[jarelj]

I have 7mm free sag, 27mm rider sag with the linkage altered with shorter dogbones, 185lb. rider. Keep in mind the weight of the bikes varies widely too, so just spring rate and linkage, combined with rider weight, is not enough for a "baseline". My SV weighs about 320 wet.

 

[Guest]

I've set up several with the circa '98 SRAD showa shocks.
99 and 00 1st gen models with riders on the light side. 140-155 lb
As said, that's given me sags of 10-ish/30-ish, with decent compliance and control.

maybe forks are so soft and compress by just looking at them ;D

 

[rogsvr]

Good point Jarel.
Yours is a fairly extreme example, with most SVs being fairly close (+/-10lb?), but the weight is worth taking into account.
Thanks

Still, I'd be curious what spring rate you get those numbers with. You listed everything BUT that.

Would like to hear from others too.

Thanks
Roger

 

[jarelj]

Good point Jarel.
Yours is a fairly extreme example, with most SVs being fairly close (+/-10lb?), but the weight is worth taking into account.
Thanks

Still, I'd be curious what spring rate you get those numbers with.  You listed everything BUT that.

Would like to hear from others too.

Thanks
Roger

Street bikes, yes +/- 10 lbs. depending upon what they've done with the exhaust. But track bikes are all over the board. Mine's probably one of the lighter ones, but it's not unusual to find a track bike 40-50lbs. lighter than stock. I forget for sure what spring I'm running now, but I think it's 600#.

 

[Guest]

Roger,
are you measuring exactly on axle or close to axle?

 

[rogsvr]

Jarel,

Too true. I do mostly street bikes, or near stock trackbikes, so my mind was on a narrow range, but you're quite right.

TWF, Generally measure to a mark scribed on top of axle nut, but I'm open to any suggestions.

Thanks
Roger

 

[Nimbus]

OK,

Tentative #'s (my wife was helping, but not pleased about it).

Me: 140lbs (approx)
Spring (refer to above, apparantly 514#)
Static: 16mm
Laden: 36mm

That is with 18 lines showing (a bit before 1/2 way on the preload). I can feel the bike top out if I lift it a bit while it is standing. It's in the ballpark now and rides pretty well. Rebound and compression are at 14 from fully closed (turned to the right). I had it out for a flog today and (despite 020's with 10K miles) I was pretty impressed. It rides well and doesn't do anything really scary anymore. The bike still does a noticable "weave" or wallow while pretty far over at 70mph, but it is far better than it was. One thing I noticed was that the front tire seemed to chatter or skip when I went through a slightly downhill curve with a reasonable bump in the middle. More a factor of seriously worn tires ridden too hard I think. But I suspect that whatever my dealer did to prevent me bottoming out the front forks (more oil) screwed up something. I have stock springs with emulators and 20 wt oil. Overall, a vast improvement, but not quite right. I bet with $$$ it would be closer :

 

[rogsvr]

Hmmm,

Those numbers make me think that you have about the right spring.
A bit more preload would move the sag to something like 10/30 or 12/32 (approx) and those are normally pretty good numbers. Certainly for the street. A much bigger spring would seem to show either to little static, or too much race sag. Of course a heavier guy or lighter bike might want more spring and less preload, but this seems about right for you.

Not sure how you'd get both sag numbers sensible with a 600 pound spring.
I don't mean that to give anyone crap, I'm just saying I dont' get it..

 

[NOsquid]

I don't get it either. I have 650lbs/in spring and I get about 10/30. I weigh 175 w/o gear.

 

[Guest]

A bit more preload would move the sag to something like 10/30 or 12/32 (approx) and those are normally pretty good numbers.

assuming measurement changes by same amount on spring and axle.

 

[Guest]

OK,

The bike still does a noticable "weave" or wallow while pretty far over at 70mph, but it is far better than it was. One thing I noticed was that the front tire seemed to chatter or skip when I went through a slightly downhill curve with a reasonable bump in the middle.

wallow is most like from to soft.which will also make rear squat and front light.with no weight on front you get chatter or bounce of the bump.front is also wondering around,floating.