[Castle]

In my '04 888r I had installed the low speed compression sleeve and found it made a huge difference, the difference between me hating the fork and thinking the fork was the best fork I have ridden. For me it made all the difference..

My question, Does the '05 888 cart. really not need the low speed compression sleeve to get rid of the diving. i.e. did the change do the trick?

also: Can the same low speed compression sleeve be installed on a '05 888rc?

also, for a few hundred less, I can grab a 66rc..... it's so tempting...... edit: not that it really matters but may change some opinions..... it's for my vpfree used as a lift/shuttle bike mainly.....

thanks for any help anyone may have..

 

[WonderBoy]

Hi

I have just got hold of a 66RC for my vpFree. It is so far a very promising fork. I is stiff, relatively light (but by no means light) and sooo(oh my god) plush.

I was a bit hesitant about the quite long AC, but it is not a problem on the free. I has a quite steep HA, so that balances each other out quite well.

I´m not a big time hucker, so I didn´t need the extra security af a DC. I choose the 66 and got a more playfull bike doing that.

(my former fork was o mojo boxcart boxxer)

I´d say Go for it!

 

[OGRipper]

On the LS compression, the only thing I've heard is that the issues from '04 were "addressed" by tweaking the sleeve for '05, don't have any more detail
and I don't know if the sleeve will fit the '05 version.

As for the 888 vs. 66 on a vp-free, there have been a few posts about this, if you search you will find some good discussions. I know I posted some geometry numbers for my vp-free/8" 888 combo with and without the go-ride lowrider crowns. As I recall the 8" 888 with lowriders gives you almost the same geometry as the 7" 66 but my memory might be off, so check it out.

If you like your '04 888, what makes you want an '05? I can see considering a 66 but...?

 

[kidwoo]

Hey castle: how many holes are you covering up on yours? I've got one of those things but haven't put it on yet. I was thinking about doing it for some riding this weekend. I guess you might want to add your body weight and which springs you're using.

 

[leprechaun]

I guess i need to take apart my 05 RC,but from Ronnie the 1 guy who really knows anything in the tech dept said they are the same and no changes were made for 05.I had an 04 200 and have an 05 170 so it feels a little different,but i don't think they changed the ports that the sleeve tunes.
That said the sleeve should help out the 66 just like it does the 888.
Once again i have not actually taken apart the 66 but i'm 90% sure there are the same dampers and the cleeve will fit into the 3 notches on the bottom of the comp.cart.Knowing Zoke they simply cut the cart body and rods down for the 66.
If you need to save that few hundred then a 66 will do,but i expect to see at least 1 x up every time the bike is ridden :devil: Otherwise-the 888 170 rocks the house!

 

[Castle]

On the LS compression, the only thing I've heard is that the issues from '04 were "addressed" by tweaking the sleeve for '05, don't have any more detail
and I don't know if the sleeve will fit the '05 version.

As for the 888 vs. 66 on a vp-free, there have been a few posts about this, if you search you will find some good discussions. I know I posted some geometry numbers for my vp-free/8" 888 combo with and without the go-ride lowrider crowns. As I recall the 8" 888 with lowriders gives you almost the same geometry as the 7" 66 but my memory might be off, so check it out.

If you like your '04 888, what makes you want an '05? I can see considering a 66 but...?

thanks I've read the threads and so on.... you've heard the same I have, that it has been "addressed" I was curious if anyone had personal time on em.... was thinkin maybe the fellas from go-ride or someone may have an opinion or something....

My Vpfree currently has No Fork to her name I sold my 888 becase I broke my leg and began to run low on cash..... Now I need another fork.... it will either be a '05 888rc with new cnc'd crowns or a 7" 66rc

here is my poor vpfree..... pic courtesy of Mobius

 

[Castle]

I guess i need to take apart my 05 RC,but from Ronnie the 1 guy who really knows anything in the tech dept said they are the same and no changes were made for 05.I had an 04 200 and have an 05 170 so it feels a little different,but i don't think they changed the ports that the sleeve tunes.
That said the sleeve should help out the 66 just like it does the 888.
Once again i have not actually taken apart the 66 but i'm 90% sure there are the same dampers and the cleeve will fit into the 3 notches on the bottom of the comp.cart.Knowing Zoke they simply cut the cart body and rods down for the 66.
If you need to save that few hundred then a 66 will do,but i expect to see at least 1 x up every time the bike is ridden :devil: Otherwise-the 888 170 rocks the house!

thanks! Ronnie does know his stuff if anyone does! I'll have to give em a ring get the low down, I posted lastnight, thinkin I might get a quick answer.... thanks!

 

[Castle]

Hey castle: how many holes are you covering up on yours? I've got one of those things but haven't put it on yet. I was thinking about doing it for some riding this weekend. I guess you might want to add your body weight and which springs you're using.

I only had one hole covered, xtra heavy springs, 200lbs without gear.....

it really seemed to help the fork stand taller in hard cornering and breaking......

LEPRACHAUN: I have a '05 z.1 which should have the same carts as a 66 minus the ETA of coarse, but the z.1 doesn't seem to suffer from the feeling that my first 888 did.

thanks again for everyones help/opinion

 

[OGRipper]

I guess i need to take apart my 05 RC,but from Ronnie the 1 guy who really knows anything in the tech dept said they are the same and no changes were made for 05.

Interesting, I remember Brian P saying the need for the sleeve was addressed for '05, I think it was buried in one of those threads about tall crowns or 1.5. I remember because I was badgering him about whether the sleeve would be included stock for '05, which IMO it should be if they didn't change anything. I would rather have an adjustable sleeve than a fixed setting anyway.

Edit: Isn't that a Heckler?

Double Edit: Nevermind I can see the vp-free carcass hanging on the meat hook.

 

[Castle]

yup zocchi tech says no changes for '05 on the 888 besides the stickers......

the 66 cart wont work with the low speed sleeve..

low speed sleeve can still be installed the same on the '05 since there were no changes...

z.1 and 66 do not share the same internals mainly because of the ETA... the 66 and 888 also differ internally slightly

 

[leprechaun]

great.this is how zoke threads end up 9 pages long.

Why did you throw the z1 into this equasion?
edit- i saw where the catalogue says "888 style dampers" on the Z1 page.I figured that meant that they addad the sealing spacers above the spring to save weight by using less oil.

And would you care to elaborate on why the sleeve won't fit on the 66?

 

[kidwoo]

Anyone want to share how many holes they've got covered with their sleeves?

 

[leprechaun]

I'm opening forks right now because i'm pissed that zoke is so vague about their specs.
Be back in 5

 

[Brian HCM#1]

Anyone want to share how many holes they've got covered with their sleeves?

I had 4 open, which felt the best for small bumps and took some of the dive out.

 

[Castle]

great.this is how zoke threads end up 9 pages long.

Why did you throw the z1 into this equasion?
edit- i saw where the catalogue says "888 style dampers" on the Z1 page.I figured that meant that they addad the sealing spacers above the spring to save weight by using less oil.

And would you care to elaborate on why the sleeve won't fit on the 66?

sorry about throwin the z.1 in there.......

I didn't ask why I couldn't use a low speed compression sleeve on the 66 (I should've).... I was already picking his brain hitting him with a ton of questions..

I was only covering one whole with my low speed compression sleeve.....

 

[zedro]

edit- i saw where the catalogue says "888 style dampers" on the Z1 page.I figured that meant that they addad the sealing spacers above the spring to save weight by using less oil.

no such room, considering theres only a approx 50mm oil height under full compression without the springs

 

[leprechaun]

Allright suckers
Just popped open a 66 and whataya know it looks just like an 888 complete with the same 3 holes that can be covered up by the sleeve.
HOWEVER the holes are a touch further down the leg so the sleeve can only cover the TOP two holes leaving the 1st small hole open on the one side where there are 3 holes.this is the only position,as the other 2 don't open or close any more holes.This would still be effective though.Just not ideal,as it would make the fork very stiff with only the 1 little hole open on the 1 side. Perhaps they will make a different one for the 66. Not sure if the 170 888 has the holes in the same location yet.I'm guessing they moves the holes down so it feelsthe same for the top part of the travel.I wish they had done the oppisite,since the actual valve stack now doesn't kick in til you're so far down into the travel!
Also i took apart a newz1 and it looks like the older ones,except the rebound damper has an anodized finish on it like the 888.
So they say it now has 888 style dampers,but it shoiuld say the "new 888 has z1 style dampers!"since the cartige submerged in oil has been in the z1 for 9 years now...
So here's 2 pics of the dampers,the blue one is out of a 888 200,next to the 66 170.
The next pic is showing the sleeve on and you can see the one little hole.
I post here because i like to learn new things and see what random peeps are riding,etc.
I want to contribute GOOD info,and want to set a good example,and not be that guy who says"i heard.... or i havent ridden one but... "etc.Not that i'm talking about anyone in particular.
Thanks and have a nice day.Krispy

 

[leprechaun]

Yeah zed your right there's just those small black plastic spacers on top of the springs that have allways been there.

 

[zedro]

So they say it now has 888 style dampers,but it shoiuld say the "new 888 has z1 style dampers!"since the cartige submerged in oil has been in the z1 for 9 years now...

well, they never had those ports before. I wonder what the piston/shims look like...got a grinder handy?

Yeah zed your right there's just those small black plastic spacers on top of the springs that have allways been there.

they switched to plastic? my old Bombers had aluminum wachers and spacer sleeves

 

[leprechaun]

yeah dude plastic is way lighter than aluminum...
I didn't take the whole cart out to see if there is a port,but since the damper serves as a compression and rebound damper i can't imagine there could be ports on the cart body or the rebound circuit wouldn't work.

Also back to the sleeve,you could easily drill a 1 hole or 2 holes in the sleeve to achieve the proper porting on a 660 170.
And to all newcomers,all this jargon is about the RC models,not VF.Just trying to keep things straight!

 

[zedro]

yeah dude plastic is way lighter than aluminum...
I didn't take the whole cart out to see if there is a port,but since the damper serves as a compression and rebound damper i can't imagine there could be ports on the cart body or the rebound circuit wouldn't work.

was looking at the pic with the two carts, one anode blue...i was assuming one was a z1. The HSCV carts i have only have ports at the bottom, not along the whole body.

unless i'm missinbg the point you were trying to make.

 

[leprechaun]

That's a 888 200 cart you jackass!
re read my post!
Ha now someone said it to you!
I'm out.

 

[OGRipper]

Good stuff Krispy, thanks for once again giving us the lowdown and not just guessing like, um, me, sometimes. Would the ports be lower on the 66 because of shorter travel?

Kidwoo, I've got mine set up like Scott (see Go-Ride tuning article) with just the two larger holes open. The sleeve is super easy to install and change settings, and it makes a big difference, so do it up.

 

[zedro]

That's a 888 200 cart you jackass!
re read my post!
Ha now someone said it to you!
I'm out.

i have feelings too you know....

 

[Rik]

Newb question: it's been mentioned the compression shims are in the bottom of the cart, so the position of the holes along the cart would determine how far in to the stroke the compression shims become "active"? And would each fork be valved differently to correspond with the travel and position of holes? Or am I off course here?

 

[kidwoo]

Thanks for the sleeve setups. On my way downstairs to do the deed.

Zed: You've reached your free allowance of my quotes. Every quote in your sig from now on must come with a Maudite or Fin du Monde pint.

 

[zedro]

Zed: You've reached your free allowance of my quotes. Every quote in your sig from now on must come with a Maudite or Fin du Monde pint.

dude, my fridge is like full of the stuff. It's like a meal-replacemnt program...

 

[Castle]

Leprechaun: Thanks for your work! that rocks! You could def. drill a couple of holes to match the 66 it looks like, I guess that's why he said it didn't work... btw. I spoke with Michael; Ronnie was busy....

I loved my 170mm 888 with the low speed compression sleeve, I think I might spring for a 200 this time with new crowns, dunno who's but... yeah....

thanks again!

 

[kidwoo]

dude, my fridge is like full of the stuff. It's like a meal-replacemnt program...

"replacement?"

no no no

my fridge is full of the stuff. It's a meal program...

 

[leprechaun]

Leprechaun: Thanks for your work! that rocks! You could def. drill a couple of holes to match the 66 it looks like, I guess that's why he said it didn't work... btw. I spoke with Michael; Ronnie was busy....

I loved my 170mm 888 with the low speed compression sleeve, I think I might spring for a 200 this time with new crowns, dunno who's but... yeah....

thanks again!

So the sleeve fit on your 170 888 huh.I guess that the 66 holes are unique then.I thought that the 170 888 would be the same as the 66.That means the 66's shims will kick in awefully late!

 

[OGRipper]

Good stuff. Maybe I'm thinking too hard here, but aren't the '04 888's the same whether they are 170 or 200? I thought they were. Didn't the sell only one sleeve to fit both last year?

It makes sense that the 66 (150 or 170) would have the ports in a different position - less travel.

So the question is still whether they changed the 888 for '05 and if it's also different from the 66. If so that means three separate port patterns ('04 888, 66, and '05 888).

The next question is, why do I care?

 

[Castle]

Good stuff. Maybe I'm thinking too hard here, but aren't the '04 888's the same whether they are 170 or 200? I thought they were. Didn't the sell only one sleeve to fit both last year?

It makes sense that the 66 (150 or 170) would have the ports in a different position - less travel.

So the question is still whether they changed the 888 for '05 and if it's also different from the 66. If so that means three separate port patterns ('04 888, 66, and '05 888).

The next question is, why do I care?

from what I was told yesterday, the 888 did not change in anyway besides decals for '05.. It is different from the 66 as Krispy has pointed out...

Krispy, yeah I ran the 170mm 888 last season with a low speed sleeve...... only the one small hole covered... it rawked my sawks!