Intiminators
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 994
Likes: 43
From: Essex, England
Intiminators
I have some intiminators ready to go in. I was going to order some springs (anyone know a uk stockist for racetech springs?) but thought I might do each upgrade on its own so I get a feel for each one, rather than install a whole package if you see what I mean.
If I just drop these in presumably they will add a little preload, which i need, but I dont need to do anything else, other than than put the amsoil 5wt oil in?
If I just drop these in presumably they will add a little preload, which i need, but I dont need to do anything else, other than than put the amsoil 5wt oil in?
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 7
From: Rochester N.Y.
If it were me , I would do just the intiminators first.
You should make sure the fluid level is set exactly as required , either by Ricor or the harley manual to set a base line that is repeatable.
The intiminator replaces the damper holes to control the fork action.
The 5wt insures the damper holes in the original tubes won't affect the intiminators function.
The original springs are progressive wound which should goof things up slightly , but they might work to your liking.
After all is said and done , if you don't like the end result , the single rate springs will be the last and easiest thing to do and I would love to hear your input on the end result.
The intiminators sound like the "slickest thing since sliced bread" in theory , and I've read some great feedback on them.
If I had the cash , I would have done them when I did my fork mods.
Mick
You should make sure the fluid level is set exactly as required , either by Ricor or the harley manual to set a base line that is repeatable.
The intiminator replaces the damper holes to control the fork action.
The 5wt insures the damper holes in the original tubes won't affect the intiminators function.
The original springs are progressive wound which should goof things up slightly , but they might work to your liking.
After all is said and done , if you don't like the end result , the single rate springs will be the last and easiest thing to do and I would love to hear your input on the end result.
The intiminators sound like the "slickest thing since sliced bread" in theory , and I've read some great feedback on them.
If I had the cash , I would have done them when I did my fork mods.
Mick
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,096
Likes: 4,673
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
I have my Glide forks apart, planning to go back together with Intiminators and single rate springs; the reports in this forum and others indicate that's the best combination, so why not do it all at once and save taking the forks apart again? If I like the results on the Glide, my 1200 Sportster will be next. Every time I ride the sporty on Minnesota roads I wish I'd done it first... 
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,898
Likes: 67
From: Saint Amant, Acadiana
I had preload on my stock springs, then a friend of mine gave me Intiminators. So I tried them out, removed my preload and used Ricor instuctions to measure in the 5 weight oil.
I must say I'm very hard on front brakes and to my satisfaction the dive under heavy braking is minimal. On the other side, the front seems a little too stiff for my liking.
I know there are discussions on the net about modifying Intiminators, may be one day I will pull them out and see what can be done.
I must say I'm very hard on front brakes and to my satisfaction the dive under heavy braking is minimal. On the other side, the front seems a little too stiff for my liking.
I know there are discussions on the net about modifying Intiminators, may be one day I will pull them out and see what can be done.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,755
Likes: 253
From: Northern Los Angeles area.
I honestly feel that I'd get the same results were I to merely use heavier fork oil without intiminators. FWIW I am about 150 lbs and may be I am just not heavy enough.
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 994
Likes: 43
From: Essex, England
I got my intiminators from a guy who didnt get on with them and removed them from his bike. From what I've read though, its a minority that don't get on with them.
Trending Topics
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 7
From: Rochester N.Y.
Most of the postive responses at Ricor were customers that just changed the oil and reused the stock springs.
sroc3 , I don't believe Progressive makes any non-progressive front springs , the drop in kits are progressive wound.
The factory springs are nearly all progressive wound , and usually long and soft.
If you don't have drain plugs in the forks , the best way to change the oil is to remove the springs from the forks (with the forks removed) and drain them upside down.
A better way is to tear them apart , clean the crud and metal out , and reassemble the fork.
If you do a teardown , I highly recommend a set of Roadster/Custom damper tubes while you're at it.
This can allow the forks almost 2" more useable travel , a huge benefit to the ride quality.
The oil level must be set with the fork vertical , no spring installed , and compressed to measure it.
Once you have done this , you have done the hardest part of any fork job.
After they are reinstalled , the springs can be changed easily witout removing the forks , and any preload adjustment can also be done easily on the bike.
This is why I mentioned trying the stock springs first.
lewk , the factory forks are usually sprung too soft and over dampened.
With heavier springs and faster acting fluid , the forks will react better on the road.
With the damper setup , the fluid needs to be as light as possible , without allowing the tire to bounce on it's return up from down.
Anything heavier than needed slows the reaction time and results in "less" proper contact with the road and a "dead" reaction to bumps.
Mick
sroc3 , I don't believe Progressive makes any non-progressive front springs , the drop in kits are progressive wound.
The factory springs are nearly all progressive wound , and usually long and soft.
If you don't have drain plugs in the forks , the best way to change the oil is to remove the springs from the forks (with the forks removed) and drain them upside down.
A better way is to tear them apart , clean the crud and metal out , and reassemble the fork.
If you do a teardown , I highly recommend a set of Roadster/Custom damper tubes while you're at it.
This can allow the forks almost 2" more useable travel , a huge benefit to the ride quality.
The oil level must be set with the fork vertical , no spring installed , and compressed to measure it.
Once you have done this , you have done the hardest part of any fork job.
After they are reinstalled , the springs can be changed easily witout removing the forks , and any preload adjustment can also be done easily on the bike.
This is why I mentioned trying the stock springs first.
lewk , the factory forks are usually sprung too soft and over dampened.
With heavier springs and faster acting fluid , the forks will react better on the road.
With the damper setup , the fluid needs to be as light as possible , without allowing the tire to bounce on it's return up from down.
Anything heavier than needed slows the reaction time and results in "less" proper contact with the road and a "dead" reaction to bumps.
Mick
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,488
Likes: 30
From: Maryland near DC
I put emulators in my bike (basically the same thing as your intimidators) with these springs and could not be happier...they say that if you are between to spring weights to choose the softer/ lower one... http://racetech.com/ProductSearch/2/...ster/1994-2003