I've searched and searched, but I can't seem to find out why everyone loves the progressive rate springs. The general consensus on the FZ1 board is that straight rate springs are preferred, which makes a lot of sense. Straight rate springs allow for much sportier riding without any question as to what's going to happen with the tension in the springs.

Thoughts? Opinions?

You are correct. Most racers (and sporty-bike riders) use all of their suspension travel. With a straight rate spring you can actually estimate how much brake to use to dive the front end to the desired height and decrease the rake (and trail, or castor) to make turn-in (steering input) that much easier. It is also much easier to control when accelerating out of a turn.

Progressives are useful for anti-dive. As the softer, closer-together coils bind up together they become a solid spacer for the stiffer, more spaced out coils.

Holy crap. An informative response... Sweet.

Why are the progressive rates preferred on this board, then? It's all I hear about.

also since the GS has itsy bitsy teensy weensy fork tubes
it is not considered a great race bike....
therefore the AM company makes springs for street riders.
yes you probably can get straight rate...but why...get a diff front end

Quote from: werase643also since the GS has itsy bitsy teensy weensy fork tubes
it is not considered a great race bike....
therefore the AM company makes springs for street riders.
yes you probably can get straight rate...but why...get a diff front end

Front ends are expensive, springs are cheap, that's why!

Quote from: AlphaFire X5Holy crap. An informative response... Sweet.

Why are the progressive rates preferred on this board, then? It's all I hear about.

Besides being very inexpensive, progresive rate springs are ideal for new riders such that they are soft enough to give a compliant and comfortable riding experience, but stiffen-up fast enough to control otherwise drastic chassis attitude changes and give a feeling of control and confidence.

On a side note: Progressives work very well in hiding warped front brake disks, by absorbing the undulations under braking.

I think I'll just drop some shims in to stiffen up my springs then. Thank you!

http://www.racetech.com/evalving/menu/searchstreet.asp

http://www.gstwin.com/making_fork_spacers.htm




I'm gonna do it someday...  I swear.  

I'd also like to get a thicker (less bendy) version of the plate (whatever the hell it's called) between the fork tubes.

The Racetechs are $110! :O That's a bit too much for me. Spacers will be the mod of choice for me, I guess.

I saw that too... The weight calculator RULES!  Type in your weight and it tells you the stock springs vs what you should get...

Too bad they're a bill plus shipping.  




:lol: According to the calculator, you'd have to weigh 44 Lbs for the stock springs to be right...  No wonder RG never complains about them    :lol:

Is there a way to calculate the spacer size necessary to create a given spring weight?

Do I look like I work for RaceTech?   :nana:

Just playing around with their weight calculator, I decided to find the rider weight that would make the recommended springs match the stock springs.

If you want to ride on the stock springs, Racetech recommends that you weight 44.5 lbs.

Good to know.

You must be as bored as I am...  (See two posts above).  

Hmm. There must me a length/mass formula I could use to plug in spacer length. Anyone? Geniuses?

Quote from: AlphaFire X5..........Spacers will be the mod of choice for me, I guess.

I don't know much about springs but my gut tells me that a spacer will just reduce the available spring travel and the rate for the remaining travel isn't changed.  What do you gain?

Quote from: AlphaFire X5Hmm. There must me a length/mass formula I could use to plug in spacer length. Anyone? Geniuses?

Yeah, your premise is wrong.  You can't stiffen the forks with a spacer.  It will raise the front, and it   may increase travel if the stock springs have any collapsible space left between the coils.  

The spacer is pretty small...  Just adds some pre-load...  Check the link.

Quote from: Gisser

Quote from: AlphaFire X5Hmm. There must me a length/mass formula I could use to plug in spacer length. Anyone? Geniuses?

Yeah, your premise is wrong.  You can't stiffen the forks with a spacer.  It will raise the front, and it   may increase travel if the stock springs have any collapsible space left between the coils.  

Hm. Makes sense. I don't see why I didn't see that... I guess it'd be to remove some of the slack in the springs before they start to compress?