9 replies to this topic

[CRF_450r_Dazza]

This might of been covered in a thread somewhere or in a tech report on the forum, but im more curious then needing technical terms or reasons.
When you tie down your bike on a trailer for example, why when you only pull down till its firm but not break neck tight as I dont use fork savers, why do some forks seem to have no tension at all or only one fork leg will be like jelly with no tension or firmness at all ???

Its always made me wonder why this happens even after the forks have been serviced fully and everything spot on that they still seem to be one soft or weak fork leg ??? Really got me stuffed.

Let the laughter begin and I'll go get into my flame suit when so i'm pretected .. rofl

[davey]

I was told you have to use for savers?? But good question though.

[geoffyboy]

Hmm.
Doesnt sound right does it...

Good qusetion. Maybe someone will pop in and explain.

Oh I had a thought.

Depending on where your tiedown points go can determin how they "feel" when tightening them.

The further away from the bike the easier it will feel to pull down.
So if you have say the left one close but the right one further away the right fork could feel softer when pulling down the tiedown.

I know thats how it feel when I tiedown the bike in my ute to the side.

[Troy]

I don't know why they feel the way they do? But fork savers are the go!

1... takes the stress off your fork seals... Apparently they can let go by hitting large bumps.
2.... if you hit a big enough bump, the forks can compress more causing your tie downs to become lose.
3... you can put alot more holding force to the trailer making sure the brand spanker don't go cartwheeling down the road!

Your probably totally aware anyway.... and I know you said no reasonings... but I was bored! lol



I saw a nifty idea on my last ride.... 4ltr oil container :-)

[CRF_450r_Dazza]

None of my bikes do it .. I like my bikes to have a little movement on traveling .. But a mates bike is really bad one fork is that soft that it will lay down almost fully (handlebars almost touches opposite guard on trailer lol ) when I make a certain turn. Unless its pulled down 100% as in on the bump stops pretty much which I see as damaging the fork seals or something internally at minimum and is really wrong to me.
He is getting the forks serviced and inspected as we speak to see if something is wrong, so am hoping that there is really .

Troy, on 31 January 2012 - 12:22 PM, said:

I don't know why they feel the way they do? But fork savers are the go!

Your probably totally aware anyway.... and I know you said no reasonings... but I was bored! lol

Its alright Troy ... We all have moments of weakness !!! lol

[geoffyboy]

Hmm. Will be intersting to hear what happens.

I too use folk savers. Can get that sucker nice and still.


The wife forgets we have a tralier on with some corners...

She takes them rather fast sometimes..lol

[CRF_450r_Dazza]

geoffyboy, on 31 January 2012 - 03:12 PM, said:

The wife forgets we have a tralier on with some corners...
She takes them rather fast sometimes..lol

Sounds like my type of driver.. lol ... Im a bit the same I sort of forget that Im towing and drive normal. But my bikes are all good travellers and dont move much.

[CRF_450r_Dazza]

OK everyone I had a mate that had this issue got the forks back after a general service performed and found that there was too light an oil in the fork which made them a bit soft !!! He has had the oil changed to a slightly heavier grade and the issue has gone away now

So I got my answer or reason behind it all. Cheers everyone mystery solved

[RenascentMisanthropy]

I don't used a fork brace either ... cbf'd... I only compress the forks enough to secure the bike on the ute and am careful when cornering or driving over uneven ground as not to let the bike jump around. I bleed the forks when the bike is strapped in the back of the ute, then once unloaded, I lean the bike over on the stand to lift the front wheel off the ground, and bleed the forks again to get the air back into them (of course this is implications on rainy days and I have to be careful not to get water inside them).

I could say I've never noticed, but I've never had my forks resprung or valved for my weight so I just accept a bit of crappyness in general

CRF_450r_Dazza, on 30 January 2012 - 08:56 PM, said:

or only one fork leg will be like jelly with no tension or firmness at all ???

My Q, how do you isolate the feel or function of an individual fork leg (SFF aside) when both legs are joined together and work together?

Edit:

CRF_450r_Dazza, on 08 February 2012 - 09:37 AM, said:

So I got my answer or reason behind it all. Cheers everyone mystery solved

Er, one of those moments when I should have read the whole thread before positing. Glad it's sorted!

[CRF_450r_Dazza]

RenascentMisanthropy, on 09 February 2012 - 11:02 AM, said:

I don't used a fork brace either ... cbf'd... I only compress the forks enough to secure the bike on the ute and am careful when cornering or driving over uneven ground as not to let the bike jump around. I bleed the forks when the bike is strapped in the back of the ute, then once unloaded, I lean the bike over on the stand to lift the front wheel off the ground, and bleed the forks again to get the air back into them (of course this is implications on rainy days and I have to be careful not to get water inside them).

I could say I've never noticed, but I've never had my forks resprung or valved for my weight so I just accept a bit of crappyness in general



My Q, how do you isolate the feel or function of an individual fork leg (SFF aside) when both legs are joined together and work together?

Edit:

Er, one of those moments when I should have read the whole thread before positing. Glad it's sorted!

The way it was isolated to see which leg was weaker ... when tied down on ute/trailer just grab one tie down and you will feel a difference in tension in each leg, thats what I was referring to anyway.

RenascentMisanthropy I also only put enough pressure on the forks to keep bike steady and firm .. Never apply great amounts of pressure via the tiedowns, I also bleed off air after tied down and just before a start of a ride, plus during stages of the days riding depending on the terrain.