Progressive front fork springs XJ700N Maxim 1985

I want to replace the front fork springs of my XJ700N Maxim 1985 with progressive springs. The only springs I can find are for a XJ700X Maxim 1985. Does anyone know these springs will fit?

 

I´m pretty sure they will. Apart from that, progressives rarely match the original spring lenghth, so you may have to adjust the spacer lenght. (there are some thumbrules about fork travel vs "sag" - the difference between the forks fully uncompressed and compressed by the weight of the bike + rider)..

I bought Ikon progressive springs: http://www.ikonsuspension.com/download/ ... gs-app.pdf

- and they are 53 cm. long. Servicemanual says 515/505 spring free lenght limit (700/700X resp.) and fork oil capacity 383/389ccm, resp.

On a side note I found by disassembling the forks that mine allready had progressive springs installed; they are 49cm. long and the spacer is 15 cm.

 

Finn, thank you for your thorough information.

At www.ikonsuspension.com...gs-app.pdfI have found the progressive springs for the XJ700X Maxim. They also have a short note with it which says to use the standard spacer.

The length of the springs in the service manual you mentioned is the fork spring free length limit. Springs beneath this limit have to be replaced by new.

So it seems there is a small difference of about 10mm in length.
I think it is worth trying to replace the old springs with these new progressive Ikon springs.
All I have to do now is finding an Ikon reseller in the neighborhood because ikonsuspension.com is no reseller.

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I have noticed the small windscreen on your XJ700N Maxim at your website.
It does look great but is also effective?
May I ask you where you have found it?

Riens

 

Riens, you´re welcome.

If you click on "international disributors" on the Ikon homepage, there seems to be one in the Netherlands: http://www.hobbyist.nl/

i agree it will be worth trying - everybody recommends them and I´m looking forward to install my new ones (I think my old ones are to short..)

(I´ve changed my stock rear shocks to a pair of SH Koni Progressives I found on Ebay and I´m very happy with the switch ("night and day" difference)).

As for my small windscreen it was on the bike when I bought it. It is better than not having one and I think it looks better than the bigger, standard ones. The only times I´ve thought about changing it is when I´ve seen a SH standard one cheap for sale - but I think I´ll keeep it.

It has a name on, I can check up - I have a feeling it might be a larger one cut down/modified (though the job is well done..)

Good luck with your forks

 

Hello Fin, at last I have my new Ikon fork springs installed and they do fit perfectly.

It took me a while to get them because I had to order them directly at Ikon in Australia. www.hobbyist.nl didn’t want to import the springs for me, they thought it would become to expensive.

With the new springs I also replaced the standard spacers (150mm) for new ones (130mm). The new springs are really a big difference, less diving when hitting the front brake and driving is much more smoother now.

Progressive springs = progression.

 

Hi Riens

Nice to hear; was it expensive getting them from Ikon?

I also shortened my spacers - no way I could depress the originals enough to get the top bolt in.

(Haven´t tried them yet; I´m having a mechanic looking at my valves and cylinders).

You might want to consider, if you have the original rear shocks, changing these to Ikon or Koni´s as well - they also make a huge difference in stability and riding comfort. I got my Koni´s SH from Ebay.de for around Eur 100.- (chose a model that lowers the rear about 1"). Pics here: http://hjem.get2net.dk/xjmaximdk/udstmod.htm#dæmp

Congrats with the progression 8)

 

Hello Fin,

Springs, freight and import all together 201,00 Euro.

Indeed, putting in the top bolt with the original spacer wasn’t easy. I had to stand on the bike’s footrests and put my full bodyweight on a wrench to get it done.

After a test-ride I discovered riding wasn’t very comfortable so I decided to put in shorter spacers. 130mm was just a lucky guess of me but it seems to work well.

I have the original rear shocks and I want to change them as well (7610 sp8 is this also the model which lowers the rear with about 1-inch?), but before I am going to replace them I have to do some other maintenance first. Perhaps a camshaft-chain replacement and a carburetor-cleaning. :roll:

 

I think I landed on about the same spacerlenght - gonna check preload vs. "sag" when I get the bike back.

"7610" is a serie of shocks (as is "76") and "SP8" means they are cromed. In the Ikon application list/shock absorber details: http://www.ikonsuspension.com/content/specsdet.html

You can see the various lenghts + springs installed. I went for the 7610 1506 SP8, which measures 307mm eye-eye.

Sounds like your bike needs same TLC as mine (about to do my carbs now

 

If you need parts for your carbs take a look at this site crc2onlinecatalog.com

And thank you for your information about the rear shocks.

Riens

 

Thanks; added to my favourites.

I use http://www.cmsnl.com/yamaha-xj700n-maxi ... partslist/ to check for original parts and prices - and go a long way to find unorigonal parts, if not critical (doing my exhaust at the moment; Original gaskets: Eur100-120, unoriginal: ½ the price..)

 

Hi Fin,

I see you also have found http://www.cmsnl.com/yamaha-xj700n-maxim-1985_model9106/partslist/. I was surprised to find out it is a Dutch company.

I’m working in the same way as you do, for instance I recently asked my local dealer for a side stand switch 70,00 Euro, at www.cmsnl.com 37,50 Euro.

By the way, I have made a mistake with the fork springs price they were, 121,00 Euro instead of 201,00 Euro

 

That sounds more reasonable; I payed around 100 euro at the danish distributor.