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front suspension questions
#512084 02/04/2013 3:24 PM
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went for a ride saturday after spendig the morning dealing some frustrating stuff, so I pushed the America a bit harder than normal and while diving in to a curve I had the front end slide out about 5-6". I kept it under control, found a new line, and pushed back through the corner. I eased up the rest of the ride home.

Question... would front suspension upgrades help or should I just consider buying another bike for when I want to drag pegs?

thanks for your input...


"stupid's in the water these days, they're gonna drink it anyways, until they don't know right from wrong..."
Re: front suspension questions
rgoldberg #512085 02/04/2013 3:29 PM
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have you changed the front springs? Have you changed the ride height at all either front or rear?


2007 Speedmaster and miss it! 2013 T-Bird Storm and Luvin it! Catching a yellow jacket in your shirt at 70 mph can double your vocabulary
Re: front suspension questions
edmspeedmaster #512086 02/04/2013 4:37 PM
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Stickier front tires? Avons come to mind.

Re: front suspension questions
Ryk #512087 02/04/2013 4:44 PM
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progressive 412's in the rear, nothing different up front. Should I check in to new springs?

I was hoping y'all'd say "get a thruxton"


"stupid's in the water these days, they're gonna drink it anyways, until they don't know right from wrong..."
Re: front suspension questions
rgoldberg #512088 02/04/2013 5:54 PM
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Sure you didn't hit some fine gravel or an oil slick? Never heard of anyone having the front end slide out from them on the highway.


12 Rocket Roadster
03 Bonneville America
69 BSA Firebird Scrambler
73 Yamaha TX 750
Re: front suspension questions
rgoldberg #512089 02/04/2013 6:47 PM
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Quote:

"get a thruxton"




GET A THRUXTON!
Then check your tires on the America.
  • Age of tire
  • Condition of tire
  • Tire air pressure
  • If you have spokes, check them

Next make some changes.
  • R&R tires/wheel if any of the above look out of whack
  • Try Progressive springs OR Ricor Intiminators (I favor the latter)


As is written on shampoo bottles, rinse and repeat.

BTW... I run Ricors, Metzlers and ride fairly aggressively. The only time the front has ever moved on me was when I hit a tar snake on a hot summer day.


SOLD: 07 Black BA, 39mm FCRs, TPUSA stage 1 head, TPUSA 813 cams, TPUSA 10.8:1 pistons, TTP #3 igniter, Specialty Spares Long Cannons, Tsukayu Hard Bags. 82HP/55tq NEW: 19 Goldwing Tour DCT
Re: front suspension questions
Zmilin #512090 02/04/2013 8:00 PM
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tar snakes will getcha all of the time, bloody little suckers, i went to the progressive front springs and made allot of difference for the front end dive etc.


2007 Speedmaster and miss it! 2013 T-Bird Storm and Luvin it! Catching a yellow jacket in your shirt at 70 mph can double your vocabulary
Re: front suspension questions
edmspeedmaster #512091 02/04/2013 8:58 PM
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i scooted my front end in arkansas a few years back talk about pucker factor.

buying a thruxton would be easier than swapping out springs.

Last edited by Yota; 02/04/2013 9:01 PM.

we should do this every weekend!
Re: front suspension questions
rgoldberg #512092 02/04/2013 10:03 PM
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Quote:



Question... would front suspension upgrades help or should I just consider buying another bike for when I want to drag pegs?

thanks for your input...




Yes.


Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, tambiƩn
Re: front suspension questions
bigbill #512093 02/04/2013 10:23 PM
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Ya haveta know where you is to getsta where you wantsta be...

Like Z asked already:

What front tire are you running?
Age?
Mileage?
Normal cold PSI?

Re: front suspension questions
B02S4 #512094 02/04/2013 10:56 PM
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Thruxton.
Avons.
Progressive front springs.
It's a trifecta of delights.


A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
Re: front suspension questions
oldroadie #512095 02/04/2013 10:59 PM
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Tires, tires, tires!


Fidelis et Fortis
Re: front suspension questions
rgoldberg #512096 02/05/2013 1:18 AM
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Quote:

Question... would front suspension upgrades help or should I just consider buying another bike for when I want to drag pegs?



Our bikes come from the factory with the need to upgrade suspension... virtually everyone here can attest to that. Imho... the single most important upgrade to your machine is to swap out the fork springs for better ones such as progressives. Dial in new rear shocks if you like and/or stickier tires. But you don't need another bike for hard cornering... these bikes do that quite nicely.


Live to love, love to live.
Re: front suspension questions
Keith #512097 02/05/2013 10:50 AM
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I have been real happy with:

Ricor Intiminators with stock springs (read that the progressive spring and the intiminator do not work as good)

Avon Venmon tires

On the rear I have Works shocks (built for my weight)

My next upgrade will be Race Tech springs (built for my weight) for the front.

Re: front suspension questions
SDKimo #512098 02/05/2013 6:39 PM
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I have progressive 2 inch drop with 1 more cut off spacer up front and reble rear shocks maxed out. Fat coker up front and a bald kenda in rear and I have no issues. Scraping pegs for u and is probably a whole different world.

Drop the front more than your rear with good tires and you'll be good.

Re: front suspension questions
jryan #512099 02/06/2013 1:31 PM
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Quote:

I have progressive 2 inch drop with 1 more cut off spacer up front and reble rear shocks maxed out. Fat coker up front and a bald kenda in rear and I have no issues. Scraping pegs for u and is probably a whole different world.

Drop the front more than your rear with good tires and you'll be good.




dropping the front lower then the rear is not a great idea, it will change the rake and trail of the bike in a negative fashion, it will give tons of oversteer and losen up the rear end. IMO


2007 Speedmaster and miss it! 2013 T-Bird Storm and Luvin it! Catching a yellow jacket in your shirt at 70 mph can double your vocabulary
Re: front suspension questions
edmspeedmaster #512100 02/07/2013 9:17 PM
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Yeah if you drop the front and leave the rear stock thats true.
Mine sits level with -3 front and -2 rear. Its I take turns way faster with way more confidence than my friendsstock 2012.

Re: front suspension questions
jryan #512101 02/08/2013 3:22 PM
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Quote:

Yeah if you drop the front and leave the rear stock thats true.
Mine sits level with -3 front and -2 rear. Its I take turns way faster with way more confidence than my friendsstock 2012.




Ya that would make more sense.


2007 Speedmaster and miss it! 2013 T-Bird Storm and Luvin it! Catching a yellow jacket in your shirt at 70 mph can double your vocabulary
Re: front suspension questions
rgoldberg #512102 02/08/2013 7:11 PM
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Quote:

progressive 412's in the rear, nothing different up front...




Ryan- Unless you've changed it, I dropped the front about 10mm by sliding the fork tubes up a bit.

Re: front suspension questions
Lonzo #512103 02/09/2013 12:38 PM
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Lonzo is right, front triple tree is dropped about 10mm.

As for my set up...
Metzler ME880 130-70-18 well broken in, but lots of life left and cold PSI of 31. Also, on mag rims not wire spokes.


"stupid's in the water these days, they're gonna drink it anyways, until they don't know right from wrong..."
Re: front suspension questions
rgoldberg #512104 02/09/2013 5:42 PM
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I doubt it was the tire.

Re: front suspension questions
B02S4 #512105 02/21/2013 10:34 PM
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Big improvement with the Progressive springs in front and back. Horrible dive with stock springs.


Warren 04 Caspian Blue and Silver America
Re: front suspension questions
AngusPT #512106 02/24/2013 4:26 PM
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Ricor Intiminators are superior to squaring away our forks vs. Prog. Sprgs. I have used both...IMO... Either product performs far and above, the stock config. Our forks are borderline dangerous as they come, Triumph should address this design defect, if for no other reason, than one of liability....


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