front end frenzy

[jerseymike]

I'm 185lbs, so i think the rear spring is good for my weight. Its a 10/52 011. Any other #'s are worn off. Always had issues with forks, seemed very stiff, front end kinda seems like it wandered a little, felt like riding on marbles, had that "wash out" feeling to it no matter what i did with the clickers. What do these #'s on bottom of forks mean?

When i got the bike, it had Coppersmith suspension stickers on it. Called and talked to Tom i think it is, he said he remembers the bike, did work long time ago, but couldnt give me more than that. Asked if these old Ohlins could in ANY way be "tuned' "valved" to anything close to KYB on a 18/19 EC. He made some grunting noises and kinda seemed like he wasnt to interested in doing the work or explaining what could be done. Im asking this because i MIGHT, over the winter, put some $$$$ into the bike over the winter and trying to figure out what can be done with suspension first, if anything. Maybe i need to find different forks that fit that are easier to find parts for and work on? Just trying to figure this part out 1st before i go spending $ on other areas.

 

[cbutler]

sounds to me like you have to much sag. front end is not planted

 

[SS109]

Those numbers probably indicate what the forks were originally for and/or model number. If you contact Ohlins they might be able to shed some light on exactly what you have.

When it comes to Ohlins forks you need to use someone who is very familiar with valving them. Check with Les (my first choice for Ohlins) at LTR (https://www.lt-racing.com/") or Zipty (https://ziptyracing.com/) or maybe WER (https://www.werproducts.net/) since they are on the East coast.

That said, do you know how to set up your suspension? If not, there are guides all over the internet that can help you dial in the sag for your bike/weight and how to tell which way you need to go on your clickers. If you were close by I would be happy to help you get it sorted but, sadly, I am not.

 

[jerseymike]

Those numbers probably indicate what the forks were originally for and/or model number. If you contact Ohlins they might be able to shed some light on exactly what you have.

When it comes to Ohlins forks you need to use someone who is very familiar with valving them. Check with Les (my first choice for Ohlins) at LTR (https://www.lt-racing.com/") or Zipty (https://ziptyracing.com/) or maybe WER (https://www.werproducts.net/) since they are on the East coast.

That said, do you know how to set up your suspension? If not, there are guides all over the internet that can help you dial in the sag for your bike/weight and how to tell which way you need to go on your clickers. If you were close by I would be happy to help you get it sorted but, sadly, I am not.

If i still lived in AZ i would take you up on that! I got your reply on my other post. I set up the sag on rear, but after reading that post again, i think i went too far. I took it as getting the lock nut? (top nut on shock) all the way up, measuring about 10mm from bottom of the nut, down and thats where to set the bottom of the jam nut? (bottom nut). SO i probably have WAAAY too little load on that spring, taking pressure off the front end. But, When i first got the bike the front end issue was bad. Changed tire, pushed forks up into clamps, no change. Saw a vid on utube about tightening the neck stem nut and got another full turn out of it. Rode and it fixed the problem for feeling like riding on marbles, very light steering feeling. But i still have that "wash out" feeling and happening. Maybe i just need to send it out, start from scratch. My last bike, 85 CR500 almost 30 years ago, didnt have all these fine tuning options lol. I'll look into Les and WER.

 

[Zman]

For what it is worth, we have the Ohlins on two of our 2004 300s and they are pretty nice forks.

 

[jerseymike]

Think im just going to tear the bike down after the new year and have the suspension serviced. Then if its no good when i ride.....i know its me.