Wavey front end on a K6

Try to get your head round this lot!
http://www.moto-racing.co.uk/Guides/...0YOUR%20WEIGHT

[TSM]

Does nobody know about phyiscs?

SV forks springs are normaly linear.

Even the stuff written in all the externaly linked sites indicate that preload does not make the front stiffer or softer.

[the_lone_wolf]

Originally Posted by TSM

Does nobody know about phyiscs?

**raises hand whilst looking around tentatively**

cubic inches to cc you say?

[TSM]

Originally Posted by the_lone_wolf

**raises hand whilst looking around tentatively**

cubic inches to cc you say?

yep i know you know

[the_lone_wolf]

Originally Posted by TSM

yep i know you know

i know...

Originally Posted by TSM

Does nobody know about phyiscs?

SV forks springs are normaly linear.

Even the stuff written in all the externaly linked sites indicate that preload does not make the front stiffer or softer.

Lets get some facts straight cos I'm confoosed here!Told yer so!

You increase the preload cos yer forks are bottoming out right?
This compresses the springs yes?
The springs therefore get shorter, right so far?
If they don't get stiffer then how else do they prevent the forks bottoming?
Unless of course the preload adjuster automatically adjusts the damping force as well but it doesn't say this in the instructions!!??
Still confoosed... ...

I just had a thought....maybe the term 'preload' doesn't mean compressing the spring as logic would assume, maybe maximum 'preload' actually means allowing the spring to relax to its full length so the sheer distance it has to go to compress fully prevents the suspension bottoming out!

...but that can't be right cos they say preload "compresses" the spring see here!
http://www.tftunedshox.com/techtips.htm

Now who was it said that the external links didn't say that preload stiffens the suspension?

[northwind]

It's the preload thread, how we love it Preload is for setting where in your suspension travel you sit at rest. Suspension doesn't just go one way, it has to compress when it hits bumps and ridges, but it also has to extend when it meets a drop, ie, when you ride over the crown of a road under power, or you ride off a bump or ridge, or into a depression. If the bike sat right at the top of its travel, the wheel would leave the ground every time the bike shifted weight under power, or went over a depression in the road. But if it sits too far down, it'll not have enough travel to deal with some bumps.

Originally Posted by RhythmJunkie

Now who was it said that the external links didn't say that preload stiffens the suspension?

That link's for mountain bikes, which use lighter, very progressive springs in a fairly long-travel, soft fork. It also says that too much preload can snap your springs, and too little will cause them to rattle It's the same theory of course, but there's big differences in application.

[Sid Squid]

Originally Posted by RhythmJunkie

You increase the preload cos yer forks are bottoming out right?

You just might do that.

Originally Posted by RhythmJunkie

This compresses the springs yes?

No.

Originally Posted by RhythmJunkie

The springs therefore get shorter, right so far?

No.

Originally Posted by RhythmJunkie

If they don't get stiffer then how else do they prevent the forks bottoming?

Bump of 'X' size compresses suspension by 'Y' amount, if the position of the suspension is less than 'Y' from the bottom it will bottom out, changing the preload changes the position in the suspension's available travel, more preload = further up the available travel. Thus can accomodate a larger bump before running out of travel.

Originally Posted by RhythmJunkie

Unless of course the preload adjuster automatically adjusts the damping force as well but it doesn't say this in the instructions.

No.

Originally Posted by RhythmJunkie

Still confoosed... ...

Take heart - you're not alone.