Due to scheduled suspension service I am planning to upgrade my fork and shock springs. We all know that .48 oem fork springs are one of the little issues that all 950s require an upgrade. However since I started looking for suspension springs, it was like opening Pandora's box!!! First of all I noticed that owners manual states a 245mm fork and shock travel. However I realized that on the shock spring there is marked a 225-140, referring to travel and stiffness. So my question is what should I go with!!!! Should I order a 225mm shock spring or should I order a 245mm. In case I would like to go with the 245mm option can it be placed using spacers or adapters? Last thing, I am driving both tarmac and gravel usually with passenger and soft panniers. I am 1.85 height and weight 88kgr. Should I go with .58 fork springs and 150N for the shock spring? Revalving is not on my plans due to cost issues, but will take place in the near future. I am thinking to go with superpulsh or slavens products. Any personal experience is more than welcome!!!!
The markings on the springs are usually the free height and the spring rate, NOT the suspension travel
Yap you are completely right!!!! I told u I opened Pandora's box!!!! Suspension is a whole new chapter to me!!!! Thanks for the info. Any suggestions on spring rates???
If it helps at all, I am about 75kg. I put in the .56 fork springs in my 2006. I didn't get a re-valve, but I think I really need one. The .56s are right on the edge of acceptable for me as it is now. Sometimes I think that they are too firm (mainly riding around town), but then when I start pushing the bike harder off-road, I love how they work and feel. I think a re-valve would make the 56's perfect for me, but I don't have anybody local that will do it and I can't afford to mail the forks and the shock off to Super Plush right now. I talked to my normal suspension guy about maybe doing it, but he wasn't comfortable doing the re-valve because he has never done a bike this heavy. The stock springs are a joke. My father set his bike with .52s and thicker oil (I want to say 10 or 12 wt oil), but it wasn't stiff enough for me and I bottomed the forks out all the time.
After asking and googling......I decided to go with Superplush!!! I went for the .64 fork springs and 157Nt shock spring. Wait for feedback!!!!!
A revalve is so worth it. I got my suspension back from Superplush this winter and it handles fantastic, really night and day. I can not say enough about how pleased I am with the setup. Aside from the full spring and valve, I had them raise it to 265mm, getting use to the 37.5" seat hight was interesting but it handles so good I forget that instantly. I had put in SE springs (.59?) a while back which cured my bottoming out all the time but they were harsh hitting. Springs only fix part of the issue, don't get me wrong a big issue, but changing the valving is awesome! Matthew
Mathew, I totally agree that a revalving is a must thing to do, but in order for me to send fork & shock to Superpulsh is kind of expensive. So it has been sceduled for the near future. I am waiting first to fit the springs and start with some basic settings. I have to mention that staff from superpulsh have been for than helpful!!!! Really cool guys!!!!