Suspension Advice on 05 Z1

[HobieSun]

Hello, I have been reading the 636 swap for quite sometime now. I have had my 05 Z1 since new. Quite a few personal mods but looking into suspension swap. I am very interested in getting radial brakes. Anyways. I have a chance to get a complete front set up from an 05-06 636. The entire front end down to the wheel, which I don't even want. Brakes, Master Cyl, calipers, forks, triple everything. For $200. I could probably get the rear shock from it for next to nothing. I am just wondering what the final cost would be for everything. I would probably have to modify the front forks (springs etc) Different Fender etc. Can you tell me what the main benefit of everything would be? I mean, wouldn't it be easier to mess with the stock Z suspension rather then adding spacers here and new fender there, brake lines, springs, complete adjustment. I am extremly picky with this bike. Love it, but if this swap is really worth it I am seriously interested. There are so many responses to the swap such as sag, height, clearence, etc. Please tell me what you really think. Oh, and extremely mechanically capable of this all. I guess I just want your honest opinion of it all and what in the end you think the grand total of $$$ you think it may be.

[Jason 306]

Well first of all you should read all of this.

http://www.riderforums.com/showthread.php?t=29227

The stock suspension on your Z doesn't have half the adjustability as the zx6 parts, so there's your advantages. Not to mention the forks look much sportier. If you're getting the whole entire front end setup, including the front fender, the only other things you should have to buy are some wheel spacers and custom brake lines. Probably looking at another $120 or so. This is assuming the brake pads still have life in them, and you are in fact getting the ENTIRE front end. I did the swap on my bike and will never switch back. Good luck.

And just to be clear, 03-04 forks you need 5mm spacers for your calipers. For 05-06 forks you don't need spacers, but you can't use your stock fender.

[Jason 306]

Oh yeah and if you plan on using the zx6 front wheel, you won't even need those wheel spacers. Front wheel won't match that back one though...

[ballsdeepracing]

$200 is a damn good price for the whole front end!!! get the rear shock while your at it, if your going to tear your bike apart may as well get everything done at once

[canuckerstone]

For 200 bux you can't go wrong! As Jason mentioned above, at the least you can get away with brake lines and spacers. Maybe a fender depending on what year the forks are. It's such an easy swap too - if you have issues, so many people on this site have done it they'll be more than happy to help you out.

The springs you've read people swapping out, depending on your weight you might be able to get away with the stock 636 ones. I'm 175 without gear and I swapped in Racetech .95 springs.

The suspension was like night and day. It literally changed the bike for me (I also had the rear shock revalved), from a wallowy pig into a tight, tough mutha. I'm in love with it, can't imagine the bike without the 636 front end.