ColoradoChris
Member
First of all let's make sure I have my terms right:
Free sag = the difference between fully extended and the bike upright with no rider
Mine is 3/8" or 9.5mm
Static or "Race" Sag = the difference between fully extended and the bike upright with rider in riding position
Mine is 2 3/16" or 55.56 mm (41% if true total front travel is 5.4" 137.16mm)
So, as I understand from other threads most people have more free sag than I do (30mm to 45mm) And about the same static sag at 52mm to 63mm.
So, help me understand why my free sag is so small? Too much pre-load? I pulled the cap off and the spacer appeared to be stock and there was very little resistance to get the threads started again.
I think I also read that very little free sag and lots of static say says the springs are too soft.
Part of me wants to add 11/16" to the spacer length to get the Static Sag back to about 30% of total and to get some travel back. Is that a bad idea? If not, is PVC pipe okay to use for the spacer like the dirt bike guys do?
I weigh about 190 without gear but I did have the top box and panniers on the bike, about half a tank of fuel. The previous owner was 300+ I don't think that should have done any permanent damage to the springs but what do I know.
Anything you can share will certainly make me smarter which is a good goal in and of itself, but I am really trying to figure out what to do to tame the washboards some. I figured to start with pre-load before I buy emulators and a rear shock and start messing with spring rates.
Free sag = the difference between fully extended and the bike upright with no rider
Mine is 3/8" or 9.5mm
Static or "Race" Sag = the difference between fully extended and the bike upright with rider in riding position
Mine is 2 3/16" or 55.56 mm (41% if true total front travel is 5.4" 137.16mm)
So, as I understand from other threads most people have more free sag than I do (30mm to 45mm) And about the same static sag at 52mm to 63mm.
So, help me understand why my free sag is so small? Too much pre-load? I pulled the cap off and the spacer appeared to be stock and there was very little resistance to get the threads started again.
I think I also read that very little free sag and lots of static say says the springs are too soft.
Part of me wants to add 11/16" to the spacer length to get the Static Sag back to about 30% of total and to get some travel back. Is that a bad idea? If not, is PVC pipe okay to use for the spacer like the dirt bike guys do?
I weigh about 190 without gear but I did have the top box and panniers on the bike, about half a tank of fuel. The previous owner was 300+ I don't think that should have done any permanent damage to the springs but what do I know.
Anything you can share will certainly make me smarter which is a good goal in and of itself, but I am really trying to figure out what to do to tame the washboards some. I figured to start with pre-load before I buy emulators and a rear shock and start messing with spring rates.