2015 ES - rear spring swap

WJBertrand

Ventura Highway
Joined
Jun 20, 2015
Messages
4,516
Location
Ventura, CA
After doing the math, both me and the service manager agreed the preload required to just mount the spring in softest position was too much.
Yeah, I helped a forum member install on of those direct fit Race Tech springs, it was way harder than the spring w/spacer using the same amount of preload as OEM. I was afraid my Tusk spring compressors were going to break.
 
B

ballisticexchris

Guest
Yeah, I helped a forum member install on of those direct fit Race Tech springs, it was way harder than the spring w/spacer using the same amount of preload as OEM. I was afraid my Tusk spring compressors were going to break.
LOL, I still have my tusk compressors still n the box. I'm waiting until my bushings wear out or get 10,000 miles on the bike before I think about a re-spring/re-valve.
 
B

ballisticexchris

Guest
My understanding is you will not need the collar according to the forum members who have made the swap. This is a pretty good read and has some good info on the direct replacement spring:

 

Don in Lodi

Well-Known Member
Founding Member
2012 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
Joined
Feb 1, 2011
Messages
5,780
Location
Lodi Kalifornia
Haven't seen that color on a bike yet. Let us know.
 
B

ballisticexchris

Guest
Keep us posted on how it works. And wow that is one stiff spring!!
 

Gigitt

Active Member
Joined
May 15, 2015
Messages
427
Location
Sydney Australia
I kind of like it in the grey. It's different.


If my math is right, it should fit my fat ass a little better than the OEM.
Keep me posted... Im also part of the fat ass clan (FAC)... would also like to know if it is a straight swap
(no addition collars etc - yeah I read the orignal thread on ES Spring swap, but it go backwards and forwards and it is not really clear for us FAC guys)
 

elricfate

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 29, 2019
Messages
380
Location
Ohio
OKay. Took me a lot of fiddling but the rear shock is "out" - it's not disconnected but it's outside of the bike. Now I just need to wait for the compressors to get here so I can quickly swap the spring while everything is right there.

20200614_201124.jpg20200614_194840.jpg
 

elricfate

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 29, 2019
Messages
380
Location
Ohio
Swapped. 430lbs (sunshine yellow) - 505lbs (uk sky grey)

The compressors I used are the ones everyone else recommends and let me tell you, never again. It's like holding a hand grenade. If I ever do this again I'll be paying a shop with a stationary press to do it.

20200616_140657.jpg

Oh, I also painted the collar ring. Just because I could.
 

elricfate

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 29, 2019
Messages
380
Location
Ohio
Have you done any measurements, is sag in an acceptable range? Was the preload increase very noticeable?
We're not there yet. I only confirmed function last night because I was by myself. Made sure it would set to all weights and backed it down to single rider.

I will say this, without any other intelligible measurements or even riding, it is an immediate difference on single rider than it was with the old spring. With the old spring, on single rider, when I sat on the bike I could ball of my feet on both sides. The new spring has me on my toes. The lean angle you see it at? It was almost upright on single rider, it's now at max decompression. So even if I didn't get much gain in terms of initial sag and preload, it's definitely a fresh spring.
 
Top