front spring rate...

[Wistrick]

trying to decide if I wanna go with .95 or .90 springs I am 250 with gear and about 5% of my riding will be 2 up wife and luggage adds about 145 pounds....Probably gonna go Penske 850 spring in the rear....I am willing to give up performance 2up to keep the bike awesome for just 1up riding... Anybody have thoughts...

Dan

 

[avc8130]

trying to decide if I wanna go with .95 or .90 springs I am 250 with gear and about 5% of my riding will be 2 up wife and luggage adds about 145 pounds....Probably gonna go Penske 850 spring in the rear....I am willing to give up performance 2up to keep the bike awesome for just 1up riding... Anybody have thoughts...

Dan

Dan,

Have you spoken with Nick at Stoltec? I assume you have since you said you are going with a Penske.

He probably says you are between the 2 springs.

I'm 250 without gear on. With the .95s I get proper sag, but just barely. I don't have any preload dialed in. I probably could have gone .90, but I have bottomed my .95s in the past.

Since you will be riding 2-up with that much luggage, it sounds like you will do more touring than beating on the bike.

I'd consider the .90s and see what Nick thinks about running the oil a bit higher to prevent bottoming.

ac

 

[Wistrick]

yeah Nick said 800 to 850 for the rear....and .90 up front...probably go .90 front and 850 rear....Bike won't see more than a packed gravel road...mostly a touring mount...

Dan

 

[avc8130]

yeah Nick said 800 to 850 for the rear....and .90 up front...probably go .90 front and 850 rear....Bike won't see more than a packed gravel road...mostly a touring mount...

Dan

Dan,

The .9s will be great for you. I assume you are getting the forks revalved?

Did you tell him I sent you?

ac

 

[Wistrick]

Dan,

The .9s will be great for you. I assume you are getting the forks revalved?

Did you tell him I sent you?

ac

was planning on just doing the springs...Rode a friends bike with .90 springs and 800 Penske rear (by Nick) and it was pretty awesome without the re valving...gonna start there....

 

[avc8130]

was planning on just doing the springs...Rode a friends bike with .90 springs and 800 Penske rear (by Nick) and it was pretty awesome without the re valving...gonna start there....

OK. I will say this: I let another local Tenerista ride my bike. He has an 8983 in the rear and just springs up front. My bike has an 8987 in the rear and the full springs/valves up front. He said he INSTANTLY noticed the difference in the valving and commented that the bike felt significantly better under high speed compression conditions.

It's up to you, but it is a gateway drug.

ac

 

[Wistrick]

I think the saying is the best u have ridden is the best u know...Remind me to not ride your Tenere...BTW how much is the front revalve and spring...???

 

[avc8130]

I think the saying is the best u have ridden is the best u know...Remind me to not ride your Tenere...BTW how much is the front revalve and spring...???

Last I checked Nick was getting $625 for the forks. That included springs, valves, custom shim stacks, fresh oil and the labor.

I think springs alone are ~$100 plus oil.

There is really nothing wrong to doing it incrementally. At the very worst you just waste some fork oil.

Do you plan to install your own springs?

ac

 

[Wistrick]

yes I do plan on doing my own springs....bought a spring compressor and bleeder...I like to change fork oil about once a year....so I thought I should have the tools...

Dan

 

[scudrunner]

OK. I will say this: I let another local Tenerista ride my bike. He has an 8983 in the rear and just springs up front. My bike has an 8987 in the rear and the full springs/valves up front. He said he INSTANTLY noticed the difference in the valving and commented that the bike felt significantly better under high speed compression conditions.

It's up to you, but it is a gateway drug.

ac

Yup... That local was me. All statements above are accurate. I'm glad I was able to sample the difference valving makes because now I want to do it next year. I would say its worth the money if you are a suspension connoisseur. The springs make the biggest difference for sure though.

 

[avc8130]

yes I do plan on doing my own springs....bought a spring compressor and bleeder...I like to change fork oil about once a year....so I thought I should have the tools...

Dan

Dan,

With that being the case, it's completely up to you. It sounds like you have the tools to swap the springs easily.

If you decide to try the valves after falling in love with the shock, I'm sure Nick would work a deal on the service since you already had the springs.

ac

 

[Ironhand]

FWIW, I'm about your size and just ordered .95s based on input from Rich at Sonic.

 

[avc8130]

FWIW, I'm about your size and just ordered .95s based on input from Rich at Sonic.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

Let us know your sag numbers!

Rich is a great guy, but his spring suggestions are always a little stiffer than I like for non-race pace.

ac

 

[mayassa]

Who is this Nick @ Stoltec, you speak of?

 

[avc8130]

Who is this Nick @ Stoltec, you speak of?

You must be new!

He's the one who has done ~3 dozen Tenere suspensions for guys on this forum and ADVRider. He used my bike to develop a Penske shock setup to replace the factory offering. He also used my bike to develop a Fork Piston Kit that revalves the front forks (complete with new pistons for both compression and rebound), swaps springs to proper rate, and changes out the oil with a fresh fill of high-quality juice.

If you are interested in suspension work for your Tenere, I suggest you contact him. Tell him I sent you. sales@stoltecmoto.com

In fact, he just had my forks apart on Saturday doing a 24k mile check up on them. He had 2 other sets of Tenere forks in the shop awaiting FPKs.


ac

 

[Ironhand]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

Let us know your sag numbers!

Rich is a great guy, but his spring suggestions are always a little stiffer than I like for non-race pace.

ac

Copy that. How much sag to you shoot for? IIRC, Nick gets his springs from Rich, correct? I'd be interested to hear his suggestions.

 

[avc8130]

Copy that. How much sag to you shoot for? IIRC, Nick gets his springs from Rich, correct? I'd be interested to hear his suggestions.

Seems a little late now. LOL

Install the springs and take the measurements. 55mm is the desired target.

ac

 

[Ironhand]

Seems a little late now. LOL

Install the springs and take the measurements. 55mm is the desired target.

ac

Yeah, I know how it works, mom. I was just asking what YOUR preference was and curious whether the 2 guys would land on the same rate recommendation for the same guy.

 

[avc8130]

Yeah, I know how it works, mom. I was just asking what YOUR preference was and curious whether the 2 guys would land on the same rate recommendation for the same guy.

Personally, I weigh 250lb WITHOUT gear. I think the .95s are a bit too high of a rate for ME. I can get proper sag, but only with the preload all the way out.

ac

 

[Wistrick]

Personally, I weigh 250lb WITHOUT gear. I think the .95s are a bit too high of a rate for ME. I can get proper sag, but only with the preload all the way out.

ac

what is considered proper sag numbers on the Tenere...