XPLOR 92' PD, Help me stiffen the front end.

	92' PD, Help me stiffen the front end.
Akpd Joined: Jul 27, 2007 Location: Fairbanks, AK	*At 225 & 6'3" I need all the suspension I can get out of my 92' PD. I know I can find after market rear shocks, but what can I do in the front? It feels soft and seems to "dive" at times.* *I'm hoping to spend a little more time off the pavement this summer, planning on Conti TKC80's and a new rear shock. I'm looking for a front shock solution and any other suggestions.* *Thanks..........* Posted on 05/03/2008 at 13:58
Yngswen Joined: Nov 22, 2006 Location: Denver, CO	Fork Springs, Heavier Oil I recently put a pair of Progressive fork springs into my airhead and noticed much more deliberate cornering and better braking with less front-end dive. I still have some compression, and bumps are absorbed beautifully, but the front end doesn't wallow whenever it's loaded. Over on the MOA forum www.bmwmoa.org/forum, in the Airheads discussion, you can find a lot of discussion about suspension upgrades. Hope this helps, and that you have a good season. --------------------------------- "In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria."." -- Benjamin Franklin Posted on 05/08/2008 at 00:03
Csteinman Joined: Dec 24, 2006 Location: Austin, TX	Re: 92' PD, Help me stiffen the front end. "It feels soft and seems to "dive" at times. " Springs loose some of their original temper over a lifetime of loading cycles. The spring's original spring rate will soften. I've had success with replacing OEM springs with progressive-rate springs. Progressive-rate springs are typically longer that OEM springs, and have a variable spring rate: a softer initial rate, and a harder terminal rate. So small bumps stay in the spring, while the spring has a stiffer resistance to bottoming-out. The wallowing might be caused by the front springs now having different spring rates. In my opinion, a relatively inexpensive fix is to find and install some progressive springs, replace the shock oil with a like-kind weight oil, and perhaps find or fashion a fork brace to lock the two fork tubes together. Good luck and please let us know what you do and how it effected the bike. C --------------------------------- 401K? Retirement? Ha! Don't be ridiculous! Posted on 05/07/2008 at 07:27

Joined: Jul 27, 2007

Location: Fairbanks, AK

At 225 & 6'3" I need all the suspension I can get out of my 92' PD. I know I can find after market rear shocks, but what can I do in the front? It feels soft and seems to "dive" at times.

I'm hoping to spend a little more time off the pavement this summer, planning on Conti TKC80's and a new rear shock. I'm looking for a front shock solution and any other suggestions.

Thanks..........

Posted on 05/03/2008 at 13:58

Yngswen

Joined: Nov 22, 2006

Location: Denver, CO

Fork Springs, Heavier Oil

I recently put a pair of Progressive fork springs into my airhead and noticed much more deliberate cornering and better braking with less front-end dive. I still have some compression, and bumps are absorbed beautifully, but the front end doesn't wallow whenever it's loaded.

Over on the MOA forum www.bmwmoa.org/forum, in the Airheads discussion, you can find a lot of discussion about suspension upgrades.

Hope this helps, and that you have a good season.

---------------------------------

"In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria."." -- Benjamin Franklin

Posted on 05/08/2008 at 00:03

Csteinman

Joined: Dec 24, 2006

Location: Austin, TX

Re: 92' PD, Help me stiffen the front end.

"It feels soft and seems to "dive" at times. "

Springs loose some of their original temper over a lifetime of loading cycles. The spring's original spring rate will soften. I've had success with replacing OEM springs with progressive-rate springs. Progressive-rate springs are typically longer that OEM springs, and have a variable spring rate: a softer initial rate, and a harder terminal rate. So small bumps stay in the spring, while the spring has a stiffer resistance to bottoming-out.

The wallowing might be caused by the front springs now having different spring rates. In my opinion, a relatively inexpensive fix is to find and install some progressive springs, replace the shock oil with a like-kind weight oil, and perhaps find or fashion a fork brace to lock the two fork tubes together.

Good luck and please let us know what you do and how it effected the bike.

C

---------------------------------

401K? Retirement? Ha! Don't be ridiculous!

Posted on 05/07/2008 at 07:27

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