NOS Heavy Duty Fork Springs Info 2H7-23141-10-00

[Orange4]

Just got my Ebay purchase of those NOS heavy duty springs I was looking at to go with the emulators. Good news is that they are not progressive. Don't know what rate they are but I will try to find that out. They are a heavier wire as expected.

SUPER IMPORTANT: If you buy these online make sure they are not just a set of stock springs that someone put back in the box. The stock springs have a 3" tighter progressive wind on one end, whereas the HD ones are straight wound.

I bought two pairs and one was a stock set repackaged. This was the bad news in my ebay purchase. I'm waiting to see what the seller does to fix the problem. It even had "stock springs" in felt tip pen on the box! All that after I specifically said to the guy that I was concerned about that. I did only pay $18 a set for them.

You can see the progressive wind on the stock spring on the right. The other set was obviously factory fresh wrapped in crisp, clean paper.



Stay tuned. No pun intended.

[DiverRay]

The heavy duty springs went into the Standard with the "tour kit". I know, I installed a set on my first XS1100 back in September of '77. I actually put the bike together out of the crate when It arrived, as the shop didn't have a mechanic at the time, other than the owner.

[Orange4]

I thought that might be the case. I'm very happy that they are not progressive so they will work with emulators. Whether they are the right rate for my weight is another question.

[skids]

I can tell you that the 81H springs that I had in the "Rat" bike were too soft and would bottom-out. It was also with the full plastic dresser package with me at 220 lbs. When I changed fork oil, I did notice the tighter windings at one end. They were more like dual rate springs rather than gradual coil changes...

[Orange4]

Yeah, the stock springs are super plush even for my naked bike and my 160 lb flyweight. I wonder how many dealerships neglected to install the HD ones during assembly of the dressers?

[Orange4]

The HD spring wire thickness is .175"

Anyone have a regular spring they could measure?

[bikerphil]

I have a bunch of stock XS springs, some measured .150" and some .160".

[Orange4]

I got .160 on mine. Can't mic. them but calipers are close enough.

NOS length is just a hair over 20". Old stockers have sagged more than 1/8".

Now just have to check the spring rate.

[Orange4]

Copied the following from a previous post.

The manual lists the spring rate for the XS1100 as follows:
0~4.055" 30.4 lbs/in
4.055"~6.89" 35.3 lbs/in
Free length 19.82"

The XJ1100 specs:
0~4.33" 26.7 lbs/in
4.33~6.89" 30.2 lbs/in
Free length 23.59"

The Racetech calculator recommends .85mm/kg / 47 lb/in springs but are those numbers for racing applications? Seems like a big jump from the stock 30/35lb springs. My home brew measurements put the NOS Heavy Duty springs at roughly 36 lbs Which is about half way to the Racetech online calculator result.

[jetmechmarty]

My springs are .95mm/kg and I'm not racing. I'm over 230 lbs and I like a sporty ride. I live in North Georgia where the roads are very twisty. We don't have frost heaves and a lot of broken pavement here. My laden sag is set to 35 mm, front and back. I got what I wanted. My suspension does not soak up big bumps well. I didn't set it up for that. The tires remain firmly planted on the pavement at all times. I believe JeffH has the same spring rate that I do and he's considerably lighter than me, but has a fairing on his E. His suspension was set up by Traxxion Dynamics.

Orange, you may be taking up some sag by adding a spacer. You won't know until you get it all together. Right now, you have no sag in the back and you'll be a bit excessive in the front. I guess we'll all learn from you how that's going to work, or how you'll work through it.

[Bergman16]

HD springs question

I’m bumping this up because I’ve read multiple threads here on HD vs standard springs and wondering if the HD have the tighter windings on one end or not? Is there a definitive answer? Referring to 2H7-23141-10-00 as the heavy duty ones.

[red bandit]

Going by the pic in the first post the HD do NOT have a progressive end on the coil. The stock springs DO have the progressive end. It's time for me to replace the springs this winter. I have a full dresser so I get plenty of sag so I'll be buying a set of HD soon. Unless of course the gurus say I should buy the progressives, not stock. https://www.ebay.com/itm/PROGRESSIVE...hYf15~&vxp=mtr

[red bandit]

I've been watching ebay since the last post. Almost all of the springs for sale have the progressive coils (stock) on the ends. They claim they are the heavy duty ones. My guess is someone replaced the heavy duty ones in their bike years ago and put the stock springs back in the heavy duty box and now someone is selling them as heavy duty. Their was one person selling a set that did not have the progressive coils on the end. I bought them. The springs in my bike have the progressive coils so I should be good.

[skids]

I am confused by what you say. I thought stock springs were not progressive except for the 81 models.

[motoman]

I am confused by what you say. I thought stock springs were not progressive except for the 81 models.

True Sid, but to eliminate confusion, the progressive and slightly larger diameter springs were only used on the 81 Venturer as it was the the only model ever offered from the factory as a full dressed touring model. Even the rear shock springs were a slightly larger diameter on this model.