Stiff Font Suspension

Hi,

Im new on this site an have just got my first VFR its a 1988 750FJ, a return to road bikes after a while. The bike is brilliant but the front suspension seems quite harsh. It doesn't soak up the bumps very well and on rough roads throws the bike around quite a bit.

Is this normal? Today I have taken to front wheel off and removed the break calipers and checked the anti dive thing seems to move free enough and the caliper and mechanism were all free.

How much should it move, I have a few millimeters.

The air pressure was set to 0.

What else can I try?

 

Check level of fork oil.

Check for original springs/spacers.

Check fork tube/s for bends.

Check lower fork tubes for dents.

 

Thanks Squirrelman,

How do I know if the springs/spacers are original?

 

Well a few pounds of pressure in the forks should help too.

Do you have a manual? Its hould give the min and max pressures for the forks.

Also as squrrelman said, check those items and the fork oil, if original, needs changed.

BZ

 

Thanks for the reply, I have the owners handbook. It does say about the min and max fork pressures, but I was wandering how I would know if the springs and spacers were the original honda spec?

Is this the workshop manual?

Also does adding some air pressure to the forks soften or stiffen?

I'll get one.

 

Official Honda service manual shows photos of springs and spacers and specifies length of springs.

You have centrestand ?? loosen fork caps 1/2 turn, raise front wheel, remove fork caps, lift out springs, washers, and spacers, then lift wheel up and down noting any binding or resistance to motion. Drain old oil.

Refill with new 10 wt.fork oil (not ATF) to specified level.

 

Try these two things first.

As s-man said above, change the fork oil with 10wt fork oil. Follow the directions in your manual. After you have the forks back on the bike add the air to the tubes.

I have been working on a 84 Ninja 900 and the front forks have a similar system with the anti-dive units and air suspension. From what I know, no air in the forks makes it handle like shit. Now this is only what I've read since I don't have the 900 on the road yet. But the Ninja forum I am on all the owners have some air pressure in the forks and rear shock.

Ya know, a cheap thing to try is add air first then take it for a ride and see what you think.

BZ

 

AIR usually not needed on VFRs except for heavy loads.....

The very low pressure specs ( 6psi max) make adding and measuring air difficult. Any excess pressure will blow fork oil past the seals.

 

Thanks guys, got the front wheel and brakes off anyway so I may as well go the rest of the way and change the fork oil. Brilliant advice!