Triumphrat

ohiorider · 07-11-2011, 08:36 AM

After drilling a fluid bleed hold (.052") in each Intiminator, per Ricor tech staff, my 2003 T100 still experiences that annoying hunting up and down on very smooth roads. The Intiminators do just fine on rough, patched asphalt, and although our roads aren't in the best of shape, I'm going to sacrifice the excellent bumpy road performance for a smooth front end (hopefully) once again. I think I'll see if Ricor will take the drilled units back in exchange for undrilled ones. Brian did indicate he'd replace them with new ones if I screwed up the bleed job (I didn't .... the solution just doesn't work for me).

I've already pulled and dismantled the forks and removed the Intiminators this morning, and am waiting for one of the bike shops to open so I can pick up a few liters of heavier fork oil (I'll check the Triumph manual .... think it's 10w).

Dusted off the Progressive 11-1124 springs, and made some short spacers to accommodate the Thruxton preload adjusters.

AND I temporarily wrapped duct tape around those rubber rings that insulate the headlight mounting bracket. Last time, they slipped out, and were a real dog to get back in place. Hopefully, the duct tape will keep them in place when I'm replacing the fork tubes.

Bob

dkreidel · 07-11-2011, 09:59 AM

You are about where I am Bob. In my 07 T100 I've gone from stock, to Hagon progressive, to stock Intiminators, to drilled Intiminators and I'm now back to the progressive rate Hagons.

By the way, I've found 15wt fork oil to be just right here in warm SoCal for my fat (225#) a$$.

Dick

Ventura · 07-11-2011, 11:37 AM

Sorry to hear you're not having much joy with the Intiminators.

Have you tried them in conjunction with the progressive springs?
Both fitted together?

Maybe not entirely recommended in the book, but has always worked great for me!

V.

ohiorider · 07-11-2011, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkreidel

You are about where I am Bob. In my 07 T100 I've gone from stock, to Hagon progressive, to stock Intiminators, to drilled Intiminators and I'm now back to the progressive rate Hagons.

By the way, I've found 15wt fork oil to be just right here in warm SoCal for my fat (225#) a$$.

Dick

I'm running the Progressive suspension fork springs ..... considerably longer than stock. (recommended spacer length for the Bonnie is 3", for the Thruxton 2.5". I'd experimented quite a bit with fork oil levels a couple of years ago, and arrived at 165mm below top of compressed fork (no spring installed). Progressive shows a safe level of between 140mm and 190mm below top. I went with 10w, as the last time with 15w it seemed a bit too stiff. It's hot here ..... I weigh in about 165.

I'll know shortly, as soon as I clean up and get her out in the National Park.

Bob

ohiorider · 07-11-2011, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ventura

Sorry to hear you're not having much joy with the Intiminators.

Have you tried them in conjunction with the progressive springs?
Both fitted together?

Maybe not entirely recommended in the book, but has always worked great for me!

V.

Hi, Ventura .... think I'm going to go with the progressives and no intiminators for the rest of the season .... maybe longer! I just don't want to experiment any more with it, and, aside from being slightly stiff, I liked the Progressives a lot more than stock springs.

I'll know in a few minutes how this worked out!

Bob

wenzel850 · 07-11-2011, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ohiorider

Hi, Ventura .... think I'm going to go with the progressives and no intiminators for the rest of the season .... maybe longer! I just don't want to experiment any more with it, and, aside from being slightly stiff, I liked the Progressives a lot more than stock springs.

I'll know in a few minutes how this worked out!

Bob

Bob,

I too had problems with the Intiminators and went back to my Ikon springs and a air gap of 150mm. With 10w oil. I like this combo. The front end is still harsh on frost heaves but the rest of the time it's mucho better than stock.

LuckyBonnie · 07-11-2011, 04:23 PM

Damm, this doesn't bode well for mine when I get around to fitting them.

Did either of you guys happen to try linear springs with the intiminators?

.

ohiorider · 07-11-2011, 05:23 PM

It may or may not bode well. Most of the Triumph riders with Intiminators have been pleased with their results.

UPDATE - I removed the Intiminators this morning, reinstalled the Progressive springs I'd used previously. The front end firmed up, but there is STILL this slight pulsation. I keep tabs on my bike maintenance, and can't find any other thing I'd have done to the bike to cause this problem.

I've run ME 880s for the past 20,000 miles, and until I installed the Intiminators 10,000 miles ago, hadn't noticed any front end flutter.

Now I'm puzzled. The current 880 has 10,000 miles showing, but the front has fluttered with this tire from day one. I jacked the front tire slightly off the ground this afternoon, removed the caliper so the wheel would turn as freely as possible, pulled the steering tightly against the right lock, and spun the wheel looking for lateral or radial runout. Didn't have a runout gage, but placed a spray can almost touching the tire, tread side first, looking for radial misalignment, then at the sidewall, checking for lateral misalignment. Only very slight, in both instances. My old BMW is worse than the Triumph, yet exhibits none of the flutter.

So, ordered a new LazerTech (Metzeler), and when I take the wheel to the independent shop that does my tire work, they will check for misalignment. One of their guys is good at truing wheels, if needed.

So that's where the problem stands at the moment.

Bob

m2MQP · 07-12-2011, 05:56 AM

I run with intiminators,linears and finally settled on an air gap of 135mm (Bonneville Black 09->)
Still running stock Metzlers and very very happy with how the bike now behaves.
I'm also using +10mm Hagon shocks on the rear.

http://tiny.cc/or7uk

ric

08Bonnie · 07-12-2011, 10:48 AM

Ohio,

Have you checked static sag in the front? Should be around 20-25mm. This is the distance your front forks compress with ONLY the weight of the bike. What about rider sag? Should be around 30-35mm. This is the distance the forks compress with the weight of you on the bike. I think this should be your first step.

I had the same issues you describe. My sag #'s were all over the place, after applying some tested theories the ride could not be better.