| Author | Message | ||
     Ft_bstrd |
I just got my Uly back with the 07 springs installed. I didn't get to ride it much, but I did notice a big difference in dive. The bike feels much tighter. Gas, brake, gas transitions do very little to compress the forks, whereas it was very noticeable before. I haven't had a chance to take it out and work it, but I did feel like the bike gets upset in the corners with bumps, dips, etc. Again, it just felt tighter overall. | ||
| Birdmanrh |
You'll have a lot less useable travel then you did before, because as the shock compresses the rate goes up exponentially. Technically, the spring rate for the first 1/3 of travel is the same, the difference really comes from the change of oil height. (Air spring) | ||
| Jmhinkle |
I claim BS on that one. How "useable" was my travel when normal braking completely compressed my '06 springs. It sure as hell didn't leave anything to react to changes in road condition. Not to mention on my dirt road it never handled the washboard properly at all. With the '07 springs, I have very minimal dive under braking yet the front end still reacts to road condition changes like it should. On my washboard road and a pretty rocky one I've ridden, the suspension is more plush but the wheel stays in contact with the road. Sure seems to me that I have more "useable" travel now. I understand the theory you are hinting at completely, unfortunately it doesn't apply in this case because of your choice in the term useable. '06 setup is far less "useable" because it remains used up most of the time. | ||
| Danger_dave |
I wanted to see how much my 06 compressed, cause I wasn't even aware of dive till reading these threads. So I put the camera on the ground and... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfR-lSnYnRw Sorry - still don't relate. I just have nice plush suspension. But then the steering lock doesn't bother me either. ;-P | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I really didn't have a "problem" with dive. I simply wanted my Uly to feel as though it didn't have the longer suspension. You KNEW the suspension was longer. With the 07 springs, it doesn't feel like it's any different than a less long legged bike. | ||
| Etennuly |
I agree with Dave, I just don't see it as an issue. My opinion may come from being a dirt biker in the 70's and 80's where we had to do a lot of extra work and expense to get that much soft usable travel. Unless one was bottoming it out, I just cannot see stiffening up 6.5" of travel and making it act like 4". | ||
| Xbimmer |
Compliance with crappy surfaces is where I noticed the big improvement. The front tire is more planted while going over irregular stuff and very much more active without getting to the handlebar. I don't know whether the '07 rear shock is different but I run the '07 settings scale front and rear, I'm much more comfortable hustling the bike now especially two up. My '06 springs are now in a box with 30+ years' worth of other stock stuff that didn't work from my other bikes... | ||
| Bails |
I also changed out my 06 springs, and would relate to Xbimmer, actually I came off an R1100s, so I also am an X BMW rider. I don't know if the non diving BMW front end made me more aware , but I did not feel secure with the amount of dive in the 06 front, especially braking two up. I feel that the bike handles much better for my riding style with the 07 springs. I also run the same fork oil levels as the 06,and have moved the forks down in the triple clamps to get max rake, in reality only about 1 inch down but I want all the extra stability I can get. For me , I ride mostly blacktop, the bike now handles the best since original. | ||
| Birdmanrh |
The '06 springs are pretty reliant upon having the exact amount oil. If it isn't at the right level they will not work to well. You can claim BS all you want, but a straight rate compresses at a straight rate and a progressive rate progresses. They obviously needed to make a change for the majority of consumers and the progressive choice seems to be what was needed to make the bike ridable for those who bought the bike. Personally, I love the amount of travel I have available for use and have no dive issue. The cool thing is you have a choice and if you want to change you can. | ||
| Danger_dave |
It's good to know there is at least one problem you don't have, FB ;-P | ||
| Bearly |
The forks have the same length of travel, springs don't change that. You would hear bad noises if the spring wouldn't compress 6.5". I've changed many springs on dirt bikes just to tune the suspension for the conditions and always had the same length of travel on the the forks or rear shock. Progressive springs are an upgrade in most situations. I don't ride the Uly off road any more but one of the first things I did is bottom the shocks on a dirt road. Progressive springs will help with this situation. Thanks for the report Fs_bstrd. Let us know how it works out. I have them sitting on the work bench waiting for the now free stands (the lightning ss lives!) to use. | ||
| Gotj |
"You can claim BS all you want, but a straight rate compresses at a straight rate and a progressive rate progresses." A progressive rate spring progresses linearly, not exponentially. It doesn't affect the length of total travel at all. It just takes a larger load to use that travel. | ||
| Danger_dave |
My experience with fork springs is on my conventionally (basic) set up Triumphs. Installed Race Tech Progressives on my Thunderbird and Ohlins single rate on my Trophy. For street and road use - No difference. None at all, nada. Both significantly improved the fronts ends - like, heaps - and they improved even further when I installed the Gold Valve cartridge emulators. But I wouldn't care what sort they are. The 'soft' part of the progressive wind is mostly used up with static sag and pre-load anyway. And it's almost linear when you get to the working end. I found it makes far call difference how they are wound if the machine is set up right. Two years owning a 06 and the big factory rides on an 07 - and I didn't notice any difference. Better springs are just better springs and they're one of the best bang for buck improvements you can make to a bike. I trust you entirely FB, you're even sicker than me, but I'm not buying it being due to the wind of the spring. Arguments for quality, set-up or overall compression rates, I'm in. Thankfully I see no reason to change. Cool - just saved $250! Pub?  (Message edited by danger_dave on October 03, 2007) | ||
| Danger_dave |
I also can't get my head around how having the soft part of the spring 'first' helps eliminate dive? Isn't the concept soft early and getting progressively stiffer. (leave it out) That should make it more prone to dipping if it's just a tap on the front brakes? It's the big hits that engage the stronger resistance. Engineers? | ||
| Raceautobody |
06 fork dive Too cool  | ||
| Bobbuell1961 |
race, when i do that my beaver tail stands up and acts like a parachute! cool shot | ||
| Snowscum |
So is that shot a fully compressed fork? So what does it cost at a dealer for the 07 springs? I gota get rid of my dive. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
The springs are super expensive. I think I paid like $45 bucks. They friggin' rape us!  I'd say that's about as close to fully compressed as you can get. | ||
| Danger_dave |
just been for a fling. Got it. maybe. If your riding style is more like a road racer it's gonna bug you. If your style is more motard you'll welcome the change in attitude as it helps get set up for fast weight-over-the-front-wheel countersteering. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I think you're right, Dave. | ||
| Snowscum |
Well it gives me that, My weight-over-the front-wheel-and-onto-my-head feeling. | ||
| Danger_dave |
 | ||
| Jmhinkle |
As with most '06 bikes, I guess it all depends on the bike too. My riding style is neither of what Dave suggested. It's just plain jane, sit up and beg, relaxed riding. Under normal braking, as in coming to a normal stop from 35MPH approaching a red light, rolling off the throttle dropped my front end 2 inches, and applying the brakes would result in compressing the suspension to about .5 to 1" of remaining travel. Any type of heavy or sudden braking and I would bang the forks tubes on the bottom. It felt like I was being launched over the bars and I had to strain my neck badly to keep my head and eyes level. Dealer wanted close to $400 to do it for me. Cost me about $135 for the springs, Amsoil oil, fork tools and oil level kit. | ||
| Danger_dave |
I took the long way around saying: depends if you are leaner or a countersteerer. What happens when you get paid by the word ;-( | ||
| Jmhinkle |
Well I am a complete countersteerer in that case. Just didn't understand what you meant. My fault. But I guess that means I partially disagree because that would lump me into the Motard class and I hated the dive. Then again, though, I seemed to be one of the few with oddly massive dive. I must have gotten the Friday bike. |
