Front end dipping.

Hi All

Just wondering how much would you expect to have the front end dip when applying the front brake?
I think I'm right in saying that depending on how much oil you have in will affect how much play there is but is there a sort of standard?
I only ask because it feels like I'm going straight into the ground sometimes and I'm not talking only when I have to stop quickly either.
Also how often should the fork oil be changed, is it possibly a problem with the springs?
Any help / advice would be great thanks.

[JamesMio]

I ended up getting a set of Hagon fork springs fitted to mine (curvy) and some thicker fork oil and it's been a different bike ever since. Highly recommended!

[Paul the 6th]

i've heard that if you uprate the shock, you really have to sort out the front because it does become too unstable. Is this the case the other way round? Or would having a stiffer front not really affect the rear too much? It's something I want to do with mine at some point, but I need a new set of rubbers first

[JamesMio]

I have felt the back end twitching a couple of times now you mention it, but I'd simply put that down to being much more confident on it and have been properly throwing it into corners instead of pottering around them like I did before.

My bike came with a Hagon rear shock on it when I bought it, so I don't know if this makes any difference?

[Paul the 6th]

i cant remember what it was I read or heard, could have been about increasing the height of the rear end or something? anywho, the jist of it was that if you have a really sharp handling rear but left the front standard, the front would be underdamped and take alot away from having a slick back end.

That's why I was wondering if having a nice firm front end but a saggy rear shock would upset the balance that way I'll ask yc

[dizzyblonde]

with having just front spring ohlins upgrade and a standard but quite old shock, there isn't much issue with handling on my black SV, it does however bounce round like a pogo stick over bumps, which is why I have got a replacement shock which I intend on putting on over winter, so we'll find out.
My yellow SV has full hagon throughout, with 15w in the front, its a lttle stiff on the front, but the handling is absolutely superb. At a later date I'll perhaps do a mix and make it 12w or sommat in the front, as I find standard 10w is bouncy on my shoulders..if that makes sense to anyone.

For the original post ... perhaps its that your braking tooo hard?

[yorkie_chris]

Increasing rear ride height will put more weight on front end, you will need more preload and compression damping at front IME. But that makes no odds on a bike with standard forks anyway...

Hagon is supposed to be pretty good shock, is also rebuildable

IMO, getting the front end sorted is most important.

[Paul the 6th]

yc has spoken, thread closed. carrot cake.

Put some springs and oil in the front to suit you weight, the OEM set up is bouncy for the average UK rider.

[northwind]

Originally Posted by Paul the 6th

i've heard that if you uprate the shock, you really have to sort out the front because it does become too unstable.

It's more that it feels much worse. And that taking away problems at the rear may let you push the bike a little harder. But tbh the front end is where I'd put any effort, I spent a couple of months rolling about on my rather nice front end and stock rear and it was never really a problem. But I tried the same with a stock front and the Ohlins rear back in the day, and it was rotten.