Improving the ride

Modern bikes have 3.1/2- 4 inch..why do you require more? going off road?

john robert bould said:

...come on who reading this can say..." i changed my fork oil every year" I'm the first to admit it

Click to expand...

Okay, I'm the nerd/geek/anal retentive that changes fork, transmission, and primary drive regularly. Also, I flush the hydraulic brake system every Spring. Then, on the Saki Suckers (read; Hondas), the shaft drive rear-end oil is an annual swap-out. Y'know, I've never had a seal or bearing go bad in any of these items. "Pay me now, or pay me later" was the old Fram oil filter commercial (I think).
Page 34 of http://britmoto.com/manuals/Manuals/Comm_man.pdf calls for 20W. I started with this, but, due to my weakening forearms, I swapped it with 10W. There's the occasional bottoming during low-speed curb crossings, but the overall ride is much more comfortable. Granted, this wouldn't lend itself well to spirited riding.
Be wary of what you read in any one manual. Search this forum for what everyone else has come across; we recently had a major go-around after someone mentioned not to tighten your clutch center nut past 40 lb/ft, even though the factory manual says 80 lb/ft, as it can shear the retainer ring from the back of the clutch. Please, let's not start that again!
In addition to fork oil viscosities, there's the option to upgrade with Lansdownes and the like. Check forks-bottoming-and-topping-out-cure-t19575.html for a recent volley of input around that very thing, along with links to numerous fork kit manufacturers.
Nathan

john robert bould said:

Modern bikes have 3.1/2- 4 inch..why do you require more? going off road?

Click to expand...

RE “going off road?”
Definitely not going off road, I just like the Japanese softer forks to the Roadholders for when I fail to observe all the potholes and sunken manhole covers that the UK roads have now become plagued with
The article posted - Forks Bottoming and topping out, cure? Is helpful to an extent, but I am seriously not going the Roadholder way when building my bike, as second-hand Jap forks are way cheaper to obtain.

forks-bottoming-and-topping-out-cure-t19575.html

When speaking to Peter Williams last week,we agreed that the entire slider length ,without bushs is more ridgid and complient.
His Monocoque 750 had no bushs, just chromed stanchions "straight in" the Mag slider.. as modern ..but without the teflon bush .
Modern plastic PEEK would help, i would increase the top bush length to "mayby"offer more support. The surface area is increased,thus the pressure is lower per sq inch. Add10% slick 50 to the oil.
Its strange how the 50's spring design as never been changed.. must have got it right from the start, as there is not a lot of differance between that and a 80's 900 Kawasaki...same wire gauge and coil spacing! and almost the same length!¬!!!

Bernhard said:

john robert bould said:

Modern bikes have 3.1/2- 4 inch..why do you require more? going off road?

Click to expand...

RE “going off road?”
Definitely not going off road, I just like the Japanese softer forks to the Roadholders for when I fail to observe all the potholes and sunken manhole covers that the UK roads have now become plagued with
The article posted - Forks Bottoming and topping out, cure? Is helpful to an extent, but I am seriously not going the Roadholder way when building my bike, as second-hand Jap forks are way cheaper to obtain.

forks-bottoming-and-topping-out-cure-t19575.html

Click to expand...

Bernhard said:

... but I am seriously not going the Roadholder way when building my bike, as second-hand Jap forks are way cheaper to obtain.l

Click to expand...

That's cool (maybe I'll do that on my next bike ), but I took what Mike said as that he wasn't looking to going as far as replacing forks/swingarms:

MikeG said:

I know it will never be what a modern bike is without drastic alterations/replacement of the forks and swingarm, but there has to be something to make it just a tad less antiquated feeling on my antiquated spine.

Click to expand...

Thus, the suggestions for "upgrades" to the existing items.
Nathan

The commando rear shocks are mounted at an angle so need heavier springs than if they were vertical. (physics 101- vectors) Stock springs are 126 lbs. I once tried some 100 lb springs but they were way too soft. This was when I was young and skinny.

john robert bould said:

Modern bikes have 3.1/2- 4 inch..why do you require more? going off road?

Click to expand...

How much suspension travel has the Commando got ? Most modern bikes have 'rising rate' suspension ?

mikegray660 said:

easiest answer i can think of is not taking the wife for a ride (on the norton) :mrgreen: :lol:

kerinorton said:

I HAVE BEEN USING HYDRAULIC OILIN MY FRON SHOCKS FOR YEARS. [ it is designed exactly for this purpose and you can buy it in 4 l cans etc at a far cheaper price than you may buy what is called fork oil ] I don't have a problem like you have mentioned, but my wife has when I take her for a ride. When we bottom out on pot holes etc, it hurts her. I like the design of the seat for solo riding but it's no dam good for 2 up. Does anyone know the answer to this problem without paying a fortune for a new seat. I have already added a soft layer of foam on top of the original, and under the cover, but this is no the answer. People talk about gel seats??? what goes there. Rather than learn by my I would feel better hearing about what mistakes others have made in this regard. If the answer is to buy a new seat, I would need to know it is going to work. Regards, Dereck

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Hmmmmm. I got the opportunity to buy another bike about 8 years ago. The wife was pissed when I got the 850. She thought I was going to get a modern comfy chair. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.