soft front forks

Is there a way to stiffen up the front forks a little without replacing the internal springs. Fork seals are not leaking and the fluid level is full but I still get a lot of front end dive when braking.

 

Hi

Because of the big wieght difference with my trike I've got 3 x 10 pence (about the same size as 25 cents) pieces on the top of each spring, then replaced the top stopper. Worked a treat, forks are stiffer but still soft enough to perform. Not sure of the consequenses of doing it fo a bike tho, it's very hard to fall off a trike!

Lea

 

Your choices are either adding spacers, as LincsTriker mentioned, or slightly raising the oil level in the forks.

Thickwall PVC tubing for spacers is cheap, and easy to work with.

Both methods will help, but not cure the real issue, which is the fork springs themselves.

Buying the right fork springs is one of the biggest easy improvements that you can do, as the stock springs are too soft to begin with, and, unlike us, won't get any stiffer as they age.

 

Actually - raising the oil level won't help much, but could end up blowing the seals; and neither will increasing the pre-load (though that will help a bit).

Your best bet to control dive apart from replacing the springs with progressive-wound ones is to use a heavier fork oil. I think the stock recommended is 10wt oil, so switching to 15wt might be enough of a change.

It will stiffen the ride a bit, but dive should be significantly reduced.

You could also go with a small increase of the spring pre-load via spacers. Say, increase the spacer by 1" when you go up one fluid level. Pre-load affects the ride height and handling more than helping with dive though.

 

I'll echo Altus on this one. Spacers are the cheap and easy fix, replacement springs are the reasonably priced fix.

 

And I run 15 weight or heavier for good damping character.

 

Thanks for the advice. I picked up some 20 weight fork oil from the local yamaha shop. I'll try that first and if I need to I'll add a spacer. Is 1" about the ideal spacer size or should I start smaller?

 

Changing the oil level in your forks is a common suspension tweak: the people who race for a living use it all the time. It will not hurt the seals unless you put in too much oil.

Thicker suspension fluid may calm things down a bit, but then your compression damping will be too stiff and the ride quality suffers. A decently set up suspension will be compliant, not stiff. I weigh 250# ready-to-ride, and use 5w in my forks....but my forks' internals are a long way from stock. :lol:

The most important suspension setting is having the sag right, and you need to have the right spring installed before that will happen...simply cranking in more pre-load won't do it. A thicker spring preload-spacer is a small step in the right direction, but it won't replace the right parts.

 

Not sure if this will help. I put 20w in my forks and am now regretting it. The front end is way too harsh for me weighing in at 200lbs full gear. I'm going to swap out the fluid for something lighter.