Intiminator update.
Thread Starter
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 11
From: Palm Harbor fl.
well I decided to ride the bike more and get some miles on the adjustments I made. While my original thoughts after 5 miles were I nailed it, I really did not. The bike still rode a little too firm and the bumps were still transferring through the chassis too much. Basically the spring is just too stiff for me in the progressive lowering kit I have. Rode home and I took it apart again. As a last ditch effort, I decided to try the stock springs that came with the wideglide front end. I cut 2.5" off each spring to account for the drop in ride height with the lowering kit and the intiminator. I measured the fork oil and stock height is 185mm from the top, I have it at 165mm from the top. Put together and did some riding. Now this is more like it. The bike is smooth everywhere, big hits, small hits, washboard bumps, etc... The standard 05 wideglide spring is linear instead of progressive. Also softer. Much better ride. Cutting 2.5" off the spring firms it up, and the extra fluid slows the possibilities of bottoming. The front feels super smooth. I was initially worrid the spring would bottom more easily and I would have too much sag. Not the case at all. I think the springs allow the intiminators to do their job better and control the ride as opposed to fight against a too stiff spring. Anyways I am now satisfied with the front end, combined with the Ricor rear, my bike rides very smooth and handles tremendously well.
Thread Starter
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 11
From: Palm Harbor fl.
Rounder,
Were these the spacers you cut by 3/4"?
I was on my way into work this morn and I'm assuming a fork seal blew out b/c its was spraying fluid all over the side of the bike. I too wasn't pleased with the intiminators as I didn't really tell any difference.
At this point I'm going to have to take the front end apart to repair the seal (hoping that's what it is) and might as well use this time to try to make an improvement.
Thanks
R
Were these the spacers you cut by 3/4"?
I was on my way into work this morn and I'm assuming a fork seal blew out b/c its was spraying fluid all over the side of the bike. I too wasn't pleased with the intiminators as I didn't really tell any difference.
At this point I'm going to have to take the front end apart to repair the seal (hoping that's what it is) and might as well use this time to try to make an improvement.
Thanks
R
Last edited by rounder; May 13, 2010 at 12:37 PM.
Thread Starter
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 11
From: Palm Harbor fl.
In my case the spacer is a pvc piece(the progressive lowering kit). However I would say dremmel or anything else you got that can cut metal...like a vice and a hack saw. just wanna get the cut as straight as possible. There is a little room for error, a couple mm wont make a significant difference you can tell.
Last edited by rounder; May 13, 2010 at 02:37 PM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,368
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From: FL
I bought some 20W this afternoon, couldn't find 10 locally. Though I'm reading it seems like 20 is too heavy....?
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 4
You can use standard PVC (white) drain pipe from the hardware store cut to the length you want. I had some left over from a plumbing project. That way you always have the stock part to fall back on. And if you make a mistake, well its just some PVC pipe.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,739
Likes: 10
From: Suffolk, England
I keep hearing mixed things about Intiminators. Some folks love them but I'm always wary of the "I have spent money and time so it will feel better" factor. Some people just don't like them at all because they seem to give a hard ride and a weird non-linear feel to the forks where most of the movement is in the bottom half of the fork travel.
Personally I found a really noticeable difference with just swapping to 15W fork oil and taking the pre-load up a notch at the rear. It doesn't feel like it needs more messing with, its not a sports bike and I don't particularly expect or want it to feel like one.
Personally I found a really noticeable difference with just swapping to 15W fork oil and taking the pre-load up a notch at the rear. It doesn't feel like it needs more messing with, its not a sports bike and I don't particularly expect or want it to feel like one.
Thread Starter
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 11
From: Palm Harbor fl.
Do not use 20wt....everywhere around here in pinellas I find 10 wt. oil.... Start making some calls to dealers your willing to drive to(including metric dealers). heck cycle-rama has 5wt to 30 wt on their shelves last time I was there.