by: RavenRider
OK, guys. $14.50 suspension upgrade for both ends.
Aluminum flat stock 2 pcs for $4.50
2 - 3/8" pipe nipples for spacers $1.50
1 jug of 5 wt. fork oil for $8.50
Total Cost: $14.50
For the rear make new, shorter, connecting arms (dog bones) out of aluminum flat stock. 1/4"T X 1.25"W X 6.625"L. Hole locations are 5.38" apart on center. I always use a pilot drill to locate the holes, I then used a 15/32" drill to finish to size. To install, place the bike on the center stand, unbolt factory dogs, lube suspension bearings while your there, install new bones. The shorter dog bones raise the effective spring rate about 20%.
The fork upgrade consists of shortening the spring and using a different quantity of 5 wt. oil. The weight of the oil does not effect the ride height or the spring rate. It affects the speed at which the oil can pass through the valving used to do the dampening. By stiffening up the front springs the way I did, (shortening the tight wound end, the softest part of the progressive spring), then adding to the spacer length, the ride height stays the same but a bit more firm. Going to a thinner oil allows the oil to move more quickly through the valving, thus the suspension is more compliant over highway stuff and can give a better feel when leaned over. The extra oil causes the air space left in the top of the forks to become compressed under heavy braking or when coming down from a good wheelie, thus giving an air shock effect to the front.
Here is the fork procedure in detail:
It should look like this.
Reset the rebound damping adjusters before refitting the top cap to the fork leg. Wind the adjuster screw all the way out anti-clockwise, then back in again 42 clicks. This ensures that you have sufficient range of adjustment available in either direction. Once the top caps are back on the fork legs, wind the adjusters fully in (ie, max rebound damping) then back them out by the required number of turns. This is to ensure that you haven't inadvertently altered the damping screw settings while the forks were apart.
RECOMMENDED DAMPER SETTINGS: a place to start.
NOTE: Compression and rebound setting should be arrived at by turning fully in then backing out the correct number of clicks.
Front forks:
spring preload - - two full rings showing as in the photo above.
compression - - 4 clicks out from full in.
rebound - - - 3 clicks out from full in.
Rear shock with dog bones:
WARNING: DO NOT FORGET TO PUMP UP THE FRONT BRAKES BEFORE YOU TEST RIDE !!!!!!!!!
OK, now go ride your new bike. You'll swear it ain't the same bike.
compression - - - 7 out from full in.
rebound - - - 4 clicks out from full in.
Last Updated: 04-24-2005
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