I may be crazy ...

[Axel]

So I needed fork seals coming out of winter . I decided to go for Progressive springs as well as ALLBalls triple lip seals . Good thing cuz I made a mistake and instead of 5 psi I put in 50 psi . Then I went riding around . Front end felt solid - I liked it . Then I checked the pressure to let some out - GAWD . I lowered it to 5 psi and it felt divey . I put in 15 psi and it was a bit better . Damping is on 4 . Still seems a bit divey . I used 10w oil instead of the 20w the guy put in 2 years ago .
Questions and or comments are welcome (unless its referring to my mental capacity)

[Crazcnuk]

I think I would go to advanced driving school and learn what 'divey' actually means!!

The front end is supposed to go down on hard braking and maneuvering. If it wasn't you could just weld the forks (same as putting 50psi in).

People tend to have thier suspension too hard. Makes it uncomfortable, is hard on the bike and actually hampers handling.

If you can can be at any highway speed and hit your front brakes as hard as you can (without locking the front wheel) you should just 'touch' the bottoming stop. Any harder and your limiting your suspension travel for no good reason.

Same with the rear except that you want it to just bottom when you hit the hardest bumps in your area, with nominal load at the max speeds you travel.

People like to make the suspension effectively bottom out, prematurely, thinking this is better but it isn't. You have X inches of travel for a reason, and no vehicle explodes because you hit the travel stops.

[b.walker5]

A good way to measure front end travel is place a plastic cable tie around your forks just above the dust seal at rest and then go for a ride which includes some hard braking. When you get home measure the distance from the top of the fork tube to the new cable tie position and this will tell you how much travel you have in your suspension. More is better unless it bottoms out.

[Crazcnuk]

Exactly, you should ride around for quite a while with your tie indicators, to get a good idea of what your terrain and riding style require.

[b.walker5]

Mine have been there for years.

[79XS11F]

So I needed fork seals coming out of winter . I decided to go for Progressive springs as well as ALLBalls triple lip seals . Good thing cuz I made a mistake and instead of 5 psi I put in 50 psi . Then I went riding around . Front end felt solid - I liked it . Then I checked the pressure to let some out - GAWD . I lowered it to 5 psi and it felt divey . I put in 15 psi and it was a bit better . Damping is on 4 . Still seems a bit divey . I used 10w oil instead of the 20w the guy put in 2 years ago .
Questions and or comments are welcome (unless its referring to my mental capacity)

Hey Alex ... Here's a few links on set up ...

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/ho...tup/index.html

http://ezinearticles.com/?Motorcycle...k-Art&id=54836

http://www.dynobike.com/motorcycle_suspension.htm

[79XS11F]

Here's part II from the motor cyclist article
Rob

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/ho...ing/index.html

[Axel]

Thanks

Turned out my back tire was flat so it was kinda wonky . I'm getting used to the divey now that I know its normal and have turned down the damping .

[Crazcnuk]

Yes, you'll ghet more and more used to the bike as time goes on.

'Dive' usually refers to a sudden, unexpected drop of the front suspension during braking.

Many people then interpret this to mean that there isn't supposed to be ANY drop. There has to be some however in any system with suspension.

[Axel]

Fork seals ruined

So after all the fork seals were ruined . They are leaking pretty badly already . We'll do it all again and see what happens . I will try no air this time around as I have gotten used to and like the front suspension as it is supossed to be

[Axel]

Help

We installed new seals AGAIN and they are leaking somewhat slowly - one side worse than the other . Its always the same side that leaks the worst . We didnt remove the forks from the bike just the lower outside tubes and then changed seals . Is this a problem ? Is it the aftermarket seals ? The last set I found lasted almost 2 years . They are not available from the factory .

[79XS11F]

Hey Alex, Sometimes forks seals will leak regardless of the brand if the upper fork tubes are bent even so slightly that you can't see it. Unfortunately the only way to check the upper tubes is to remove them and check them with a dial gage while turning the tubes on a jig. The same way a machine shop would check any shaft for straightness. Has the bike ever been down that you know of?
Also, are the seals going in truly square? if not fullly and squarely seated they will also leak.
Rob

[motoman]

OEM fork seals Are still availible. Best choice as I use OEM in my moto-cross bike and others and have no leak problems. The OEM's on my Venturer are on their third year and expect them to last many more as previous OEM's have.

[Crazcnuk]

I find that many fork seals will seep a bit when you first put them on, and again each spring, if the bike sits over the winter.

Usually, after the first couple of trips I take, they will quit seeping and be good for the rest of the summer.

[Axel]

Part number 10M-23145-00-00

The OEM seals for the XJ are "no stock" at Yamaha .