R
Reggie3cl
Guest
Anyone know what the standard fork spring rates are for the RGS?
G
Grant
Guest
Shite
R
Reggie3cl
Guest
Nah, my forks are nowhere near that soft... 
Kiwi Laverda
Hero member
- Location
- The wobbly bit of New Zealand
No idea what the spring rate is but somewhere beyond hard.
Changed to some progressive springs off the shelf through trademe and out of Germany, worked great, thought that was the answer.
Then I read about the Racetech emulators and did the change over and the forks are so much better.
Now to get a set of Racetech springs
http://old.racetech.com/evalving/english/Srchpr.asp?bikeid=416&manufacture=Laverda&model=RGA+%26+RGS+1000&year=83%2D85&TABLEINFO=street&langname=english
Their calculator does not seem to be operational off the link above so try an email to them, or to Keith He's done it.
Steven
Changed to some progressive springs off the shelf through trademe and out of Germany, worked great, thought that was the answer.
Then I read about the Racetech emulators and did the change over and the forks are so much better.
Now to get a set of Racetech springs
http://old.racetech.com/evalving/english/Srchpr.asp?bikeid=416&manufacture=Laverda&model=RGA+%26+RGS+1000&year=83%2D85&TABLEINFO=street&langname=english
Their calculator does not seem to be operational off the link above so try an email to them, or to Keith He's done it.
Steven
mcnicol
Hero member
- Location
- Safety Harbor, Florida, USA
Steven and Reggie
For Racetech help, contact Matt Wiley at mwiley@racetech.com. He's their expert on vintage bikes, and can tell you what sorts of products are available that the calculator doesn't necessarily tell you. He told me about spacers with low friction seals so the emulators sit nicely just above the damper rods, but have all the oil flow controlled by the emulator (no leakage up the side).
He can also advise you about springs and oil. A mate of Scott Potter's.
Ken
For Racetech help, contact Matt Wiley at mwiley@racetech.com. He's their expert on vintage bikes, and can tell you what sorts of products are available that the calculator doesn't necessarily tell you. He told me about spacers with low friction seals so the emulators sit nicely just above the damper rods, but have all the oil flow controlled by the emulator (no leakage up the side).
He can also advise you about springs and oil. A mate of Scott Potter's.
Ken
Tippie
Hero member
- Location
- Dr?bak, Norway
I've tried emailing and ringing him several times without response.
I'm pretty sure you end up with about .90 springs from racetech but it goes by rider weight as well, numerous people on the forum have them. If you get racetech springs you need to play with the spacer length to get correct ride height. They are long spacers as the springs are much shorter than the fork tube. Start out with it too high and work your way down. If you cut too short you might run out of spacer tube and end up using several bits with washers between. Don't worry about them sagging over time, they are very good quality. It pays to read thoroughly the info racetech (or anyone else good) has on the subject of springs so that you understand the principles involved.
It will transform your ride and steering. Remember that you have rear suspension too though.
Cheers
Lee
I'm pretty sure you end up with about .90 springs from racetech but it goes by rider weight as well, numerous people on the forum have them. If you get racetech springs you need to play with the spacer length to get correct ride height. They are long spacers as the springs are much shorter than the fork tube. Start out with it too high and work your way down. If you cut too short you might run out of spacer tube and end up using several bits with washers between. Don't worry about them sagging over time, they are very good quality. It pays to read thoroughly the info racetech (or anyone else good) has on the subject of springs so that you understand the principles involved.
It will transform your ride and steering. Remember that you have rear suspension too though.
Cheers
Lee
I have a .9 spring in my 3C but to be honest it was a bit light for my weight and needed way to much preload to get the sag right.I weigh 120kgs.You get a much better action with the right spring weight preloaded right than either to light a spring with to much preload and vista versa,yes I know the preload has no effect on spring weight but being in the right hight of the stroke helps
R
Reggie3cl
Guest
.9? My Old Falcon shocks had 80lb springs in them- what would .9 be then? I'm about 85kg in my riding gear so a bit lighter than some
I'm OK setting sag and Gold Emulators will follow, but on a recent higher speed run I noticed the forks were working reasonably well which tends to suggest that the springs are a little firm- the ride at lower speeds is appaling.
I'm OK setting sag and Gold Emulators will follow, but on a recent higher speed run I noticed the forks were working reasonably well which tends to suggest that the springs are a little firm- the ride at lower speeds is appaling.
B
bob
Guest
Vince said:
Absolutely Vince, winding up the preload to get the sags correct is no way to set the suspension. You need the spring rate to be in the right ball park to start with.
jotacorsa
Hero member
- Location
- between Santa Fe and Taos
lee, matt does the ahrma circuit helping racers dial their suspension in at each event
not unusual to not hear from him when he's out of the shop
reggie, you'll find a marked improvement in low speed performance with emulators
weigh your bike loaded as you normally ride
i think the default for the triples is 550lbs
convert you riding weight to pounds
run the spring rate calc from the jota fitment page (rgs calc link not working)
keith may have them in stock so getting the selection right may just be swapping springs
but, you should seriously consider a full cartridge conversion from keith
the emulators give you adjustable compression damping with rebound controlled by oil viscosity
with cartridges you have adjustable shim stacks on the compression and the rebound valves
these are std jap bike cartridges that can also be modded with gold valves for improved performance
or go full on with the racetech cartridges and have ohlins like performance
for those not near a stocking dealer if you know what you need talk to michelle MMarshall@racetech.com
if you want to save a bit on the emulators order them with NV after the part number
you'll just get the valves with two sets of springs (40# and 65#) no extra packaging
race tech can also custom build shocks like works perf, wilbur, maxton etc
not unusual to not hear from him when he's out of the shop
reggie, you'll find a marked improvement in low speed performance with emulators
weigh your bike loaded as you normally ride
i think the default for the triples is 550lbs
convert you riding weight to pounds
run the spring rate calc from the jota fitment page (rgs calc link not working)
keith may have them in stock so getting the selection right may just be swapping springs
but, you should seriously consider a full cartridge conversion from keith
the emulators give you adjustable compression damping with rebound controlled by oil viscosity
with cartridges you have adjustable shim stacks on the compression and the rebound valves
these are std jap bike cartridges that can also be modded with gold valves for improved performance
or go full on with the racetech cartridges and have ohlins like performance
for those not near a stocking dealer if you know what you need talk to michelle MMarshall@racetech.com
if you want to save a bit on the emulators order them with NV after the part number
you'll just get the valves with two sets of springs (40# and 65#) no extra packaging
race tech can also custom build shocks like works perf, wilbur, maxton etc
R
Reggie3cl
Guest
Hey Scott
Yeah, Emulators on the list (I had them in my 180) but I don't want to dismantle my forks right now- the seals don't leak for a start- so will do a full refurb after the end of the season. As it is, the forks definitely feel oversprung-the forks were definitely working better at higher speeds so a spring swap is an easy first step. Course having a telelever BM with the best Wilbers can offer front and back makes it seem worse...
I'll see if Keith can supply anything spring wise.
Yeah, Emulators on the list (I had them in my 180) but I don't want to dismantle my forks right now- the seals don't leak for a start- so will do a full refurb after the end of the season. As it is, the forks definitely feel oversprung-the forks were definitely working better at higher speeds so a spring swap is an easy first step. Course having a telelever BM with the best Wilbers can offer front and back makes it seem worse...
I'll see if Keith can supply anything spring wise.
mcnicol
Hero member
- Location
- Safety Harbor, Florida, USA
I have Racetech 1.1 springs in my Ceriani Jota. They're the highest rate Racetech has. I also am in no danger of being blown away by a puff of wind... . I need to get inspired by whatever inspired Lothar.
I'm still playing with preload, but with having to unbolt the fornicating handlebars every time I try a different length I admit I'm really not doing it much. I did try a set of clipons so this wouldn't be a problem, but then the wires from the switches were all too short, so I went back to the standard bars and "Yeah, I must try a shorter/longer spacer and a different flow setting on the emulator. Next weekend".
Ken
. I need to get inspired by whatever inspired Lothar.I'm still playing with preload, but with having to unbolt the fornicating handlebars every time I try a different length I admit I'm really not doing it much. I did try a set of clipons so this wouldn't be a problem, but then the wires from the switches were all too short, so I went back to the standard bars and "Yeah, I must try a shorter/longer spacer and a different flow setting on the emulator. Next weekend".
Ken