Front end -changing springs

im thinking of changing the front fork springs, however serching the topics has left me confused,

there are many brands to choose from, but thats not what gets me confused,

ktech have 3 different models for different weights etc so assume i ring them and ask them the correct one,

brands like ohlines dont seem to have multiple choice orders for different weight riders, so is it a one fits all?

and what about oil where do i start?

btw im about 5'10, 5,11 and weight around 14 stone, any advice is helpful,

[Spanner Man]

Good morning.


In a word Hagon. The best all round spring in the universe.


Cheers.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by Spanner Man

The best all round spring in the universe.

You sound like alpinestarhero going on about some lardy VFR or something.


You need springs for your weight, sticker on box doesn't matter. Racetech do the full range, IIRC so do maxton.* I'm not a progressive fan.

For your weight I would try .85 or .9kg/mm



*They definitely do a full range of spring weights but whether they do a specific SV kit I'm not sure.

I can understand linears being prefered on track where masses are fairly static, but are they really better than good progressives for road use?

[yorkie_chris]

forks are adjustably progressive whatever springs you have in there anyway.

How does suspension work differently on track to road?

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

How does suspension work differently on track to road?

Doesn't work differently, you use it differently. Are you suggesting that track and road suspension should be set up exactly the same?

Roads are not as smooth as tracks and, generally, you don't push as hard; You may or may not have a pillion on board or luggage. The sites where you can calculate your spring rate give stiffer springs for racing than fast road than touring. I understood that progressive springs were intended to give a compromise between comfort on normal surfaces and stiffness for when you are pushing on.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by simesb

Doesn't work differently, you use it differently. Are you suggesting that track and road suspension should be set up exactly the same?

Yes, same setup, different variables.

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Yes, same setup, different variables.

So the same spring rate is ideal for touring and racing on a given bike? (don't want to reopen the whole pre-load not changing spring rate debate) Does this mean that you think progressives are just marketing?

[yorkie_chris]

Spring rate is one of the variables you change along with valving, geometry and rest of it.
Would you want to go on a racetrack and suddenly have a completely different feeling bike?


Here is my view
People fit progressives not knowing owt, compared to standard they feel ace. However... has anyone fitted linears and thought "needs to be harder in bottom of travel" or "could do with being softer right at the top"?

Personally I don't like hagons advertising of one spring fits all, it's BS, there are a million ways suspension behaves. And none of the progressive spring makers supply charts showing you what rate you're getting and where.

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Spring rate is one of the variables you change along with valving, geometry and rest of it.
Would you want to go on a racetrack and suddenly have a completely different feeling bike?

Forgive me if I'm being thick, but surely you can't change the rate of a linear spring; you need to swap it for a different spring with a different rate? I would argue that changing the spring for track use means it's not the same setup as road, despite your assertion that it is only a variable.

I would also argue that a good many riders (myself included) want to improve the SV suspension without delving too deeply into the rate curve of the progressives, or whether a linear is a touch too soft at the bottom or too hard at the top; they just want something better all round and understand that it won't be perfect in all situations.