Wilsons Sandbox

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "kilrcalikawi" wrote:

> Anyone put the progressive rear spring on the stock shock, I do

a lot

> of 2-up riding and I bottom out a lot. Dual star doesn't

reccomend

> just the spring because they say that the progressive spring

can make

> the stock shock dampening worse, I think the stock shock

does a fine

> job it is the spring that sucks. So anyone done just the spring

on

> the stock shock, hows it workin' for ya? > > > Trev > A16

The problem is that the damping of the stock shock may not be enough to match the stiffer progressive spring, esp. if worn. Sorry, no 1st-hand experience to report.

I have run the stock shock with the Progressive LR spring for about 8000mi, including a few offroad events and lots of rough stuff on weekends. The shock seems to control the bigger spring just fine, but how long it will last is another question. It will definitely help your bottoming problem. If I have to have the shock rebuilt every 15,000mi, the Progressive spring will still be worth it for the improvement to the ride. I think Tumu changed the oil and recharged the nitrogen in his stock shock at something like 10,000mi or so, and got a huge improvement. Devon A15 kilrcalikawi wrote:

> Anyone put the progressive rear spring on the stock shock, I do a lot > of 2-up riding and I bottom out a lot. Dual star doesn't reccomend > just the spring because they say that the progressive spring can make > the stock shock dampening worse, I think the stock shock does a fine > job it is the spring that sucks. So anyone done just the spring on > the stock shock, hows it workin' for ya? > > Trev > A16

On Mon, 6 May 2002, Devon Jarvis wrote:

>will still be worth it for the improvement to the ride. I think Tumu >changed the oil and recharged the nitrogen in his stock shock at >something like 10,000mi or so, and got a huge improvement.

Who can perform this work? Any companies that specialize in this? RM

Tumu did it with the help of another lister, who just happened to have "borrowed" a high-pressure nitrogen tank from work. They are not going into business as far as I know. Any shop that does offroad bike work (REAL work like pressing up cranks, etc) should be able to change out the shock fluid and recharge your shock. If done at the same time, it should cost nothing additional to change the spring since it has to be taken off to do the recharging anyway. Devon A15 RM wrote:

> > On Mon, 6 May 2002, Devon Jarvis wrote: > > >will still be worth it for the improvement to the ride. I think Tumu > >changed the oil and recharged the nitrogen in his stock shock at > >something like 10,000mi or so, and got a huge improvement. > > Who can perform this work? Any companies that specialize in this? > > RM > > Checkout Dual Sport News at > http://www.dualsportnews.com > Be part of the Adventure! > > Visit the KLR650 archives at > http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 > > Post message: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com > Subscribe: DSN_klr650-subscribe@yahoogroups.com > Unsubscribe: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > List owner: DSN_klr650-owner@yahoogroups.com > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Brian Babin" wrote:

> > I am seriously considering buying the heavy progressive rear sprng > from Fred. I am wondering if anyone out there has installed same

onto

> the OEM shock? > > If so what are the pros & cons? > > Thanks > hill_buster >

Hi Brian- Are you asking about farkle or upgrades? I bought the spring (from Fred). (I'm not sure, but I think Fred has recently qualified as a 'dependent' according to my accountant and the statutes of IRS-US Code 10.) Anyway, the spring. I love mine. I did it, and wished I hadn't. What?!?!?!!? I wish I had only replaced the rear spring and not the front with progressives at the same time. That way I could see how much each one made a difference. Maintenance time is very short and had to make due with the time squeeze, so, as many mods as time will allow, etc. Jeff Saline and I did an extensive maintenance day (steering head bearing, electrical upgrades, f/r progressive springs, heated grips) and after changing out these springs and some other things, only had time to ride it on asphalt 4-5 miles and two miles of gravel, and was disappointed at the initial difference for the amount of money spent. Jeff rode it, same impression (and he didn't spend any money!) Loaded the bike up, trailered it home 200 miles, off loaded at the ORV park and went down some jeep trail--off road stuff...I had to get off and look at the bike to see if it was my motorcycle! I was dumbfounded that the springs had made that much difference. What exactly did it do? Well, made it better, mo-better, in the ways of being more MX like. I had a `fair comparison' as I also have a KLX 300R (purchased after riding the KLR ~12K smiles) and now, the KLR was more like an overweight KLX in its handling ability rather than a street bike with Kenda 270's. I had more confidence in the way I could predict what the bike would do. Since installing the springs, I have ridden the KLR many places in the ORV park that I would not have even thought of riding before with all the signals, mirrors installed. Not as easily or everywhere I ride the 300R, but more easily and with greater confidence now than before. It was a great improvement for me, and in keeping with the KLR list wisdom (ride the bike, then decide what you need), I had ridden the KLR bike 15K miles, before coughing up the $ for this farkle. It was the addition of the KLX300R that nudged me into buying the KLR upgrades. revmaaatin. An non-farkled but highly upgraded A-15 its only farkle if it does not give you a measurable improvement, otherwise, this is my story, and sticking to it, "Honey, its an 'up- grade'

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Brian Babin" wrote:

> > I am seriously considering buying the heavy progressive rear sprng > from Fred. I am wondering if anyone out there has installed same onto > the OEM shock? > > If so what are the pros & cons? > > Thanks > hill_buster >

By "heavy" spring, do you mean the 500-560 "granite" spring? If you are a big guy , and want to carry luggage and camping gear, then this spring is a fine idea. The stock shock has enough rebound damping to control it reasonably well, better, for example, than the arguably superior shock that comes stock on the DR650, but not as well as a stock shock reworked with a Gold Valve and heavier oil, or a Works shock built to suit your weight and riding habits. There is a school of thought that holds that a straight-rate spring is better suited to a rising-rate linkage like the KLR's, and it might be true, but I have no way of knowing, and my heavy spring has worked fine for me. It allows me to ride a bit faster on rough ground, doesn't bottom as much, and rarely tries to pitch me off.

As one who still has the bottoming, pitching one, I would recommend any improvement. Criswell

On Oct 12, 2006, at 3:42 PM, Jud Jones wrote: > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Brian Babin" wrote: > > > > I am seriously considering buying the heavy progressive rear sprng > > from Fred. I am wondering if anyone out there has installed same > onto > > the OEM shock? > > > > If so what are the pros & cons? > > > > Thanks > > hill_buster > > > > By "heavy" spring, do you mean the 500-560 "granite" spring? If you > are a big guy , and > want to carry luggage and camping gear, then this spring is a fine > idea. The stock shock > has enough rebound damping to control it reasonably well, better, > for example, than the > arguably superior shock that comes stock on the DR650, but not as > well as a stock shock > reworked with a Gold Valve and heavier oil, or a Works shock built > to suit your weight and > riding habits. > > There is a school of thought that holds that a straight-rate spring > is better suited to a > rising-rate linkage like the KLR's, and it might be true, but I > have no way of knowing, and > my heavy spring has worked fine for me. It allows me to ride a bit > faster on rough ground, > doesn't bottom as much, and rarely tries to pitch me off. > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]