Author Topic: C5 Classic fork springs  (Read 5756 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

swingarm

  • Scooter
  • **
  • Posts: 87
  • Karma: 0
on: March 15, 2014, 03:21:24 am
Hagon shocks and fork oil are a big improvement over stock handling but the front dives too much under brakes. Seems the stock springs are too soft. Unfortunately Sonic can't supply springs for the C5 any longer. Are there any recommended alternatives? Searching hasn't turned up anything definitive for the Classic (2009).

cheers



Professor

  • Bulleteer
  • ***
  • Posts: 140
  • Karma: 0
Reply #1 on: March 15, 2014, 03:51:09 am
Call Progressive Suspension in Hesperia California. They usually can help.


Ducati Scotty

  • Grand Gearhead
  • *****
  • Posts: 7,038
  • Karma: 0
  • 2010 Teal C5
Reply #2 on: March 15, 2014, 04:33:11 am
I tried the Sonics, they squeaked like crazy which is probably why they don't offer them any more.  I forget the diameter of the RE springs but no one made a perfect match, so I got a slightly smaller diameter from Sonic.  Sometimes it works, sometimes not.  It didn't for me.

You can always take out the springs, do the math, figure out how many coils to cut off to get the spring rate you want and do it.  You'll need to heat and collapse the last coil so it sits nicely but it's not too hard.

Honestly, just replace the stock oil with the proper amount of a good 10W fork oil.  You'll be amazed at the difference. 

Scott


swingarm

  • Scooter
  • **
  • Posts: 87
  • Karma: 0
Reply #3 on: March 15, 2014, 05:27:50 am
Honestly, just replace the stock oil with the proper amount of a good 10W fork oil.  You'll be amazed at the difference. 

Scott

Yeah the stock oil was awful. I replaced it with 10W. Might try some 15W instead.

As far as the springs go, I think the stock ones are too light and going with a heavier straight wound spring would do the trick. I had my last bike (XJ900S) done by ProMechA here so it may time to visit Peter again.

Thanks for the advice.


Professor

  • Bulleteer
  • ***
  • Posts: 140
  • Karma: 0
Reply #4 on: March 15, 2014, 07:32:17 am
If all else fails in terms of getting new springs. Go up in the weight of the oil and add a piece of metal tubing or PVC as a preload. All Progressive kits come with preload instructions. Easy to find on line. This is old, old technology.


Ducati Scotty

  • Grand Gearhead
  • *****
  • Posts: 7,038
  • Karma: 0
  • 2010 Teal C5
Reply #5 on: March 15, 2014, 02:55:16 pm
Also, get some good rear shocks.  After I got some Hagon shocks for the rear the front felt much better.  It's just that the rear now matched it much better. 

Scott


swingarm

  • Scooter
  • **
  • Posts: 87
  • Karma: 0
Reply #6 on: March 15, 2014, 04:45:05 pm
Also, get some good rear shocks.  After I got some Hagon shocks for the rear the front felt much better.  It's just that the rear now matched it much better. 

Scott

Hagons are the best single upgrade I've done on this bike.


barenekd

  • Grand Gearhead
  • *****
  • Posts: 5,516
  • Karma: 0
Reply #7 on: March 15, 2014, 06:54:02 pm
+1 on the Hagons. Have you tried Racetech for springs?
As for the forks, mine improved so much after I got the sludge out and some 10W fork oil that I never worried about them after that.
As for preloading the springs with shims, The better deal is to cut some off to stiffen them, then worry about the shims. Shimming alone will just cause the coils to bottom out, as you're not actually changing the spring rate.
Bare
Bare
2013 Moto Guzzi V7 Racer
2011 Black Classic G5 (RIP)
I refuse to tiptoe through life only to arrive safely at death
http://www.controllineplans.com


swingarm

  • Scooter
  • **
  • Posts: 87
  • Karma: 0
Reply #8 on: March 15, 2014, 10:38:29 pm
I'm using the ProMechA articles as a guide
http://www.promecha.com.au/articles_index.htm

It's a challenge to improve this puppy. The only downer is having to remove the C5 forks to do anything.


Ducati Scotty

  • Grand Gearhead
  • *****
  • Posts: 7,038
  • Karma: 0
  • 2010 Teal C5
Reply #9 on: March 16, 2014, 12:48:36 am
I really like their "misconceptions" section.

Scott


swingarm

  • Scooter
  • **
  • Posts: 87
  • Karma: 0
Reply #10 on: March 20, 2014, 08:54:22 am
Fitting new EBC brake pads seems to have solved most of the diving problem. The stock pads had only done 6000km and felt 'grabby'. Progressive application would go from slight braking to a lot with not much in between. It was hard to modulate braking in the wet or during cornering. Now there's the sort of feel you'd expect.

I'll leave these pads to settle in and go to 15W fork oil as a last resort. So far it's looking good.


Ducati Scotty

  • Grand Gearhead
  • *****
  • Posts: 7,038
  • Karma: 0
  • 2010 Teal C5
Reply #11 on: March 20, 2014, 11:41:01 am
Do you have the EBC part number?  I'm due for new pads.

Scott


swingarm

  • Scooter
  • **
  • Posts: 87
  • Karma: 0
Reply #12 on: March 20, 2014, 03:48:47 pm
Do you have the EBC part number?  I'm due for new pads.

Scott

FA228

They were convenient to get locally on the day. I don't know if the old pads were typical of stock part performance but these are much better in my case.
« Last Edit: March 20, 2014, 03:59:43 pm by swingarm »


Ducati Scotty

  • Grand Gearhead
  • *****
  • Posts: 7,038
  • Karma: 0
  • 2010 Teal C5
Reply #13 on: March 20, 2014, 04:23:48 pm
Are those copper/semi-metallic or organic?  I think they have FA228 (organic/kevlar) and FA228HH (semi-metallic).

Scott
« Last Edit: March 20, 2014, 04:32:11 pm by Ducati Scotty »


swingarm

  • Scooter
  • **
  • Posts: 87
  • Karma: 0
Reply #14 on: March 20, 2014, 07:26:22 pm
Are those copper/semi-metallic or organic?  I think they have FA228 (organic/kevlar) and FA228HH (semi-metallic).

Scott

The standard oganic kevlar ones. I didn't like metallic pads when I tried them on other bikes but I'm not an aggressive enough rider to get heat into them anyway.

cheers