Hi all, I am changing the oil in my forks and while I had them apart I though I would check the free length of the springs. my Haynes manual states the free length should be 317.9mm (12.5in) on a 98 model but the springs I pulled out were 374mm (14 3/4in). the spacer looks standard no obvious signs of being shortened, its 50mm long.


first question am I measuring them correctly I lie them on there side and measure end to end.


secondly if I am measuring them correctly then what springs have I got in them?


Any help greatly appreciated .

 

Springs are measured unsprung, like you did. I had the same thing happen with my forks on my f1. When I was swapping forks, I realized one set had longer springs than the other. Turned out a PO had put in progressive springs (they are longer - yours may be as well). Usually these come with shorter spacers so you wouldn't cut the oem ones. Do the springs have a tighter wind near one one? If not, you may have a linear spring (like racetechs). Pics?

 

thanks for the quick reply, yes they are tighter at one end progressive I believe, I have looked but cant see any name or numbers on them. is their any way to find out what they are?

 

There is no real way to tell what they are. I deduced mine were progressive because of the length was identical to what they listed on their website. That, and there aren't many spring manufacturers out there that still carry spring for my bike.

Could be that the PO had put in springs that were not for the f3...