bmccrary
Touring Mod
So after pulling the rear end of the bike apart to grease the bearings I ended up taking the shock down to the motorsports lab for some testing.
It was a job and a half just to get the spring off, which I can not seem to get back on now. However, my suspension guy is just up the road. Anyway, back to the story.
Once the spring was off I took it over to the dyno room to check the spring rate. While the machine is no where near a perfect system, my average spring rate came in to be around 690 lbs/in. Which if you account for 20,000 miles of use, I am thinking it might have started life as 700 lbs/in.
I also took some measurements of the spring. 2.25 inch I.D. and a 7.25 inch length.
I wanted to put the shock on the shock dyno, however that did not end up happening and I dont know it if will even work. I do not think the shock has enough travel to be put on the dyno.
Using the preload adjuster on the shock, we can dial in up to 3/8 inch of preload, or 262.5 lbs.
After having one of my old roommates, who understand this suspension geo stuff much more that I do, come over. We figured that a 900 lbs/inch spring would work well for my situation after some rough calculations. Which is this:
When I ride by myself, I leave the preload at 7, and when my g/f comes along, 110lbs soaking wet, and then gear... the front of the bike feels WAY to light for my taste. I would like something stiffer that what I have now for that situation.
If I were to go with a 900 spring, it would be softer on its lower settings that what I have now with preload, but yet, could be dialed in to be stiffer for when carrying a passenger.
The next step was to find some where that carried springs. Apparently RaceTech doesnt have that sort of spring. However, hypercoil does.
Welcome to Hyperco
If you click on catalog, and 2.25" I.D. you can scroll through the springs they offer.
Tomorrow I will be talking to my suspension guy in Salisbury some about this.
Just thought I would share some info that I figured some of you might enjoy knowing.
-bryan
It was a job and a half just to get the spring off, which I can not seem to get back on now. However, my suspension guy is just up the road. Anyway, back to the story.
Once the spring was off I took it over to the dyno room to check the spring rate. While the machine is no where near a perfect system, my average spring rate came in to be around 690 lbs/in. Which if you account for 20,000 miles of use, I am thinking it might have started life as 700 lbs/in.
I also took some measurements of the spring. 2.25 inch I.D. and a 7.25 inch length.
I wanted to put the shock on the shock dyno, however that did not end up happening and I dont know it if will even work. I do not think the shock has enough travel to be put on the dyno.
Using the preload adjuster on the shock, we can dial in up to 3/8 inch of preload, or 262.5 lbs.
After having one of my old roommates, who understand this suspension geo stuff much more that I do, come over. We figured that a 900 lbs/inch spring would work well for my situation after some rough calculations. Which is this:
When I ride by myself, I leave the preload at 7, and when my g/f comes along, 110lbs soaking wet, and then gear... the front of the bike feels WAY to light for my taste. I would like something stiffer that what I have now for that situation.
If I were to go with a 900 spring, it would be softer on its lower settings that what I have now with preload, but yet, could be dialed in to be stiffer for when carrying a passenger.
The next step was to find some where that carried springs. Apparently RaceTech doesnt have that sort of spring. However, hypercoil does.
Welcome to Hyperco
If you click on catalog, and 2.25" I.D. you can scroll through the springs they offer.
Tomorrow I will be talking to my suspension guy in Salisbury some about this.
Just thought I would share some info that I figured some of you might enjoy knowing.
-bryan