Triumphrat

rays323929 · 05-06-2006, 08:05 PM

If I got some new aftermarket shocks would I be able to 2 up easier, or in other words with my wife on the back of bike it is a little overloaded for my comfort level. Would some real expensive shocks help or are they just for handling? Help

curefan · 05-06-2006, 08:36 PM

Have you adjusted the preload for the extra weight of your wife? Unless you're a combined 400 pounds, there shouldn't be a problem with the shocks

ssjones · 05-06-2006, 11:48 PM

Quote:

On 2006-05-06 18:05, rays323929 wrote:
If I got some new aftermarket shocks would I be able to 2 up easier, or in other words with my wife on the back of bike it is a little overloaded for my comfort level. Would some real expensive shocks help or are they just for handling? Help

I have my Progressive 440's set in their softest setting. They have six more adjustment levels via an adjusting ring, so my guess is at those firmer ratings, they would handle a lot more weight. I always had my OEM shocks set at their firmest with myself and wife riding, but the thing pogo'd all over the place and hammered over bumps.

ssjones · 05-07-2006, 11:17 AM

Quote:

On 2006-05-07 05:22, Ogre wrote:
There is also a lot of confusion on how to adjust Progressive 440's. People are used to stock shocks that may have 4 or 5 notches.

Progressives are actually infinitely adjustable between minimum and maximum settings.

They come on the minimum setting. As you rotate the spring, they get more and more preload.

There are a series of lines are on the shaft. Above the top collar, as you rotate the first line will eventually appear and then additional lines if you keep rotating. You use these lines as a reference point to the setting. You want to have both shocks set equal.

That is correct. I have mine on the 2nd ring from the top and believe there are a total of seven adjustment ring points. They are firm enough riding two up (no luggage) at 2 - 2.5 rings, the 7th ring setting must be for a super-heavy load. My 440's do have the heavy springs, perhaps the higher settings may never be required with those springs?

05-07-2006, 12:20 PM

I ride with my wife as a pillion often, and we have hard luggage.

Found the rebound inadequate on the stock shocks, and if we would up the preload she bounced too much, but still bottomed on a bad dip or bumpy corner.

Have just fitted Hagon Nitros. Excellent shocks and have completely revitalised the ride. Can now ride in a 'spirited' fashion while loaded, with no problems.

The bike is also much more comfortable for my wife, and doesn't dip a the back nearly as badly when we accelerate.

Highly recommended shocks - now the ride is as the same quality as my sprint St was.

Cheers
Roy

rays323929 · 05-07-2006, 04:00 PM

thanks for all of the help, to be honest we are really pushing the weight limit(i mean at it or a little over) I do not now how they figure what the limit is I hope that shocks help also I will be slower and make sure I have more breaking distance. I kinda wonder if I shouldn't have got a bigger heavier bike but i love the T100!

lunus · 05-08-2006, 07:11 AM

Quote:

On 2006-05-07 10:20, Royski wrote:
I ride with my wife as a pillion often, and we have hard luggage.

Found the rebound inadequate on the stock shocks, and if we would up the preload she bounced too much, but still bottomed on a bad dip or bumpy corner.

Have just fitted Hagon Nitros. Excellent shocks and have completely revitalised the ride. Can now ride in a 'spirited' fashion while loaded, with no problems.

The bike is also much more comfortable for my wife, and doesn't dip a the back nearly as badly when we accelerate.

Highly recommended shocks - now the ride is as the same quality as my sprint St was.

Cheers
Roy

Roy,

Just fitted hard-luggage and going to Spain with my wife on the back. I still have the standard suspension set-up.

Did you change the front-springs as well ? Where did you get the Hagons from ? Was it easy to do ?

Cheers

Bonnecuse · 05-08-2006, 07:51 AM

One of the first things I did was buy a set of the Hagon Classics with a stiffer spring and few more MM's of length. They only cost $200 and made a drastic difference.
DC

Pete_Twizz · 05-08-2006, 08:20 AM

Be careful not to confuse spring stiffness, spring preload and damping rate.
The adjusters on the OEM units are for spring preload. All these do is compensate ride height at different loads.
To change spring rate you need to change springs. Spring rate controls primary ride frequency (comfort) and, in combination with tyre stiffness, also controls wheel hop frequency (grip).
The adjusters on aftermarket dampers only control bleed (low speed damping) which mainly affects ride frequency and pitch. High speed damping controls grip and can only be adjusted by re-building the damper (unless you have high end motorsport 4 way adjustable dampers).
All the above adjustments have some degree of influence on each other. Adjust spring rate and you will ned to re-adjust ride height, damping rate and bleed.
Expensive dampers are no guarantee of a good match to your bike. We have tested some aftermarket 'adjustable' dampers which show virtually no change in damping through the full range of adjustment.
The back end of my Thruxton (on OEM dampers) feels quite bouncy, but offers plenty of grip and has never bottomed out (even on the rural cart-tracks that pass for roads in Norfolk). I have them at mid-setting and I weigh 150lbs.

Pete.

lunus · 05-08-2006, 10:32 AM

Quote:

On 2006-05-08 06:20, Pete_Twizz wrote:
to re-adjust ride height, damping rate and bleed.
Expensive dampers are no guarantee of a good match to your bike. We have tested some aftermarket 'adjustable' dampers which show virtually no change in damping through the full range of adjustment.
The back end of my Thruxton (on OEM dampers) feels quite bouncy, but offers plenty of grip and has never bottomed out (even on the rural cart-tracks that pass for roads in Norfolk). I have them at mid-setting and I weigh 150lbs.

Pete.

This kind of rings true for me, how does anyone know what effect new springs/shocks are going to have ? Surely Triumph are the ones who've done the tests and they must have chosen the units to best fit the bike ?

I must admit, riding 2-up (total < 300lb) the bike feels stable and firm (mind you I never push it hard two-up) with the pre-load one off the firmest setting and I get no complaints from the pillion.

I'm confused about the whole thing I must admit. As I've said in another thread, if the OEM suspension is so bad that everyone recommends changing it, why do Triumph fit it ?