front forks

[haggis95]

progessive versus straight rate springs/

I'm having my front fork springs upgraded by RMRsuspension in Calgary and they use straight rate springs. They reckon set up properly they are better than progressive springs.

Any opinions?

[DragonDan]

Ask almost anyone here and they will probably tell you that any improvement/ upgrade for the front forks will be a good thing. The stock stuff is too soft and easily overloaded under rough roads or hard cornering with bumps.
Now, about the rear...... Penske? Works? **Ohlins**? The mind boggles, but the bank acount wimpers.


Slightly off topic, but I'm lookin' at the tubes for the '05 bikes and thinking "I wonder if they will bolt up to my '99 frame"

I just dig the idea of inverted forks and radial brakes.

[SprintST]

Progressive wound springs have the benifit of being pretty plush for part of their stroke, and firming up as you get them more compressed. The racer/go-faster mentality doesn't like this because it's too variable under stress(soft in one part of the stroke, stiffer in another). A constant wound spring means you get the same rate all the time, and then you adjust compression and rebound with clickers. Since the RS doesn't come with sophisticated enough suspension your choice there is to get the Race Tech cartridge emulators, or similar product. But they can't be externally adjusted. I've seen a few guys on the Sprint ST/RS mailing list I'm on who were very happy with just changing the spring rates in their forks. Can't recall if progressive or straight wound ever came up, though. Sorry.

In the end it all depends on how you ride. If you don't do trackdays and don't ride real agressive, the progressives will probably be fine. I haven't felt progressive springs since my air cooled BMW days of the early-to-mid 90's. Seemed OK at the time. They will certainly be nice for commuting and touring duty.

[DaveM]

I have been told that by a motorcycle suspension expert here. That is a single rate is better.

Davem

[DaveM]

The front forks are soft. I had a thread going ages ago about this.

I was asking for help because my fairing scrapes occasionally when going hard on bumpy corners. Several others experienced the same things, this is not uncommon.

DaveM

[haggis95]

Thanks guys - I was going to try doing it all myself - but why experiment on a piece of equipment that's supposed to keep me safe at speed etc...

So I'm shelling out for the experts to do it for me. Progressive springs would probably be good for me, but the experts are putting in straight rate springs, with valve emulators, and a heavier oil, and they're bound to be 100% better than Ive got now! :-D