Preload settings... yet again.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by LK-SV

only the associated ride due to ride heights ??

I have no idea what you are asking!

Originally Posted by Luckypants

Errr no, you are probably used to the saggy soggy front end and have got used to riding it like that. Having it set right may have felt harsh, but as the springs are the same it should be sprung the same. It feels different and that is what you didn't like. With 55mm sag on the front, you must be bottoming out the forks on bumps and / or braking?

With progressive springs, surely increasing the preload on the spring effectively increases the rate at which they start to work? Hence the harshness I felt. Hitting small 'stutter' bumps while cranked over mid corner and feeling like the front wheel was about to let go was not what I was looking for when I set the sag!

Thats my question ... although I will read elsewhere ....

Increasing/ decreasing the preload will have what effect on handling ?? (as opposed to ride) ..

[Mr Speirs]

Increasing or decreasing preload doesn't not add or detract any force on the spring.

Madness all the preload does is push against the spring to increase the length of the fork to then give you more travel.

Preload is commonly used with words like Stiffen and Soften which is completely wrong.

[Mr Speirs]

Also preload wouldnt affect ride or handling. It just stops the forks bottoming out.

[ophic]

Originally Posted by Mr Speirs

Preload is commonly used with words like Stiffen and Soften which is completely wrong.

remember the U rating!

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by Mr Speirs

Increasing or decreasing preload doesn't not add or detract any force on the spring.

Madness all the preload does is push against the spring to increase the length of the fork to then give you more travel.

Preload is commonly used with words like Stiffen and Soften which is completely wrong.

It does add force on the spring.

A linear spring shown as force vs compression will be a line like /
Preload changes the starting point, so the forks behavior will be more like
/
|

It doesn't increase the length, it increases the compressed length. The actual travel from topped out to full bump remains the same. (also exactly the same with no spring in there at all)

Terms used to describe suspension are a PITA!

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by Mr Speirs

Also preload wouldnt affect ride or handling. It just stops the forks bottoming out.

Yes it does and no it doesn't.

If you have way too much preload the forks cannot extend into a drop like a pothole, meaning the whole bike will pitch down. Too little, and they have nowhere to compress to when you hit a bump.

Whatever the preload, there will be a bump big enough to bottom a fork.

im not sure if this applies to the front but after increaseing the pre load on the rear of my last bike it actually stiffened the rear up a little. By turning the preload, you effectivly make the spring shorter and more compressed to start with, therefore when you hit a bump the spring needs that bit more pressure to compress, hence you feel a slightly harsher ride.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by s7uyj

increaseing the pre load on the rear of my last bike it actually stiffened the rear up a little.

No it made it feel stiffer, I'm pretty sure the spring rate stayed the same...