Forks gone solid

[gmars70970]

Stripped down, now to bodge a tool for re-build.

Its RR aviation at Inchinnan, everywhere north of Ayrshire is Glasgow to us country boys 🤣

[gmars70970]

Not sure if this a common known fact or ive just found  an easy fork tool.
B&Q sell 16mm square bar with 1.5mm wall thickness, the 16mm external fits perfectly in the fork section and the 13mm internal fits a 1/2 socket drive for tightening.

[Hooli]

Without scrolling back to check, those look like early K2-K4 forks?

[gmars70970]

Yip 👌
2001 bike

[Hooli]

Just thought I'd mention it as your tool won't fit K5 onwards bikes.

[gmars70970]

Aaahhhh 👍

[seth]

For the early forks
Remember you'll need to pump the fork internals as you rebuild them to make sure the oil level is correct when refilling them .

[gmars70970]

Thanks to the info & advice on here my forks are all serviced and I'm comfortable doing the job myself now.
Few tweaks to do to get them just right but happy with them so far.

Tyre pressure - 36psi
Preload - 2 rings showing
Rebound - 7 clicks from hard
Compression - 4 clicks from hard
Sag - 32mm

Thanks again everyone

[KoZi]

Thanks to the info & advice on here my forks are all serviced and I'm comfortable doing the job myself now.
Few tweaks to do to get them just right but happy with them so far.

Tyre pressure - 36psi
Preload - 2 rings showing
Rebound - 7 clicks from hard
Compression - 4 clicks from hard
Sag - 32mm

Thanks again everyone

Front and rear SAG is 32mm?
Important thing - what free SAG do you have ?

[gmars70970]

@KoZi just done some more checks.

With me on the bike front sag is 33mm & rear is 21mm .

Think i'll decrease the front a bit to 25-30mm.

Strange thing is the sag when the bikes sitting in the free state.
Front is 31mm
Rear is 2mm ..... yes 2mm

Any suggestions

[KoZi]

@KoZi just done some more checks.

With me on the bike front sag is 33mm & rear is 21mm .

Think i'll decrease the front a bit to 25-30mm.

Strange thing is the sag when the bikes sitting in the free state.
Front is 31mm
Rear is 2mm ..... yes 2mm

Any suggestions

So you are pinging out from seat when you are hitting a bump... Not good.

As I always say to everyone - 35-45 mm rider SAG (front and rear) is best to set up on first line. Then you are watching your style of riding and you can set to 30 mm if your style is verry agressive, but 30 is limit for the street - checked on many bikes.
Free sag should be 15-25mm front and 5-15mm rear. If you have 2 m is way to stiff - change preload by turn anticlockwise then measure once again. When you also change free sag your rider sag also will go upper in mm - and this is good.
For me in your case - front is little too soft and rear is way to stiff.
Second time - make an videos about rebound and compression - it is also very important.

[grog]

What Kozi says. Rear end way too stiff. From memory my front rider sag is 30mm, Wilbers progressive springs, works perfectly. Rear i cant remember numbers but setting 2 i think solo. 3 for pillion, also good. Both ends seem to work together. I reckon a lot of recommended settings are way to hard. Good for race track only. IMO.

[gmars70970]

Just seen your posts @KoZi & @grog 👍

I was out a decent run today, Glasgow, Loch Lomond, Glencoe, Fort William, Mallaig, ferry to Skye, onto Plockton, Kyle of Lochalsh and home.... 394mls.

I'd wound the compression back 2 clicks on the front when i was out today and the front feels good. I'll check sag tmrw tho.

100% agree the rear is too hard, i'll adjust that tmrw and increase the sag.
Rear currently showing :
4 rings
No 3 on both rebound & compression.

[KoZi]

Just seen your posts @KoZi & @grog 👍

I was out a decent run today, Glasgow, Loch Lomond, Glencoe, Fort William, Mallaig, ferry to Skye, onto Plockton, Kyle of Lochalsh and home.... 394mls.

I'd wound the compression back 2 clicks on the front when i was out today and the front feels good. I'll check sag tmrw tho.

100% agree the rear is too hard, i'll adjust that tmrw and increase the sag.
Rear currently showing :
4 rings
No 3 on both rebound & compression.

Front: need movie about how forks works.
Rear: Silver springs in earlier models are stifer than red ones. If you have 4 rings out go to 3. It will be better with luggage but without and solo riding you have to go little uper - 2,5 maybe 2. This is all only talking. Measure everything and tell us what are results.

[gmars70970]

@KoZi @grog  i've spent the day taking measurements.

Front is now showing :
1.5 rings
30mm sag (just the bike)
40mm sag (me & bike)

Rear:
On Ring No 1
10mm sag (just the bike)
32mm sag (me & bike)

I've not taken it out a run yet but hoping thats a good base to work from, does feel soft in the garage, but im comparing it to the gsx when it was solid and my zx6 track bike.