Finished the DIY Traxion Spring install.
Mostly pretty easy.
I did not take the forks off the bike.
ONE little thing took 90% of the time.
Tightening the jam nut under the right fork cap was near impossible.
Getting it off was easy, there was plenty of room.
But the Traxion spring and spacer leaves no room to get a wrench in there.
Much trail and error but it's on.
The oil in my right fork was down almost two inches.
Maybe that's why the bike front end felt like a noodle from day 1.
Left fork was down one inch.
I set the oil in both forks at exactly 5 inches from the top with the springs out.
Now, the bike feels VERY different ... VERY BETTER.
Pros:
putting in the springs does everything as advertised.
... no disappointments there.
... now it feels like there is a REAL front end on the bike.
Cons:
(For me) The bike seat is raised up almost an inch.
When just using the sidestand, the bike leans over a lot more.
... need to get a longer kickstand.
While I was in there, I added the Kuryakyn risers.
... brought the handlebars back about 1.5 inches, up about 1 inch and in about a half inch.
My elbows, nearly straight before, now have nice little bend in them and my hand, wrist and forearm are now all in straight line.
Just came back from 50 mile test run and the bike feels REALLY solid and the handlebar position is very much improved.
All in all ... a nice improvment to an already great bike.
Dennis
Mostly pretty easy.
I did not take the forks off the bike.
ONE little thing took 90% of the time.
Tightening the jam nut under the right fork cap was near impossible.
Getting it off was easy, there was plenty of room.
But the Traxion spring and spacer leaves no room to get a wrench in there.
Much trail and error but it's on.
The oil in my right fork was down almost two inches.
Maybe that's why the bike front end felt like a noodle from day 1.
Left fork was down one inch.
I set the oil in both forks at exactly 5 inches from the top with the springs out.
Now, the bike feels VERY different ... VERY BETTER.
Pros:
putting in the springs does everything as advertised.
... no disappointments there.
... now it feels like there is a REAL front end on the bike.
Cons:
(For me) The bike seat is raised up almost an inch.
When just using the sidestand, the bike leans over a lot more.
... need to get a longer kickstand.
While I was in there, I added the Kuryakyn risers.
... brought the handlebars back about 1.5 inches, up about 1 inch and in about a half inch.
My elbows, nearly straight before, now have nice little bend in them and my hand, wrist and forearm are now all in straight line.
Just came back from 50 mile test run and the bike feels REALLY solid and the handlebar position is very much improved.
All in all ... a nice improvment to an already great bike.
Dennis