Fork travel length

[Silent]

Anyone know what the fork travel is on a '79 Special? I'm trying to calculate my static sag and spacer length, but I'm missing that 1 number. Thanks

[DiverRay]

Front forks, ALL Xs1100 '78, '79 is 6.9" or 175mm. That is TOTAL travel.

[Silent]

Thankie, just the info I was after, now I can do the math to set my sag

[SFerinTEXAS]

now I can do the math to set my sag

Feeling a little dumb here. How does one set the sag on an XS ? And for what purpose ?

[Silent]

Setting the static sag properly keeps you in the 'sweet spot' on yout suspension travel. Makes the bike handle better. I run between 28-33% of total travel for my sag. I'm currently at 27% wich is ok, but I'm going to shave 250-300 thou off my preload spacers and bring it closer to 33% for my style of riding.

Some light reading. Tons more on the net.

Wiki
SportRider

[Dragon Tamer]

I place a nylon zip tie around the fork just above the dust shield and drive it for a day or so and see how far it has moved upwards, this will tell you how much travel the forks have been doing. If you feel this is too much try adding air/fluid/spring tension and see what happens. Have you tried just changing the fluid? Just that little application may make a startling result!

[Silent]

I place a nylon zip tie around the fork just above the dust shield and drive it for a day or so and see how far it has moved upwards, this will tell you how much travel the forks have been doing. If you feel this is too much try adding air/fluid/spring tension and see what happens. Have you tried just changing the fluid? Just that little application may make a startling result!

The forks were just rebuilt by LE Suspension. New seals, oil, Progressive springs, bushings, and tubes straightened. The tubes being bent is the main reason I didn't do it myself. I haven't had a chance to set the sag for my weight since I picked up the bike in January. This is something I do with every bike I've had. The zip tie route is nowhere near as accurate as a percentage of travel.

[SFerinTEXAS]

So this is a component of spring tension and will be addressed by adjusting the length of the spacer ?

[b.walker5]

The zip tie route is nowhere near as accurate as a percentage of travel.

Might not be as accurate but it's more than sufficient for 30 year old suspension that was never designed to be on a race bike. I've used both methods and find the difference between the two to be negligible at best. Zip ties are permanent residents on my forks.