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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Front forks for a fatty?
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Message started by SavageMan99 on 06/09/18 at 21:26:31

Title: Front forks for a fatty?
Post by SavageMan99 on 06/09/18 at 21:26:31

Well, fatty may be harsh, but I ain't petite neither.
Going to be doing the fork seals soon. Are there any ways to firm the forks up?
Heavier springs, spacers under the springs, heavier oil?
Working on a tight budget.

Title: Re: Front forks for a fatty?
Post by batman on 06/10/18 at 00:14:54

If you need new seals you may have already lost enough oil to make the forks "SOFT" . I'd just measure the springs free length to see if they fall within service limit (15.45in. min.) and use the proper amount of new oil ( 14.91oz per fork 15w fork oil), before trying to adjust them which could make them to stiff or harsh.

Title: Re: Front forks for a fatty?
Post by SavageMan99 on 06/10/18 at 06:25:43

Thank you, will do. I'm just trying to get things right the first time. That would a nice change from my usual.

Title: Re: Front forks for a fatty?
Post by Gary_in_NJ on 06/10/18 at 13:43:40

The OEM springs are for a rider that weighs about 150 pounds. If that's not you, then you need fork springs with a heavier/higher rate. The Savage uses progressive rate springs. If you look for my thread that discusses fork and shock options you see that I've found several alternatives for larger riders. Hers a link: http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1498156004

Title: Re: Front forks for a fatty?
Post by SavageMan99 on 06/11/18 at 08:20:51

I'm 250lbs. Springs and an emulator or progressive springs, either way. Want to use it is all.

Title: Re: Front forks for a fatty?
Post by Gary_in_NJ on 06/11/18 at 10:03:04

Give the springs a shot. You may need to preload them a bit more than suggested to get to the heavier rate sooner in the stroke. Don’t forget the shocks - your ass and spine will thank you.

Title: Re: Front forks for a fatty?
Post by SavageMan99 on 06/11/18 at 10:48:56

What would you say are the heaviest springs at a budget price?

Title: Re: Front forks for a fatty?
Post by Dave on 06/11/18 at 11:29:41

5E6C7B6C6A68406C6334340D0 wrote:

What would you say are the heaviest springs at a budget price?

If you can find a heavier bike with the same diameter (or slightly larger) forks and buy a good set of used springs off eBay....that is likely the cheapest option. You will likely have to make your own spacers for adjusting the preload if the spring length is significantly different than the stock Savage springs.

Title: Re: Front forks for a fatty?
Post by Gary_in_NJ on 06/11/18 at 12:21:16

The Progressive 11-1153 will work better than the oem springs. Use a 15wt fork oil with a 120mm air gap, preloaded at 20mm. Adjust the preload as needed. The oem spec of 75mm for the air gap is too much oil. I think Suzuki was trying to keep the forks from bottoming out with the light duty springs.

Title: Re: Front forks for a fatty?
Post by kojones on 06/11/18 at 23:22:17

0A382F383E3C1438376060590 wrote:

What would you say are the heaviest springs at a budget price?

Use racetech’s spring calculator and search for bikes for which they recommend the same spring size that they recommend for Savage, their calculator also tells the bikes original spring rate. I’m running Kawasaki Ninja 250 springs, which I think are a bit soft for you. But they are $21 a piece.

Title: Re: Front forks for a fatty?
Post by Gary_in_NJ on 06/12/18 at 11:27:04

30343134353E285B0 wrote:
[quote author=0A382F383E3C1438376060590 link=1528604791/0#6 date=1528739336]What would you say are the heaviest springs at a budget price?

Use racetech’s spring calculator and search for bikes for which they recommend the same spring size that they recommend for Savage, their calculator also tells the bikes original spring rate. I’m running Kawasaki Ninja 250 springs, which I think are a bit soft for you. But they are $21 a piece.[/quote]

Last I checked Race Tech didn’t have a listing for the Savage. You have to use the (well hidden) generic calculator or use a bike close in weight to the Savage.

You are able to use straight rate springs on your bike due to the valving you installed. The forks need a mechanism to provide progressivity. If the OP is relying on the damping rod, then he must use multi-rate/progressive fork springs.