1.0 or 0.9 fork springs - opinions please

[frez]

I have 1.0 and 0.9 springs at home ready for use, one pair of which I intend fitting on Thursday along with some Andriani fork pistons.

I bought the 1.0's when I was around 320 pounds but never got round to fitting them, I'm now down to 260 and losing 10 pounds a month. The question is, do I put in the 1.0 or 0.9 springs? Racetech calculator has me at around a .95 currently.

I only ride on road, 90% motorway/highway, reasonably quick, which means there is occasional hard braking when something happens ahead.

 

[WJBertrand]

Might be just me, but I like to error on the side of slightly stiffer given that Race Tech recommendation. This helps compensate for spring relaxation with time and provides more buffer for two-up or heavily loaded conditions. Also limiting/slowing forward weight transfer lets the rear brake work better.

 

[tomatocity]

Congratulations on your weight loss!

Springs: Whatever they say

 

[arjayes]

I bought the 1.0's when I was around 320 pounds but never got round to fitting them, I'm now down to 260 and losing 10 pounds a month.

How are you doing it, frez? Paleo diet, quit drinking, Richard Simmons' Sweatin' to the Oldies every day? Whatever you're doing keep it up - that's awesome!

 

[silvergoose]

Frez, Glad you reduced your weight, your heart will be happy.

If you are saying your weight is 260, I assume, that is without riding gear. I would go for the stiffer spring. You can reduce the preset somewhat. What spring are you running on the shock?


Good Luck

 

[frez]

I've got a Wilbers shock with a 180NM spring. I'll put in the stiffer spring with some Silkolene Pro RST 5W oil and see how that works out. Thanks for the feedback.

As far as the weight loss goes, it's all down to calorie counting and some exercise. I use an app on the phone to log absolutely everything I consume, and I've been averaging around 1650 calories a day. Very few carbs/sugar, no alcohol, low fat, low salt, plenty of protein, vegetables and salad. Both me and my wife are on the diet as 30+ years of ever expanding waist lines had to stop before we had serious health issues. It's tough, but having an OC personality means success is pretty much assured, just keeping it off afterwards will be the challenge. Targeting 155 pounds so quite a way to go yet.

 

[steve68steve]

I think you should put on the weaker springs and sell me the stiffer ones.... I'm closer to your "before" than your "after."


Congrats on the weight loss - my head spins a bit that you started at 320 and are headed to 155. At that point, you would literally be "half the man you used to you be." Good luck.

 

[silvergoose]

Frez, sounds like you are on the right track, good luck and if it helps I lost 89 lbs and have kept it off for five years. I said your heart will thank, but it is your knees that will sing your praises.


Good luck

 

[frez]

Job done. With compression and rebound in the centre of the range on a short ride it felt much better than stock, much smoother. I'll play around with the settings over the next week or two to find my sweet spot as I did before with the stock fork pistons/springs.

To summarise: 1.0 springs (from Sonic Springs), Andreani fork pistons (ordered from omniaracing.net in Italy), Silkolene Pro RSF 5W Oil, new fork seals, 160mm gap to oil as recommended by Andreani

Regarding preload/sag. With the 1.0 springs, maximum preload, 260 pounds rider with no gear on, sag was 38mm (or 20%) i.e. not really enough sag. Minimum preload, sag was 51mm (or 27%), so the racier end of a normal range (25-35%). The rear Wilbers shock gives me 55mm sag (or 29%). I think .95 springs would probably be right at this weight. I'll swap to the 0.9 springs in a few months as the weight comes off.

 

[Tony Down Under]

You could always try just swapping one 1.0 spring and replace it with a 0.9. Tha'll give you a 1.0 spring in one fork leg and a 0.9 in the other leg.......rate will now equal .95.