Improving suspension

[Histamiini]

I've been waiting for months for my Race Tech fork springs to arrive. While browsing for alternative springs I stumbled across this site: By Toto . Air springs seem like a smart idea. Won't do much for the damping though. What'ya recon Eccles?

I've got the RT gold valves already. They are generic to say the least. Even with the access number in the gold valve kit Race Techs web site doesn't have a recommendations for spring rates or adjuster settings. I've e-mailed them a few times but haven't had any response. Hopefully the ride will be worth it. Gold valves themself arent that special, I guess one could just modify the original valves to have more flow. The shim stack would propably be more difficult to improve.

[dandywarhol]

<!--quoteo(post=695:date=Thu 23rd Mar 2006, 07:56 PM:name=Stink-Foot)-->QUOTE(Stink-Foot @ Thu 23rd Mar 2006, 07:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I've been waiting for months for my Race Tech fork springs to arrive. While browsing for alternative springs I stumbled across this site: By Toto . Air springs seem like a smart idea. Won't do much for the damping though. What'ya recon Eccles?

I've got the RT gold valves already. They are generic to say the least. Even with the access number in the gold valve kit Race Techs web site doesn't have a recommendations for spring rates or adjuster settings. I've e-mailed them a few times but haven't had any response. Hopefully the ride will be worth it. Gold valves themself arent that special, I guess one could just modify the original valves to have more flow. The shim stack would propably be more difficult to improve.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Seems like an expensive way to put air in your forks. I tapped a thread into the top of my forks and fitted a couple of Schraeder valves (like tyre valves)
Every bike telescopic front fork has a dual spring of steel spring and air......thats why the oil level is so important, the air above it is compressed on bump.

I got my Race Tech stuff directly in England through PDQ developments, the importers, in a few days. There's info on their website PDQ about spring rates and there's info in the Valve kit instruction sheet Stinky

Oh...and - the air valve kit made no difference, in fact it made the forks too harsh so I ended up making it a vacuum instead by opening the air valve, pushing down hard on the forks to push the air out and letting go. (not me, the valve )

This post was last modified: 24-03-2006, 01:51 AM by dandywarhol.

[ROB1]

am i thinking right but isnt the natural air pressure we all live in is 8psi.so how can u put say 12psi into a fork leg?you already hav 8 so how can 4psi be accurately put in.i had a few honda vt500s wi air forks & i just ran them with no air in,just let it out every now & then.

[tdm850rider]

<!--quoteo(post=879:date=Sun 26th Mar 2006, 10:31 AM:name=ROB1)-->QUOTE(ROB1 @ Sun 26th Mar 2006, 10:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->am i thinking right but isnt the natural air pressure we all live in is 8psi.so how can u put say 12psi into a fork leg?you already hav 8 so how can 4psi be accurately put in.i had a few honda vt500s wi air forks & i just ran them with no air in,just let it out every now & then.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Most people don't have air compressors laying about but you should be able to rent one (with an acurate gauge).

[dandywarhol]

With a hand pump ......only takes a few strokes

This post was last modified: 27-03-2006, 12:00 AM by dandywarhol.

[Chris]

<!--quoteo(post=879:date=Sun 26th Mar 2006, 04:31 PM:name=ROB1)-->QUOTE(ROB1 @ Sun 26th Mar 2006, 04:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->am i thinking right but isnt the natural air pressure we all live in is 8psi.so how can u put say 12psi into a fork leg?you already hav 8 so how can 4psi be accurately put in.i had a few honda vt500s wi air forks & i just ran them with no air in,just let it out every now & then.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Ambient air pressure is around 14.7 psi = 1 bar (you'll want to know this if you're touring the continent) so 30 psi = approx 2 bar.
Incidentally, a pressure gauge reads (strangely) gauge pressure, which is the pressure above ambient. so, if I'm right, as your altitude increases the pressure reading of your tyres will increase, has anyone noticed this?

[jbx]

Air assisted forks were more common... twenty years ago !
I'm still wondering if it was a very efficient technology.

My 350YPVS had one, it was a real mess to tune with a garage compressor !
It's better to use a hand pump as Alan said, and a more precise digital gauge.
Another good trick is to fit an Y adaptor to avoid mis-balancing the arms.

[dandywarhol]

<!--quoteo(post=945:date=Mon 27th Mar 2006, 06:50 PM:name=JBX)-->QUOTE(JBX @ Mon 27th Mar 2006, 06:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Air assisted forks were more common... twenty years ago !
I'm still wondering if it was a very efficient technology.

My 350YPVS had one, it was a real mess to tune with a garage compressor !
It's better to use a hand pump as Alan said, and a more precise digital gauge.
Another good trick is to fit an Y adaptor to avoid mis-balancing the arms.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I raced a highly tuned YPVS 350 with a stock chassis in the F2 class for a while which used a Race Tech rear shock and standard front. I ended up with 30 pence worth of 10 pence pieces in each leg and 10 psi in the tubes......still bounced a bit

This post was last modified: 27-03-2006, 11:34 PM by dandywarhol.

[gazman]

<!--quoteo(post=999:date=Tue 28th Mar 2006, 12:18 AM:name=dandywarhol)-->QUOTE(dandywarhol @ Tue 28th Mar 2006, 12:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I raced a highly tuned YPVS 350 with a stock chassis in the F2 class for a while which used a Race Tech rear shock and standard front. I ended up with 30 pence worth of <b>10 pence pieces</b> in each leg and 10 psi in the tubes......still bounced a bit <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Wasn't it Groats back in those days?

[stu]

<!--quoteo(post=1001:date=Tue 28th Mar 2006, 12:55 AM:name=gazman)-->QUOTE(gazman @ Tue 28th Mar 2006, 12:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Wasn't it Groats back in those days? <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


Whatevr it was, you can be sure he didnae leave them in the forks

[dandywarhol]

<!--quoteo(post=1026:date=Tue 28th Mar 2006, 12:47 PM:name=stu)-->QUOTE(stu @ Tue 28th Mar 2006, 12:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Whatevr it was, you can be sure he didnae leave them in the forks <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->