blackline front end suspension
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 523
Likes: 1
From: kingston ontario
blackline front end suspension
2011 blackline
i would like to improve the front end suspension as i ride hard and have to travel through rough curvy roads before i get to sorta smooth ones.
i think i need a fork brace to tame the fork twist but after that i am lost, as i do not know much about springs vs cartridge.
for now i want to keep the stock ride height ( i may be wrong but i think the blackline comes a little lowered from the factory)
the question is, what are my options and the pros/cons of those options?
i would like to improve the front end suspension as i ride hard and have to travel through rough curvy roads before i get to sorta smooth ones.
i think i need a fork brace to tame the fork twist but after that i am lost, as i do not know much about springs vs cartridge.
for now i want to keep the stock ride height ( i may be wrong but i think the blackline comes a little lowered from the factory)
the question is, what are my options and the pros/cons of those options?
I'm running a set of Ricor Intiminators along with a lowering kit. They can also be used with the stock setup. They are an oil valve system that sits below the springs and regulates oil flow in both directions. They seem to work pretty well, can't compare to stock though, as I installed with the lowering kit. Lots more info on their website.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,067
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From: New Hampshire
+1 one on what he said.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 970
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From: Philippines
Goats,
Answering your original post. Yes a Fork Brace is beneficial. I added one to my Night Train and it was a dramatic improvement. The front end feels much more stable when in the turns. Additionally, I switched to the Screamin Eagle Performance Fork Oil which added to the suspension rigidity also improving handling.
Performance handling and comfort are compromises however. With the heavier fork oil the suspension is a bit more harsh.
Answering your original post. Yes a Fork Brace is beneficial. I added one to my Night Train and it was a dramatic improvement. The front end feels much more stable when in the turns. Additionally, I switched to the Screamin Eagle Performance Fork Oil which added to the suspension rigidity also improving handling.
Performance handling and comfort are compromises however. With the heavier fork oil the suspension is a bit more harsh.
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 523
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From: kingston ontario
thanks olongapo1
it is good to hear the before and after of mods. i also went with the heavier fork oil and i notice it is a bit harsh compared but less nose dive when braking hard
it is good to hear the before and after of mods. i also went with the heavier fork oil and i notice it is a bit harsh compared but less nose dive when braking hard
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Nope, just dropped em in. I have seen blogs and such with guys drilling extra holes or making the existing ones larger. I'm not an engineer, and I figure the people who are the engineers have already done lots of testing on these things. Is there room for improvement with them? Probably. Am I smart enough to outsmart years of testing and computer models in my garage with my DeWalt cordless? Defintely not.
I will say this though, use caution on future fork fluid changes. The fluid needs to be cycled past the Ricors. Pour some in, cycle the shock a few times, pour some more in etc. All of the fork oil does not fit in the upper part of the tube, and makes a huge mess all over the floor. I plan on taking the forks out for any fluid changes from now on, just easier to do off the bike.
I will say this though, use caution on future fork fluid changes. The fluid needs to be cycled past the Ricors. Pour some in, cycle the shock a few times, pour some more in etc. All of the fork oil does not fit in the upper part of the tube, and makes a huge mess all over the floor. I plan on taking the forks out for any fluid changes from now on, just easier to do off the bike.