Fork Spring Suggestions/Tips?

I have a 5th gen vfr(98) and just picked up and ohlins rear suspension to replace a leaking stock shock and figured I should upgrade the front suspension as well.

I've been looking at Race Tech Springs and gold valve kit possibly with a rate of 1.0kg. My riding weight is right around 350lbs (solo, gear, luggage). What are you thoughts on a racetech setup and what are some other brands and what not?

Also, what's the word on progressive springs? yay/nay? Do they offer spring rates higher than 1.0kg? Lookin for some info is all, b/c there is so much to sort through.

I stick pretty much to street riding/touring but plan to have one or two track days a year.

Thanks.

 

Yep Race Tech is the way to go. Very happy with what I got and good guys to work with. all though I don't weigh as much and went .95 can't say enough in how great the bike is up front. Not sure about the progressive springs as I went with what they offered after a phone call discussion with my riding style

 

Cool, even with my weight it's got to be better than stock. Guess I have some phone calls to make tomorrow. Did you install yourself with just springs or both springs and a valve kit? From what I've read it doesn't look too hard, I've got more than enough tools and if I need something else my friend works for Melling Tool Co. so I could get whatever done there...

 

Limited help I know but...

I recently had Racetech Goldvalve and springs installed by the Ohlins importer. He also changed the spring on the Ohlins to suit my weight and the extra bumps we have in the roads hereabout.

Haven't seen the bill yet so I don't have the detail of what he did to the front end, but so far I do like the result.

 

I third race-tech's springs!

 

From fork spring's I've used on other bikes, 1.0kg sounds a bit light for 350lbs. But the one to best answer is a suspension shop or guru (which I'm not). And it may require a couple of attempts. :biggrin: But the good thing is theres not much magic in getting a spring that can achieve right amount of sag.

I've only sent 1 set of forks to RT, and they came back under sprung (bottomed forks easily, sag could not be set anywhere near where it should've been). I'm not knocking RT...you're taking the right steps in asking if the spring is in the ballpark. FWIW.

 

Yep, did it myself, wasn't to hard more of having the right tools and a place to do it for many. I did have the valves till I swapped out to F3 guts, now I only have the springs. oO the matter of spring sizing, ya there's a huge difference in what you have now to what you will get. if I was to do it again I'd be getting .9s as in the freeway traveling is a wee bit harse, all thou it is made up for the lines I can take in the twisty s.. :wink: :biggrin:

 

What do you guys know about Sonic Springs? They offer 1.10kg/mm spring which is closest to the 1.16 or so I'm recommended via Race-Tech's calculator. Haven't had a chance to call anyone yet (too busy with starting a new job this coming week). Big plus about sonic...they're cheaper...who doesn't love that? But you get what you pay for right? Maybe RT will have some higher spring rates available for my big butt if I call them.

RVFR- any tips on what tools/misc stuff I'd need to do this myself? I don't think it'd be too hard and I'm fairly mechanically inclined since i'm halfway or so to being a mech engineer. If not, I have a friend who definitely could help and he's planning on doing some of the same stuff to his 88 cbr600.

 

Biggest trick and this is coming from one thats done it a few times, have an impact air tool to break lose the stud/cap screws that are recessed in the bottom of the fork legs, 90% of the time doing this by hand doesn't break em lose. also do this before you undo the top fork caps, it gives the valve body inside as much tension to resit spinning, other than that and a very accurate measuring device for fluid, is pretty straight forward. This can be done with out taking the fork legs out of the triples, but to really do it right IMO one should, thats if you're doing the valves, if not, then you can leave in the triples for just springs. Doh! on Honda for not putting drain caps in these legs, only way to get the fluid out totally is be removing them and turning them upside down. WAPITA

 

alright cool, impact tool won't be a problem. As far as measuring the fluid, is it done by volume or depth/length? I thought I remember reading about measuring the depth...any suggestions for doing that? Volume is a no brainer as I have some beakers from a lab at MSU .

 

I have 1.0s in my forks and I weigh 160 pounds and experience no harshness at all.........

 

Please keep in mind that RaceTech's calculator is biased towards the stiff side, for racers(even though they have a street option).

I am running .90 Ohlins springs and a top of the line Ohlins 46PRXLS on my F4i, and .90 RaceTech springs with an Ohlins 46DRS on my VFR VTEC. I weigh right around 200lbs, minus gear, and generally ride very aggressively.

I think you should shoot for a 1.0 max, although I had a great experience dealing with Rich Desmond at Sonic Springs when I bought front springs for my VF750 project(which has a Works Performance shock out back).

What is your riding style(street cruising/ touring/ track/ aggressive street?)?

You can also give a call to the guys at IndySuperBikes.com, they race on weekends and sell during the week, they know their stuff, had a couple good experiences with them too.

 

Either way works, mine was done completely dry, so I added in the correct amount, so felt it unnecessary to measure, if one was to have the ability to drain it then refill then, I'd measure it.

 

LOL Well hell my friend what can I say other than it must be the RED screen.
Actually mine rides fine, just took a bit to get accustom to it, wouldn't mind trying on the .90 to see just whats what. but I also went with 7.5 wt oil too. so??

 

My riding style...well I do a little bit of everything...that's why I got a VFR . I spend a lot of time commuting on it(sadly)and have a full set of Givi cases that I can tour with, and I'm looking at doing two track days this year. But I'd have to say most of the time it's aggressive street to street cruising/touring. I spend the majority of the time solo working the bike hard. Don't forget I weigh 340lbs.....imagine aggressive two up riding/racing haha.

 

It's the setup, not the screen....... i'll just leave it at that, maybe the guys at the local Ducati shop could help a shop groupie out with some 411.....