Front Fork Upgrade

[kiwijohn]

I am thinking of upgrading the front suspension on my 05 Girly. I am not overly mechanical, but can follow instructions.

I need need fork oil put in, so was considering new fork springs also. I have seen progressive springs for £65 - £100. This doesn't seem too expensive. I would need to pay someone to fit. Do the forks need to come out to do this? If so, I could take the front wheel out, and the forks. Then take them to be done at the mechanics. And refit myself.

Does that sound viable?

[JTT]

Changing fork springs is pretty basic  Removing them is the biggest part of the job.  If your willing to go that far, get yourself a manual and do the whole job yourself.

You can change spring with the fork on the bike too.  It's just nice to be able to remove to flush the forks well before reassembly.

[Bixxer Bob]

+1

If you are happy enough removing the fork legs to take to a workshop, you're over the worst part. Buy a manual, read it, take photos for reference as you dismantle and feel smug you saved yourself some money when you've finished.  There's plenty of help here if needed

[kiwijohn]

I may try it myself. I have a manual and used it, and this forum to do the 12k service.

I have removed the frontend/forks from my XR400 a few times, so I thought I can probably manage that on the Tiger. I know there will be a few more things to consider however.

I thought there maybe the need for specialist tools when re-assembling  the forks.

[Bixxer Bob]

Nope, as long as you have a socket to loosen the caps, you're good to go.  Just follow the manual and take your time and you'll be fine.

[ChazzyB]

Changing the oil alone made a huge difference to my Girly. I may have gone to 15W oil, from memory. Forget progressive springs, IMHO, the bike doesn't need them.

[Sasquatch]

The ONLY way to know if your springs are to soft (and if you weigh more than 160, and they are stock, they are too soft) is by using a tape measure and measuring sag.  The forks should compress from fully extended only 30-35% of the total wheel travel.

Best bang for the buck upgrade is Race Tech emulators with a set of proper rate straight rate fork springs.  Throw the progressive stuff away.

[Chris Canning]

Road racing doesn't seem a popular theme on here,but anyone who has read any of the journo tests at the end of a season when teams let them have a go will know thats it's not uncommon to have two bikes in the same team getting similar results but riders have them set up entirely different,there's no such thing as a set up that suits everyone.

The problem with a lot of riders is the simple fact they don't know what they want,and hence if your after something better involves some personnel R+D,to find out what works for you.

I should have gone RaceTech emulators years ago but with other bikes on the go settled for progressive fork springs 15wt oil and increase in quantity and probably need 50 miles of quick riding to know were I am on set up,baring in mind most of my riding is two up.

The reality is you have to treat it like a job,you have to knuckle down and work at it,the problem being most folk just want to buy a bike put fuel in it and ride along and look at the scenery,the last thing anyone wants to do is having just stripped the front end of the bike off and put it back together is to do it all over again,but that may be what it takes.

[kiwijohn]

Thanks for all the advice. I am 6'2 and 220 pounds. The Tiger is used mostly touring, so a load as well, or brisk ride outs. The front feels very soft to me and dives alot when braking. I understand this will happen with this much travel, but looking to improve if I can.

The fork oil will almost definitely need changing. I doubt the PO had it done.

I am assuming to change the fork oil, you need the forks out to tip up, or can you spyphon oil out with the forks in place? On the assumption they have to come out anyway, I thought I might as well explore other spring options.

[dino246]

I am 6' 2" tall and weight about 230lbs and have a 2006 and I ride mostly road and some dirt on occasion, so our situations are similar. I used the race tech valves with the heavier springs on the valves since race tech supplies two options, I beleive they are the yellow ones. I also got a set of sonic springs which are linear rate spring of .95 kg/mm for $80.00 and use 15 weight fork oil and add 20mm more oil to the factory recommended level.

It is a long travel suspension and so it still dives some but it is way better than it was.

My next mod is the shock, but that is big money. WP with the remote preload.

[Sasquatch]

My next mod is the shock, but that is big money. WP with the remote preload.

I have been selling a bunch of Hyperpro shocks to Tiger owners, and have one on my own bike.  Custom built to your specifications, with hydraulic spring preload adjuster runs $889

[jp7rgv]

hi,
has anyone tried to fit a front system from another bike?
maybe from a tiger 800? would that be possible?

[cba191]

has anyone tried the Racetech cartridge emulators?

http://racetech.com/index.aspx

[JTT]

has anyone tried the Racetech cartridge emulators?

http://racetech.com/index.aspx

Stay tuned...I have a set coming next week along with springs  8)

[cba191]

very cool.  I pick up my new to me Tiger next week so I'm curious.