Been thinking- fork swap

[GMP]

Brain fade, this is what I was thinking of, bleed holes on other side:

http://www.gasgasrider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=700

I can't view photobucket at work, at home I'll check it out to see if its like mine.

[BrentMartell]

Gotcha, yeah that is different hole.

[Jakobi]

I like pictures! That one with all the shims layed out looks like voodoo magic! This thread is way over my head.

[GMP]

Like this:

http://www.gasgasrider.org/forum/att...2&d=1174421311

Free bleed in both directions. Plus bleed shims in the OEM '07 valving at least. Crazy.

[BrentMartell]

http://s981.photobucket.com/albums/a...%20Gas%202011/

Password is gasgas2011

Here are a few to start. I am not sure if took photos of the insides of my showas or not. However, I do have to pull them apart again to build spacers. From all my calculations I come up with 5mm difference in the two forks. So if I shorten the showa's 5 my preload will go up to 8mm. That is in spec of what I read is acceptable.

I am not sure what route to go on the springs though. I have a 46 in one side and 44 in the other to get a 45. I am thinking 44's? I weigh in at 210 geared up.

[swazi_matt]

Just curious, how fork specific are spring weights? If you are running .44 on showas will you be running similar on sachs, WP etc? Or are there big differences from brand to brand. From what I have learnt about suspension (mostly from threads like this - thanks Brent) I am guessing they would be similar ... If the bike is similar weight

And if say a .44 is for 210, what weight would a .46 be for?

[Simmo737]

Spring weight should be the same btw forks, it's a geometry and weight issue, what will be different is the valving, which is done for the stock springs, as you get heavier springs for the same pace of rider, the valving should get lighter compression and whatever is needed in rebound for the application.

What muddies the waters even more is the style of valving, some makes have harder valving with lighter springs and vice Versa, even within brands of fork. ( eg Yamaha vs kwaka kyb)

You gotta ride em. But they should generally be close.

[BrentMartell]

It is generally a weight issue vs anything else. However, spring preload comes into play as well regarding sag numbers.

Vinduro/Dwight targets around 75mm rider sag and 35 or so bike. According to the honda book the forks came stock at .46 for a 450R. The 450R is 10 lbs lighter than my gas gas. You would think that you should spring up then. However, the gg came with .42's. LMAO. It is all over the board. I went to .46's on the gg and it held the bik up in the stroke better and seemed to work in general better everywhere. If my old memory serves me well the GG stock springs measured out 3.5-3.75 inches or 89-95mm and I think 50mm static. That is a lot of sag IMO.

I think with 46s I was around 65mm and 30m.

Now, the showa's are a different animal. With 46's the rider sag was 45mm and bike/static was 25-28. I do know my showa's have 6mm preload. My buddies Suzuki has 7mm.

So to confuse the whole mess if you go to zero preload or equal preload you might be able to get an accurate measurement. LOL. It seems like the whole fork sag issue is not understood that well for dirt bikes. Road bike riders have sag dialed in due to high speeds etc....at least I think that is why. May be they are just a weird lot and think they need to have their bikes set up right?

[GMP]

I've heard tuners say and I agree its somewhat of a flawed measurement due to the stiction of the fork and the light weight of the bikes. Road/track bikes are a different animal, much heavier so stiction is no issue.

[GMP]

Brent,

Ever play around with the chamber spring in a CC fork? I have to think that it impacts the total spring rate somewhat, even a little, should be basically additive considering the PFP piston travel/rod displacement. Guys with the new Zokes say they can feel the fork ride higher with just more spring preload. I'm wondering if I could get away with the stock .42s in the '12 if this is the case. 180 lbs in my shorts.