pics:

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10Arghh

Discussion Starter · #17 · Feb 27, 2017

Just realised pics aren't showing for all so will attach to post.

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10Arghh

Discussion Starter · #18 · Mar 1, 2017

:redface:

Errmmm....Don't try to install a shock upside down.

In my defense, the Bitubo sticker is upside down when the shock is installed correctly :BangHead:

Thanks for the service manual evallarta1

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