the shocking truth about shock absorbers... (noob questions as asked by myself)

[Paul the 6th]

the guy could be an office monkey who's looked at the list, seen that there's alsorts of different types of sv and thought "well the springs are probably all different"...

[yorkie_chris]

See leave a thread for half an hour and everybody descends into the depths of utter terror!

Right then, progressives. From talking to paul he doesn't have much intention to fit emulators or full cartridge internals, so there's no worries about needing linears for those. (variable spring rate, fixed damping rate causes wierdness)

Progressives are fine for normal road riding, they are less critical as by a small amount of preload adjustment you can affect the starting rate of the fork travel. For paul I reckon this will be plenty to get a front end that works much better than stock.

Oil is much of a muchness, don't pay extra to get hagon oil to "match" hagon springs or whatever. In fact 2 springs with same free length and same rate are the same spring! Whatever the brand.



While we're on it, does anyone know free length, preload max and preload min lengths for the pointy shock and for the K5 gsxr shock?

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

While we're on it, does anyone know free length, preload max and preload min lengths for the pointy shock and for the K5 gsxr shock?

No, that's the kind of thing we ask engineering students with too much time on their hands, who then go disassemble all the various bits and measure them. Do you know one who might do that for you?

[yorkie_chris]

Gah. Get to f###, I'm not that bored at the moment.

But I am skint enough. Anyone want to pay me to do it?

Hagon, £62.50 inc oil and delivery direct.

The length of the GSXR 1000 shock is generally quoted as being 325mm, so shorter than the measurement for the SV in that table, but it obviously varies with the amount of preload.

I measured my GSXR one at about 325mm with the amount of preload it arrived with, whether thats std or not I dont know.

[yorkie_chris]

No it doesn't vary with the amount of preload. Shock length is given as uncompressed.

Which gsxr shock? They've changed a lot over the years

It will vary if people are measuring them, but if the standard in uncompressed then that makes sense.

The one I measured was a k5 1000, so u I guess uncompressed it would be around 332.5!!!

Can't remember where I saw them 'quoted' as 325mm, but disregard that then...

Apparently the 1000 K6> and 600/750 K7> are 315mm, but again, cant remember where i saw that.

[yorkie_chris]

It won't change with preload, so one of those figures or the other is wrong...

Apologies for being basic, I can't visualise it. In my mind the spring was being compressed more and shortened, and the rod was moving in as well, shortening it. But for fear of looking even more stupid, I'll take your word for it!

I think 325mm is right then, but will check when I get home over the weekend.

[Paul the 6th]

see - that was the stuff yc said but my memory aint what it used to be... if I was into racing or riding like a fanatic then I guess I'd have to consider my options more carefully, but if progressives will cut the mustard with some nice 15w oil, and adding too much preload won't induce the limited travel effect luckypants was on about, then I'll be happy enough going with them.