2015 ES - rear spring swap

lukasteam

Life is beautiful !!!
Joined
Sep 22, 2013
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155
Location
Naperville , IL
Watching this thread closely too . I'm putting the same spring in as well . Mine arrived yesterday . Really interested in your feedback after riding the bike with the new spring .
 

elricfate

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Joined
Aug 29, 2019
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380
Location
Ohio
Well I just took it out, real quickly (I have a planned ride tonight) to return something to Kohls for amazon, so less than a half mile round trip. It turns in completely different, it's sprung completely different, it's surprising how different it feels on just single rider now, without my panniers/tail box, compared to the same setup before on the OEM spring. It just feels much more planted.

The only thing is it's going to take me a little getting used to no longer being on the balls of my feet, but on my toes, when I put both feet down. I had a fair amount of trouble at sudden stops with my brain skipping a beat because I didn't hit ground when it expected me to. A couple weeks and that will go away.

I'll post up something later but I doubt the results will be much different. I'm very happy with this change so far.
 
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ballisticexchris

Guest
A little tip is to only plant one foot at a time. I have been riding tall bikes so long that I'm used to it. Simply slide your butt off to the side you want to plant one foot. Once you get used to that way of stopping it will come natural.

Please do some sag measurements and let us know what they are. I imagine with all that preload, the rebound valving will have to be stiffened a bit more. I have to say the OEM front "progressive dual rate spring" is amazing for what it is on the Super Tenere. Back in the 90's progressive fork springs were the rage in the desert. I really miss my XR600R!!
 

elricfate

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Joined
Aug 29, 2019
Messages
380
Location
Ohio
A little tip is to only plant one foot at a time. I have been riding tall bikes so long that I'm used to it. Simply slide your butt off to the side you want to plant one foot. Once you get used to that way of stopping it will come natural.

Please do some sag measurements and let us know what they are. I imagine with all that preload, the rebound valving will have to be stiffened a bit more. I have to say the OEM front "progressive dual rate spring" is amazing for what it is on the Super Tenere. Back in the 90's progressive fork springs were the rage in the desert. I really miss my XR600R!!

Yea, that's actually how I ride this bike in general. What I mean is the bike itself is higher than it was previously, so when I slide my butt a little thinking "I do this all the time", my brain has a quick disconnect when my foot doesn't hit terra firma as it expects it to.
 
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ballisticexchris

Guest
Yea, that's actually how I ride this bike in general. What I mean is the bike itself is higher than it was previously, so when I slide my butt a little thinking "I do this all the time", my brain has a quick disconnect when my foot doesn't hit terra firma as it expects it to.
Ahh, I get it!! I had the same issue after I installed my raised dogbones.
 

elricfate

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Aug 29, 2019
Messages
380
Location
Ohio
Will it not settle down abit after some use ?
I'm certain, like truck springs, there will be some settling over the next two weeks or so. I'm also certain that over the next two weeks or so I will also get back into the habit of knowing where it will sit at any given time, as well.

I have a ride scheduled for tonight, buddy coming over to go out with me. I'm going to try to get some initial sag, sag at preloads with my luggage and with only rider.

ESPECIALLY because I didn't get those measurements before and now I feel bad for not doing it.
 

lukasteam

Life is beautiful !!!
Joined
Sep 22, 2013
Messages
155
Location
Naperville , IL
Sag measurements

1up. 76.2mm
1up plus luggage. 70.3mm
2up. 66.6mm
2up plus luggage. 60.3mm
I'm around 240 lbs . without gear , probably around 250 lbs. with . Do you think this spring would be too stiff for me or should I be fine ? Bike always has bags and trunk that never come off and Altrider crash bars . Maybe I should go one step lighter spring or this one should be ok ?
 

elricfate

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Aug 29, 2019
Messages
380
Location
Ohio
They make two others that would probably be a direct replacement, and would be lighter. Since OEM is something like 430lbs, even the 8kg rate spring would be a slight step up. I'd say you may want to explore either the 8 or 8.5kg rate springs.


2020-06-18 11_13_18-SRSP-RT Shock Spring List.png
 

lukasteam

Life is beautiful !!!
Joined
Sep 22, 2013
Messages
155
Location
Naperville , IL
They make two others that would probably be a direct replacement, and would be lighter. Since OEM is something like 430lbs, even the 8kg rate spring would be a slight step up. I'd say you may want to explore either the 8 or 8.5kg rate springs.


View attachment 68095
Ok , thanks , probably 8.5 is a little better option for me .
 

Walters S10

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Joined
Sep 8, 2022
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26
Location
Stratford, Ontario
One year update. This was the best mod I've made to the bike.
Well I’m another guy that needs help with a spring. I dont think I can do this myself but if I buy the spring I hopefully can find someone to take on the challenge. I weigh about 270 with gear and always ride with my cases. What should I be looking to buy and where. Any guidance is appreciated.
 
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