Sonic Springs - Can't Decide

[Wagoneer]

Sorry for yet another fork spring thread, but I've been reading the countless others but they're not putting me at ease over what springs to choose. Most answers are just "I love my sonic springs" and it stops there. I used the online calculator and I should be ordering .95kg/mm springs, but I went a little heavy with my weight (~260 with full gear) and the bike (430lbs wet) just to be safe. But much info is left out, like do these people have clip-ons which place more weight over the forks, or are they using the standard handlebars still? Are they doing highway driving or a lot of crappy backroad riding? I've many threads where people say whatever the calculator says go with the next one up. But then there are some where people are putting up their sonic springs for sale because they're too stiff. You can see where I'm going with this.

But I'm wondering, will .95 be too stiff over long trips? Will it cause premature fatigue? This will basically be my backroad cruiser, most trips at least 1-2hrs long each week. Most of the roads aren't the greatest since I do live in southern ontario which is brutal on tarmac and the backroads are sometimes left unmaintained for way too long. This is why I'm leaning towards the .90 springs instead.

On the other hand, I do want a bike that I can grow into. I'd love to be able to throw it into some corners with confidence.

To put this into perspective, on the stock suspension, I'm basically sitting on the bump stop in the rear, and have about an inch of throw in the front. I bottom out when entering my driveway which is a simple standed curb ramp. I already have a low mileage katana rear shock on the way which is why I'm about to order some matching front springs.

If I'm being ridiculous and probably won't even be able to tell the difference between the .90's and .95's then be honest with me. I can take a hit. Right now I have .95kg/mm springs and 15w oil in my shopping cart.

[Janx101]

standard bike... .95 sonics up front... website recommended 1.0 or heavier for me currently (300-310lbs with gear)

i chose the .95 as a future concession to anyone also riding my bike..

i can brake hard (as much as im game to without locking the front) .. from 80kph and the forks 'just' miss hitting the bottom .. or maybe a tiny bump is felt ..

the improvement over the stock is amazing...

i ride 50% freeway, 30% backroads and the rest in mountain twisties .... so far anyway ..

i am happy with the .95s .. the 1.0 probably would have been better for me... but there is plenty of 'plush' in the feel without feeling like the mates super hard gixxer suspension... he put 'race' stuff in... goes over painted lines and feels like corrugations!!

got standard bars .. my wrists and back wouldnt handle clipons

i got a mechanic to put it all together for me... (Im lazy and lack proper workshop tools) .. he put 10w oil in the forks... and the oil also contributes to the feel .. apparently...

whatever weight you decide on... and i reckon its definately gotta be .90 or .95 .. ??  ... you wont regret either ..

as for progressives... i dunno.... rode another mates bike with them in.... but hard to tell what the difference from sonics... plus i was getting used to that bike (r6) and had enough to get used to without worrying about a critique of the fork springs... felt nice and smooth though!..

with your stock suspension.. did you wind the preload up?... ive still got the stock rear and wound up to 7 .. the highest .. its a little floaty in the rear end ... katana rear is my next upgrade .. same time as new chain and sprockets 

[Wagoneer]

I guess I should have mentioned, the stock rear shock is damaged and the adjuster is completely bent. I bent it back but I can't seem to turn it, looks like something is internally damaged. It looks like it's stuck on 3 or 4, can't completely tell since it's so bent. It still works okay and is fine for my girlfriend which is about 120lbs, but I sit on it and it's almost right to the bump stop instantly. I don't think I would like it even if the preload is cranked up, you can only do so much if the spring rate is too soft. I can't believe you're still on the stocker at 310#'s. My bro is almost 330 without gear and he's literally on the bump stops front and rear when he sits on it. 

The .95 isn't too jarring on uneven pavement on backroads? Is that with a stock 110 front tire?

[Big Rich]

Wagoneer, have you considered contacting Sonic Springs directly? The owner (Rich Dresmond) is a member here, and I've heard is very helpful when contacted.

[Wagoneer]

That was going to be my last step today when I order.

I did find a specific thread with a rider who was the exact same weight as me that made me feel pretty good about the .95's. Probably a good idea for when my gf is on the back as well.

If it's too stiff I guess I can lower the oil level a bit.

[Janx101]

I guess I should have mentioned, the stock rear shock is damaged and the adjuster is completely bent. I bent it back but I can't seem to turn it, looks like something is internally damaged. It looks like it's stuck on 3 or 4, can't completely tell since it's so bent. It still works okay and is fine for my girlfriend which is about 120lbs, but I sit on it and it's almost right to the bump stop instantly. I don't think I would like it even if the preload is cranked up, you can only do so much if the spring rate is too soft. I can't believe you're still on the stocker at 310#'s. My bro is almost 330 without gear and he's literally on the bump stops front and rear when he sits on it. 

The .95 isn't too jarring on uneven pavement on backroads? Is that with a stock 110 front tire?

Ahh yeah ok... If bent then probably out of round.... And it is tight/firm to move even with the OEM adjuster tool ...

Lol .. When I bought the bike it was on 2 .. Rode it couple km and thought it was 'a bit lumpy' over the bumps... But 7 really does tighten it up a fair bit ... At least enough to stop bottoming out unless a severe pothole or something ... Besides.... I ride in the 'light' style 

On uneven back roads .... Nah the bumps are absorbed without any jars..... The stock springs gave me constant jarring on same roads... It's all pretty smooth .... And yep stock size front tire ... Pirelli sport demon though ... Which as everyone knows ride smoother than anything else anyway!! 

Rear is a 140 ... I run both ends at about 35psi mostly ... Really looking forward to doing the katana shock so I can compare that end of things too...

No matter what suitable rate Sonic .... Or Progressive (if you must  ) you choose .... You will love your bike long time!!! ... Just remember after your first ride on the new gear .. Wait till you in the shed or out of sight before you give it a big hug..... People stare and make assumptions! 

Edit . Oh and front fork brace ... Couple different guys on here do schmick lookin thick aluminium plates for the front.... Molto grande!

[Wagoneer]

Awesome, thanks Janx. I think I will go with the .95. I think mine might be a bit of a special case since the adjuster on the rear is broken and the front forks have brand new seals, but on the invoice for the service it says nothing about changing the fluid, so that's probably 30,000km old.

Do the fork braces really make a huge different on the stock GS forks? Or is just to reduce torquing under braking because of the single front disc?

[Bluesmudge]

Fork brace is mainly for braking forces, but doesn't hurt with cornering and sure looks cool. FYI I am about 205 lbs all geared up and have the .90 sonics. I find them slightly too harsh for commuting on crap roads but perfect for more spirited riding. I did not notice any difference switching between clip ones and normal bars. If you want better than stock but still plush you could go with the .90 springs. It would probably be similar to Janx101 on the .95s

[Wagoneer]

I ended up going with .95's. I'm about to send chuck some money for a fork brace as well. Basically I'd like to have the front suspension apart once and not have to touch it for the rest of the season. Hopefully all goes well!

Thanks for all the help and suggestions!

[Big Rich]

The fork brace is for front end stability.

Take off your current brace (especially on older bikes - pre 1980), and you can push the front wheel left and right while holding the bars straight. Even bikes with dual front brakes need a fork brace.

[jacob92icu]

Fork brace is mainly for braking forces, but doesn't hurt with cornering and sure looks cool. FYI I am about 205 lbs all geared up and have the .90 sonics. I find them slightly too harsh for commuting on crap roads but perfect for more spirited riding. I did not notice any difference switching between clip ones and normal bars. If you want better than stock but still plush you could go with the .90 springs. It would probably be similar to Janx101 on the .95s

Hey blue,

I'm about to buy some sonic springs to match my katana 600 shock set on 4 for now, and I am about your same size and was thinking of buying .90s as well. I ride pretty spirited everywhere I go, do you think I should get the .90s or get .85s and some heavy fork oil?

[snOhio]

Wagoneer, have you considered contacting Sonic Springs directly? The owner (Rich Dresmond) is a member here, and I've heard is very helpful when contacted.

+1.  I worked with Rich on getting the right springs for me and couldn't be happier.  Great guy who takes the time to get it right.

[Wagoneer]

Seems to be a few people running the katana rear shock here, what's everyone running their settings at? I have it on 4 for preload and 2 for rebound, think that would be a good match for the .95 front springs?

[jacob92icu]

I cant tell for sure right now since I don't have my fork springs in yet, but 4 is probably a little soft for .95 in the front.

[Wagoneer]

What's your rebound setting at? If your sag is correct, maybe your rebound isn't set high enough?

[Janx101]

Seems to be a few people running the katana rear shock here, what's everyone running their settings at? I have it on 4 for preload and 2 for rebound, think that would be a good match for the .95 front springs?

.. you mean r6 shock? .. sort of like this ?

cos katana shock is the top in photo is katana the bottom is gs500

and im buggered if i can figure out where a rebound setting is? .. preload is it... unless theres something im missing?

also katana is more recommended for us 'heavy boned' riders...

the r6 is sexier .. no doubt... and has more adjustment... but less spring rate... somewhere tween katana and stock... but i dunno how much ... might depend on year too?

edit... and sorry to sneaky threadjack.... does anyone know .. if this katana 750 with remote resevoir will fit in? http://www.ebay.com/itm/06-Suzuki-Katana-GSXF-750-Rear-Shock-W-Res-GB-/400493239895?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5d3f41de57&vxp=mtr

edit 2 .. Janxy searched the forum a bit.. and found a mention of them... but no definitive answer.. yet?

[Wagoneer]

The stock is only preload. The Katana has preload and rebound adjustable (see that little black disc just below the top bolt, that's the preload adjuster. The R6 just has a different way to adjust rebound. I don't have paint on my work computer otherwise I'd circle it to make it easier.

Anyone know if you spin that disc back to 1 from 4, does it go back to 1 or just to a setting higher than 4? Not sure how a rebound adjustment would just reset it itself like a preload perch would, so that's why I'm wondering.

[Janx101]

so the disc drives a screw mechanism down the centre of the piston rod? ... to change the damper setting in the guts of the cylinder? ... works i guess... seems an ass about way to do it though 

[Wagoneer]

I'm confused about it too. I'm mostly confused about why it allows you to keep turning the disk passed the highest setting back to the 1st setting again. Unless it's on a perch mechanism like the preload adjuster is, I don't know how it would work though.

[Janx101]

that part is easy enough i think... bit like this .. easiest picture i could find to convey concept



it just rotates a disc inside a bit like these lids .... how far depends on how big and how many the holes to let the oil through... and it just keeps turning 360 again and again...

like the pre load which is stepped .. but with that you get the ka-thunk as it goes from 7 back to 1 ..

think the r6 ones might be just righty tighty lefty loosey?