White Spring Shock Now Fitted

[FalcoJock]

Finally, the refurbished white spring rear shock has been fitted, and I've done a few miles (40-ish) on different road types. Well, the rear end is definitely more controlled. I didn't feel the rear pogo around at all and it felt good under hard acceleration. However, I think it now makes the front feel a bit horrible in comparison. It didn't feel balanced front versus rear.

So what to do about the front end? Suggestions please. Can this be dialed out or to I need to spend more cash?

The rear is only a refurbished white spring mille so I'm just after a bit more settled at the front.

[mangocrazy]

I'm guessing the Falco front end is standard? And if I may ask a personal question, what do you weigh? I'm about 11.5 stone and I found the standard Falco front end a bit firm and a bit harsh. I bought some Hyperpro progressive springs and a set of Race-Tech Gold compression valves and had them fitted, and the results are now much more to my liking.

But suspension is a hugely personal thing and what suits one person doesn't suit another. One thing is certain though, anything other than making adjustments to the forks will mean handing them over to a 'man who can', unless you're very practised with the spanners.

[LEEMAN]

Ditto, have also just fitted white shock,

Now, I didnt dremel the schraeder valve but simply took the red cap off and it slipped in, but with no gap between sub frame and valve. Does anyone know, is this a bit stupid? i.e: should i in fact dremel the valve to get the cap to fit on? or will it be ok without cap?

Also, my front end also feels a bit heavy, similar to yours FJ, I know I need to play around with it a bit.

Incidentally, the playing around but is a bit difficult as the adjuster screw at the bottom is almost impossible to get to, is this the same for everyone?

far too many questions I know.

Dave

[HowardQ]

I had to have a few attempts at cutting the valve down, (no chance with just the cap off, although it was the first thing I tried).
Once finally done, my valve was very close to the frame but not touching.
I took one last bit off top of the central pin, so it could not catch and release the gas. I have had it that way ever since, check now and then that there are no signs of rubbing on the frame, and has been fine. It is very close so frame almost acts like a cover!
I have an NWS hugger on mine, so not too much road crap gets near the valve, I would not leave it this way otherwise.
Next option for me would have been a rebuild and a recessed valve, but wanted to try it first as the shock was supposed to be almost new, it looked that way and has worked fine since fitting it like this about 15K miles ago.

[LEEMAN]

Thanks Howard and I was hoping too that the frame would become a pseudo valve, also have a hugger so i guess it will be ok.

Now for some meddling.....fettling, which will be a bit at a time as she is my daily commuter too.

Shame about the weather this morning as was a little slippy for the roundabouts, so a gentle ride in and less fun.

[FalcoJock]

LEEMAN, let me know how your fettling goes, and if I get any improvement on the front without buying new bits, I'll let you know.

mangocrazy, I'm 12.5 stone. I appreciate suspension is a personal preference. I didn't mind her being a bit lively before. It was lively at both ends. But now it feels like I'm sitting on a comfy seat but hanging on to a pnematic drill at the front. I exaggerate for effect - it's not that bad, but noticable.

[mangocrazy]

It was lively at both ends. But now it feels like I'm sitting on a comfy seat but hanging on to a pnematic drill at the front. I exaggerate for effect - it's not that bad, but noticable.

Yes, I know what you mean when you talk about pneumatic drills - good analogy. I believe the Falco is over-sprung and over-damped on compression as standard. This means that the spring rate is too high (too hard) and the bump/compression damping is too fierce. It does feel like a road drill at times, especially over washboard bumps.

Unfortunately this may mean you need to spend more money. Sorry. You'll probably need a softer spring rate; standard Falco is 1.05 kg/mm - you'll need to go down to at least 0.9 kg/mm to notice a difference (anything less than 10% isn't worth doing). Also, I'd definitely recommend a set of Race-Tech Gold valves and modified shim stacks. A combination of new springs and Race-Tech valves made a big difference to my Falco.

The other thing is, what forks do you have on your Falco - Showa or Marzocchi? It might be worth winding both the preload and the compression damping off to minimum and see if that makes it feel better. If it does, it shows you what direction you should be going in.

Actually, I've just noticed you live in Buckingham. I don't know if you've ever heard of a guy named Derek Chittenden, but he lives in Gawcott, just outside Buckingham, and he's forgotten more than most people know about suspension. I'm taking my Falco down to him in a few week's time so his son Mark can modify my exhaust. If I let you know when I'm going down, perhaps we could meet up?

[anzacinexile]

Mmmm

Maybe I'm a fat bastid (12.5st wet) but after fitting the Ohlins at the back, I had no issues dialling the front to suit

Mind you I did go the whole hog a year later and fit Ohlins forks as well but they didn't make such a bang-for-buck as the rear

[Aladinsaneuk]

before spending serious money - go see a suspension guru....

yes, the spring rate may be wrong for you - a service and oil change may well cure it though.....

[mangocrazy]

before spending serious money - go see a suspension guru....

Who will charge you serious money...

Seriously, before spending any money at all, I'd set the spring preload and compression damping to minimum (having first made a note of existing settings) and see if that feels any better. Your User manual/handbook should tell you how to do this. It will be a case of noting down how many turns of the sdjusters or clicks it takes to go from where you are to minimum settings.

That way at least you have a base setting (what it is set to now) and a direction (minimum settings) to compare it to.

[HowardQ]

I did like Mango, noting where I started, then just set the sag and started from there, Aprilia set their bikes up pretty stiff as standard, so tried that to see how it rode. Then just played with the settings a bit, till I got something that I thought was about right for my old overweight frame.
I also had the front fork oil replaced whilst the bike was in for new steering head bearings, Forgotten exactly but the old fork oil was pretty light. The manual says you should use 5w or 20w fork oil, so mine looked more like 5w. It also says you can mix it to get intermediate grades, think mine was mixed at 50/50 so ended up at about 12.5w
Probably would have been better going to a specialist, but the combination of the new White Spring and the other changes, made it feel much better so I lived with it.

[FalcoJock]

Hey mangocrazy. Let me know when you are going to Gawcott and I'll come over if I can (I sometimes have work commitments at weekends).

Thanks to everyone for the advice. I'll try fettling at the weekend.

Cheers.

[LEEMAN]

yep ditto with the fettling this weekend

By the way, does anyone know of a good suspension specialist near me - Bristol?

I know there is JHS Racing but heard a few bad reports on them...

[mangocrazy]

Are MH Racing in Wiltshire anywhere near to you? Mark Hammond's a good guy, by all reports.

[LEEMAN]

excellent, thanks Mango will check them out