Suspension for adv riding; what springs to buy?

kjetil4455

Active Member
Joined
Sep 16, 2022
Messages
125
Location
Colombia
Dear friends,

I was hoping to get some recommendations from you regarding what springs (and valves?) to buy to upgrade my suspension, mainly the front suspension. The back suspension hasn't been a problem so far, but the fork swallows all bumps and makes it almost impossible to eg. make a jump as the front end dives. It is a 2012 super ten

I am about 100kg / 220 lb

Will these do?


As far as I can see, the tension rate is not listed. Moreover, and maybe I am misinformed, but I have been told that progressive springs aren't that great.

Thanks so much. Apologies if this has been asked before
 
Last edited:

MattR

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Joined
Nov 16, 2019
Messages
1,175
Location
North Hampshire UK
Send your oem forks to MCT. He will tune by fitting the correct springs for your weight and use, revalve and re space and re oil them. They are then not far off the standard of ohlins anyway


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kjetil4455

Active Member
Joined
Sep 16, 2022
Messages
125
Location
Colombia
Send your oem forks to MCT. He will tune by fitting the correct springs for your weight and use, revalve and re space and re oil them. They are then not far off the standard of ohlins anyway


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Sir, thank you

MCT? Not sure what it's short for. Thanks so much.
 

AusTexS10

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Jan 24, 2020
Messages
732
Location
Austin, TX
I don't know about on this Forum, but I think there are a number of South American Super T owners on one or more of the Facebook XT1200 pages I've seen. You might try there and see if someone can identify a shop/source closer to home for you. One example is Yamaha XT1200Z Super Tenere. There's also Super Tenere USA that's a bit closer than the UK, and there may be others. OMG, I just found a Super Tenere XT1200Z Colombia group (2.4K members). Worth a shot. Best of luck and welcome to the herd.
 

jrusell

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Joined
Aug 23, 2017
Messages
460
Location
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
Dear friends,

I was hoping to get some recommendations from you regarding what springs (and valves?) to buy to upgrade my suspension, mainly the front suspension. The back suspension hasn't been a problem so far, but the fork swallows all bumps and makes it almost impossible to eg. make a jump as the front end dives. It is a 2012 super ten

I am about 100kg / 220 lb

Will these do?


As far as I can see, the tension rate is not listed. Moreover, and maybe I am misinformed, but I have been told that progressive springs aren't that great.

Thanks so much. Apologies if this has been asked before
I am the same weight and used 0.95kg/mm fork springs with Racetech gold valves and the difference was night and day. My off road use did not involve jumping the bike so if that is usual for you maybe go up to 1.0kg/mm springs.
I don't know how available race tech valves are down there but if you are good with tools the install is not that difficult if you have patience.
Stoltec valves would be a great option as well. Haven't heard a bad review on any of the products he offers. He sells valving kits and springs for the S10.

Personally I think progressive springs are garbage and wouldn't put them on a lawn mover let alone my bike, but hey some people like them.
I used Sonic springs for my S10, but you would need to contact them to see if they would ship to you.
Sonic spring are made the same length as stock so you don't need to modify or make spacers to make their springs work. I believe Stoltec are the same as well, but be aware some aftermarket springs are not the same length as stock and will require you to add spacers to make them fit properly.

If you are going to go further than springs and revalve I would just look for aftermarket valves. The stock can be revalved but the ports on the stock valves are extremely small and do not allow room to open the ports as needed to flow more oil.

In my opinion Stoltec has the best aftermarket valves for our bikes. Racetech worked for me, but I would have used Stoltec if they had been more easily sourced in Canada.

There are lots of options out there so look around and hopefully you can find something available locally.

 

kjetil4455

Active Member
Joined
Sep 16, 2022
Messages
125
Location
Colombia
I am the same weight and used 0.95kg/mm fork springs with Racetech gold valves and the difference was night and day. My off road use did not involve jumping the bike so if that is usual for you maybe go up to 1.0kg/mm springs.
Very helpful reply, friend, thank you.
One question: If I go 1kg/mm springs, I assume the bike will be very "bumpy" on general road driving with regards to road irregularities? Thanks so much

I guess this is really where the ES system shines. Easily change preload settings for road and off-road use.
 
Last edited:

jrusell

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Aug 23, 2017
Messages
460
Location
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
Very helpful reply, friend, thank you.
One question: If I go 1kg/mm springs, I assume the bike will be very "bumpy" on general road driving with regards to road irregularities? Thanks so much

I guess this is really where the ES system shines. Easily change preload settings for road and off-road use.
I doubt you would would find the front bumpy. I suspect you will find less brake dive and a more firm ride with the stiffer springs. Bumpy is more related to your compression valve stack you build and the setting you decide to run the compression bleed valve.

ES suspension is just as poorly setup as the regular suspension and much harder/more expensive to correct. I would take a non-ES bike any day.
The ES models only adjusts preload on the shock. They do not adjust preload to the forks, so no preload adjustment at all on an ES models forks.

At least you can adjust the preload on your forks to get proper sag. ES forks must be taken apart and new spacers made or springs fitted to adjust ride height. Not ideal in my mind.
 

Fred Dierkes

New Member
Joined
Apr 3, 2021
Messages
4
Location
Ohio
Send your oem forks to MCT. He will tune by fitting the correct springs for your weight and use, revalve and re space and re oil them. They are then not far off the standard of ohlins anyway


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Where is mct?
 
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