Fork travel - How much to use?

Haggis

Haggis

Hero member
Location
UK
Hi All,

This concerns my Blackbird, but could equaly be Laverda related.

Full fork travel is 120mm. Using ye-olde zip tie I have established I'm using 100mm of this. (by spritied street riding/braking as much as I dare/deliberatly hitting a few bumps).

Question - how close to 120mm would be wise? 20mm is currently unused.

I need a plusher ride. I can get this and also access some more of that 20mm by dropping the oil level a bit (to lessen the compressed air spring phase). But, I obviously don't want to go metal-to-metal in the fork at any point.

I'm thinking of leaving 10mm - scope for the nasty pothole events.

(Coil spring rate, static and rider sag are OK).

Thoughts?

Cheers.

Paul
 
Lighter springs.
Lighter oil weight.
Same oil level.
Or send them to Maxton if you don''t know how to set them up properly.
 
You cannot set up your suspension for extreme events like hitting giant potholes. That is the job for the bump stops.
Go into e.g. RaceTech webpage and follow the basics. They give the figures in mm and %.
Spring weight is alpha/omega for what you are looking at, and set up static sag for your requirements. It is a very straightforward step by step formula. Make sure you set up the rear end at the same time so that everything is in balance.
 
Thanks guys. I know what I'm doing. I was just seeking opinions on this one specific variable.

Cheers, Paul
 
buy a Pan
super plush as standard
seat better than a Parker Knoll
less noise than a church mouse
more economical than a Ernie Dorset diesel.
CLEM
 
FWIW I have a 2001 VFR800 and did the suspension up about 5 years ago.
Racetech Gold Valves replaced the original cartridge valves and fitted new Racetech springs and set sag. It was a simple enough job, step by step instructions.
The rear I replaced with a Maxton street unit (there are many good options out there though).
The bike was transformed.
 
Thanks Clem, you forget one thing my friend, I'm not as old as you  ;)  I hear they are working on a comode for the 2017 model  :o  Having said that, my buddy has one and I confess to liking a spin on it.

Thanks Tippie. Isn't it amazing that the might of Honda engineering should specify such a basic fork for 2 on their flagship models. OK, they are a few years old now, but even in the day they were shite. For the moment, I'm just getting the forks set properly, then over the winter downtime I'll fit some emulators.

I know I should forget this Honda rubbish and concentrate on the Lav, but winding on the Blackbird throttle is intoxicating.

 
"I know I should forget this Honda rubbish and concentrate on the Lav, but winding on the Blackbird throttle is intoxicating"
No way. Best of both worlds.
Enjoy all of it.
 
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