How long are factory fork spring spacers?

[Fuser]

Hey guys I just opened up my forks to drop in a new set of springs to find that my spacers looked short compared to other pics I've seen (the bike is lowered so I expected this). Does anyone know how long the factory spacers are so i can cut fresh ones to return the bike to stock ride heights? The current ones are 67.2mm. Thanks in advance.

Edit: Well that was a waste of a 1st post. Looks like I need a 3.75" spacer for the new springs anyway so I guess the factory length doesn't even matter

[ragedigital]

What aftermarket springs did you add?

[Fuser]

I picked up a set from progressive suspension. They list a 3.75" spacer but that doesn't seem right. My springs come up to the bottom of the threads and when I'm trying to install the cap I can only compress like 2.6" by hand with the forks topped out. guess I need to start working out.

[M in KC]

Fuser, you will have to custom cut your spacers to acheive the correct sag. Go to RaceTechs website they have a how to to follow to understand what you are trying to accomplish. I would suggest going to a home improvement store and buying a 4' length PVC pipe as spacer stock and start experimenting. Spacer length will be rider specific but Racetech's procedures will get you in the ball game.

[Fuser]

Thanks for the help guys! I really do (at least I like to think I do) know what I'm adjusting in the front end, I guess it would give me a better starting point if I had a rough calculation for my desired preload in lbs. I don't really think it would be too hard with the exception of how far up on the tank the rider is and not having a spring curve to show where the progressive portion of the springs kick in. Lol if I get bored a little later I might try some calcs just as an excerise but until then it's back to shooting form the hip.

Edit: Oh yeah, noone adds extrra topout spring to lower there bike yeah? Cause that would really mess with my program...

[yamaha_george]

Thanks for the help guys! I really do (at least I like to think I do) know what I'm adjusting in the front end, I guess it would give me a better starting point if I had a rough calculation for my desired preload in lbs. I don't really think it would be too hard with the exception of how far up on the tank the rider is and not having a spring curve to show where the progressive portion of the springs kick in. Lol if I get bored a little later I might try some calcs just as an excerise but until then it's back to shooting form the hip.

Edit: Oh yeah, noone adds extrra topout spring to lower there bike yeah? Cause that would really mess with my program...

Hi,
If you want the right way to set up the forks with full explanation try this:-

http://www.saltmine.org.uk/kgb/faqindx.html.

Jim Stewarts white paper which is the 7th item down
HTH

[Fuser]

Wow! Great link George. Awesome information (with the exception of cutting the springs, they're wound tight and ground flat for a reason). Well I installed the springs with a little too much preload but holy crap just the spring rate change was amazing. She still dives pretty badly under braking but at least now it rebounds. Next step after dialing in my sag is going to be damping up front. I'll see what I can get from just viscosity changes before I move on to anything more exotic.

[yamaha_george]

[quote="Fuser"]Wow! Great link George. Awesome information (with the exception of cutting the springs, they're wound tight and ground flat for a reason). [quote]

Fuser,
Jim & I are "old school" bikers who can use just about any machine tool going . cutting the coils was the only way of getting higher spring rates back in the day . Heating & bending them closed at the top then angle grinding the top flat no great shakes LOL2