Adjustable Preload Fork Caps

[L.B.S.]

Received these the other day.







I didn't cut any material off the fork preload spacer tubes after I put the Ricor valves in, and found the preload just a wee bit too much for everyday running about with the bike unloaded. Since I want as soft and cushy a ride as possible, but not at the expense of too soft when all decked out for offroad camping, which meant not wanting stiffer rate springs, (yet anyway) I figured I would cut the spacer tubes down to the soft side of the sag percentage number, and be able to take up the percent to firm if I want, using the adjusters. I'll give these a shot just to see if I can get a somewhat reasonable compromise anyway.

(Also since I'm spending such an outrageous amount for my Nitron shock, I didn't want the front end to feel lonely, lol )

Not sure exactly when I'll get around to installing them, but before the snow flies, I hope!

 

[duk2n]

Nice, L.B.S. I had seen these some time ago in eBay. Let us know how they work, please

 

[Whiteyez]

Nice! And the installation is very easy.

Honda 599 (Hornet 600) Fork Preload Cap Adjuster Kit - Installation Instructions - YouTube

 

[L.B.S.]

Installed them today.

Removed OEM fork caps, and spacer tubes. Cut off 1.25" from each tube, but I should have removed more. Probably 1.75 or even 2" would still be ok, I think. 1.25" isn't enough.








Finally got around to installing my Rox Risers too. Thankfully, now that I have the Rox installed, I don't have to touch the bars again when I remove the preload caps later, to shorten the spacer tubes down some more.

 

[Whiteyez]

Why did you cut the tubes for?

 

[dduelin]

I am a bit confused here. Adding preload does not change the spring rate and does not affect cushieness of the ride. All preload does is raise or lower ride height within the fixed limits of travel allowed by the fork. If you added preload with the new adjustable caps didn't you give all or most of it away by cutting the spacers down?

 

[duk2n]

If I remember well, L.B.S. is using Intimators (or whatever the name is, another kind of gold valve emulators) and he didn't cut the spacers. So I guess he's doing it now

 

[Bodysnatcher]

If I remember well, L.B.S. is using Intimators (or whatever the name is, another kind of gold valve emulators) and he didn't cut the spacers. So I guess he's doing it now

I think you are correct and also if you compare the adjustable fork caps to the stock fixed ones you'll see that even with them adjusted all the way out they still extend further into the fork tube and would need spacer cutting to bring back the stock preload setting. FWIW I have adjusters on mine and have a set of Intimators to install when I get around to it.

 

[L.B.S.]

I am a bit confused here. Adding preload does not change the spring rate and does not affect cushieness of the ride. All preload does is raise or lower ride height within the fixed limits of travel allowed by the fork. If you added preload with the new adjustable caps didn't you give all or most of it away by cutting the spacers down?

You are right of course, but I guess it's subjective for me; I can't help it- a cranked preload and tall ride height with no sag "feels" stiffer and more harsh to me, than sitting on a bike that drops down a couple inches when you climb aboard, lol


I want softer ride versus stiffer, so I don't want increased spring rate. With the OEM spring rate, I hoped that the lighter weight fork fluid, the Ricors, cut down spacer tubes and adjustable caps, would allow for "cushy/soft" feel and have a lower ride height day to day. Being able to adjust the preload back up via caps for "proper" static sag and ride height, when I increased the weight with camping gear etc.

To me, it felt like there was too much preload with just the OEM caps. The adjustable caps are about 3/4" deeper than the original caps, so I wanted to cut the spacer tubes to the point where I could get back to stock or below preload, and then adjust up as needed.

Remember, I am no suspension knowledgeable fellow, so I am just kinda poking at these things with sticks as best I can for how it feels, to me.

 

[Cagedodger]

I don't recall offhand, but do these forks have progressive springs in them? If so, having an adjustable preload can have a noticeable effect on the spring stiffness and feel.

 

[L.B.S.]

I don't recall offhand, but do these forks have progressive springs in them? If so, having an adjustable preload can have a noticeable effect on the spring stiffness and feel.

Yes, the springs are progressively wound. When I put the ricor valves in, because the springs sit on top of them, it increased the preload by about 3/4 of an inch or so, with the stock spacer tubes uncut.

This felt a little bit too stiff to me, whether or not it's all in my head or not, that's the impression it gave me nonetheless.

I cut 1 1/4" off the tubes, thinking this would cancel the 3/4" from the valves, and leave 1/2" to be taken up by the deeper adjustable preload caps, for zero, or all the way backed off "stock" preload. My mistake, as the adjustable caps are probably (I neglected to measure, darn it) 3/4" deeper than the OEM caps, so I was back to a little more than stock preload, without the caps being adjusted past zero.

This isn't any real big deal, but I probably will take about another 1/2" to 3/4" off the tubes, which will still leave plenty of adjustment available for the new caps to play with and increase preload as much as I am likely to ever need/want.

 

[Cagedodger]

That sounds about right then. Keep us updated on your experiments. I bet you're well on your way to having an awesome ride.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[L.B.S.]

That sounds about right then. Keep us updated on your experiments. I bet you're well on your way to having an awesome ride.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Thanks! I was very glad that I was able to tell the difference after the Ricor's went in, heehee

I still feel a bit ill at the amount of money that I spent on the rear shock but I am biting my fingers off waiting for it to arrive, lol

I will for sure be a sad panda if after all that, the thing isn't too different feeling from the stock NCX shock, but I will honestly report if it's all rainbows and heavenly choirs, or it sucks...

 

[Cagedodger]

Well I certainly hope so either way. Kudos for being such a stalwart guinea pig.

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[670cc]

I don't recall offhand, but do these forks have progressive springs in them? If so, having an adjustable preload can have a noticeable effect on the spring stiffness and feel.

I'm not sure of the logic in that. Whether the spring are progressive or straight wound, if you add a spacer, the bike is still lifted by an amount equal to the thickness of the spacer, is it not? Also, the spacer does change the spring rate. Adding or removing spacers has no affect other than changing ride height, up to the point that the mechanical stops of the suspension are reached and/or the springs become relaxed or coil bound. No?

Greg

 

[Cagedodger]

The thought is that if the springs are progressive the spacer (or in this case the adjuster) compresses the softer wound section of the spring. This would make the forks feel as if they had stiffer springs since the available compression left on the spring would be the stiffer part. If the springs are straight wound then adding a spacer would have no effect on the spring rate.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[dduelin]

This is sort of semantics but adding preload to progressive springs may affect ride quality but it can't affect spring rate. This is because the spring rate moves up it's curve as the spring is compressed and sequential coils begin to touch and "coil bind". It gets stiffer but it does not actually change the rate which is a function of coil spacing and diameter. If the progressive spring rate is plotted on a x/y grid adding preload moves the rate up the curve but the curve itself does not shift on the grid.

That said, the only way to do that [affect spring rate] is to compress the spring with enough preload to coil bind the tightest coils and adding preload in the usual 5 to 20 mm adjustment is usually not enough to do that.

 

[L.B.S.]

I'll take your guy's word for it, but my brain says "it feels stiffer" lol

 

[dduelin]

I'll take your guy's word for it, but my brain says "it feels stiffer" lol

I know what you mean.

 

[L.B.S.]

I know what you mean.

There are a lot of things I constantly work on to try and expunge from my old lizard brain, recognising fact versus fiction. You guys here are a great help and benefit to that effect.