Fork Spring Dilemma on my 92 Voyager

[JosephH1]

I am about to change my fork springs as the front wheel bounces at small bumps and completely bottoms out when I use the front brake moderately. I ordered the heaviest (1kg) Race Tech springs, inner & outer bushings, and seals for this job. As a surprise without telling me, my wonderful girlfriend ordered progressive springs as recommended on this forum. Now my dilemma is which to use and which to return. Both are highly regarded. With buying the bike recently, I just couldn't swing the $190 the Race Tech cartridge emulators. I am leaning towards the Race Tech and a heavier 15w oil. Any feedback would be appreciated.

[Chris near Kansas City]

You will find that the majority of spring changes in the front end are of the Progressive variety. However, rarely does anybody have any complaints with either brand of springs. David (formerly) in N. Alabama has the Race Techs if I recall.

[Me Again]

Unless you planned on picking up the emulators later and since they are both pretty close,go with the wonderful girl friend.

[Martin & Karen]

Hello Joseph, My bike is a '86' Voyager and I was considering progressive springs for a while but I dont think my arthritis or my CD player would cope with the harder ride. To give the bike a little less 'dive' and bounce I took Carl's advice and used 15w fork oil, it works for me!

Kind regards Martin.

[bikerking.biz]

I was considering progressive springs for a while but I dont think my arthritis or my CD player would cope with the harder ride.
Kind regards Martin.

Harder ride? If putting in Progressive springs led to a harder ride on your bike, then you had other issues with the front suspension. I put progressives on my front end, and it softened the ride and worked much better. Of course, in the process of changing them out, I also found out that my forks interior was a filthy mess and was sticking near the bottom of the stroke. Cleaned that all up, installed the springs and the ride was great. My old OEM springs were sacked out totally because I had to run with 15-18 lbs. THAT made the front action hard. The sticking fork I'm sure didn't help either.

[David (N. Alabama)]

I did the race tech springs and Gold Valve Emulators. I haven't ridden a bike with the progressive springs, but I believe the race tech springs will provide a firmer ride than the progressives unless the progressives start out near the same rating as the race techs.

I was going for a firmer ride for S curves so that is way I went with the Race Techs.

[HMB Don]

I have the Race Tech springs and last week my gold valve kit got here. I run 10w oil in the summer and 5w oil in the winter. I pull a Time Out Trailer and some times my wife rides with me. No problems, I like the Race Tech springs because you can tune them to suit you. In a week when I get the gold valve kit installed and ride a bit I'll post the results here. I've had the Race Tech spings on the Voyager going on 4 years and about 50k.

I am also doing my wife's 1800 Gold Wing trike with Race Tech springs and gold valve kits. She is still crying about the price of these parts for her trike. As no one rides for free. She does get free labor since I do the work.

Don Medina
2002 Voyager

[JosephH1]

I have the Race Tech springs and last week my gold valve kit got here. I run 10w oil in the summer and 5w oil in the winter. I pull a Time Out Trailer and some times my wife rides with me. No problems, I like the Race Tech springs because you can tune them to suit you. In a week when I get the gold valve kit installed and ride a bit I'll post the results here. I've had the Race Tech spings on the Voyager going on 4 years and about 50k.

I am also doing my wife's 1800 Gold Wing trike with Race Tech springs and gold valve kits. She is still crying about the price of these parts for her trike. As no one rides for free. She does get free labor since I do the work.

Don Medina
2002 Voyager

Hey Don and Dave
Thanks for the info, I think I am going to go with the Race Tech. I am glad to hear that you are happy with them. Don, how do you tune the springs?

David, how hard of an install is this going to be? I just called and had them add the emulators on to my order. The sales rep said I would have to drill out the current oil return? Are there any other tricks to the install? I will be replacing the fork seals, bushings, and springs. Is there any other parts that I should renew while I am in there? I only want to do this once!

Martin, Chris and everyone else- thanks for your input. I can't wait to get this done and see how well she rides!!

[SilverBullet]

I will be replacing the fork seals, bushings, and springs. Is there any other parts that I should renew while I am in there? I only want to do this once!

I suggest installing neoprene fork tube covers while you have the forks off. Your seals should last 10 times longer with these on.

_

[JosephH1]

I will be replacing the fork seals, bushings, and springs. Is there any other parts that I should renew while I am in there? I only want to do this once!

I suggest installing neoprene fork tube covers while you have the forks off. Your seals should last 10 times longer with these on.

_

Excellent suggestion! Will do!

[JosephH1]

Well the Race Tech springs came today, the emulators will be here in the next day or two. It looks like a more complicated install than the progressives, with me having to cut spacers for the pre-load and measure and adjust for sag and pre-load.

Don and Dave -- just how complicated is the install of these parts? Having never worked on motorcycle forks before, is this something I can successfully attempt or I should leave this job to a mechanic?

[HMB Don]

The springs; for a base line I used the total length of the old spring and all of the parts that were on top. I then cut my spacer to match that length. Put it all togather and checked the sag. It was at 1 1/4inch I then road it; it was to firm so I took the spacer out and cut 1/4 inch, which made the sag 1 3/8 inch and this is where it is today.

But now I am adding the emulaters. I have just drilled the damper rod holes (take your time). For the spring stack height; I just removed from the spacer, the length of the emulater. Note you will be taking the springs and emulaters out a few times, so you can tune the forks to you and your riding style. I'll check sag again making sure it is the same as before.

The emulaters 2 full turns is soft. so I'm starting with 3 turns, always double check there work on the emulators. For the Voyager they come with the heavy spring installed in the emulators. Just read and read over and over again, go slow it might take me 4 days to do mine. But on the way to the AVA Rally it will be worth it. No more jarring

Don Medina
2002 Voyager
130,000 miles as of Wed April 14, 2010

[JosephH1]

Well after a discussion with Carl I have decided to run progressive springs up front. I will finish the installation this weekend. I will be putting the Race Tech springs and emulators up for sale in the classified section today. RT wants a 20% re-stock fee so I will pass that discount and more on to the purchaser. Check over there if you are in the market.

[JosephH1]

Well the Progressive springs are in with new seals and Race Tech bushings up front. Got her out on the road this weekend and I an not very impressed. The forks are really jittery on rough pavement. Almost like they are not getting enough dampening. I followed the DVD and used 15wt oil up to the 145mm line, with no air. I put the 412 HD on the back and they seem great. So now what? Suggestions would be welcome.

[Martin & Karen]

Hello Joseph, what a difficult subject this is, we all live in areas with different road surfces eh! I have had my Voyager XII 4 years now, on good roads standard springs were 'liveable' with some wollowing but I got used to that. Since we moved location, we now have rougher roads, 15wt fork oil helped as I have said before with the rebound but the wollowing was frightening on bouncey roads. So I talked to the local fella's about proggresives, they said 'too hard mate', so I started to play with peload spacers, now I have an extra 1" spacer on top of my standard springs and my problem has gone away, I run with no air either. Still got lousy roads though, we will be moving back to Queensland ASAP.

Hope this helps,

Kind regards Martin.