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Spring/shock question

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Old Jul 11, 2012 | 05:09 PM
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Default Spring/shock question



Wondering the "importance" or/and "necessity" of changing out fork springs if I change my rear shocks out to 13'' - Please advise.
 
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Old Jul 11, 2012 | 05:16 PM
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I don't know how important or nessesary it is. How does it ride?
If you just want to stiffen it up a bit you can change your fork oil to belray 15w. My sporty liked it much better then the stock HD fork oil
 
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Old Jul 11, 2012 | 05:37 PM
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It rides fine. I was just under the impression that if I raise the rear to 13'' then I "have to" change the fork springs as well. I already installed preload adjusters on the forks to minimize the diving in the front.
 
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Old Jul 11, 2012 | 07:38 PM
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raised my rear an inch and put in screaming eagle oil in the front... too stiff for me alone, but fine for me + my +2. will be changing out the front oil next week to something in between- a heavier front oil will reduce the dive. mine doesnt dive now, but its also too stiff for most riding (not bad in twisties or 2 up).
 
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Old Jul 12, 2012 | 05:42 AM
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Originally Posted by DanHuuN
It rides fine. I was just under the impression that if I raise the rear to 13'' then I "have to" change the fork springs as well. I already installed preload adjusters on the forks to minimize the diving in the front.
The optimum set-up is for your forks to compress by a third of total travel when you sit on your bike. By that I mean from fully extended, as there will be some sag from the weight of the bike, before you sit on it. You can raise the front a little by simply adjusting spring pre-load using adjusters, although don't go too far doing that.

I have tuned the suspension on my SuperLow by fitting 13" rear shocks and Race Tech fork springs, adjusted to give optimum travel. It now sits a little higher at both ends.
 
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Old Jul 12, 2012 | 06:44 AM
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i got 14inch on mine and now the front suspension is shyte, need to sort that out soon
 
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Old Jul 12, 2012 | 07:40 AM
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Originally Posted by hogdiver96
i got 14inch on mine and now the front suspension is shyte, need to sort that out soon
Hello old chap! I have Hagons on the rear and as mentioned above Race Tech springs in the front, also with Emulators. A pal of mine has the same set-up in his XL1200R and is as pleased as punch, but I am not so impressed with mine. I have Intiminators for my Glide, but have yet to try them out.

Getting the springs right is a help, but sorting out the damping is where the challenge really lies.
 
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Old Jul 12, 2012 | 07:45 AM
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Springs won't really raise your front end, you need to change the damper rods. Even the fork sliders and tubes on Sportsters (even though they have different part numbers) are all the same length. What makes the difference is the damper rods. I changed my Nightster damper rods to rods from a Low and picked up an inch in the front. Change your Low damper rods to Roadster damper rods, get some new (better) springs and you will have an R front end minus the dual disc.
 
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Old Jul 12, 2012 | 07:57 AM
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Originally Posted by grbrown
Hello old chap! I have Hagons on the rear and as mentioned above Race Tech springs in the front, also with Emulators. A pal of mine has the same set-up in his XL1200R and is as pleased as punch, but I am not so impressed with mine. I have Intiminators for my Glide, but have yet to try them out.

Getting the springs right is a help, but sorting out the damping is where the challenge really lies.
Cripes !! what are "Emulators"
 
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Old Jul 12, 2012 | 07:59 AM
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Originally Posted by hogdiver96
Cripes !! what are "Emulators"
Emulators are a type of inertia dampening valve. There is another type, Ricor Intiminators, that I have installed and I feel to work better. Just my 2 cents though, the Emulators are still decent.
 
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