Wishy Washy POS Forks

[Da_Bull]

Well, today I took my first ride on DMD, my new to me Hypermotard, and I have to say that the front end is shittier than I remember.

After squaring away the basic settings (sag, compression, rebound) I took a spirited ride and found the front end vague and uninspiring. I've decided to start tuning by dropping the front end a bit to put some more bite on the front tire. I ordered a set of 1100EVO spacers for the handlebar clamp to give me some room between fork tops and the bars. Hopefully just this change will improve the feel enough that I'll feel comfortable in high speed sweepers.

If that doesn't work I think I may just bite the Ohlins bullet and do an insert kit; the preload on the springs is already almost maxed out.

On a positive note, the bike feels and behaves very neutral; mod corner corrections are easy and there's no tendency to push or anything so, if I could get just a bit more bite I'd be happy.

The rest of the bike works very well - one finger brakes, super slick clutch pull, torquey motor, decent gearbox (although a larger rear sprocket is definitely in order) and an intoxicating sound.

It's good to be back...

[Drinky]

Originally Posted by Da_Bull

Well, today I took my first ride on DMD, my new to me Hypermotard, and I have to say that the front end is shittier than I remember.

After squaring away the basic settings (sag, compression, rebound) I took a spirited ride and found the front end vague and uninspiring. I've decided to start tuning by dropping the front end a bit to put some more bite on the front tire. I ordered a set of 1100EVO spacers for the handlebar clamp to give me some room between fork tops and the bars. Hopefully just this change will improve the feel enough that I'll feel comfortable in high speed sweepers.

If that doesn't work I think I may just bite the Ohlins bullet and do an insert kit; the preload on the springs is already almost maxed out.

On a positive note, the bike feels and behaves very neutral; mod corner corrections are easy and there's no tendency to push or anything so, if I could get just a bit more bite I'd be happy.

The rest of the bike works very well - one finger brakes, super slick clutch pull, torquey motor, decent gearbox (although a larger rear sprocket is definitely in order) and an intoxicating sound.

It's good to be back...

Have you read this thread?

Cheap front fork fix!

Basically, get some .85 or .9kg springs and change them for stock, also change your oil. For me, it cost 180 euro's inc. install by a suspension tech, but this mod is worth much, much more.

[Ben710]

Be careful to lower the front end more on stock 1100 forks. They are quite soft anyway and the massive stroke (some 180mm?) will let the front dive under braking, which might result in a front end lowside if you overdo it.

[Decreasing Dave]

Marco, talk to your boy Alex. We both did some changes to our Hypers that have made huge differences for the better and made the Ohlins kit unnecessary.

Dave

[freezer16801]

+3. At the very least, someone would buy those springs used if you decide you still want ohlins after a spring change.

[CAlexio]

Originally Posted by Drinky

Have you read this thread?

Cheap front fork fix!

Basically, get some .85 or .9kg springs and change them for stock, also change your oil. For me, it cost 180 euro's inc. install by a suspension tech, but this mod is worth much, much more.

Originally Posted by Decreasing Dave

Marco, talk to your boy Alex. We both did some changes to our Hypers that have made huge differences for the better and made the Ohlins kit unnecessary.

Dave

In reading that thread though, I noticed both of you guys state that you're 200lb+... Do the stiffer .85 or .90 springs still work for a 175lb person like myself or do I just use the oil you recommend. I'm rebuilding forks now is why I'm asking.

[08hyper]

Originally Posted by CAlexio

In reading that thread though, I noticed both of you guys state that you're 200lb+... Do the stiffer .85 or .90 springs still work for a 175lb person like myself or do I just use the oil you recommend. I'm rebuilding forks now is why I'm asking.

Like I posted before, I would suggest going to the Race websight & use there "spring weight caculator" to get into the ballpark on your spring rate, then contact Ed Sorbal & discuss your needs, he will make any spring rate you need. (If needed at all) Aloha Alex

PS: just did the spring caculator for you, for street riding, bike weight 380lbs, rider weight of 175lbs it came up with a spring of 0.80, for the track its 0.84, but this is for shorter travel sport bikes, since we have longer travel we are a little softer, so I think 0.75 to 0.80 is going to be in your ballpark. Remember that the stock spring is only 0.66

[Drinky]

Originally Posted by CAlexio

In reading that thread though, I noticed both of you guys state that you're 200lb+... Do the stiffer .85 or .90 springs still work for a 175lb person like myself or do I just use the oil you recommend. I'm rebuilding forks now is why I'm asking.

I'm not 200lbs :P

I weigh 175 myself (without leathers and gear), and when I had the springs installed I weighed ~186lbs. The springs work good for me but may be a tad too hard on bumps and I think I have the .90 rate.

[CAlexio]

Originally Posted by 08hyper

Like I posted before, I would suggest going to the Race websight & use there "spring weight caculator" to get into the ballpark on your spring rate, then contact Ed Sorbal & discuss your needs, he will make any spring rate you need. (If needed at all) Aloha Alex

PS: just did the spring caculator for you, for street riding, bike weight 380lbs, rider weight of 175lbs it came up with a spring of 0.80, for the track its 0.84, but this is for shorter travel sport bikes, since we have longer travel we are a little softer, so I think 0.75 to 0.80 is going to be in your ballpark. Remember that the stock spring is only 0.66

Thanks alex, I missed that part evidently. Guess this is a good time to address this issue with my forks being apart. Let me ask one more question though, what do you feel like improved the most with this mod.. Is it road feel, or weighting the front felt better? I'm evidently not good enough of a rider to understand why my hyper doesn't feel good in some turns... Best I can describe it as is wafty, bouncy, drifty... Do the stiffer springs and different oil help THAT feeling?

EDIT (copied from "cheap front fork fix"thread)

Just ordered springs from Ed, and received a good dose of knowledge from the dude,!!! Especially related to how poorly weak springs with too much preload (like mine) get bouncy and make the bike feel less planted in turns. Cool dude, I'm looking fwd to getting these stiffer springs and having a better handling bike. Best quote "progressive springs are the work of the devil" and then he proceeded to explain exactly why. Funniest thing was he wouldnt tell me spring rates until I gave him my credit card number, and he disagreed with racetech websites calculated rates,... But totally understandable. Well, $175 + $10 shipping and some new oil and I hope I'll have a nice improvement to my hyper. I can honestly say that at this point there will be nothing left for me to do to it as everying but the main frame and engine case is modded. Nirvana????....

[08hyper]

Originally Posted by CAlexio

Thanks alex, I missed that part evidently. Guess this is a good time to address this issue with my forks being apart. Let me ask one more question though, what do you feel like improved the most with this mod.. Is it road feel, or weighting the front felt better? I'm evidently not good enough of a rider to understand why my hyper doesn't feel good in some turns... Best I can describe it as is wafty, bouncy, drifty... Do the stiffer springs and different oil help THAT feeling?

EDIT (copied from "cheap front fork fix"thread)

Just ordered springs from Ed, and received a good dose of knowledge from the dude,!!! Especially related to how poorly weak springs with too much preload (like mine) get bouncy and make the bike feel less planted in turns. Cool dude, I'm looking fwd to getting these stiffer springs and having a better handling bike. Best quote "progressive springs are the work of the devil" and then he proceeded to explain exactly why. Funniest thing was he wouldnt tell me spring rates until I gave him my credit card number, and he disagreed with racetech websites calculated rates,... But totally understandable. Well, $175 + $10 shipping and some new oil and I hope I'll have a nice improvement to my hyper. I can honestly say that at this point there will be nothing left for me to do to it as everying but the main frame and engine case is modded. Nirvana????....

For myself the biggest is change is dive control, stability, & the planted feel, I used to use almost all the travel under hard breaking, (not good) now I use 3/4, the bike is far more stable wthl a lot less "monkey motion" You will find out after getting the forks dialed, the rear will also need readjusting, I actually spent more time on the rear than the front.

I know Ed is not a fan of Race Tech, (his competion) but used the spring rate caculator to get myself into the ballpark, even with my fatass, & my superlight Hyper I got a number of 0.88, so I was going to 0.90 but Ed convinced me to go with the 0.85 as they are a big jump up from the stock 0.66. Forks ended up working well, I'm glad I listened to him.

What spring rate did he suggest for you? Aloha Alex