50mm WP Spring Replacement

[HonayBadgerRy]

I have a 2000 Xc 250 with White Power Conventional 50mm forks. I have two "40" springs, and a "44". I've ridden the bike with a 44 and a stock 40 and the forks were way to stiff, I changed the 44 with a 40 and put the suspension back to stock and it handles well in the bumps, but the front forks bottom on on a few of the jumps. Should I get a "42" spring if so where do I buy it, or should I adjust something else, or should I just leave it?

 

[Jakobi]

If you use one 44 and one 40 you'll have an effective spring rate between the two. Nothing wrong with this approach (one of each spring in each leg).

The other thing worth checking is the actual preload on the spring. Ideally 3 - 5mm on a firmer spring will feel plusher initially and ramp up more than a lighter spring thats been preloaded to try and keep it up in the stroke.

 

[HonayBadgerRy]

I tried the 44 and 40 and it was still stiff, I was thinking something like a 42 and a 40 would put it at 41 and that would be perfect for me.

 

[Jakobi]

I get you. I interpreted that you had tried with 40's and 44's but reading again I see it.

.1mm/kg of force is a relatively small change though.

Are the springs the same length and were they installed with the same preload? Did you use the same brand of oil and air gap in both instances? If you like the way the bike rides with the 40's I would stick with them and continue reducing the airgap until you get the ramp up in the last half of the stroke that you're looking for (bottoming resistance). The other option is to have them revalved.

End of the day there will always be some compromise too. Hard to have a plush trail setup that will still hold up to larger jumps, and some light bottoming on your biggest landings isn't all that bad.