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Posted by mbk
- September 14, 2012, 20:32:45 PMQuote from: chief on September 10, 2012, 10:33:41 AMAmazing but true - how can 2 psi down to spec make things so much better? My front tire was at 30 and I took it down to 28 and it actually performs better. Is it my imagination or does 2 psi make that much of a difference? Anyway, loving the bike - just loving it. Rides like a dram and that engine is so dang strong! I easily get to 60 in third and never seem to run out of a good gear to cruise in.TIRE PRESSURES:
Posted by mbk
- September 11, 2012, 22:40:02 PMQuote from: Troll on September 11, 2012, 18:31:35 PMhave them in both my Drifter and W-650.
The W-650 - another fine tribute bike. Then my alltime favorite all 'rounder is the KLR 650 (2008-up). Kawasaki makes some good stuff!
Posted by greenbarn
- September 11, 2012, 18:55:00 PMThis whole time I thought "progressive" was describing, generically, the "type" of springs. Didn't know they'd tagged it for the company name...
THANKS, again.
Posted by Troll
- September 11, 2012, 18:31:35 PMProgressive suspension makes a kit. Good quality stuff. Had them in my E-Glide for over 200,000 miles and no sag, put them in my TourGlide and they were just fine after 130,000 when I sold it, have them in both my Drifter and W-650.
http://www.progressivesuspension.com/
Posted by greenbarn
- September 11, 2012, 18:23:02 PMQuote from: Troll on September 11, 2012, 13:00:02 PMThis is something I really need to do. From the sounds of things - I think I should buy a progressive spring set. Although this is my first bike, and I don't really have anything to compare it to, by bike rides crappy. On the smooth highway it's fine, but in town where there is a lot of "rough pavement" every bump is bone-jarring. In addition, I had to take off my fork bag b/c the bag was constantly hitting the fender, leaving marks on it. It has about 4" of clearance (unloaded), but even small rough bumps, I believe, make it hit the fender.Pop off the 2 chrome plastic caps and you will see the fork top plugs. They are retained by an earless snap ring. You need to compress them slightly to remove the ring. You need to have the front end of the bike either off the ground completely or the wheel just touching the ground, and the legs fully extended, then the plugs come out VERY easily. Not much preload from the factory...
So what's the leading opinion on brands/source for progressive fork springs?
Posted by greenbarn
- September 11, 2012, 18:18:48 PMQuote from: chief on September 11, 2012, 08:11:58 AMGotcha ditto..Just remember, Gadget's page is primarily aimed at Nomads. There is a bunch of good stuff that we can adapt to the Drifter. But there are subtle differences in some of these things that can bite you if you aren't careful. We have a few links to more drifter specific stuff on out site, and we have some of the same sources for others.
The preload on the front forks is adjusted by using heavy walled pvc piping cut to various lengths. The longer, the more pre-load.
This is why I subscribe to this forum - you guys seem to always have the answers.
Posted by greenbarn
- September 11, 2012, 18:16:37 PMQuote from: Troll on September 11, 2012, 07:58:07 AMGotcha.The factory preload spacer is a piece of exhaust tubing, cut to length. Progressive usually packs a pair of PVC pipes in the kit for you to cut to length...standard operating procedure
Posted by Troll
- September 11, 2012, 13:00:02 PMPop off the 2 chrome plastic caps and you will see the fork top plugs. They are retained by an earless snap ring. You need to compress them slightly to remove the ring. You need to have the front end of the bike either off the ground completely or the wheel just touching the ground, and the legs fully extended, then the plugs come out VERY easily. Not much preload from the factory...
Posted by mbk
- September 11, 2012, 12:47:01 PMQuote from: chief on September 11, 2012, 08:11:58 AMI've been riding for over thiry years but have never been much of a mechanic - can you access this from the top of the tree, or do you have to disassemble the fork tubes to add spacers? MikeThe preload on the front forks is adjusted by using heavy walled pvc piping cut to various lengths. The longer, the more pre-load.
Posted by chief
- September 11, 2012, 08:11:58 AMJust remember, Gadget's page is primarily aimed at Nomads. There is a bunch of good stuff that we can adapt to the Drifter. But there are subtle differences in some of these things that can bite you if you aren't careful. We have a few links to more drifter specific stuff on out site, and we have some of the same sources for others.
The preload on the front forks is adjusted by using heavy walled pvc piping cut to various lengths. The longer, the more pre-load.Posted by Troll
- September 11, 2012, 07:59:57 AMPosted by Troll
- September 11, 2012, 07:58:07 AMThe factory preload spacer is a piece of exhaust tubing, cut to length. Progressive usually packs a pair of PVC pipes in the kit for you to cut to length...standard operating procedure
Posted by greenbarn
- September 10, 2012, 21:37:01 PMQuote from: Troll on September 10, 2012, 14:10:56 PMThat's a great link - I spent a bunch of time reading a lot of different articles - but I can't find the one you mentioned on adjusting preload... What's the title? I searched for "preload", "pre-load" , "load", and can't find anything....Go here first and check out how to check and adjust preload.
http://www.gadgetjq.com/gadgetsfixitpage.htm
And, Troll, what do you think of the sugestion in the article in afore-mentioned gadgetsfixitpage, that talks about adding a 4" piece of PVC on top of each shock spring, in order to increase the preload?? (article "install progressive springs...") http://www.gadgetjq.com/installprogressivesprings.htm
Posted by Troll
- September 10, 2012, 14:10:56 PMThere are a few things to do first, like adjusting the bearing preload. The neck bearings should be repacked every 10,000 miles, but it's an easy, but time consuming job. Replacing them is about $40 in parts and labor...
Go here first and check out how to check and adjust preload.
http://www.gadgetjq.com/gadgetsfixitpage.htm
Posted by chief
- September 10, 2012, 10:33:41 AMTIRE PRESSURES:
See Mods/Tips... for this topic.http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/forum/index.php?topic=17347.0