A few winter project questions

[Conrad]

A few questions I'm hoping the good people on this forum can help me out with....

First: i plan on making a tie-bar for between the front crash bar. Haven't found a post with dimensions, and my crash bars are tweaked a bit. Can anyone tell me what the gap between SHOULD be, so i know how long to make tie-bar?


Second: fork springs. As i understand, when installing progressive springs, one should leave out the filter/spacer under the fork cap due to the new springs being longer than stock. However, when i opened my forks, the spacer WAS there, but the springs were "progressive", i assume they were changed and the spacer left in. Can anyone tell me the length of stock springs?

Third: ten pin conector, is the part that fails the pigtail coming directly from the ignition switch? (switch was replaced by p.o.,so my assumption is since switch and pigtail are new i'm good, unless problems are typically south of that pigtail)

Thanks folks!!

[cushman eagle]

Conrad ,I am sorry,I cannot help you with #1,and#2,except Kevin Wanner makes the tie bar.
On #3 you should be good,as that pigtail is the only electrical issue I have had with my '99 in 13 years and 83,000 miles
Replacement batteries not included

[cushman eagle]

I am back to you Conrad,I just measured the distance between my crashbars,and it is 14",and I already have Kevins brace installed.
Kevin's AVA handle is chevyman1

[Conrad]

I am back to you Conrad,I just measured the distance between my crashbars,and it is 14",and I already have Kevins brace installed.
Kevin's AVA handle is chevyman1

Awesome, thanks!!

[SgtSlag]

When I first installed my Progressive Fork Springs, I left the spacers in... The forks were ridiculously stiff! I was unable to flex them more than a few millimeters, throwing my upper body weight onto the handlebars! When I took them out, and assembled the forks, they were m-u-c-h better. The Progressive Fork Springs are truly an improvement over the OEM Springs.

The Progressive Rear Shocks are not like Ohlins, but they're quite good, compared to what I had on my 1979 Honda's OEM sealed shocks (replaced the Honda's OEM shocks with Progressives, first, which sold me on them for my Voyager, a couple of years later). I never replaced the oil in my Voyager's OEM shocks, I just installed Progressives.

I ride 2-up, 99% of the time. I bought normal duty Springs for my Progressive Shocks: the Shocks blew out within two months! I ordered new Shocks, and Heavy Duty Springs, and we've been riding those for around 10 years, now, without issue. If you have the OEM shocks installed, be sure to change the oil in them, at the very least.

If you want to forego the air assist, and messing with a compressor to inflate your rear suspension, replace the OEM shocks with Progressive sealed Shocks. They will last a good many years, and a good many miles, before you need to replace them -- and no compressor needed. Cheers!

[Conrad]

When I first installed my Progressive Fork Springs, I left the spacers in... The forks were ridiculously stiff! I was unable to flex them more than a few millimeters, throwing my upper body weight onto the handlebars! When I took them out, and assembled the forks, they were m-u-c-h better. The Progressive Fork Springs are truly an improvement over the OEM Springs.

The Progressive Rear Shocks are not like Ohlins, but they're quite good, compared to what I had on my 1979 Honda's OEM sealed shocks (replaced the Honda's OEM shocks with Progressives, first, which sold me on them for my Voyager, a couple of years later). I never replaced the oil in my Voyager's OEM shocks, I just installed Progressives.

I ride 2-up, 99% of the time. I bought normal duty Springs for my Progressive Shocks: the Shocks blew out within two months! I ordered new Shocks, and Heavy Duty Springs, and we've been riding those for around 10 years, now, without issue. If you have the OEM shocks installed, be sure to change the oil in them, at the very least.

If you want to forego the air assist, and messing with a compressor to inflate your rear suspension, replace the OEM shocks with Progressive sealed Shocks. They will last a good many years, and a good many miles, before you need to replace them -- and no compressor needed. Cheers!

See that's the funny thing, if anything my front end is kinda soft and mushy, hence why i'm wondering about spring length.

And it already has progressives out back. Not sure which springs, but it rides fine wit me and the mrs. And we sure ain't as skinny as we used to be

Thanks!

[Conrad]

After re-reading last 2 posts, i realized i may just be a bonehead. I assumed the spacer and the filter were the same part. After looking again at the exploded view, i see they are 2 separate parts
So mine has the filter, but no spacer, as i assume it should be, and I'm an idiot

[Van Voyager]

but the springs were "progressive"

Just for clarification: are you referring to 'Progressive' brand springs or 'progressive wound' springs, (the OEM springs have a 'progressive wind')?

[Conrad]

but the springs were "progressive"

Just for clarification: are you referring to 'Progressive' brand springs or 'progressive wound' springs, (the OEM springs have a 'progressive wind')?

Exactly!!!! The springs in my bike are "progressively " wound. So is it safe to assume they are PROGRESSIVE brand (or at least a different aftermarket brand)??

Or were the factory springs "progressively " wound also?

[triton28]

No the stock springs are NOT progressively tighter spacing wound so I would assume, as you have, they are PROGRESSIVE brand springs.

[Conrad]

No the stock springs are NOT progressively tighter spacing wound so I would assume, as you have, they are PROGRESSIVE brand springs.

Pretty much what I figured, but we all know what happens when one assumes

Thanks!!

[SgtSlag]

Check the Progressive web site for the length of their springs, for your XII, unloaded. If you cannot find it, contact them, by phone or e-mail, and ask. Then lay your fork springs out on the ground, and measure their length, unloaded. If they are shorter, either they are the wrong springs for your bike, or they are worn out and sagging. If they come up short, replace them. Cheers!

[Conrad]

^^^^^^
Good thinking, it didn't occur to me to check for the spec from progressive! 20 3/4" , which is what mine measure.