Preload Confusion

[slayermd]

Ok, just to double check that I am doing this right, here is what I did to get my preload,

1. With fork leg off the bike and compressed (with oil, spring and washers) I took the measurement from the spring to the top of the inner fork tube.
2. I took that measurement and subtracted the length of the cap from the bottom to the lip (at this point there is zero preload).
3 I then added 16.5mm to the measurement I got in step 2 to get my preload spec.

This seem right? After I had the forks back on it seemed to raise my front end a bit.

[reelrazor]

It sounds like you have the math right. What did the actual sag measurement end up?

[slayermd]

Im not sure about the sag yet.

Now Ive just read that the fork legs need to be extended when getting the specs for the preload spacer.

[Fuser]

Im not sure about the sag yet.

Now Ive just read that the fork legs need to be extended when getting the specs for the preload spacer.

Correct, "preload" is the amount the spring is compressed when the suspension is fully extended.

Yamaha George directed me here when I started looking into my front end, check it out.

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