front diving
 

hi,ive recently began to push my sv and im finding that it seems to dive forward a hole lot when under hard breaking,doesnt need to be to high a speed just a very sudden movement, i am wondering is it normal as i am 13st or do i need to adjust anything or change the set up?

99-02 curvey sv650s late 02

cheers lads

Re: front diving
 

Stock springs are crap. Upgrade

Re: front diving
 

As a quick fix screw in the preload on the front forks, but basically as Darren says, a common mod for the sv is some aftermarket springs and 15wt fork oil. I find mine dives a lot (I am 12.5 stone) but I just get used to it cos I can't be bothered to fix it :)

Re: front diving
 

people dont like the front bottoming out every time you touch the front brake, i spoke to my mate when he serviced it i think he just used heavier oil which helped.

Re: front diving
 

Heavier oil helps, but that just makes the damping a bit more heavy duty which only really serves to slow the rate at which the spring compresses and relaxes. If you find they are too divey, then upgrade for stiffer springs (i.e. ones that require more "weight" or "force" to compress for a given distance).

You may also like to consider progressive springs, which have a variable spring rate (as opposed to linear springs, which are one constant spring rate through the length of the suspension travel).

Re: front diving
 

I'll be going for some linear springs (Ohlins) in a couple of months- just working out whether to do it myself or chuck some business in Spanner Man's way. Maybe if I get a Dremel (or just a lot of wet'n'dry and autosol!) before hand for the forks. I'll do the polishing while I wait!!

Re: front diving
 

OMG fork oil changing is easy. £5 for a manual oil pump, measure oil amount, remove springs, drain and refill, insert new springs, an hour tops.

Or do it without the pump and let the fun begin.

Re: front diving
 

sounds like someone is willing to volunteer their help!! ;)

Re: front diving
 

Only thing worth noting is that the amount of oil coming out might not be the correct volume of oil required. I've hear of tehm coming out of the factory with uneven volumes in each leg. Bes way is to drain it all and either obey suzuki's specifications or the manufacturer of your aftermarket springs.

I had the same problem with the dive (really knocks your confidence in the bike!) and general wobbling and sloshing on corners, put in hagon progressive springs + the recommended oil & measurement (had to get this from hagon as the ones in the instructions were well wrong!) and it made a lot of difference. Also have a gsxr shock on the back, suspensions not amazing but it's fine. Understand linear springs are better than progressives and around the same price.

Re: front diving
 

A few points;

You should be measuring air gap, not oil volume. Especially when doing half a job by pumping the oil out.
Oil weight in stock forks affects rebound mostly.