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Message started by Greg on 06/24/12 at 07:20:30

Title: Front fork question
Post by Greg on 06/24/12 at 07:20:30

I am going to add spacers to the tubes to increase the preload. I have a couple of questions. Does anyone know what size PVC pipe I need to buy? And do I need to lift the bike to do this or can I just leave it sitting on its side stand?

Title: Re: Front fork question
Post by arteacher on 06/24/12 at 07:38:02

Take one of the spacers to Home Depot and buy the same dia.
PVC. Yes, the front end should be off the ground. And keep your hand over the cap as you loosten it or you may wind up looking for it- it is spring loaded.

Title: Re: Front fork question
Post by Greg on 06/24/12 at 07:42:58

232828212D222339384C0 wrote:

That's what I figured I would need to do. Thanks!

Do I just add to the top of the factory spacer or replace the whole thing with a longer one?

Title: Re: Front fork question
Post by arteacher on 06/24/12 at 08:52:44

Some have used washers to add to the factory spacer. That would be the way to go if you are not planning to add very much preload, and you can add preload in small increments that way.
What specific problem are you having with the suspension?

Title: Re: Front fork question
Post by Greg on 06/24/12 at 09:13:04

414A4A434F40415B5A2E0 wrote:

What specific problem are you having with the suspension?

It's more of a rider problem! I am a big boy. When I sit on the bike the front end goes way down. I have a lot of groans when hitting certain types of bumps in the road. I have never bottomed out but thought the ride may be more comfy with some spacers. Perhaps I am mistaken?

Title: Re: Front fork question
Post by arteacher on 06/24/12 at 09:38:04

If the front end is not bottoming out on the big bumps, or under severe braking, I would leave it alone. What you are going to do by increasing the preload is make the suspension stiffer, and those bumps are going to feel harsher, not softer. The stock springs are progressive and by adding preload you are setting the springs up to work in their stiffer range.
I weigh 250 and found it was the rear shocks that were giving me grief, not the front. I replaced them with Progressive Suspension 412's.
That said, it costs very little to play with the preload, and you might like the ride better.

Title: Re: Front fork question
Post by Greg on 06/24/12 at 09:47:50

Thank you for that information!

Title: Re: Front fork question
Post by Serowbot on 06/24/12 at 10:40:04

I added about 1/4" of washers to mine... took all my thumb power to squish them in there... (I also catapulted them to the ceiling several times)... Cover your tank with a towel, and wear goggles... :-?...

PS... real hard to find the exact size washers... ;)...

Title: Re: Front fork question
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/24/12 at 10:49:25

Solder them together & JB weld them to the bottom of the cap? Otta take fewer arms to get that in,,

IDK,, mite wind up with busted bits of JB weld in a port one day,,

Title: Re: Front fork question
Post by verslagen1 on 06/24/12 at 11:21:21

I think I would go the dirt bike route and modify it for adjustable preload.

drill and tap the cap.
put a plate on top of the spacers.
and adjust with a bolt thru the cap.
lock nut to secure the adjustment.

but really, if you're not bottoming out, no real need.

Title: Re: Front fork question
Post by Greg on 06/24/12 at 11:26:25

The consensus seems to be to leave them alone. I will do just that. My rear shocks are set for the stiffest ride. I figured I needed to do that considering my weight. I will play with that instead. It is not at the point to purchase Progressives. I am just looking to reduce a few of the really sharp bumps.

Title: Re: Front fork question
Post by rfw2003 on 06/24/12 at 14:24:01

I'm 240 myself so I'm a big guy as well. I went with the 412 series shocks on the rear and it made a world of difference. The Front isn't really the issue it's the Stock rear shocks.

R.F.

Title: Re: Front fork question
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/24/12 at 14:45:27

Just step back & look at the bike & where the weight goes. The rider sits almost on top of the rear wheel & the rear suspension has the main load. If the ride is harsh, & lowering the rear shock performance from Hard to Soft means it bottoms out, then Id think the answer is taller, better shocks.

Title: Re: Front fork question
Post by Greg on 06/24/12 at 15:06:15

Thanks everyone. You guys rock!

Title: Re: Front fork question
Post by rfw2003 on 06/24/12 at 15:38:43

0A151314090E3F0F3F07151952600 wrote:

That's the dual benifit of the 412 series shocks. They give you the better ride, but also they are longer then stock. I have the 11" ones and use them on setting 3 when I'm by myself, If I take someone for a ride I need to put them on the highest setting to keep from bottoming out. In retrospect I would have gone with the 11.5" ones.

R.F.

Title: Re: Front fork question
Post by Greg on 06/24/12 at 15:41:28

Will they lift the rear end? I just lowered my fender and would hate to see that change.

Title: Re: Front fork question
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/24/12 at 15:46:31

If ya mounted it to the swing arm, no change. otherwise,, change,

Title: Re: Front fork question
Post by arteacher on 06/24/12 at 15:48:42

Because the shocks are mounted at 45 deg, 1/2" longer shocks will only raise the bike 1/4 " with no load on them.

Title: Re: Front fork question
Post by rfw2003 on 06/24/12 at 15:49:00

2E2B2C27202A490 wrote:

Will they lift the rear end? I just lowered my fender and would hate to see that change.

It does a little until you sit mount the bike, then it settles into place. They are progressive springs. The ones I use 412-4233c the spring rate is 115/155 which gives a much better ride then the stock shocks and the stance seems to be about the same when I'm sitting on it with the 11" long models.

R.F.

Title: Re: Front fork question
Post by Greg on 07/01/12 at 10:31:57

So I decided to play with the preload. For a couple of dollars and a few minutes I will learn something. I took the metal tube to Lowe's. There is no PVC pipe the same dimensions. The 1" is too big to fit in the fork tube and the 3/4" falls inside the stock tube. I guess I am going to need to add a washer to prevent the 3/4" from falling inside. Any other ideas?

Title: Re: Front fork question
Post by arteacher on 07/01/12 at 12:16:54

Look in the conduit section. Those sizes are different.

Title: Re: Front fork question
Post by rfw2003 on 07/01/12 at 12:27:49

myself I dunno if I would trust plastic in there as a spacer for pre-loading the springs anyways. I would go with a metal tube instead.

Title: Re: Front fork question
Post by Greg on 07/01/12 at 13:17:26

5E55555C505F5E4445310 wrote:

Look in the conduit section. Those sizes are different.

The 1" IMC was the perfect size, but Lowe's only had EMT. I did scour the store until I found something, though.

Title: Re: Front fork question
Post by Greg on 07/01/12 at 13:18:12

4B5F4E0B09090A390 wrote:

myself I dunno if I would trust plastic in there as a spacer for pre-loading the springs anyways. I would go with a metal tube instead.

PVC is fine. BCB includes it with their kit. Others have used it. But I know what you mean.

Title: Re: Front fork question
Post by Greg on 07/01/12 at 13:20:29

I found a solution. As long as the metal is strong enough. I believe it will be fine. My original spacer was 5.25" long. The replacement spacer is 6" long. My initial test drive has it feeling less squishy. I think I like it. I will know after some longer rides. I will also find out if the material holds up.

This is what I used:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_24725-143-1120K_0__?productId=1070285&Ntt=24725&pl=1&currentURL=&facetInfo=

http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/046224/046224005742xl.jpg